Michal Sekelský

Country: Slovakia

Qualifications and Memberships: IFMGA Mountain and Ski guide, Slovak Avalanche and Mountain rescue Association

Languages: English, German, Russian, Slovak

Countries guided: Slovakia, France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Russia, Nepal, Japan

Michal has been guiding in Verbier for ten years. Prior to that, he worked in the Slovak Mountain Rescue team as an avalanche expert. Before his career in the mountains, he was an athlete for the Slovak Freeride Team and took part in freeride competitions. He enjoys guiding in Japan because it is some of the best powder he has ever skied.

Franz Hölzl

Country: Germany

Qualifications and Memberships: Mountain and Ski guide (IFMGA / UIAGM), Skiing instructor (DSLV, Level 3), German Mountain Guides Association member (VDBS)

Languages: English, German

Countries ski guided: Austria, France, Italy, Norway, Switzerland, India 

Franz started as a skiing instructor. He has now been working for 10 years as a mountain and ski guide with the focal points being extended ski tours and off-piste adventures. Due to the quality and amount of snow, skiing in japan is an incomparable experience for him.              

Taichiro Naka: Tai 

Country: Japan

Qualifications and Memberships: IFMGA Mountain/Ski guide

Languages: Japanese, English

Countries guided: New Zealand

Tai has grew up in Hokkaido then moved to New Zealand when he was 18 years old. He has completed IFMGA qualification through New Zealand Mountain Guides Association and currently based in Aoraki Mount Cook village working as a mountain guide in summer and a heliski guide in winter. He is looking forward to coming back to his homeland in this winter.

Federico Verengo

Country: Italy

Qualifications and Memberships: Mountain and Ski guide (IFMGA / UIAGM)

Languages: English, Italian

Countries guided: Italy, France, New Zealand, Japan

Fede grew up in a small village in the Alps, climbing, running and skiing. Since his IFMGA qualification in 2008 he has worked as a guide every summer and winter, first around the Alps, and then seasons in NZ, Japan and Canada. His favorite part of skiing Japan is the ‘deep!’

Chuck Olbery

Country: Australia

Qualifications and Memberships: NZMGA Ski guide, Canada Avalanche Association, Japan Avalanche Network 

Languages: Japanese

Countries guided: Canada, New Zealand, America, Norway, Russia, Greenland

Chuck has been guiding in Hokkaido for fourteen years. Prior to that he worked for seven seasons heli ski guiding in New Zealand and four seasons in Canada. His home base is Furano in Central Hokkaido which he identified as an ideal location to base the ski guiding operation. He rates the snow here as some of the deepest he has skied.

Alistair Moore: Al

Country: New Zealand

Qualifications: NZMGA Ski guide, NZSIA ski instructor

Countries guided: New Zealand, Canada, Antarctica

Most Memorable Ski trip: Into the head of the Franz Josef Glacier with a group of friends, had the Centennial Hut to ourselves for 4 bluebird days, dry snow in the shade, corn on the sunny aspects, a 1500m ski down the Fox glacier for a night in the historic Chancellor hut then heli out to Fox Glacier township in the early am for breakfast. 

Will Carlton 

Country: USA

Qualifications and Memberships: AMGA Apprentice Ski and Alpine guide, American Avalanche Association 

Languages: English

Countries Guided: United States, Japan

Having chased powder all over the Western US, Canada and Europe, Will is returning to Hokkaido for his  fourth winter. Like most skiers, he first came for the powder but returns for the culture, amazing food and friendly people.