Fernie

Meet The Team

We pride ourselves on employing the best in the business. Nearly all our staff are Canadian or local to Fernie and can thus give you a valuable insight into the real Fernie life; far more than some UK rep who has only just arrived in the resort. We consistently hear that our staff made the course even better than could be expected and hope you feel the same after your course.

Residential staff

Dave Richards

Canadian Operations Director

What Dave doesn't know about NONSTOP isn't worth knowing!

A bit of a lynch pin in the NONSTOP machine, Dave has been instrumental in shaping the character and structure of our programmes from the very beginning. He started skiing almost three decades ago and has made a career out of the ski industry, skiing and working in various resorts throughout Europe and North America. He finally settled in Fernie because of the great community, the breathtaking scenery, and in his opinion some of the best skiing in the world!

As an ex ski instructor and cat ski guide Dave's knowledge of our resorts, particularly Fernie, is second to none and he can always find the best snow. In summer he runs his white water rafting and kayaking company while planning for the next winter season as well. All in all he's a pretty busy guy but he always has a ready smile (he's not called smiley Dave for nothing) and happily shares his vast knowledge of the mountains.

Adam Guilfoyle

Snowboard Resort Host

Adam knows NONSTOP better than most; having worked in the London office, done the 11-week snowboard course in Fernie and then worked as a snowboard host for the 11-week course in Fernie. Due to this unique insight Adam will be able to give advice and help out whatever your concerns. He is an excellent rider and if you ask nicely he may even show you some of the secret stashes in Fernie. You are sure to become good friends with Adam during your 11 weeks in Fernie.

The Instructors

We have an excellent team of instructors in Fernie all of whom have been selected for their experience in coaching our programmes and for their extensive local knowledge. They will ensure that you are enjoying the best conditions on the mountain and take you to all those 'secret stashes' of untracked powder. You will have lift line priority during your lessons so on the rare occasion that there are lift queues you will be able to maximise your time on the slopes.

The NONSTOP Snowboard Coaches

Ryan Frazer

Technical Director

Ryan heads up our snowboard programme in Fernie

Ryan has been a key component of NONSTOP Snowboard since the start. Having spent nine years as a snowboard instructor, (six of which were spent in Fernie), he's one of CASI's most experienced riders. He has competitive boardercross and slalom experience, has his CASI level 4 teaching, freestyle coach, and is a Level 2 examiner. Originally from Thunder Bay, Ontario Ryan spends his summers whitewater kayaking as well as promoting and selling snowboard equipment.

Jay Robichaud

Almost as much experience as Terje

Jay's been instructing snowboarding for 13 winters (north & southern hemisphere). Originally from Ontario his family home was just two minutes walk from the local ski resort so he's been shredding for years. The scale and the powder of the Rockies lured Jay West and after two seasons in Big White he moved to Fernie where he's instructed for the last eight years, six of which have been spent on the NONSTOP Snowboard instructor course. Jay manages to retain a classic old skool style of riding but mixes it with the technical approach of CASI to achieve his renowned spinning ability and smooth style.

Steve Young

Pushing it to the limit!

Hugely competitive, Steve has been snowboarding for over ten years and teaching in Banff and Fernie for five. His greatest achievement? His first double back flip back in Manitoba . No doubt Jeff was there to witness the trick but what we want to know is who was first to pull it off? Labelled last year as ‘Extreme Steve’, training sessions with this guy are sure to push you to the limit… man!

Shaun Russell

A legend!

Shaun started snowboarding in 1996 in Avimore and Glenshee, Scotland! (We don’t envy him that!) He took a couple of trips to Europe and the US before he found the Canadian Rockies where, funnily enough, he’s stayed for the last five seasons. Shaun trained to be an instructor in Lake Louise, flirted with Whistler and eventually fell in love with Fernie. Last year saw him head to New Zealand for a winter in the Southern Hemisphere, in Cardrona and Treble Cone.

Clarence Gagnon

Nomad shredder!

Having ridden mostly on the east coast of Canada, Clarence is used to looking for powder in tight trees. After spending a season in Chile and a trip to Colorado, he realized his heart belonged to the big mountains and decided to move to Fernie this year. With thirteen years of experience snowboarding in which five of those have been spent teaching in Québec, he has come up with a CASI level 3 and is eager to reach the level 4. When he is not on the snow, Clarence is either surfing the American east coast, longboarding the streets of Montréal or flying planes looking for an adventure.

Adam Webster

Level 3 Australian snowboard instructor

Adam aka Adman went through his paces with the A.P.S.I. ,(Australian Professional Snowsport Instuctors), and by the time he finished his tour he was Training Co-ordinator of Thredbo Snowboarding, APSI Full Cert Level 3, APSI Level 3 Trainer/Examiner and part of the APSI Snowboarding Technical Committee.

Adam captained the Aussie snowboard team at Interski 99' in Beiterstolen, Norway and also spent 3 seasons on Vail's Demonstration Team in Colorado, following all this up with 4 seasons teaching privates in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Instead of doing back to back winters he is now a guide instructor on 10 day private surfing charters in the Maldives.

Happy to be in Fernie and if need be he can hold his beer and hold a tune.