For most of his life Patric has been skiing and exploring these mountains. In 1993 he and friends built a small ski touring cabin, which later became Snowwater. As a forester, his mapping and layout skills have greatly contributed to the selection of prime ski runs in the tenure area. He is also a professional tree climber and arborist and has been harvesting seed for reforestation for over 20 years, contributing to our carbon offset. In November of 2009, Patric became a certified sommelier. Needless to say, the wine selection at Snowwater has take a huge leap forward. Patric pairs every dinner at Snowwater with a selection of fine wines to choose from. Patric is a crowd favorite. When you are skiing with "El Presidente" you will definitely be shown the goods. Recently Patric obtained his pyro-technics ticket. What does that mean for you? FIREWORKS!

Originally a flatlander from Denmark, Christian discovered skiing on a holiday to Norway and has had the ski bug ever since. While working as an electrician on oil rigs he skied all over Europe, but had Canada on his 'hit list'. Once he hit it in Canada there was no going back. After spending three full winters here he decided to stay and start a new life in Nelson, BC. Christian has guided ski touring and cat skiing locally and is excited to join the Snowwater team this winter. On his time off he likes to explore local valleys on snowmobile for good ski touring.

Tyler has been roaming and exploring the hills and mountains of BC's interior as long as he can remember. Growing up in Vernon BC he started snowboarding at Silverstar mountain in the late 80's. His love for the mountains brought him to the kootenays 11years ago where he landed in the dream job working for Valhalla Powdercats. Having worked there from the beginning Tyler has done just about everything for Snowwaters sister company. From shoveling snow, answering phones, and cat driving to now, where he is a lead guide.

In the summer Tyler has been building his company Canadian Murals and has painted numerous large scale murals across Canada. CanadianMurals.com

 Maria (pronounced "Mariah"), has been with Snowwater for over 20 years now (yikes!). She is an assistant ski guide and, as one of the owners, oversees all things business with both Snowwater and Valhalla Powdercats in the off-season. After getting her BA at McGill University, she moved out west to take outdoor recreation at Capilano College, where she quickly fell in love with back country skiing. She has worked in the outdoor industry her whole life and is happy to report never having had a 9 - 5 job.

Heath moved to Nelson in 1993 in search of more snow then what lake Louse had to offer. Spending the last 20 years exploring the Kootenay Mountains by snowboard, snowmobile, and mountain bike has given him a great knowledge of the areas within. Heath started guiding in 2000 and has worked with many of the top pros in the business. Showing guests a great, safe time is what it’s all about for Heath. He is super stoked to be with the Snowwater/Valhalla team and is looking forward to showing you the goods this winter! In the off-season he is busy with this wife and three kids, coaching soccer, mountain biking and camping.

A Born and raised Nelson Boy Kevin grew up skiing at the local Ski Hill Whitewater, has a love for the snow, has spent year’s snowmobiling and ski touring all around Mountains he loves to call home. Kevin started his ski guiding career in 2000 and prides himself on making sure people have an awesome experience in the mountains. He has worked at various cat operations over the years and spent the last 5 seasons as an owner/operator of Retallack Lodge. Kevin is super excited to join the Snowwater/Valhalla Team and can’t wait to go explore the mountains with you.

Simon is perhaps the longest term Snowwater Employee!  He started in the very beginning with Patric and Maria, and he's still kickin' around!  In the middle of it all he married the love of his life, had 3 kids, and became a plumber.  But winters are all about skiing....welll - and babies.  Simone is a CSGA Level 2 Ski Guide who works at both Valhalla and Snowwater.  He's stoked for yet another great winter!

Andrew joins us from Whistler this season. Andrew has been flying for 15 years. 7 of those full time with Blackcomb Aviation where he flew for Heli-skiing, SAR, Ski Hill Operations, Fire Suppression and Power Line work. Andrew is also an avid skier. He worked full time as a Blackcomb Mountain ski-patroller for 7 years and is still a part-time patroller in his free time and has been since he began full time work with Blackcomb Aviation.

