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Support Staff | Alpine Guides

It takes more than guides to make a guiding company keep ticking along. Here are some of the 'support' people who you'll likely encounter

Bryan Carter, Managing Director & IFMGA Guide

Years of toiling under heavy packs - and subsequent knee injuries - have led Bryan to taking a step back from active guiding. He has managed Alpine Guides since 1983 and (with Kevin Boekholt) took over ownership of this guiding icon in 2000.

Bryan began his guiding career at 18 years old, and spent most of his career in the Southern Alps. His climbing forays have included first ascents such as the Strauchon Face of Dilemma, first solo ascents (West face of Haidinger), and notable climbs such as the 2nd winter ascent of the Caroline Face of Mount Cook. He has worked throughout the NZ mountains and in Antarctica and has traveled extensively overseas.

Part of the renaissance of New Zealand guiding in the 1970's, Bryan was among the first group of NZ guides to acquire IFMGA status. As he became involved with the management of Alpine Guides, he was responsible for the development of best practice guiding standards and professionalism as NZ guiding developed an international reputation.

Kevin Boekholt - Guide / Director

Kevin began working as a professional mountain guide in 1983, and became a full IFMGA/UIAGM guide in 1985. Along with Bryan Carter he is a director of Alpine Guides.

Kevin is well known for his boundless energy and enthusiasm for the mountains. He started Methven Heliskiing in 1986 and has directed the operation since its inception. His passion for the area and dedication to providing the best heliskiing service brings return clients back year after year.

Kevin's international experience regularly takes him around the world. He works as a lead guide for CMH Heliskiing, and has been with them since 1989. He is actively guiding heliskiing operations in Greenland, Alaska, Canada, Russia, as well as acting as an examiner and instructor for the IFMGA - in NZ, Japan (he speaks Japanese), Canada and Russia....

Kevin moonlights as a professional photographer and has captured some of Alpine Guides great images. He also has an extensive film industry experience, and has worked with some of the best snowboarders in the world including Terje Haakonsen, Jim Rippey, and Craig Kelly.

Beside skiing and snowboarding, Kevin's climbing career is an extensive one; including first ascents in the Himalayas, NZ, Alaska, USA, Canada, Japan and Australia. He has also been to Kamchatka, the Caucasus, Elbrus Mt. Region.

Sandra Martin - Shop Chick

Originally from Bremen, Germany, Sandra came on holiday to New Zealand in 2006 and hasn't left.

Before coming here she had little experience or interest in the mountains. Now it's almost impossible to keep her at work. She's pushing hard at leading rock and has a number of alpine peaks under her belt.

Sandra is front-line and looks after the day to day running of our retail shop and client services.

Arthur McBride - Operations

Arthur first came to Mt Cook after completing a degree in Zoology, with hopes of working for DOC. There followed some years in the wilderness of corporate hospitality around NZ before coming back to Mt Cook and Alpine Guides in late '95.

Arthur's position in Operations includes managing AGL's web sites, and various computer, marketing, communications and customer related stuff.

Not entirely office-bound, he gets to go tramping, skiing, and bashing around the hills every summer.