Meet The Guides
We are a hand selected group of training professionals who are dedicated to your learning and skill development. We are We are passionate about the outdoors and love to pass on our knowledge to others. We are mountain people who want to share our connection to the alps and the outdoor experiences that drive our lifestyle, so you can live the dream with us here in Hakuba.
Dave Enright
Evergreen Chief Guide
Husband, father of 2, outdoorsman & environmental enthusiast.
| 25 years outdoor guiding experience |
9 years Ski Patrolling; First Aid and Avalanche Control |
| Canadian Avalanche Association (CAA) Level 3 |
Avalanche Canada, Avalanche Skills Training Instructor |
| Canadian Ski Guide Association Level 1 | 18 years backcountry ski-guiding and avalanche instruction |
| Canadian Association of Snowboard Instructors, CASI Level 2 | Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance, CSIA Level 2 |
| Canadian Association of Nordic Ski Instructors CANSI Level I | Avalanche Control Team, Founding Member |
| Outdoor Emergency Care Technician |
Wilderness Medical Associates, Wilderness First Responder |
| Red Cross Japan CPR / AED | Capilano University, Outdoor Recreation Management Diploma |
| British Columbia Mountaineering Club, Rock Rescue | Canadian Ski Guide Association Glacier Ropes Rescue |
| Recreational Canoe Association of B.C., Flatwater Instructor | Swift Water Rescue Technician |
| International Rafting Federation Trip Leader Class 4/5 | New Zealand Rafting Association (NZRA) Advanced River Rescue |
| Commission Internationale de Canyoning, Guide Module 3 | International Mountain Bike Association, Instructor |
| Tree Climbing Japan, Basic Tree Climber |
Hakuba Village, Outdoor Meister |
›› CLICK HERE TO READ AN INTERVIEW WITH DAVE ENRIGHT ” We should try not to be complacent with the lives we are given and the jobs that we do and if we find ourselves becoming such then it is a time for a change.”
Yachiyo Maruyama
MTB Manager / Senior Guide / Trainer
“Let’s go riding!”
| PMBI Professional Mountain Bike Instructor Level 1 | IMBA International certification program Level 2 |
| JMA 日本マウンテンバイク協会公認MTBインストラクターB級 | WAFA Wildness Medical Associates Advanced Level |
| UCI Elite National Commissaires (MTB) | JCF第１級公認審判員（マウンテンバイク） |
Mitsu Kaeriyama, Osaka
Guide Manager / Senior Guide / Trainer
“I love anything where I’m riding sideways.”
| 8 years guiding experience | 15 years snowboard experience – sponsored by C*LOVER surf & sports, PLAY design and Scooter |
| Japan Avalanche Network (JAN) Avalanche Skills Level I | Snowshoe Guide |
| Canadian Association of Snowboard Instructors: Level 1 | Avalanche Skills Training Assistant Instructor (Japanese) |
| Commission Internationale de Canyoning (CIC) : Guide Module II | IMBA Mountain Bike Instructor : Level 2 |
| Tree Climbing Japan: “Tree Climber” | Rescue 3 International: Swift Water Rescue Technician |
| Advanced Explorer First Aid & CPR (certified by Wilderness Alert Japan) | Junior High & High School Physical Education Teaching Certificate |
| Languages: Japanese, English |
Luke Smith
Senior Guide / Trainer
Originally from the UK, after travelling around the world for a while, Luke finally settled in Hakuba, Japan where he now lives year round working in the beautiful Japanese Alps.
Always an ‘enjoyer’ of the outdoors and the sports that go with it, he now spends his summers as a PMBI MTB instructor/Trainer and ACA Pro Canyon guide so you’ll either find him in a wetsuit and harness with a bag of rope on his back or riding one of the many bike trails around Japan. He spends his winters as a CASI Level 3 instructor, trainer and CASI course evaluator for the Alpine Academy. When not at work he gets out into the amazing Hakuba Backcountry as often as possible.
It’s the Japanese mountains and his passion for outdoor sports that keeps his stoke level maxed out. With his variety of guiding and teaching experience he’ll be sure to get you improving and having fun in no time!
| First Responder Advanced Wilderness First Aid + CPR | Rescue 3: International Swift Water Rescue Technician |
| CASI: L3 Snowboard Instructor + Evaluator | Canadian Avalanche Association:Avalanche Skills Training Level 1 & 2 |
| PADI: Advanced Open Water Diver | Tree Climbing Japan: “Tree Climber” |
| Internation Rafting Federation: Grade 3 Raft Guide | American Canyon Association: Pro Canyon Guide |
| Hiking Guide | PMBI MTB Instructor |
| Kayak Guide | Canoe Guide |
Ben Groves
Senior Guide / Trainer
“Hakuba’s 4 seasons are full of color, wildlife and an endless amount of activities to enjoy.”
| First Responder Advanced Wilderness First Aid + CPR | Rescue 3 International Swift Water Rescue Technician |
| CASI: L2 Snowboard Instructor | Canadian Avalanche Association:Avalanche Skills Training Level 1 & 2 |
| PADI: Advanced Open Water Diver | Tree Climbing Japan: “Tree Climber” |
| Internation Rafting Federation: Grade 3 Raft Guide | American Canyon Association: Canyon Guide (Fixed site) |
| Hiking Guide | Canoe/Kayak Guide |
Bumsti Ratschiller
Guide
Bumsti grew up as a little mountain dwarf in the Austrian alps and learned to ski before he could walk. In his early years while he ski raced, he spent all his spare time in the mountains learning from his Dad who had 30 years mountain rescue experience. Before long, Bumsti was using an avalanche transceiver before he got his first gameboy, and knew about putting people into the rescue recovery position before he could do the chicken dance in kindergarten.
After attending an Austrian skiing high school and studying architecture in college, he joined the mountain infantry in Austria for about 6 years before he started training ski instructors and guiding as a full time job. In these years after the army this little mountain dwarf completed the Austrian Ski Diploma (The ‘Staatlicher’ – full cert trainer/examinator qualification), then had a role in two international freeride movies, competed in various freeride competitions and shared his love/passion for sking from St.Anton, Austria, to Australia and now Japan.
Skiing with Bumsti is an experience in itself… A high energy alpine adventurer who can’t live without mountains and nature for more than two weeks, who simply thinks life without snow would be a mistake!