Heliski Guides

Michael Horst, Manager of Heliski Operations and Lead Guide

Michael’s passion for adventure in the mountains is boundless!  He’s made a life of working with skiers and climbers, to seek new experiences, reach new peaks and make amazing descents.  He is an IFMGA/UIAGM certified mountain guide and has been guiding for twenty years. Michael has guided on each of the seven continents, has led multiple expeditions to 8000m peaks of the Himalayas including Mt. Everest, and continues to dream of the next big adventure. He believes the best skiers in the world are simply the skiers who are having the most fun!  

Tyler Petrusic, Assistant Manager of Heliski Operations and Lead Guide

Tyler has been with Tyax since 2014. He is an ACMG Ski Guide and our Assistant Heliskiing Operations Manager and Lead Guide.  He figured he’d try some heliskiing back in 2009 and it took over completely. He keeps coming back for the vast alpine terrain in the remote Tyax tenure. 

Originally from the Vancouver area, Tyler moved to Pemberton BC 20 years ago where he lives with his wife and 3 kids. He enjoys running on the Pemberton trails and long rural roads in the summer. In winter, he works in the area in the industrial avalanche world producing weather and avalanche forecasts along with avalanche blasting and control work. 

He says: “ Heliskiing is a grand adventure in a grand landscape. It is a privilege to share this adventure with our guests.  There’s always something new around the next corner.”

Glen Kaleka, Lead Guide

Glen Kaleka is an ACMG Ski guide since 1998 and has been with the Tyax team 2011. 

Glen has lived on the west coast of Vancouver Island since 2008 and enjoys the vast wilderness of Canada and the world. 

In his off season, he works as a small business owner / operator in tourism industry. 

Hobbies include travel, mountain biking, surfing, skiing and snowboarding. 

Glen is also a Level 2 member of the Canadian Avalanche Association.

James Blench, Lead Guide

James began his guiding career in the late 1970’s in the Canadian Rockies near Banff. His career has been quite diverse including lots of work in the mechanized ski world, avalanche forecasting for industrial applications and managing the training program for the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. He is passionate about skiing and traveling through the mountains and considers himself lucky to be able to share his enthusiasm with his guests. He lives in Canmore Alberta with his wife and son.

Phil Marchand, Lead Guide

Phil has been working in the Ski Guiding industry for 15 years. He has spent time skiing and guiding all over the world including Chile, Argentina, Japan, France, Iceland, and New Zealand. He currently resides in Revelstoke, BC and when he is not skiing you can find him mountain biking or surfing. 

Scott Flavelle, Lead Guide

Scott has been enjoying guiding heli-skiing since he was twenty. Besides arcing turns down intricate terrain, he loves the big vistas, the quick access, and watching the mountains change daily. At other times one may find him in the avalanche industry, ski touring, or producing wilderness TV shows. In his spare time he goes on paragliding expeditions, treks with his wife, and works around their homestead.

Dave Sarkany, Lead Guide

A mountain explorer/adventurer at heart, Dave began his career in backcountry ski touring in the early 1980’s in the local Western Canadian Mountains, where he spent the majority of his winter days on skiis exploring; often for weeks at a time away in the ice fields.   To-date, he has logged innumerable days Heli, Cat, and Ski Tour guiding, and loves to share his enthusiasm for unlimited powder and big runs in the open terrain of our vast Coast Mountains. Dave’s experience, positive outlook, humour, and intense desire for the ultimate long mountain lines, provides each guest with the best possible Heli Ski experience”

Christie Long, Apprentice Ski Guide

Christy has forever been drawn to the mountains and working in the outdoors. She has worked as a river guide for 16 years throughout BC, Yukon, France, Italy, and Norway. And since 2000 she has worked in the ski industry as a ski patroller and tail guide at Catski operations in the Coast and Monashee Ranges of BC. Christy is an ACMG Apprentice Ski Guide, Active Member of the Canadian Avalanche Association, and a Registered Nurse.

Gavin Williams, Apprentice Ski Guide

Gavin grew up skiing and boarding on the Coast Mountains near Vancouver BC. Since finishing his studies in adventure tourism Gavin’s passion for exploring the backcountry led him on some epic journeys. From champagne powder in Japan to corn chowder in South America, Gavin loves to chase the stoke worldwide. His career to date has been focused on all things snow, including avalanche forecasting, industrial snow safety and ski guiding. He looks forward to showing you the goods deep in the South Chilcotins.