A Word On Guides .... Guide Training and Qualifications | SEABA Safety *READ THIS*
On a trip to Haines to ski or snowboard with SEABA, you will undoubtedly be spoiled by our industry leading guides. Our small company offers an intimate skiing adventure that can’t be found anywhere else. Each of our highly trained guides brings unique experience and qualifications to our operation, ranging from Himalayan descents to ski film superstardom, which are sure to set you up nicely for an all time ski trip.
Your safety is paramount to all of us at SEABA. You can ski comfortably knowing our guides are certified in the latest emergency medicine protocols and have immediate access to comprehensive first aid supplies in our helicopter and snow cat. SEABA guides also maintain high levels of avalanche certification to ensure your safety while skiing with us. We know that simply possessing certifications is no substitute for the standard of professionalism we offer, therefore, our guides regularly practice medical , avalanche, and crevasse rescue scenarios to keep their skill sets sharp.
Due to our proximity to the phenomenal snow and terrain of the Chilkat and Tahkinsha mountains, it isn’t uncommon for our guests to be skiing the same day of their arrival. Before we take you into the mountains however, we make sure every client is thoroughly briefed and tested on avalanche safety and beacon rescue, helicopter skiing procedures, and general mountain hazards. Your training continues through the duration of your trip, as our guides will continue to offer advice and happily answer any questions you may have.
When you come down from the mountains, you can rest assured that the SEABA guides will make your après ski experience pleasurable too. They always look forward to sharing stories over dinner at the lodge, showing you around town, or going boating on the stunning Lynn Canal, North America’s deepest, and one of the world’s longest fjords. |
Matt Borish |
GUIDE MATT BORISH
Matt takes pride in being SEABA’s only snowboard guide. He is on the national registry as a fully certified W-EMT. In addition, Matt is one of only a handful of people to complete the American Avalanche Association’s new standard setting Avalanche Professional Course.
Matt holds a B.S. in resource conservation with a minor in geology from the University of Montana, and is currently working on a master’s degree in snow science from Montana State University in Bozeman. He has snowboarded extensively all over the Western United States, and has numerous first descents in Alaska. When he’s not guiding, Matt enjoys running with his Samoyed Arcturus, rock climbing, and surfing. |
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Scott Sundberg |
GUIDE SCOTT SUNDBERG
Scott Sundberg, also known in the ski industry as "Sunny", has spent 24 years in Alaska - 10 of which he has dedicated to the development of a winter ski-based economy in Haines, Alaska. Scott's big mountain guiding experience has been developed over the last 25 years. In Girdwood, he ski-raced for Glacier Creek Academy along with fellow student Tommy Moe. Scott eventually took racing to the US development team and ended up choosing collegiate skiing over U.S. Ski Team pursuits. It was here that he decided his love for the sport really blossomed in Alaska and he decided to return to his home town of Girdwood Alaska to reunite with his soul of skiing in 1993.
Scott began skiing touring Turnigan Arm and Girdwood backcountry routes in the Western Chugach. He soon realized that beyond Girdwood and Valdez, Southeast Alaska held more unequivocal tales of first descents that could no longer be ignored. Heading south for Haines in '95 he had lofty thoughts of skiing the multiple ranges of Southeast Alaska - Juneau, Skagway, and Haines would end up being his principle areas of concentration. Scott would become one of the first people into these fabulous mountain ranges, both as an individual and guide. Scott now has more guide time in Southeast Alaska than any one in the heliskiing industry. With over 400 days alone in the Chilkat, Tahkinsha, Porqupine,Tahkshunuk, and Ferebee Ranges of Haines, Alaska , he can comfortably find a run for just about any level of rider. |
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Tom Wayes |
GUIDE TOM WAYES
ScoLevel 1 and Level 2 AVI;
Emt certified in 1998;
Lead ice/rock climber;
Crevasce Rescue Cert.;
Grew up Ski Racing;
Multliple first descents on the Kamchatka Peninsula Russia. Featured in Powder Magazine. Guided in 1999 in Cordova, Alaska for Point North Heli Adventures. Self guided a lot a ski descents in France, Russia, Canada in the Northwest U.S.
Liberty Ridge Mt. Rainer;
West Gully North Face Mt. Hood;
First ski descent of the Lower South Face of Mt. St. Elias;
Multiple first descents in the Krasnea Polyania Russia;
Tom has been skiing in Alaska since 1997. He has been a featured film movie athlete with Rage Films for the last 7 films. Tom guided for SEABA the full 2008 season.
Sponsors
Arcteryx,Salomom,Smith Sport Optics,Squaw Valley USA,Viosport,Black Diamond. |
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Kent McBride |
GUIDE KENT McBRIDE
Kent McBride has extensive guiding (12 years) and instructing experience in all the realms of climbing and skiing. His work has taken him to many different areas around the world. Through utilizing his ability to organize exciting and interesting trips, prepare very challenging goals for his clients and helping them to hone their skills in the mountains, he has developed many lasting relationship.
Kent is one of the few Americans who has passed the rock, alpine and ski mountaineering exams to become UIAGM / IFMGA certified. This training forces guides to recognize hazards in unfamiliar terrain as opposed to memorization. Over the past 20 years Kent has skied, climbed and guided in Europe, Patagonia, Chile, Canada, Mexico, Himilaya (China, Nepal, Tibet), Japan and the major hot spots around the United States. He has also worked 12 winters as a helicopter ski guide extensively throughout Alaska Girdwood, Haines, Tordrilllos, Valdez and Greenland and Chile.Thanks to Marmot and K2 in 2005 he climbed to the Central Summit of Shishapagnma (8000 meters) in Tibet without oxygen and then completed the first ski descent down the Untsch couloir.
Certifications; UIAGM/IFMGA Mountain Guide, Wilderness First Response & CPR exp. Oct. 2010, Level 3 American Avalanche Institute. Gear sponsors; K2 Skis, Marmot, Madrock Climbing, Garmont Boots, Life-Link |
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