Delivering Adventure

How can technology enhance our adventure experiences on skis? Is it possible that ski coaches, instructors and guides can be replaced by technology all together?In this episode we touch on these questions as we explore Carv with Morgan Engel and Alex Jackson. Carv is a small device that skiers can affix to their ski boots that analyzes their movement patterns as they ski. The data that Carv collects is uploaded to a user-friendly app on a Smart Phone. From here, users can either analyze the data and metrics themselves. Users can also select one of the coaching modes that provides targeted feedback. This makes Carv the largest ski school in the world by hours taught!Alex Jackson is the VP of Marketing for Carv and is based in the UK. Morgan Engel is a PSIC Level 4, CSIA Level 4 and PSIA Level 3 ski instructor and a PSIC Level 4 Licensed Professional Trainer in Whistler, British Columbia. Morgan has been working with Carv as an Ambassador and Advisor for the past six years. Morgan has also helped develop the Carv Instructor Certification offered through the Professional Ski Instructors of Canada.Morgan has been working with Carv as an Ambassador and Advisor for the past six years. Morgan has also helped develop the Carv Instructor Certification offered through the Professional Ski Instructors of Canada.Alex Jackson and Morgan Engel share their insights on what Carv is and how it can be used as a development tool for not just skiers, but by instructors, guides and coaches.TakeawaysInnovative: Carv is definitely a well thought out skill development tool for skiers that adds the possibility of gamifying skiing by trying to reach higher and higher scores. It is also nice to have a tool that measures your performance objectively with weight being placed on your performance instead of your style.Does Not Replace Snow Sports Professionals: There is still an important role for instructors when it comes to interpreting and communicating the data and structuring development. Carv also isn’t going to tell you where the best snow is on a given run or how to prepare for what you are going to encounter before you get there.Adventure Enhancer: Carv is an excellent example of where technology can enhance the user experience. Other technologies that I can think of are apps like Stava and Gaia and devices like GoPros and even Smart Phones.Importance of Milestones: To keep us motivated and in a positive space, we need be able to break progress into small pieces. The one thing that Carv does well that other similar technologies should take note of is pointing out each time the user has reached a new level. It might be improving a certain metric or achieving an improved score. Guest BioAlex Jackson is based in London, UK and is the co-founder and VP of Marketing for Carv. Alex has enjoyed a very successful career in technology. His passion is products that can change the way people behave.Morgan Engel is a PSIC Level 4, CSIA level 4 and PSIA Level 3 ski instructor who has over 35 years of teaching and instructor training experience. Morgan started his ski teaching career at Hidden Valley in Alberta. He is currently teaching at Whistler Blackcomb. In addition to teaching, Morgan is also PSIC Level 4 Licensed Professional Trainer.Morgan has been working with Carv for the past six years as a Carv ambassador and advisor. He has also used his experience with Carv to develop the Carv Instructor Certification for the PSIC. Guest LinksCarv Website: https://getcarv.com/Carv Pro Deal for Professionals: https://getcarv.com/lp/pro-deal-2024PSIC Carv Instructor Certification: https://www.psic.pro/carvFollow or SubscribeDon’t forget to follow the show!Share & Social Linkshttps://linktr.ee/deliveringadventure

How do you stay positive under duress? It doesn’t matter how adventurous, fit, risk tolerant or determined you are. At some point, you will find yourself in a situation where it becomes hard to stay positive or even to find the will to keep going. It could be as simple as sitting on a cold wet chairlift, riding your bike on a long climb that feels endless or out on a hike that seems to go on forever.Joining us in this episode to explore how we can effectively manage our mental state in the face of discomfort is Cyril Derreamaux. Cyril is a long-distance solo kayaker, adventurer and speaker.Cyril has just completed solo kayaking, unassisted across the Atlantic Ocean on his way from the Canary Islands to Martinique. This 3000-mile journey took Cyril 71 days, 14 hours and 57 minutes.Cyril has also paddled his custom-made kayak solo from California to Hawaii. This is a trip that took him 91 days which he completed in 2022.Cyril is a two-time World Record Holder who has several other long-distance trips under his belt including being part of a four-member rowing team that also paddled from California to Hawaii.Cyril is an epic speaker and is perhaps one of the most passionate guests we have had on our show and he offers some