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Viking heliskiing guides

Our guides are more than just experts in their field; they are passionate adventurers who share a profound knowledge and connection with the terrain. Their local knowledge not only ensures that every run is safe but also enables them to choose the optimal terrain for the group. Our emphasis on small groups allows us to provide you with the utmost quality, safety, and enjoyment.  

Our guides hold extensive experience in their field along with internationally recognized certifications, including UIAGM/IFMGA, CSGA, ACMG, and NAMSG qualifications. Additionally, before each season, we conduct a comprehensive in-house staff training program.

UIAGM/IFMGA: The International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations/ Union Internationale des Association de Guides de Montagnes – CSGA: Canadian Ski Guide Association – ACMG: Association of Canadian Mountain Guides – NAMSG: American Mechanized Ski Guide – ENSA: Ecole Nationale de Ski et d’Alpinisme

Jóhann H. Hafstein

OWNER, FOUNDER, LEAD GUIDE, NAMSG

Jóhann is one of two founders of Viking Heliskiing and Höfði, and is one of our Lead Guides during the season. Despite skiing all over the world, the Troll Peninsula, where he has gained unique expertise, remains his favorite. Jóhann is a former ski racer with the Icelandic national team and a member of the Icelandic Alpine technical team. He competed at the Olympic Games in Nagano in 1998 and participated in a couple of World Cups with the Icelandic team. Jóhann holds a law degree and practiced as a lawyer until 2013 when he founded Viking Heliskiing. Jóhann lives in the south of Iceland with his family and enjoys traveling and fishing in his spare time. 

Off-season, Jóhann is occupied with preparations for the grand opening of our new resort, Höfði. In 2026, our heliskiing guests will have the privilege of staying at this luxurious destination. 

Björgvin Björgvinsson

OWNER, FOUNDER, LEAD GUIDE, NAMSG

Björgvin is one of two founders of Viking Heliskiing and Höfði, and is one of our Lead Guides during the season.

Björgvin comes from a small town in the North of Iceland called Dalvík where he lives with his wife and three sons (it should not surprise you that all of them are great skiers). Growing up with the Troll Peninsula in his backyard and skiing there his whole life, we can say with confidence that he knows it better than most. 

Björgvin is a former Icelandic Alpine technical team member. He participated in three Olympic games, and six World Championships, won the Junior WC in Chamonix in 1998, was a three-time Oceania Champion, raced in many World Cups, and won the Icelandic Championship over 30 times. 

Björgvin has this ability to uplift the spirits of those around him and form genuine connections with our guests. Along with Jóhann, Björgvin is busy preparing for the opening of Höfði. 

STEVE – HEAD LEAD GUIDE, IFMGA

Steve grew up playing in the Green Mountains of Vermont. Heading out West for college, Steve found bigger mountains, deeper snow, and bigger adventures. The desire to ski grew into the pursuit of AMGA training and certification in the Rock, Alpine, and Ski disciplines. In 2008, Steve became the 51st American to achieve status as an IFMGA Mountain Guide, the highest and most respected international certification for Mountain Guides in the world. In 2012 he joined the AMGA’s National Instructor Team helping to train and certify the next generation of American Mountain Guides. 

Steve’s resume includes 14 years with the Crested Butte Professional Ski Patrol, 10 years forecasting for the Crested Butte Avalanche Center (and current VP of the Board of Directors), current Lead Guide for Viking Heliskiing, current Lead Guide with Hokkaido Backcountry Club, previous Director of Global Guide Operations at Irwin Guides/Eleven Experience, and a decade of working within the AMGA. 

We are extremely lucky to have someone with the experience and qualifications Steve has as a part of our team. 

 

STEFAN “Stebbi” – SENIOR LEAD GUIDE, CSGA / ACMG / CAA

Stefan, or Stebbi as we call him, is a very experienced and professional ski guide with more than 35 years of experience in the ski industry. He began as a ski instructor, continued as a professional ski patroller, and eventually got into backcountry ski guiding. 

Over the last 25 years, Stefan has guided a dozen helicopter and snowcat-skiing operations in British Columbia, Canada, and has been with us since 2015. Stefan has been a professional member of the Canadian Avalanche Association since 2004 and has been an instructor and examiner for the Canadian Ski Guide Association since 2007. He lives in the Selkirk Mountain Range of British Columbia and keeps himself busy as a builder/carpenter during the off-season.

Stebbi, one of Viking Heliskiing’s first guides, is a beloved member of our crew, his humor and expertise making him an invaluable asset. 

 

HEIKO – LEAD GUIDE – NAMSG

Heiko lives in the countryside of Munich, Germany, close to the Olympic ski area of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Heiko is the founder and director of Montevia, a ski and snowboard school, which in the summers offers a variety of outdoor activities and team building for companies.

