A Life in Words and Pictures
Posts related to Ian’s Winter Sports activities and career.
Ian trained me to be a ski instructor. He was so technically detailed in his teaching, and so accomplished, that it should have been intimidating. But instead he was so calm, and quiet-spoken, and approachable. Despite his huge achievements, I never once heard him brag.
A lovely man, and a huge loss.
My condolences to Jane, Tamsen, Kirsty and the rest of the family.
Ian was always calm, no matter how treacherous the conditions. He gave great confidence to tackle the formidable. He was patient with the many ‘freedman freezes’, and talked me down from many little mounds. He showed us how to ski in control, and with precision. The table at the Chalet was legendary, and I always felt that it gave our young family a great experience to make their way in the world. Ian was always thoughtful, and considerate. They were great days, great sking, great company, and Chalet Chataigne lives on as momentous memories that set the foundation for many days on the mountain. He will be sadly missed by all. A legend
À Ian m, qui dans mes souvenirs restera ce papa exceptionnel qui aura mené avec Jane ses merveilleuses filles au succès et à la réussîtes.
Un homme discret qui par sa réussite aura inspiré sa famille.
Ian était également généreux et m’a permis de découvrir le beau pays qu’est l’Irelande en m’invitant chez lui.
Il a était également un collègue à l’Esf avec Jane et parfois Tam et Kirsty. Malgré son absence ces dernières années due à sa santé il a été très apprécié.
J’ai une pensée particulière pour sa famille qu’il laisse derrière lui et qui malgré la souffrance de perdre un être cher peut se réjouir de l’avoir eu à leurs côté toutes ces années.
Xxx
Dearest Jane
I’m so very sorry to hear of Ian’s passing…he was a super guy and for those of us who had the privilege of skiing with him (on and off piste) he was a role model 💙. There is no doubt that his guidance helped me achieve IASI & BASI accreditation and fostered a love of ski mountaineering
My thoughts are with you all
Xx
Brian
Ian McGarry will always be my benchmark for skiing with perfect style! I started skiing as a young child in 1998, taught by my dad who had previously taken lessons with Ian and Jane in Chatel.
While I haven’t had an opportunity to ski with Ian myself, growing up, I would rewatch Ian’s Secrets of Skiing videos before each ski season.
My goal (and my dad’s) will always be to try to bring our style of skiing as close as possible to Ian’s perfect example. I’ll always be in awe and very grateful to Ian 🙂
I was such a terrified skier! Watching the Secrets of Skiing videos hundreds of times helped me to overcome my fear and end up living in the French Alps for 11 years. I have passed on the secrets to many friends and family, all were greatly helped. I never got to meet Ian but I feel I know him well as he’s always speaking in my ear while I’m skiing!! Many thanks to an amazing instructor!!
Hello Jane. I stopped skiing at 90, 7 years ago and now have to think how to walk. 3 more years and I’ll pack it in. meanwhile here is something I got published in the Ski Club magazine to lighten the day.
My instructor said to me
It isn’t hard to learn to ski.
Stand forward your weight on the balls of your feet,
Ankles flexed, bum tucked in nice and neat.
To curve turns
Flex bananalike in at the hips
So in moments of stress
Bring these words to your lips
Balls, ankles bum and bananas.
for example :
You’ve fallen again and you’re in a right state
The rest have skied on and the last lift won’t wait
Jump turns where its crusty
And take the rest straight
Jump turns where its crusty and take the rest straight
Singing Balls ankles bum and bananas.
Or, you fall off the Pomma
There’s nowhere to go
Your surrounded by tree stumps
Half covered in snow
Back down the drag track
And slalom the tow
Singing Balls ankles bum and bananas
Or the cloud has come down
Your alone on “The Wall”
There are moguls like cars
You see nothing at all
Keep the tips in the dips
And just follow the fall
Singing Balls ankles bum and bananas
Its video day and he’s waving you on,
Your knees won’t obey you
You want to sit down,
You may feel like goose
But you’ll glide like a swan
If you sing Balls ankles bum and bananas
Coming from a non-skiing family it was wonderful and truly special to have the chance to spend time on snow in Chatel. Writing from Chatel now!
I remember friendly times, good hosts, gentle, useful, fun coaching,Having a laugh. The first year of Salomon skis, repeated watching of Blizzard of Aahhs,
Being a kid abroad away from family it was an adventure I still remember well. I went on to ski many seasons in the Italian alps and the Southern alps in NZ (where I met my wife and we started our family). I’m still based in NZ, Skiing brought me there and I’m happy to share that Ian and Jane – and a shout out to Derek Tate – were a part of my journey. Tamsen and Kirsty were just wee groms at the time but even then we’re infected with the snow bug. 😉
Sending warmth and hugs to you all.
/Greg
I was lucky enough to work for Ian and Jane for McGarry The Ski System during the 96/97 and 97/98 winters.
Ian and Jane were great bosses and this contributed greatly to my enjoyment of those 2 seasons. They had the ability to trust you to get on with the job and managed with a light hand on the tiller so to speak.
I will always remember being out on a training session with Ian and the other instructors where we were on a heavily moguled black run near Plain Dranse in Chatel.
Ian amazed us by skiing the bumps with the utmost control, precision and an incredible light touch. He glided done the bumps like they almost did not exist! I still keep this picture in my mind when I train in bumps and it invariably helps me to stay ‘smooth’!
I don’t have many photos of that time unfortunately (pre-digital, internet and mobile phones!) But I’ve added one of me wearing one of our polo neck shirts from that time which I still wear with pride occasionally.
Well, where to start. I first met Ian on a BASI course and because I then went to live in Dublin during the Summer for a few years, I became familiar with his RTE work. I used to meet Ian for lunch at the RTE canteen quite regularly. As you can imaging the main topic of conversation was skiing. One day I turned up to meet him for lunch and was told that he was in the RTE Radio recording studios. I toddled over there just in time to meet Ian coming out of one of the studios with a musician. He introduced me to Don McLean. To this day, whenever a Don McLean song comes on the radio, I tell everybody that it’s “my mate Don” singing. Then along came Jane and very shortly afterwards, Tamsin & Kirsty. Ian and I worked as trainers on many BASI courses, sometimes assessing together. Whether it was in Scotland, France or Austria, Ian’s morning greeting was always the same “Top of the morning to you” (to be honest, before I heard Ian say it, I thought it was a bit of Irish folklore). On one course in Scotland many moons ago, Ian asked me if I’d “ever seen one of these”? He had an original Sony Walkman and I don’t think anybody on the course had ever seen one. It was huge by todays technological standards. Anyway, to finish, I would just like to say that, you would be hard pushed to find a nicer, kinder gentleman than Ian. Sláinte.