excellent advice!Key TakeawaysHow do you maintain a positive mindset in the face of adversity:Self-Awareness: If we want to coach ourselves, we need to be able to recognize when our discomfort is becoming an anchor that is dragging us down and what is needed to push us forward.Being the Self Critic: Requires us to ask ourselves if the pattern of behaviour that we have is good or bad. For example, is how we feel negatively impacting our performance and becoming a barrier to success?Getting a Third-party Opinion: This means asking others for their feedback. Sometimes we need to reach outside ourselves to get an objective assessment of how we are doing. This can involve asking our friends, colleagues or even feeling out our guests.Reframing: This involves confronting the situation in a way that helps us to change our perception from something that might be negative to something that is more positive. This can help us to adapt more effectively mentally.Adapt and Execute: Means putting all of this into action and moving forward. Once we recognize this, we can start to take steps to manage our mental and emotional state so that we can better cope with our situation and keep us going in the direction that we need to be headed.Guest BioFrench born, now American citizen, Cyril Derreumaux considers himself a citizen of the world. Fluent speaker of 6 languages (and counting!) Cyril is attracted to learning and discovering new cultures and places all the time.This natural curiosity of people and places led Cyril to backpack around the world at 25 for one year. With $7,000 and a can-do attitude Cyril embarked on this life changing experience that permanently changed his outlook on life and how he wanted to live it.A move to California following his profession in the wine business led Cyril to begin exploring the world of outrigger canoeing and kayaking and reignited a childhood passion for windsurfing and all things water related. He soon began pushing his limits further and further in ultra-endurance water events. A serendipitous find of the Great Pacific Race which advertised “you don’t need to be a rower to row an ocean” led Cyril to embark on his biggest challenge at the time, rowing in a team of 4 men from California to Hawaii which resulted in in a Guinness Record for the fastest ocean rowing crossing of a team in 39 days and again changing Cyril’s perspective on what was possible.Always a dreamer, Cyril soon found himself thinking about his next expedition. Inspired by the stories of maverick ocean explorers, Cyril began to plan his biggest expedition to date, crossing the mid pacific on a kayak with solely human power from California to Hawaii.Despite delays and a failed attempt, Cyril accomplished this goal in September 2022 reaching Hawaii to become the first 100% human powered kayaker to accomplish such a feat.As a member of the famed Explorers Club Cyril continues to dream big, thinking of his next big adventure and encouraging others to do the same. Advocating to “live life to the fullest,” Cyril hopes his adventures inspire others to find their own dream and go after it.Cyril is currently working on a book and a documentary chronicling his kayak crossing. In December of 2024, Cyril embarked on his latest big adventure where he set out to paddle across the Atlantic. His goal was to travel from the Canary Islands to Martinique, a distance of 4800 kilometres. He ended up completing this trip in just over 71 days!Guest LinksCyril’s website: https://www.cyrilderreumaux.comCyril’s trip across the Atlantic: https://www.solokayaktheatlantic.comSupport Cyril here: https://www.solokayaktheatlantic.com/donate/Follow or SubscribeDon’t forget to follow the show!Share & Social Linkshttps://linktr.ee/deliveringadventure

How can we help others when they are experiencing distress? We have all been in situations with friends, family or clients who are experiencing distress due to adversity. These challenging moments can come when people have suffered an injury, illness, or are working through physical or mental discomfort.When we find ourselves in these situations, knowing what to say, what to avoid saying, or how to act can be difficult regardless of how well intentioned we are.In this episode we are joined again by Jill Wheatley who is going to walk us through some strategies that we can use to help people through distress and adversity.Jill Wheatley is no stranger to experiencing distress herself. Jill experienced a freak accident while on a teaching assignment that resulted in a traumatic brain injury. This resulted in her losing 70% of her vision as well as a life-threatening eating disorder.More recently, Jill’s resiliency has been tested once again when a fall ice climbing last winter led to multiple breaks in her leg and ankle.Jill reflects on the lessons learned on climbing expeditions in the Himalayas and recovering from injury on how we can help others when they are suffering.This is the second episode with Jill, and she