Doug is originally from Perthshire in Scotland, now living in Whistler with his wife Renata, daughter Esme, 2 dogs Cherry/Kola and cat Kiki. His favourite activities are Skiing, ski touring,mountainbiking, trail running and hiking.  He has been flying helisking guests in BC for 8 years now and is a master behind the wheel.  We welcome Doug back for his second season at Snowwater!

Steve has been flying helicopters for over 20 years.  He specializes in flying filmers around for mainstream movies, but he has done many moons as a heli skiing pilot.  He is married, with three kids, and lives in Whistler.  We are stoked to have him back this season!

After growing up in Vancouver, I left the big city to explore the world. I've traveled to 36 countries on 5 continents and don't have any plans of stopping there. Between trips I attended UNBC to study International Studies and BCIT to pursue a career in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering. I've worked for Blackkcomb Helicopters for 8 years and maintained the helicopter at Snowwater Lodge for 3 years going on 4 and I love it there! I spend a lot of my free time fishing on Mayne Island in the summer and skiing in the winter. I'm relocating this winter from Pemberton to Rossland.

I started with Blackcomb in April 2014 after switching from a career in fixed wing aviation. Having spent all of my days off in the backcountry sledding and snowboarding all winter, and then dirt biking/camping/off roading all summer, working with helicopters has allowed me to maintain an outdoor lifestyle while continuing to learn and grow professionally.  I can't wait to be up at Snowwater this winter!

This is Jeremy's 7th season with us at Snowwater!  Above all else, Jeremy specializes in MEAT of all kinds.  Never will you have tasted anything more tender than what he creates!  As a snowboarder, motor cycle affianado, and racecar driver, Jeremy has found his home at Snowwater.

Jason is finishing up his season as SR. Sous Chef/Lead Forager at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort and joining the swowwater team for my his season this winter. He prefer to be called "Jay" if possible, and is originally from Ontario.  His style of cuisine is Modern Canadian Terroir.  He likes to showcase the local product in an area with an array of international tequniques, creating unique flavours. Fun fact: as odd as it sounds, he doesn't downhill ski or snowboard; he prefers pond hockey and biathlon.  You can follow him on Instagram to see what he's whipping up this winter.  Food photography is one of his major hobbies: @chefjaymek.

"Callie from the Valley" is excited to return for her fifth (!!) season at Snowwater.  Rediculously eclectic, Callie has so many skills it's hard to find space to describe them all here.  She is a gifted massage therapist, recently studying cranial sacral therapy.  She is also President of Nelson Search and Rescue, a foreman for industrial construction, and loves rock climbing, rafting, and traveling.  She is also a talented baker and rediculously fun!

Kyla is looking forward to her favourite season with old friends, new friends, and the Snowwater crew! Her favourite food is cookies which is great as she helps bake the bottomless cookie jars. In her downtime, best places you’ll find her are hiking to first peak and in the evenings on the dance floor bringing the Snowwater Vibe to life! Join her in the mornings for sunrise yoga, or for a killer après ski massage. This is her 7th season with Snowwater!

Melissa has been missing the snowglobe life living in a northern city and is excited to be returning to Snowwater for her third season. Melissa has been doing some exploring of Central America and massaging along the way. She is a plant medicine enthusaist concoting teas and tinctures. She's been busy studying Ayurveda, crafting up art installations out of trash and doing hospice work in her time away and can't be happier to be returning to the mountains for another season of massage and bodyworks.

