What is adventure and how can we deliver it? These are just two of the topics that Mark Sedgwick and Jeff Marks help us to explore as we talk about adventure and the challenge zone. Mark and Jeff are two of the founders of the newly launched Professional Ski Instructors of Canada (PSIC). The PSIC has delivering “the adventure” at the core of its mission. Mark and Jeff walk through what “the adventure” is and how it relates to our challenge zone. Key Takeaways Interesting new Organization:...

Delivering Adventure returns with Season 2. In this season, we continue to explore what it really takes to share adventure like a pro - with yourself, your family, your friends and as a profession. Listen as top adventure guides, instructors, managers and marketers share their best stories, insights and trade secrets on how you can take yourself and others further. This second season focusses on introducing the essential adventure skills like decision making, communicating risk, leadership,...

Who regulates adventure? Who trains guides and professionals? Who advocates for access or promotes safety and skill development? The answer to all of these questions are organizations. Jordy and Chris are joined by Angela Hawse to explore the role of organizations in the delivery of adventure. Angela shares her perspective as the President of the American Mountain Guides Association. She discusses what everyone should know about how some of these organizations work, their challenges and the...

The line between an adventure and a misadventure is often defined by our decisions, how we manage the challenges that we face and how the experience is remembered afterwards. In this episode, Bruce Wilson returns to share a story that seriously tested his skills to deliver adventure. This is a story from early in his sea kayak guiding career. Afterward, Chris and Jordy share their insights into the lessons that we can all learn from Bruce’s experience and how he ultimately turned what could...

How can we help people to succeed when they are faced with the challenges that come with adventure? In this episode, Sylvia Forest draws upon her experience to share some of the key strategies that have allowed her to help others to succeed. Sylvia has worked as a national park warden, mountain guide, guide trainer and examiner and is the current President of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. Key Takeaways Safe environment: Anyone in a leadership position can work to create an...

Sylvia Forest joins us to explore her path into the adventure delivery industry from being a park warden to becoming an ACMG / IFMGA Mountain Guide. Sylvia shares some of her challenges, successes, and a few key pieces of wisdom that we can all learn from. In addition to guiding, Sylvia is a guide trainer and examiner and is also the current President of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. Key Takeaways How to help yourself and others on the path to adventure includes: Knowing...

What does it take to deliver adventure to ourselves? What are some of the key skills that great adventures possess? Angela Hawse joins Jordy and Chris to explore these questions and much more. Angela is an AMGA / IFMGA Mountain Guide who has travelled and guided extensively. Some of her many accomplishments include guiding trips in the Himalaya, Karakoram, the Caucasus, Andes, Alaska, Norway, and Antarctica. In this episode, Angela talks about her recent adventures and what it took to achieve...

How do you create adventure? We continue to explore this question with snowmobile guide, avalanche educator, entrepreneur, and adventure innovator Curtis Pawliuk. In part 2, Curtis talks about creating North America’s first snowmobile assisted ski area, Crystal Ridge. He also touches on how he started his snowmobile instructional services company Frozen Pirate as well as his involvement in creating a snowmobile guide association. Curtis is based in Valemount, British Columbia. Key...

In this episode, Curtis Pawliuk joins Chris and Jordy to talk about how he has helped to create adventure through the development of a mountain bike park in Valemount, BC. Curtis Pawliuk is the Executive Director of the Valemount and Area Recreation Development Association (VARDA). Curtis shares some of the challenges and successes that VARDA has had developing the Valemount trail system. He also touches on its impacts on the local economy and what other communities could learn. Key...

What are some of the key strategies to managing risk while we are leading adventure and delivering it to ourselves? Grant Statham is back to continue this discussion with Jordy and Chris. Grant taps into his experience as a well respected thought leader on mountain risk and understanding. Grant is an ACMG / IFMGA mountain Guide, Parks Canada Visitor Safety Specialist, avalanche forecaster and a risk consultant. Key Takeaways List of options: A good decision is one where we pick the best...

Risk is an essential part of any adventure experience, but what is risk and what does it mean to manage it? In this episode, ACMG / IFMGA Mountain guide Grant Statham joins Chris and Jordy to explore the topic of managing risk. Grant currently works for Parks Canada as a visitor safety specialist doing mountain. Rescue and avalanche forecasting. He also works as a risk consultant, and as a mountain guide. Key Takeaways A risk is a chance: When we take risks, we have a chance of losing...

In this episode, we continue speaking with Peter Weiland on how we can help people to embrace adversity. Peter reveals some of his biggest challenges owning a bike tour company, some of the pressures of raising kids in a mountain resort town, his philosophy to coaching kids to play soccer, and the secrets to how to help people to push their limits. Peter is a former semi-pro adventure racer, former owner of Rocky Mountain Cycle Tours and currently manages a youth soccer program. Peter is also...

Peter Weiland shares his perspective on why we need adversity and what takes to overcome it. Peter is a former semi-pro adventure racer, former owner of Rocky Mountain Cycle Tours and currently manages a youth soccer program. Using stories from some of his most epic moments, Peter reveals what it takes to power through adversity both for ourselves and how to help others. Key Takeaways You don’t have to go far to test yourself: Adventure can be close to home. Starting people off with a little...