continues to be candid and remarkable.Key TakeawaysHow can we help people through distress whether it be from injury, illness, discomfort or challenge:Be empathetic: This means putting yourself on their position and trying to see the situation through their eyesRecognizing Empathy Versus Sympathy: Empathy is understanding what someone might be going through while sympathy is feeling sorry or pitying them. Leading with empathy is a far more effective strategy to help people than sympathy.Listening can be a Very Powerful Tool: We can often want to try to solve people’s problems when simply listening to what people have to say would be far more beneficial. Sometimes people just want to share their pain, stress and discomfort and be heard.Acknowledge Reality: Acknowledging that people are suffering can also be beneficial. As Jill pointed out, when we are in a weakened state, we don’t necessarily want to hear that we are fragile, or under-performing. We also don’t want to hear that everything is fine.Everyone is Different: When it comes to dealing with people, there is really no one size fits all strategy.Guest BioFollowing a traumatic brain injury that resulted in life threatening complications and 70% vision loss which required 26 months spent between 7 different health care facilities in 3 countries, Canadian Jill Wheatley was dropped at Denver International Airport with no direction. The only sign she could see pointed to mountains. Despite such compromised eyesight, Jill chose to spend one year alone with Mother Nature in an attempt to find light on life’s trail. Her search led through 13 different massifs and upon running in the Annapurnas in Nepal, she knew that she wanted to spend more time among Himalayan giants. Essentially she has gone from being bedridden, to a wheelchair, then on to walking, navigating hospital parking lots to hiking, trail running, mountain running and skiing before climbing 5, 6, and then seven 8000 m peaks and spending the past 5 years based in Nepal. In a story made for movies, Jill’s trail has recently connected to another type of climb when she had a lead fall ice climbing in February 2024 not long after shifting home from the Himalayas to the comforts of Canmore in the Canadian Rockies. With multiple breaks in her leg and ankle, she is committed to a full recovery and getting back to breaking down the stigma associated with brain injury, vision loss and eating disorders while encouraging and helping others get out to do wild things in wild places. Guest LinksJill Wheatley’s website Mountains of my Mind: https://mountainsofmymind.comInstagram: @mtnsofmymindFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/mountainsofmy mindYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JillWheatleyFollow or SubscribeDon’t forget to follow the show!Share & Social Linkshttps://linktr.ee/deliveringadventure

An essential adventure and life skill is the ability to be adaptable. Being adaptable allows us to adjust to change and to keep our cool when we find ourselves in adverse or stressful situations.In 2005, Wells Jones set out to retrace the path of the famous soldier and adventurer TE Lawrence - also known as Lawrence of Arabia. The goal of this trip was to prepare for an acting role.On that trip, Wells and his friend Miles went through 39 border check points, trekked through the desert by camel and dared to go where few westerners were willing to travel in the wake of 9/11. All the while they had to vigilante to avoid being kidnapped.Wells and Miles have recently released a book that they wrote based on this trip called A Line in the Sand.In this episode, Wells shares his philosophy of adventure in a candid and at times deeply personal and intense way as well as key strategies that we can use to increase our adaptability.Key TakeawaysHow we can increase our adaptability:You are More Adaptable Than you Think: All of us are already adapting to many different situations that we may take for granted.Yes, I Can Mindset: When you are faced with a situation that pushes you outside your comfort and challenge zone, and you aren’t sure whether you can adapt, it can be really helpful to adopt a mindset where you say to yourself, yes I can do it. Focussing on success instead of failure, and believing in yourself can be the difference makers between adapting to new and challenging situations and potentially overcoming adversity - and giving in.Prepare to Relinquish Control: Adapting to new situations may require you to let go of control. Trying new things requires us to go against status quo bias where we may choose familiar patterns where we feel we have control. This can require us to have an open mind and simply embrace the adventure. Embrace change.Adopt an Adaptable Mindset: An adaptable mindset is one where we embrace even the difficult moments in a way that allows us to find value. Happy people find value in every moment, while unhappy people tend to go looking for problems. To adapt, we need