Janka Gampel

I started skiing when I was around 3 years old – basically not long after I learned to walk. I first learned on a plastic slope in Hungary with an instructor, and later my dad helped me improve in the Austrian mountains. Skiing opportunities in Hungary are quite limited, but I made the most of them, and for as long as I can remember my family spent every winter skiing in Austria and every summer hiking there – that’s where my big love for the mountains comes from. I grew up skiing with my older brother, always pushing each other to get better, and when I was 16 the head of a Hungarian ski school noticed my skiing and offered me a job. I taught everything from baby groups to adult privates on a dry slope, ran ski camps in Austria during the season, and spent two seasons coaching our race team at their training sessions, camps and races.

In my free time I mainly ski on piste – I’ve always been competitive, and that’s where I find the most adrenaline and precision – but I’ve also learned to snowboard and love experiencing the “other side” whenever I can. My best skiing memories are those moments when everything just clicks: perfect snow, a perfect run, and that feeling of complete freedom on the mountain. What I love most about instructing is seeing someone improve because of something I taught them—that moment of success when they’re excited, proud, and truly enjoying it, there’s honestly no better feeling. And the fact that my office is on the mountain simply can’t be compared to anything else.

One surprising fact about me: I played ice hockey at a professional level from a young age, captaining my club team and representing the Hungarian national youth teams throughout my age-group career. I’ve also worked as an ice hockey referee and completed advanced studies in Economics. Summers for me are about training and preparing for the next season – though even my holidays end up active, usually hiking or exploring somewhere new.