GLOBAL POWDER STOKE
Custom Ski and Snowboard Odysseys For You And Your Crew Around The Globe
MARK RIKKERS
I’ve been stoked on snow all my life and have crafted my lifestyle around it. My experience encompasses a unique combination of global backcountry adventures, high level education, and extensive work as an avalanche forecaster and heli ski guide. I base out of the San Juan Mountains near Telluride, with my wife and daughter.
- Lead Guide, Telluride Helitrax, specializing in custom private trips, since 2004
- Guide for multiple international heli ski operations
- Six years as state highway and backcountry avalanche forecaster for Colorado Avalanche Information Center, Silverton, CO
- Level III Avalanche Certification, American Avalanche Institute
- Level III Heli Ski US Guide Certification
- Current OEC Medical Certification
- Backcountry touring and ski and snowboard mountaineering around the world since 1983
- MS in Snow Science, CU, Boulder
- Three years as Research Assistant, Institute for Arctic and Alpine Research
- MBA, Thunderbird School of Global Business Management
- Hablo Español and Spreche Deutsch
ABOUT GLOBAL POWDER STOKE
I created Global Powder Stoke to share my deep experience, passion and vision for the ultimate ski experiences with great people. While I work primarily as a private guide, I also work as an agent, creating and coordinating a circuit of custom experiences for my clients through hand-picked operators around the world. I focus on heli and backcountry trips for adventurous skiers and snowboarders, but also organize experiences that encompass a wide variety of outdoor activities.
Feel free to call or email me anytime to talk about creating experiences specifically tailored for you and your crew!
HELICOPTER SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING
Helicopters are amazing tools in the mountains. With the right pilot and guide, they allow you to safely access unbelievably remote terrain. For the uninitiated, the concept of heliskiing can be intimidating; for the experienced, it can be an addiction!
Skiers and snowboarders who can confidently take on single black diamond trails in mixed conditions at a ski area are generally good enough to go heliskiing. I tailor terrain options for a range of ability levels – you don’t need to be a pro! For those new to the sport, I highly recommend single day experiences at an operation like Telluride Helitrax before committing to longer, lodge-based trips.
I only work with small groups, and I only use smaller machines (B3 or 407), not the large ships used at many operations. A typical heli load includes a pilot and guide and four guests, so guest groups of 4, 8 or 12 are optimal. I always recommend organizing your own crew with these numbers in mind for the best experiences in the heli, on the slopes and at the lodge! Ski odysseys are best experienced with a handpicked crew. The experiences are unique opportunities for family members, old friends and business colleagues to connect and bond. Consider custom odysseys for reunions, off-site retreats and team building for your crew. Think about it: Who’s in your crew?
If you are new to heliskiing and have any questions at all, call or email me now!
BACKCOUNTRY TOURING
I’ve been backcountry skiing and snowboarding since 1983. In that time I have enjoyed everything from low angle powder fields to steep summits around the world. My passion for skiing, deep experience with snow science, avalanche forecasting and guiding give me a rare skill set.
Backcountry touring and ski/snowboard mountaineering have gotten amazingly popular. But gearing up and going can be a bit daunting – how do you decide where to go, when to go, how to assess whether a slope is safe or not?
Regardless of your experience level, I will work with you to create customized trainings / experiences to build out your backcountry skill set. Brand new to the sport? No problem; we can start from the very beginning, including getting the right gear. Experienced but want to ramp things up? Great; I can tailor tours and avalanche science training to suit your specific needs.
It takes time and experience to become a safe, competent back country skier and ski mountaineer – let’s get started!