to look for value.Guest BioWells Jones started his career as a US Navy Antarctic Pararescue Team Member. This included precision skydiving, technical training mountain/glacier/crevasse rescue, Antarctic survival, advanced to instructor.Wells went on to graduate from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. He has since worked in plays, commercials, TV series and films. His acting name is Tad Jones.In addition to acting, Wells has also worked as a producer and director.In 2005, Wells and his friend Miles Spencer set out to retrace the steps of TE Lawrence through the Middle East. The goal of this trip was to prepare Wells for an acting role.On that trip, Wells and his friend Miles went through 39 border check points, trekked through the desert by camel and dared to go where few westerners were willing to travel in the wake of 9/11. All the while they had to vigilante to avoid being kidnapped.Wells and Miles have recently released a book that they wrote based on this trip called A Line in the Sand. A Line in the Sand is an excellent read and can be found on Amazon.Guest LinksA Line in the Sand: Available at Amazon HereFollow or SubscribeDon’t forget to follow the show!Share & Social Linkshttps://linktr.ee/deliveringadventurehttps://deliveringadventure.com

When it comes to adventure sports, one of the best ways to manage risk is to ensure that you are as physically durable as possible. Being physically durable allows you to withstand physical challenges, mistakes and mishaps like falls. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Leslie Desrosiers. Dr. Leslie is the founder of ACL Strong. ACL Strong is a comprehensive online strength training and exercise program. While the focus of ACL Strong is on preventing knee injuries through targeted exercises and stretching, it encompasses a full body approach.Dr. Leslie shares some of the keys to improving our physical durability from warming up properly to being more efficient with our training. Increasing our physical durability doesn’t have to take long. Dr. Leslie tells us how we can work smarter, not harder!Key Takeaways:Diversify Training: This includes neuromuscular training, cardio, stretching and strengthening. Strengthening includes weight training to build your muscle mass. Cross training and using training programs will help to prevent injuries and enhance performance. Time Commitment: It doesn’t have to take long if you are efficient. Using the right exercises and stretches and doing things correctly can save you time.Whole Body: Because your entire body works together, you need to work on your whole body to improve durability. Many outdoor activities focus on specific muscle groups, while training programs offer a wider benefit.Insurance Policy: Increasing your durability is like an insurance policy that will reduce your chance of injury and will increase your chances of enjoyment.Avoiding Flare ups: If you feel stiff or things don’t feel right, address it early. This can help to reduce the chance of an overuse injury. It is easy to ignore inflammation or discomfort and try to work through it, but this isn’t a very good long-term approach.Aging Bodies: The older we get, the more important all of this becomes.Guest Bio:Dr. Leslie Desrosiers, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Orthopedic Specialist, currently residing and operating a private physical therapy practice in San Marcos, CA. As an injury prevention specialist, Dr. Leslie and her team developed ACL Strong, an ACL injury prevention program, helping athletes and active people protect their knees and prevent major ligament injuries so they can excel in sports and add years to their career. She is a mom of two, enjoys an active lifestyle, and loves helping people with her knowledge and expertise.Guest Links:ACL Strong: www.aclstrong.comACL Strong Membership: https://training.aclstrong.com/membership-pricingFollow or SubscribeDon’t forget to follow the show!Share & Social Linkshttps://linktr.ee/deliveringadventurehttps://deliveringadventure.com

How to Prepare for Big Adventures with Cyril DerreumauxWhat does it take to prepare for a really big adventure? One of the main reasons people get themselves into trouble and have a misadventure is a lack of preparation. You can have all the skills in the world, the best equipment and the best intentions, but if you aren’t prepared, you may quickly find that what you thought was a perfect plan has a gaping hole in it.Joining us is Cyril Derreumaux. Cyril is a long-distance solo kayaker, adventurer and speaker. Cyril is a two-time World Record holder. He has paddled his specially built kayak unassisted from California to Hawaii. This trip took him two attempts and 91 days to complete. Using that experience, Cyril is about to embark on another trip in a bid to cross the Atlantic. He hopes this trip will take him from the Canary Islands to Martinique. This is a distance of 4800 kilometres.Cyril shares with us how he prepares for