We caught up with ACMG guide Jan Neuspiel between trips to Bella Coola, and asked him about his custom powder skis. They feature west coast raven design created by our favourite local K’omoks and Kwakwaka’wakw artist, Karver Everson. So you might be wondering, who is Jan? Jan has been guiding and teaching for more than 35 years all over the world with a particular focus on the Himalayan region for about half that time. He spent six years living in Nepal (he speaks Nepali!) and eleven years running a helicopter skiing operation in northern India. Since 2006 Jan has also been the Head Guide for Bella Coola Helisports' heliskiing operations in the Mount Waddington area of the BC Coast Range. Closer to home, Jan founded two of Vancouver Island's most familiar alpine institutions: 1) Island Alpine Guides, which is Vancouver Island's premiere mountain school and guide service. 2) The Vancouver Island Avalanche Centre, where he acted as lead forecaster until recently. It's a homegrown and grassroots effort supported entirely by local businesses and users. They provide avalanche safety information for Vancouver Islanders who recreate in the backcountry in winter, predominantly via the Vancouver Island Avalanche Bulletin. His breadth of experience, his thoughtful kindness and his spirit of adventure make Jan a natural leader. He is a true inspiration and we are so thankful for his influence on the alpine culture here in our community, and for his positive contributions to mountain culture at large. Relevant Links: Island Alpine Guides https://www.islandalpineguides.com/ https://www.instagram.com/islandalpineguides/ Vancouver Island Avalanche Centre https://www.islandavalanchebulletin.com/ https://www.instagram.com/viavalanche/ Karver Everson http://karvereverson.com/ https://www.instagram.com/karvereverson_nwc/ Kindred https://kindredsnowstore.com/ Thanks again to Ivan and Grayden from Visual Inclination for creating these awesome videos. Visual Inclination on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/visualinclination Visual Inclination on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/visinc/

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Ty is a skier. He grew up park skiing in Ontario. He chased the snow out West, determined to bag 900’s, cork 7’s and 60ft cliffs. He has been working in the ski industry since high school. Now he works as a waste water technician at our local resort. Have you locals noticed how delicious the drinking water is up there? Guys like him stay out of sight, and ski a lot. For Ty it’s about creating moments in the mountains that weave together into a life’s story. We are so glad that many of our stories intertwine with his. Long live the ski bum! May we know them, may we love them, may we be them. Thanks again to Ivan from Visual Inclination for creating these awesome videos. Visual Inclination on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/visualinclination Visual Inclination on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/visinc/

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Facing adversity became a reality for Tyler Turner long before 2020 rolled around. Ty lost both his feet in a skydiving accident 3 years ago. Since then he’s become a pro at living “a new normal.” His injuries altered the course of his life dramatically, taking away many of his choices, while simultaneously opening up incredible opportunities. This year alone Ty competed in the ISA World Para Surf championship; he joined the NextGen Canadian Para Snowboard team and is trying to qualify for the next Olympics (whenever they may be…); he bought a live-aboard sailboat with his girlfriend, Kayleen, and started a YouTube channel about it; and with the support of High Fives Foundation and Project Uprising he became the first bilateral amputee to fly a wingsuit. If you ask Ty, he’ll tell you that he spends a lot of time on the couch in pain and that he isn’t trying to inspire anyone. He’s just doing what he’s always done: trying to enjoy life, pushing boundaries, and seeing what’s possible. What unites skiers and snowboarders, including guys like Ty, is a spirit of perseverance and adaptability. These sports are a constant practice of balancing risk and joy within shifting conditions, and ultimately picking the best route. Some days we ride huge lines of deep powder, other times the mountains tell us to stay home and to wait for a better day. All the while the goal is never adjusted: feel alive and have fun with the people you love! We are stoked to support Ty's journey. Thanks to Ivan from Visual Inclination for capturing these interviews: https://visualinclination.com/ Ty's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tyturner14/ All About Spray on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAZq_ghT64uI-jqh8mUymug High Fives Foundation: https://highfivesfoundation.org/ Canadian Para Snowboard Team: https://www.canadasnowboard.ca/en/team/para/ Uprising: https://www.instagram.com/uprising/ An Episode from "All About Spray" where we go sailing with Kayleen, Ty and the dogs and drink delicious wild mint Palomas... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoH7n01E1Vc

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