Meet Your Guides and Crew | Methven Heliskiing
All of Methven Heliskiing guides are professionals, trained and certified to international standards through the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association training program.
Always go with professional guides trained specifically for the heliskiing industry. Make sure you are certain of your guides "credentials".
Kevin Boekholt: Director Alpine Guides and Methven Heliski
Kevin Boekholt has been Methven Heliski's Director and lead guide since 1988.
His passion for heliskiing is key to the close knit relationships that have developed between guests and guides.
Kevin began his career as a mountain guide in 1983 and became a full IFMGA certified guide in 1985. He is also a lead guide for CMH in Canada
Branching out in 2005 he began a new heliskiing venture in Greenland: www.greenlandheli.com.
Phillip Todhunter: Chief Pilot
Phillip Todhunter is one of the longest serving and most
experienced heliski pilots in New Zealand. As Chief Pilot for Methven Heli, he has flown heliskiers in the area since 1990.
For much of the year Philip is manager of Lake Heron Station, a 19,600 hectare sheep and cattle station. In winter he swaps the tractor for a helicopter.
Jamie Robertson: Lead Guide
Jamie’s organised, strong, and decisive approach to mountaineering is
balanced with many years of snow safety knowledge, gained from more than 10 winters working for (and eventually heading) the snow safety team at Mount Hutt ski area. More about Jamie ›
Jim Spencer: Lead Guide
A full NZMGA Winter Guide, Jim started working at Wilderness Heliski in 1998, and is regularly seen there and at Methven Heliski over the
NZ winter. He spent many summer months chopping steps as a
glacier guide before beginning summer mountain guide work with Alpine Guides in 2004. More about Jim ›
Paula Roberts: Guide
Paula's outgoing attitude, energy, and huge laugh make her a popular
guide. Paula has worked a number of seasons as a ski patroller at
Ohau ski area - close to her home base in Twizel. Recently she's been
working with the Mount Hutt team, spending her winters in Methven. More about Paula ›
Laura Adams: Guide
Laura is a professional member of the Canadian Avalanche Association and the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. She has over 20 years experience ski and climbing guiding in the mountains of Canada, USA, Europe, Nepal and New Zealand.
A keen photographer and kite surfer, Laura spends much of her free time flying kites on snow and water. She is New Zealand’s women’s national kite surfing wave champion since 2008.
Dylan Freed: Guide
Dylan Freed was born and raised in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah. He spends his Northern Hemisphere winters contracting with the Department of Defense in the US training special forces groups in mountain mobility and survival as well as teaching avalanche courses for the American Avalanche Institute.
In the springtime he works in the Chugach Mountains of Alaska for Valdez Heli Ski Guides and spends any spare time he has on personal ski-mountaineering trips around the world in places like Italy, France, Iceland, and Iran. When the snow eventually melts he chases fish species around the world with a fly rod in hand.
Roy Hawthorne: Guide
Our snowboarding professional, Roy has worked with the best in the business and knows where the best lines are.
Tawny Wagstaff: Guide
Local boy Tawny grew up skiing at Mt Hutt. He trained as a ski patroller, then became a certified ski instructor. Further development of his skills led him to becoming a certified guide, and eventually working at Methven Heliski.
Tawny spends the Northern winters guiding in Hokkaido Japan. A multi-talented individual, when not ski guiding Tawny freelances as a stone mason. His skills in working with Otago schist are in high demand.
Safety Equipment
All guests and guides wear an avalanche transceiver. Guides also carry a radio and a rescue pack. Extra equipment is carried in our helicopters in case of emergency.
All guests (regardless of experience) will receive a safety briefing from their guide - including how to use an avalanche transceiver - before boarding the first chopper ride.
Methven Heliski guides are trained in emergency first aid, mountain survival, and rescue.
NZ Avalanche Advisory
Alpine Guides updates the NZ Mountain Safety Council's avalanche advisory website. We issue daily reports for the Aoraki/Mt Cook , and for Arrowsmith region during the winter months.