his epic trips operationally, logistically, physically, and emotionally. We look at how we can apply the lessons learned preparing for big expeditions to adventures of any length.Key TakeawaysHow to prepare for big adventures:The Key to Success is Preparation: Cyril was extremely prepared. He spends more time preparing than the length of the actual trip. If you want to ensure you succeed you need to be prepared to put on the time and energy beforehand.All in Approach Beforehand: Small trips provide practice for longer more challenging excursions. Practicing skills, taking courses, and preparing for emergencies are all important steps that contribute towards success.Family Members: It is important to remember that family members share the risk when people are on adventures. There are often sacrifices and compromises made by both the adventurer (or person delivering adventure) and their families.On the Adventure: It is important to maintain rhythm and routine as much as possible. On some trips it is easy to have routine during an approach. But then when we are on the route or in more difficult or hazardous parts of the trip, we need to break the routine and move quickly. But we must still remain vigilant and make good decisions. As Cyril said, an injury can easily result in rescue and mark the end of the adventure.Reflect and Learn: Most adventurers and those delivering adventure strive to become consciously competent, as Cyril has done. This requires us to reflect on our experiences in a way that allows us to learn and develop. As Mark Twain said: "Good judgement is the result of experience and experience the result of bad judgement."Follow or SubscribeDon’t forget to follow the show!Share & Social Linkshttps://linktr.ee/deliveringadventurehttps://deliveringadventure.comCover Photo by Tom Gores

What does it take to build an effective expedition team? In this episode, we are joined by master guide, guide trainer and author Colby Brokvist to discuss what goes into building successful expedition teams and how we can apply some of these lessons to any group of people we may find ourselves leading.While groups of people are each made up of a collection of unique individuals, there are commonalities to the way groups themselves develop. Colby shares some of his key strategies for team building and some of the challenges he has faced.Colby Brokvist is a professional guide who leads worldwide expeditions for some of the most acclaimed companies in adventure travel. He has guided trips around the world including in Greenland, Antarctica, Africa, and Patagonia, as well as throughout the United States and Canada. Colby currently serves as the Chair of the Polar Tourism Guides Association.Using his expertise and extensive experience, Colby has written The Professional Guides Handbook – How to lead adventure travel trips and expeditions. This is a great resource for anyone leading others.Key TakeawaysWhat goes into building an effective expedition team?Forming: This is when people first meet for the first time. Keys to success are enabling everyone to feel welcome and to align expectations early.Storming: This is when people are working to find their place in the group. Keys to success are to make everyone feel included and to model the behaviours that a leader needs to see from everyone.Norming: This is when people have found their place in a group and are starting to perform. Keys to success include having the leader continue role model behaviours and recognize good practices. Performing: This where the group can start to take on risks as a team. Key to success is to ensure everyone is able to follow all the steps.Adjourning and transforming: This is where a group is reflecting on the experience together. Key to success is being able to connect everyone to what they have accomplished.Unmet needs: We all have needs that must be met if we are to become an effective member of a team. If people have unmet needs, it becomes very difficult for them to perform at their best. Identifying and meeting these needs are a key to success for a leader.Guest BioColby Brokvist is a professional guide who leads worldwide expeditions for some of the most acclaimed companies in adventure travel. He was inspired to pursue guiding as a career during a through-hike of the Appalachian Trail in the summer of 2000. Since then, he has led hundreds of adventure travel departures as an Expedition Leader, ranging from backpacking and trekking adventures to mountaineering and rock-climbing trips, sea kayaking and sailing voyages, and wildlife safaris. His work has taken him to destinations as far-flung as Greenland, Antarctica, Africa, and Patagonia, as well as throughout the United States and Canada. His current basecamp is Boulder, Colorado.When not actively leading trips in the field, Colby assumes a variety of managerial, operational, and consulting roles within the adventure travel sphere. His work centers on developing and facilitating guide training courses and programs as well as trip program consulting and field-based guide team management. Colby also serves on the board of directors for the Polar Tourism Guides Association and is a certified Senior Polar Guide through the same organization.Guest LinksThe Professional Guides Handbook – How to lead adventure travel trips and expeditions - https://www.guideshandbook.comhttps://linktr.ee/colbyoutdoorsFollow or SubscribeDon’t forget to follow the show!Share & Social Linkshttps://linktr.ee/deliveringadventurehttps://deliveringadventure.com