Heiko is an International Ski Instructor of the highest level, American Mechanized Ski Guide (Level II), a seasoned trainer, and an adventure pedagogue. He is empathic and a very skilled guide who can help improve your technique while prioritizing enjoyment and safety in the mountains. 

Heiko has worked as a Lead Guide for heliskiing adventures in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kamchatka, and Georgia. He is passionate about off-piste skiing and enjoys sharing his love of skiing with others. He believes in creating and sharing joy wherever he goes. 

Two years in a row, Heiko has been elected “Viking of the Year” by our crew, which shows how valuable he is to us.

 

BJÖRN – GUIDE, CSGA 1

Björn is a true native of the Troll peninsula and grew up with skis on his feet.  He is a certified ski guide with the Canadian Ski Guide Association (Level 1).

Björn is a truly valuable member of our team as he has been guiding with us since day one and knows the terrain here better than most, with numerous first descents and an impressive ski touring resume. He is constantly adding new runs to our map. Björn will show you around our backyard with a big smile on his face. During the off-season, he is busy preparing for the opening of Höfði. 

Björn also has a B.S. degree in fishing science and will happily tell you the ins and outs of the Icelandic fishing industry. In his free time, he enjoys different outdoor activities like mountain biking and fishing.

 

 

ANNA – GUIDE, CSGA 3, CAA 2

Anna is an international ski guide from Canada who joined us a couple of years back. She works hard to show our Viking guests epic lines in a fun, supportive environment. She starts her heliskiing season in Canada and joins us in the spring. She is a professional member of the Canadian Avalanche Association (CAA) and has completed the level 3 program from the Canadian Ski Guide Association (CSGA). When not in the mountains she loves to surf and ride her motorbike.

 

ALLU – GUIDE, CSGA 1

Allu is a true snow addict from Finland who grew up snowboarding. At 13, he competed in freestyle snowboarding worldwide and participated in the Freeride World Qualifier tour while studying to become a guide. Allu is a Nordic Mountain leader and a Wilderness Guide. He completed Svelav pro 2 (CAA Level 1) avalanche studies, Canadian Ski Guides Association (Level 1), and a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course. He ran a snowboard school for a while, based on freestyle. He works as a ski guide in Japan (Hokkaido Backcountry Club) before his season starts in Iceland.  

Allu spends most of his time in search of new adventures and the perfect powder runs. He enjoys every single turn on his board and can sniff out the best snow! He is a passionate guide who loves to see the smiles on your faces after a good run. With Allu, you won’t have a dull day in the mountains-guaranteed!

 

 

MARIUS – GUIDES, CSGA 2, CSIA 4

Marius comes from Transylvania but has been living in Whistler, Canada for over two decades. He has been drawn to the mountains ever since he was a kid. As he says, they teach him humility and respect and they give him beauty, serenity, and happiness. He has completed the level 2 program from the Canadian Ski Guide Association (CSGA) and level 4 from The Canadian Ski Instructor’s Alliance (CSIA). From his perspective, Iceland boasts incredible terrain, stunning views, and very friendly locals. 

 

 

JURG – GUIDE, IFMGA

Coming from Switzerland, Jürg is working with us during the season as our guide.
Jürg is an IFMGA guide since 2007 and he mostly guides ski touring and heliskiing. In the wintertime, you can meet him either in the western part of the Swiss alps or in Iceland.
In the summertime, he works as a mountain guide. Apart from skiing, Jürg likes to climb, and spend his free time canyoneering.

 

KRISTJÁN – GUIDE

Kristján is one of our local guides who has great field experience and good knowledge of Iceland overall. His work experience has been varied and exciting. He has been employed full-time guiding people on multi-day hikes in the highlands, glacier guiding in the national park, river guiding the “beast of the east”, and ski-touring from a sailboat in the Westfjords.

After traveling the world with a degree in business and tourism under his belt, he decided to settle in the small fishing village of Stykkishólmur and set up Kontiki Kayaking. Kontiki’s mission is to explore places well off the popular tourist grid while providing unique experiences.

 

ALEX – GUIDE

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JEAN-FRANCOIS – GUIDE

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Anjan Truffer – UIAGM

Anjan was born and raised in Zermatt, Switzerland where he resides with his family and makes a living as a professional mountain guide year around. Since 2014 he has been in charge of the mountain rescue at Air Zermatt.

At the age of 20, Anjan was already a fully certified UIAGM mountain guide and Level 4 ski instructor and he started exploring the world heli skiing in 1996. Over 25 years of experience in skiing and climbing expeditions, opening up countless first descents around the globe, Anjan is always driven in finding the best snow and the coolest lines for his clients. He became the lead guide at the world renowned CMH Valemount lodge in British Columbia in the late 90’s and still enjoys every turn in the white magic.

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