This is Ashley's second season with Snowwater as a hostess and we are thrilled to have her back.  A lover of everything spiritual and good, she is a joy to be around and easy to hang with.  She is new to snowboarding but is rapidly picking it up and loves winter at the lodge.  Orginally from Toronto, she now makes Nelson her home.  Her true passion is diving, with a goal fo becoming a dive master and travelling the oceans of the world. She does not eat fish.:)

Hi, I am Jamie. I grew up in Cochrane Alberta with the Rockies as my playground. When I wasn’t on the slopes you could find me in the local arena and this is still true about me. When it isn’t winter, I am either working, traveling, or work/ workaway traveling...and waiting for winter! After a brief five year visit in Nova Scotia and one bachelor degree later, I am super pumped to be back in the mountains for an adventurous winter with the abundant beautiful views and top notch company! Cheers!

Born in the Kootenays, Justin's first skiing experiences were from his dad's old cat with a plywood shack built on the back, learning in powder deeper than he was tall. After moving away, he grew up in New Zealand, Japan, and the United States before returning to Canada. He's bartended in heli ski lodges and on sailboats in the Caribbean, and also worked as a writer, photographer, tipi maker, and several other impractical yet memorable endeavours.
He recently returned to the Kootenays, and this is his first season at Snowwater. Justin is incredibly excited for the opportunity to help showcase our backyard for the Winter Wonderland it is.
The more of the world he sees, the more it confirms that he lives in one of the most beautiful parts of it, and Justin heartily agrees with Sinatra's line that "it's nice to go traveling, but it's oh so nice to come home."

From a young age, Marshall has been fascinated with the idea of travel. So, starting when he graduated high school, he travelled extensively - including living in New Zealand, Germany, Japan and Austria (with a quick break for a Bachelor's Degree in Anthropology at the University of Alberta). Snowboarding has been a big part of those experiences and spending the winter in his favourite mountains has him beyond stoked. This is his first winter at Snowwater and having worked in a number of restaurants both in the kitchen and behind the bars Marshall has a passion for both food and drinks. He can't wait to get behind the bar and whip up something you'll love!

Jared returns to us for his third season at Snowwater as Snowwater maintenance.  Not know as a small man, you may remember seeing him as the Snowwater Sashquatch last year.  Jared can fix anyting, drive anything, and doesn't seem capable of ever losing his cool.  We love this man!

John has been our head of maintenance for almost 10 years.  He is instrumental to the well-being of everything mechanical at both Snowwater and Valhalla. Originally from England, John is full of stories that will keep you laughing all night long.  If you're lucky, you'll get to share a pint with this man at the lodge!

Alex has now become an inextricable part of the snowwater administration team. She is in charge of all things financial - and we couldn't do it without her! Alex came to us from Ontario where she worked at a family owned golf course. As an avid snowboarder, she is stoked to be a part of our team! She has a business degree and a diploma in accounting - she is the perfect fit for our office in guest services and administration.

Andrew was born and raised in Calgary Alberta, but always had a passion for the mountains and fell in love with Nelson when he moved for college in the fall of 2013. After completing the Ski Resort Operations and Management Program and taking some time to complete a business degree in Lethbridge he joined our team in early January 2019. Andrew is in charge of everything customer service; making sure groups get booked, questions get answered, and requests get filled. An avid skier, when he’s not in the office he can be found hiking around Nelson, walking around with his camera, or working on a new project at home.

Originally from a small Northern Ontario town Lisa moved to British Columbia upon completing her Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Nipissing University.  She has lived and worked on the West Coast of Vancouver Island for five years and is now very excited to get into mountains. She shares a duel passion for working in the adventure tourism industry and being outdoors herself. She is a big fan of snowboarding, surfing, tennis and plans to make the transition to skiing this season.  Although this is only Lisa’s second winter in Nelson and first with Snow-Water and Valhalla, she is super psyched to join the team and grow more in love with this incredible area.  

Dave is pleased to be returning to VPC.  He brings a diverse and valued skillset after spending years in the backcountry adventure niche; managing lodges, maintaining off the grid systems, guiding, guest services and ensuring the happiness and safety of clients.  "Providing exceptional hospitality while meeting people from all over the world is a privilege and a blast."  Prior to joining our team Dave was a polar bear guide in Churchill, Manitoba. We are excited to have him back for another season!