We all want to be as safe as possible when we play and explore in the winter backcountry. A certified guide can help us forge the best trip—and even more importantly, help us avoid the worst.
Enter the ACMG X Helly Hansen Ski-Guide Mentorship Program—designed to help the guides who help us.
A new collab between the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG) and technical apparel maker Helly Hansen, the program fills a void in developmental and educational training opportunities for aspiring Canadian ski guides seeking certification, one of the key qualifications for the IFMGA Mountain Guide Badge.
Earning the badge—the gold standard in global guiding—is akin to earning a master’s degree in mountain safety. The training is rigorous and the discipline unwavering—rivalling elite military preparation. But unlike a boot camp, there’s no commanding officer barking out the next step, and no textbook laying out the route to success.
That’s where the ACMG x Helly Hansen Mentorship Program comes in. Designed to bridge the gap between ambition and achievement, the program provides guidance where there was once only guesswork. By offering expert mentorship, it not only paves the way for the next generation of guides but also ensures safer, more enriching experiences in the mountains for all who seek adventure.
Led by the ACGM’s premier guides, the program unfolds in the Canadian mountains, with the first installment at Rogers Pass. The curriculum is designed to prepare guides for their final exam through both classroom and in-field training.
ACMG X HH Ski-Guide Mentorship Program – Guide Spotlight Q&A
Apprentice guide and recent Mentorship Program graduate, Tyler Jay, shares his insights on the challenging path to professional ski-guiding, the critical roles guides play in outdoor stewardship and the profound impact brands can achieve by supporting shared experiences outdoors.
What drew you to the ACMG certification and guiding as a career?
Tyler: I never really considered guiding until I had already spent years backcountry skiing. I worked in wildfire for about eight years, and during the off-seasons, I was skiing 100 to 140 days a year. It wasn’t until I started mentoring friends and realizing how much I enjoyed sharing the experience that guiding became a real career path. I knew it would be a long journey, but I also knew if I didn’t pursue it, I’d always wonder if I could have made it.
What is the process to become an ACMG ski guide?
Tyler: It’s a long and rigorous path. First, you need a solid resume—200 to 300 days in the backcountry, experience in glaciated terrain, winter camping, and a high level of personal skiing ability. Once accepted, you go through multiple training courses, exams, and a three-year apprenticeship before taking your final ski exam.
Altogether, the process can take anywhere from four to seven years.
What role do guides play in outdoor stewardship and safety?
Tyler: Our job is more than just leading people to fun ski lines. We’re responsible for risk management, decision-making and ensuring people understand how to safely interact with the environment. As the number of backcountry users grows, so does the need for proper education. We help set safety benchmarks and create a culture where people can enjoy these spaces responsibly.
How does guiding contribute to the outdoor community?
Tyler: The guiding industry provides structured education that helps people explore the backcountry safely. More people are getting into backcountry skiing and climbing, but many don’t have the knowledge base to do it safely. Guides serve as mentors and educators, ensuring that growth in the sport doesn’t come at the cost of unnecessary accidents.
What is the ACMG X Helly Hansen Ski-Guide Mentorship Program, and how does it help aspiring guides?
Tyler: The mentorship program is essentially a funded opportunity for aspiring guides to get invaluable training and feedback from certified ACMG guides. Without it, we’d have to pay out-of-pocket for professional mentorship, which can be $500 to $600 a day. The program provides us with real-world scenarios where we lead and receive feedback without the pass/fail pressure of an exam.
“Guides serve as mentors and educators, ensuring that growth in the sport doesn’t come at the cost of unnecessary accidents.”
How well-known is the mentorship program within the guide community?
Tyler: It’s still growing. A lot of ACMG members don’t even know about it yet, but those who do see it as an incredible opportunity. If more people were aware, I think it would be highly competitive to get in.
What makes Helly Hansen’s involvement significant?
Tyler: It’s rare to see an outdoor brand directly invest in guide development. Helly Hansen isn’t just selling jackets—they’re giving back to the community that relies on their gear. They recognize that well-trained guides contribute to the industry as a whole, and they’re stepping up to support that.
What would you say to someone considering becoming a guide?
Tyler: Be ready for a long and demanding process, but also an incredibly rewarding one. You’re not just learning to guide—you’re developing a deep understanding of terrain, weather, risk management, and leadership. And at the end of the day, you’re getting to spend your life in the mountains, helping others experience them safely. That’s pretty hard to beat.
Note: Helly Hansen covers all the costs for the Ski-Guide Mentorship Program and its enrolling participants so accepted applicants can partake with no out-of-pocket cost. Helly Hansen also provides apparel for participating students and staff, and gives them access to HH’s corporate lift passes at partner resorts, as well as Pro Store membership.
Q&A supplied by Helly Hansen.
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