Our Excellent Guides
Kelli Rohrig
Kelli is truly a “jack of all trades” having competed as a professional mountain biker, on the US telemark extremes tour, nationally as a adventure racer and she even went through a phase when she competed in running and kayaking events. Through the successes and not so successful times, Kelli learned what it is to be passionate about the outdoors.
Over the years, Kelli has had the opportunity to share her skills and passion with others. She has her ACA certificate for teaching kayaking, has coached both alpine and Nordic skiing, was an instructor for Babes in the Backcountry telemark camps and is currently a coach for Over the bars mountain bike camps.
When not playing with clients in the White Room, Kelli is a certified sports and injury massage therapist. She is also an EMT and has multiple years of avalanche training.
Education:
BA, CU Boulder, Certified Sports and Injury Massage Therapist, Avalanche 1 certified, EMT
Passions/Experience:
Retired professional mountain biker, former top ranked telemark freeskier, ex-whitewater kayak rep and distance runner.
Kreston Rohrig
Kreston is a fifth year ski patroller with experience in both the Rocky Mountains and the Alps. He is a text book ski junkie and usually logs over 150 days a year on the snow. Kreston has also found the thrill and excitement of mountain biking and can be seen catching air in the woods most summer evenings.
A graduate of CU- Boulder with a BA in Environmental Science, Kreston is also a nationally certified EMT, has his Wilderness First Responder, is Avalanche 2 certified, is the lead for lift evacuation at Beaver Creek and is en route to qualifying for his blaster’s license. On top of all that, he is also an assistant avalanche dog handler working on rescues in Eagle County.
Not only is Kreston your go-to man for safety, he is also a first rate athlete. As competitive mountain biker, adventure racer, kayaker, distance runner and participant in the US extreme telemark series, he can show you a good time just about anywhere.
Education:
BA Environmental Science, CU Boulder, Nationally Certified EMT, Wilderness First Responder, Avalanche 2 certified, en route to qualifing for Blaster's license, lift evacutation lead (Beaver Creek), assistant avalanche dog handler
Passions/experience:
Competitive mountain biker, adventure racer, kayaker, distance runner and first rate telemarker
Gale Dahlager
Mountain bike / Women's specific ski and mountain bike tours
Gale is one of the few female athletes who's talents make her recognizable
year around. She started as a freestyle and mogul competitor during the
winter while she developed her mountain bike skills in the summer. She
eventually focused on mountain biking and worked her way to becoming one of
the premier downhill/slopestyle/dual slalom racers in the country. Gale has
many championships under her belt including the Mountain States Cup
(2001,2002) and the Utah State Series (1998) and is also an ESPN Winter
X-Games athlete in the Biker "X" and Skier "X". Gale had the opportunity to
get to know the Portes du Soleil area when she competed for the United
States at the Mountain Bike World Championships in Les Gets.
Gale has a BA from the University of Santa Barbara in Computer Science.
Gale's big highlight (since retiring, that is): learning to throw a back
flip on her bike at the age of 35.
Lionel LaFay
Kayak ToursLionel is arguably the king of the rivers in the Tarentaise valley. The French require their guides and instructors to obtain an extremely high level of skill and proficiency before being deemed a "guide" and Lionel has passed every test. Lionel holds the National qualification for Sports Instructors in kayaking, canoe, rafting, white water swimming and canyoning. A canoe and rafting competitor since the tender age of 13, Lionel made the French National Slalom Canoe team 1982-86. He then retired and has been guiding white water around the world since. Lionel had a big part in the World Cup and World Championship white water slalom events which took place 2001, 2002 and 2004 in Bourg St. Maurice located in the heart of the Tarentaise valley. Last, but not least, Lionel coached and provided security for the French National team at the Athens Olympics.
Martial Herdewyn
Mountain Bike Tours
Martial's childhood is similar to most American kids- ride a BMX bike to
school, hit every jump in the village and terrorize the other school
children. Martial ditched the BMX scene when mountain bikes started to make
a presence in the world of cycling. He went on to earn a diploma as a
mountain leader for trekking, snowshoeing and mountain bike guiding and
instructing, the youngest graduate in French history. Martial raced his
bike and explored every possible trail in the Haute Savoie/Mont Blanc region
until the French military decided they needed his services for 2 years. In
the military, Martial joined the "Mountain Rescue Team" where he earned more
diplomas and accreditations. He topped off his career in the army by
crossing the island of Madagascar by bike.
Martial has been a mountain bike guide since 1999. Martial's passion for mountain biking and his vast knowledge of the Haute Savoie/Portes du Soleil regions make him the ultimate guide. When Martial isn't busy eating French cheese and sampling the local wine, he is training for what is being called the most difficult mountain bike race in the world- 3500 meters of climbing in 80 km with a finishing time of just over 8 hours.
Gretchen Reeves
Mountain Bike Guide
GR grew up in Augusta, GA. She attended college at University of GA where she first fell in love with mountain biking. She began racing in the Southeast and shortly after moved to Colorado to pursue a professional mtb racing career. She got her first full-time gig in 1998 and has not stopped since (unless it’s a powder day). Her resume includes 3 national titles, 2 Transalp Challenge titles, and numerous domestic wins. She has recently picked up adventure racing with the successful Nike/Beaver Team which gives her yet another excuse to get out and “train” and travel the globe.
While competition is a fun and exciting job, it does not stop there for GR. She has been an mtb guide and instructor for several clinics and camps. It’s a great feeling to stoke someone out on a trail that they’ve never ridden before. And her hands still get sweaty when she rides up to a twisty, technical singletrack.
Other:
BBA in Accounting at University of GA. Also runs a CPA business in Boulder, CO.
www.gretchenreevescpa.com
Didier Pointiere
Off-piste and Helicopter skiing, Ski touring, Ice climbing, Rock climbing, Mountaineering, Canyoneering, "Anything that has to do with the mountains in the winter or the summer."
Didier moved to the Tarentaise valley 22 years ago and has gotten to know the valley quite well by now. His passion for the mountains seems insatiable. In the summer you can find him either on a remote mountaintop or on one of the many cliffs of the area. In the winter you can find him in the same places, you just need top add a little snow or ice!
Didier is a certified French mountain guide who finds just as much pleasure in being in the mountains as he does being with his clients. Besides mountaineering and climbing he also guides off-piste and helicopter skiing, hut to hut ski touring, ice climbing, and canyoneering and hiking in the summer.
He was also a ski patroller in the valley for 11 years and thus is quite knowledgeable of first aid and the local snow conditions.
With his clients he also feels it is important to share with them the many historical and cultural values of the valley. So, during your outing you can expect to learn about the region from him and experience some of the finer culinary delights of the area.
He has traveled to many countries including Morocco, Bolivia, Peru, Chile, Sardinia, and the United States and welcomes any opportunity to spend time with people from a different culture.
Olivier Baron
Olivier Baron is one of those people who makes you smile so much, you don’t realize what an amazing athlete he truly is. Former French Ski Team member, freestyle coach in France and Australia, guide, certified ski patroller and ski instructor, Olivier is someone who can do it all.
Born and raised in Tignes, Olivier knows the Tarentaise valley like few others. With skiing as his pure passion, Olivier skis around the valley almost year around keeping up on snow conditions and possible new terrain.
It is without question, Olivier will take you to ski places you’ve only dreamed of while entertaining you every step of the way.
“My passion is about the Mountain in all their different aspects, and traveling, meeting new people from all different backgrounds and cultures.”