Savills Ski works with an extensive network of top agents and operators across the Alps. Here, Amin Momen, co-founder of Momentum Ski, talks about what has changed most in the industry over the last two decades and whether we will still be skiing in 50 years.

Q. What gave you the skiing bug?

We lived in Tehran in the early 70s. The city lies in the shadow of the Elburz Mountains, with its highest peak reaching 5,600m, and at the weekend I would take my wooden sledge to the nearby hills and enjoy the adrenaline rush of hurtling down. I could see skiers in the distance using tow ropes to pull them up the mountain.

I begged my father to buy me a pair of skis, which came with conditions attached involving getting better school results. So at the age of eight, my father would drop me off with a ski instructor, a sandwich stuffed in my pocket, and pick me up at the end of the day. I could hardly sleep the night before my ski day. I later did a ski season in the Alps and the rest is history.

Q. You founded Momentum Ski in 1996. What has changed in the industry since then?

Lots. When I started working in the ski industry in the early 80s it was more of a rich man’s sport. By the time I set up Momentum Ski, there was a wider range of trips available for all budgets, as well as more regional airports, which made skiing more accessible.

Another thing was the shift towards more short breaks rather than seven-day ski holidays. However, I’d say the biggest change was the rise of the internet and the decline of the high street travel agent which meant people could book their own flights and car hire and access accommodation directly.

At Momentum Ski we continued to look into the future while retaining our heritage; continued to specialise and offer expert advice with maximum admin flexibility in order to take our clients' winter sports experience to another level.

Our aim has always been to provide ultimate experiences, bringing like-minded people together with lots of different events, be it a gourmet ski, skeleton or race event, such as the city ski championships, or by offering a ski school with a difference, teaching the kids more about different disciplines of racing, such as slalom or GS, setting courses and learning to tune their skis

Q. How many events have you organised since 1996?

Last count was 920.

Q. What has been the most obscure request?

What I initially thought was a hoax call by friends requesting a ski weekend for 1,000 people turned out to be our biggest event. The caller asked me how much it would cost per person. I was about to say 'who is it really', but responded cautiously, giving him a 'from' price. The caller then said he worked for Google and would I go and make a presentation that afternoon.

I still wasn't sure it was a genuine request but I went along to their London head office and we ended up with an event for 1,500 people with an incredible ski programme and a party as well as a full-on conference with their EMEA country executives and the then chairman, Eric Schmidt. 

As for logistics, we were down to the last pair of skis, snowboards and boots for rental in the resort. Given that Google is all about Adwords and advertising, I was surprised to learn that they'd heard of us through word of mouth.

Q. Courchevel or Courmayeur?

Courmayeur anytime. How long have you got ?

Q. Will we still be skiing in 50 years?

Rising temperatures concern me. While resorts in the eastern Alps are at lower altitudes and don't have snowmaking, with good piste preparation they can make the few snowfalls last a long time. On our side of the Alps we no longer have the sub-zero temperatures in November and early December needed to put down a good base which can then be the topped up over the rest of the season.

But if we get our act together I really hope we will be still skiing in 50 years – I want my children and the next generation to have the same experience as I have had.

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