Sam was born and raised in the mountains of Idaho, where he started snowboarding at age 8. Since that time, snowboarding has dictated most of his life decisions. His passion for the mountains and outdoors in general led him to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Recreation and Outdoor Education from the University of Idaho. After graduating, he hit the road, chasing powder and whitewater across the western US. He currently resides in Park City, Utah and splits his time guiding in the Wasatch and the West Central Mountains of Idaho for Payette Powder Guides. Sam is an American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education instructor and enjoys sharing in the learning process with those seeking knowledge. He is an American Avalanche Association Pro Member, has completed his Pro 2 through AIARE, is a Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician and a Guide Ambassador for Weston Snowboards. When not in the mountains, you can find him guiding rivers in Arizona, Idaho, Oregon, California, Texas, Alaska, and India. He also works as a firefighter/EMT and greatly enjoys the opportunity to give back to the community which has given him these amazing opportunities. Sam will return for his 3rd consecutive year guiding with us in Kyrgyzstan in 2024.