What is a guide? What does it take to be a great guide? In this episode we explore these questions with master guide and guide educator Bruce Wilson. Bruce is a sea kayak guide a guide trainer, avalanche educator, hiking guide, University Instructor, leadership and vision quest coach, and owner of Warrior Wolf Guide Services. Key Takeaways What is a guide: A guide is anyone who offers advice, guidance, role modelling, inspiration, help, instruction, or direction to someone. This means that we...

How can you control your fear? What can you do to help other people to control their fear? These are the questions that psychologist, author, and adventurer Geoff Powter answers in this episode. In addition to psychology, Geoff draws upon his experience as the former editor of the Polar Circus Magazine and the Canadian Alpine Journalist, as well as being a respected mountaineer and adventurer. Key Takeaways: Basiks Model of managing fear: The six steps are belief, action, support, intention,...

Top CSIA Level 4 ski instructor trainer Tracey Fraser shares how we can improve people’s performance. Being better at anything makes those tasks more enjoyable. Not only that, improving skill an essential risk management tool. The better we are at anything, the less likely we are to make mistakes. Tracey is one of Canada’s most highly certified ski instructors and technical skiers. Key Takeaways Take a student specific / centered approach: Everyone is different and will need a different...

Professional backcountry skier, athlete, explorer and guide Greg Hill continues sharing his perspective on what it takes to keep adventure sustainable. In this episode, Greg talks about the importance of physical sustainability, and how we can reduce our environmental foot print by practicing small things. Key Takeaways Look after your body: This means keeping on top of strength training stretching, taking breaks when needed, good nutrition and hydration, getting sleep, and addressing...

Backcountry ski racer, athlete, and ski guide Greg Hill talks about what it takes to make adventure more sustainable for us. In this episode Greg Shares the secrets to how he was able to keep himself motivated so that he could climb 2 million vertical feet in a single year while backcountry skiing, and much more… Key Takeaways Being Sustainable Includes: Maintaining our mental, emotional, and physical well being. It also includes managing our time wisely and keeping our relationships...

Master climber and ACMG Alpine Guide Sarah Hueniken talks about her path to becoming an adventurer, guide and guide examiner. Sarah shares how she got into climbing and you can too. She also reflects on her experiences and reveals some of the key principles to being able to deliver adventure like a pro. Key Takeaways Guided Discovery Approach: It is important to step back and let people learn from themselves. Balancing being aware while appreciating the moment: When you are delivering...

Mountain Bike Tour Company owner Sara Archer joins Chris and Jordy to talk about what it means to deliver adventure like a pro. Sara shares her experiences as the Managing Director of the RideHub in Squamish, BC. She shares some of the secrets of what it takes to deliver adventures that inspire people to keep coming back again and again. Key Takeaways: Attention to detail: What often separates a true pro from an amateur is their attention to every detail. Making sure it is about them and not...

Krissy Montgomery from the Surf Sister Surf School in Tofino, BC joins Chris and Jordy to talk about what it means to deliver adventure like a pro. Krissy shares her experiences teaching surfing and running a world class surf school. Key Takeaways Making the experience fun: Krissy makes learning to surf sound like a lot of fun, this is an essential part of an adventure. Giving people control where you can: When we don’t give people control, they can become resistant to our feedback. They can...

Pro athlete, ACMG Alpine Guide and adventure influencer Will Gadd continues to share his philosophies risk taking. Will reflects on experiences from climbing Niagara Falls, a near misadventure with Sara Hueniken and a funny story from an adventure in the Cirque of the Unclimbables. Key Takeaways Reflecting on the decision-making process: Focus on the quality of the decision-making process instead of solely focussing on the outcomes. A good outcome is not always the result of a good...

Pro athlete, ACMG Alpine Guide and adventure influencer Will Gadd shares his thoughts on adventure, misadventure and the line in between. Will has ice climbed Niagara Falls and Helmcken Falls, the last glacier on Mt Kilamjaro, as well as icebergs and many other places. Key Takeaways Avoiding misadventure takes preparation: High risk-taking endeavors like ice climbing Niagara Falls can look reckless, but there is actually a lot of preparation that true professionals put into doing them that...

ACMG / IFMGA Mountain Guide Barry Blanchard continues sharing what it takes to deliver adventure to others and achieve it for ourselves. Barry recounts some tough guiding situations, close calls with bears, how to balance risk taking and his hopes for his legacy. Key Takeaways Respecting Bears: Bears generally avoid people. However, they are wild animals and they can be unpredictable. Managing this hazard safely requires awareness, preparation, and respect. Managing Breaking Points: Everyone...

What does it take to deliver adventure to yourself? Barry Blanchard talks about what it takes to achieve adventure. Listen as he shares his views on adventure, testing your metal, and climbing some of the world’s highest peaks. Barry is a world-renowned alpine climber, IMFGA Mountain Guide, author and brilliant storyteller. Key Takeaways: Adventure has discomfort and involves risk: You can’t achieve an adventure without pushing through some level of discomfort, risk or challenge. Personal...