Gavin Carruthers
Gavin is an experienced ski-mountaineer, former national alpine champion, freestyle and free ride competitor, who has made several first descents in Scotland.
Gavin holds the BASI level 4, Mountain Leader, Mountain Bike Leader and the European Mountain Security awards. Prior to guiding groups off piste Gavin spent more than twenty years coaching young ski racers, many who went on to compete for national ski teams. Gavin was awarded Scottish Ski Coach of the year in 2015.
Gavin teaches Maths in Edinburgh and spends his free time exploring Scotland by ski and by bike.
gavinATbritish-backcountry.co.uk
Blair Aitken
Blair Aitken is a BASI 4 ski instructor and coach, Mountain Snowsports Leader, Winter Mountain Leader, Rock Climbing Instructor, Paddlesports Instructor and Mountain Bike Leader who also holds the European Mountain Security award. Prior to working winters in Scotland he spent a decade in the Alps, running ski instructor courses and assessments for the British Association of Snowsports Instructors, and growing the successful New Generation Ski & Snowboard School in Val d'Isére.
Blair is an experienced ski-mountaineer and former alpine national ski champion who has been backcountry skiing in Scotland since the mid-nineties. Blair was recognised as the Scottish Snowsports person of the year in 2024.
Blair now teaches and instructs for East Lothian Council Outdoor Learning, Venturing Out CIC and Heavy Sound CIC.
blairATbritish-backcountry.co.uk
Yasmin Basan
Yaz has spent 10 winter seasons coaching skiing in both Europe and Canada, she worked her way through the Basi system whilst coaching women's camps and gap courses in Verbier along with private lessons. In Canada she worked more off piste and free-ride -naturally in Revelstoke! Yaz is passionate about Scotland and was born and raised in Glenlivet, so guiding in the Cairngorms feels like a huge privilege, nothing beats skiing where you are from!
When not on the hill, Yaz runs a non for profit organisation called 'Wilderness Wellbeing' which offers nature immersive weekends for those struggling with their mental and physical wellbeing and has a passion for building women's confidence in the outdoors, whether through guiding women's ski weeks or in her work outside of skiing.
Yaz is a BASI level 4, European Mountain Safety qualified instructor, and Mountain Leader.
Yaz is sometimes available for direct private bookings. She can be contacted on:
yazziebasanATgmail.com
Jakob Annerdal
Jakob is a Backcountry Snowsports Leader, Swedish SLAO Level 3 Instructor and a Mountain Leader. Prior to moving to Scotland he taught alpine, freestyle and freeride skiing in Sweden and Canada.
While Jakob likes to go ski touring in arctic Sweden (where he's from) and Norway - he's also always keen on a day 'oot in the Scottish hills and loves all that Scotland has to offer. In the summer you can find Jakob fishing the local beats of the Spey or out on a hill loch chasing brown trout.
Jakob has limited availability for private work but if you drop him an email you might get lucky!
Jakob.annerdalATgmail.com
Craig Burry
Craig is a Mountain Snowsports Leader, Winter Mountain Leader, Paddlesports Instructor and Mountain Bike Leader. He is also a chemistry teacher and holds an MSc Outdoor Environmental & Sustainability Education from the University of Edinburgh. His thesis investigated the potential of ‘micro-adventures’ as a method of Outdoor Education for Sustainability.
Craig is sometimes available for private bookings and can be contacted directly on:
craiglburryATgmail.com
Tom Weston
Tom joins us for our skills courses helping deliver both the navigation and avalanche awareness course, and the steeps skills course. Tom brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to these courses having worked for many years in the Antarctic as well as for the National Outdoor Centre.
Tom is a Mountain Snowsports Leader, Winter Mountain Leader, Mountaineering & Climbing Instructor, Winter Mountaineering & Climbing Instructor and Scottish Cycling Mountain Bike Leader.
Alex Watt
Alex will be joining us during our busier weeks and to help with our five day courses. Alex runs an organic farm in Scotland and works part of the winter in the Swiss Alps.
Alex is a Snowsports Mountain Leader, BASI European Mountain Security, BASI ISTD Level 4, Mountain Leader and holds the Canadian Avalanche Operations Level 1 award.
Mark Chadwick
Mark (Chadders) Chadwick is the owner and director of Elements Guiding and is an experienced International Mountain Guide. Mark joins us to deliver the Alpine Preparation course.
He holds the International Federation of Mountain Guides Association (IFMGA) certificate as well as the Winter Mountaineering & Climbing Instructor (WMCI) award; these are the highest levels of mountaineering qualifications recognised both internationally and in the UK.
ATOMIC
Atomic gear gives us access to better skiing, with its blend of lightweight, pioneering and reliable technology. #WEARESKIING
BCA
We use Backcountry Access avalanche safety equipment and other specialist equipment. It is well made, simple, light, reliable and robust which makes it ideal for working in Scotland.
TEKO socks
Regular ski touring can be hard on the feet. We use Teko socks for their comfort, warmth and materials. Often the right sock makes as much difference as the right boot or shoe.