How can you build a resilient team? Building effective teams is an art in itself. Building teams that are resilient enough to withstand the challenges that come with adventure, takes this art to another level. When it comes to adventure, teams can come in many forms. They can be a group of guided guests, friends on a trip together, families, or a group of guides or instructors who are working together.In this episode, we are joined by Brenna Kelleher to explore what it takes to build resilient teams out of groups of individuals from the mountains to the office and beyond.Brenna currently teaches and guides advanced women’s and youth-specific skiing clinics at Big Sky Resort. She is a former member of the Professional Ski Instructors of America’s (PSIA) National Alpine Team and is a PSIA course examinerBrenna has also coached and competed in freestyle kayaking, she has guided horseback trips in Yellowstone, and she has led a group of girls on a semester program in Africa.Brenna taps into her extensive experience as a team member and team leader to share how we can build and develop teams that can perform well in the face of challenge and adversity.Key TakeawaysHow to build resilient teams:Communication: This needs to happen often. It also needs to happen in a way that helps people to feel safe to express how they are feeling.Building trust: This needs to start early.Organization: This needs to take into consideration what role each team member is going to play in a way that allows everyone to compliment each other.Allowing others to shine: Sometimes we can all be guilty of wanting to hog the limelight. A good strategy for leaders is to use opportunities to let others spend time in the spotlight. This means allowing others to take the lead, give briefings, lead meetings, and potentially take the credit.Top Reasons Teams can Struggle: People didn’t feel they had a chance to express their concerns or fears. Leaders were not able to keep their egos in check. The goals that were set may not have been realistic or attainable. When there were issues, they may not have been dealt with early enough. This caused negativity to spread through the group.People may have felt they were being micromanaged.Resilient teams: Trust each other, share in each other’s success, and these two things together allow everyone to feel valued. When people feel valued, they will be better positioned to perform at their best.Guest BioBrenna Kelleher has developed a highly successful career as an outdoor athlete, instructor, guide and realtor. She has been an NCAA ski racer for Montana State University and claimed the 2001 Junior World Championship as a freestyle kayaker. She has guided horseback trips in Yellowstone Park and has coached freestyle kayaking. Brenna has traveled to Africa leading a group of high school girls, as an educator in a semester abroad program. She has been a member of the Professional Ski Instructors of America’s (PSIA) National Alpine Team.In addition to being a PSIA Examiner, Brenna is a ski instructor and guide at Big Sky Resort where she leads advanced women’s and youth-specific clinics.Guest LinksBrenna’s website: www.bigskybrenna.comInstagram: @brennakelleherFollow or SubscribeDon’t forget to follow the show!Share & Social Linkshttps://linktr.ee/deliveringadventurehttps://deliveringadventure.com

Chris Winter, owner of Big Mountain Adventures and an experienced ski racer, dives into the art of creating unforgettable outdoor experiences. He emphasizes knowing your audience to tailor adventures effectively. With hilarious personal anecdotes, he shares insights on balancing challenge with enjoyment, the importance of aligning expectations, and managing safety. The conversation highlights how misjudging abilities can lead to misguided adventures, while fostering personal growth can transform challenges into memorable journeys.

Will Gadd, an ACMG Alpine Guide and accomplished athlete known for his ice climbing feats and world records in paragliding, shares his insights on adventure and risk. He recounts a gripping experience on the Fuhrmann Ledges, underscoring the unpredictable nature of outdoor activities. Gadd emphasizes the crucial role of communicating risks to clients and preparing for potential crises, like rockfalls. His strategies on risk management and the importance of situational awareness reveal how thoughtful planning can lead to safer and more enjoyable adventures.