About Us

CERTIFIED JAPOW FANATICS

Whiteroom Tours was founded on the principle of creating tours & ski holidays that are fun, adventurous and allow you to experience each destination from a local’s perspective.

From these humble beginnings and with the help of our growing client base, we have grown into a fully licenced travel agency specialising in guided ski and snowboard tours, ski and snowboard holidays, mountain guiding, instructional tours, group travel, as well as personalised travel packages to Japan.

Whiteroom prides itself on providing the highest quality guiding and tour products. We have achieved this by building a professional team of hand-picked ski and snowboard guides from around the world with exceptional local knowledge.

Our team members originate from a variety of professional ski industry backgrounds but all have one very important thing in common, their love of the mountains and Japanese powder.

At Whiteroom, our number one priority is your safety, which is why all customers guided outside the resort boundaries must personally carry appropriate avalanche safety equipment.

All of our guides are certified in avalanche safety management and first aid, plus with mountain guiding accreditations or ski patrol background, you can be assured you are in safe hands.

Whiteroom guides receive ongoing training in first aid, backcountry travel and avalanche safety with their respective country’s mountain safety associations & through our in-house training programs.

Daily guide meetings are held in each area to analyse the day’s weather, snowpack and prevailing conditions. Combined with our season’s knowledge bank we make the best decisions to ensure you ski or ride the best lines & maximise your experience.

POWDER, CULTURE, ADVENTURE!

Meet the Team

Paul Ellis

PRESIDENT, FOUNDER & GUIDE

After seasons working in the US, Australia and Japan, as well as expeditions to the mountains of Central Asia, Paul started what was to become Whiteroom Tours in 2007 with an idea to create a website around helping those venturing into the backcountry around the world. Backcountry Logistics was created and soon born Backcountry Snow Tours, which had tours planned for Pakistan, Gulmarg and Furano, Japan. Seeing that the market wasn’t really there for backcountry tours to remote locations yet he moved to offering a resort based Japan tour and sold ESS Boardstore owner Mark Chandler on the idea. In 2007 the first tour was run to Furano. In 2010 he founded Whiteroom Tours with the aim showing more people the areas in Hokkaido he came to love. Today Whiteroom Tours has grown into a Travel Agency, Tour Operator and Guiding Company with more than 50+ tours and guiding throughout Japan. Paul holds his CAA Avalanche Level 1 Professional and Wilderness First Aid certificate.

Ross Mcswiney

JAPAN CEO & GUIDE

Having guided in Japan since 2009 and with Whiteroom Tours since 2012, he heads up our Whiteroom Japan operations and has seen more winter than most people see in two lifetimes. He is responsible for establishing Whiteroom Guides and ensuring Whiteroom runs to the highest of standards. Ross has over 28 years experience as a Ski Patroller, National Ski Patrol Trainer & Examiner, Australian Ski Patrol Advanced Emergency Care Course Trainer & Examiner plus has skied 23 years in Hokkaido & Northern Honshu, 16 as a professional ski guide.

He holds his NZ Avalanche Stage 1 Professional, Certificate IV Training & Assessment, Remote / Advanced / Advanced Resuscitation / Occupational First Aid and is also an Avalanche Awareness Course and First Aid Trainer.

RONAN MAGUIRE

JAPAN GENERAL MANAGER, AVALANCHE FORECASTER & GUIDE

An Irish man who happened to land on his feet in the high alpine of NZ. Ronan has since made the mountains his home and Guiding, Ski Patrolling, Avalanche Training & Avalanche Forecasting his profession.  Ronan has been one of the NZMSC’s National Avalanche Forecaster, managed Snow Safety and the Avalanche Program for Mt Hutt NZ, been a member of the NZ Avalanche Education Advisory Committee, trainer of both recreational and professional avalanche courses plus an Avy Search and Rescue Dog handler. For the past 7 years, Ronan has been with Whiteroom becoming our Japan General Manager which includes overseeing all guide operations, avalanche assessment, and forecasting.

He looks forward to sharing his passion for the mountains with you and enjoying some good turns together.

EMILY CARROLL

JAPAN TRAVEL MANAGER

No one is more passionate about Japan and travel than Emily. She has spent years living and working in Japan as an English teacher and before that on exchange through High School and University.

Her knowledge of Japan and fluency in the language means that you get the best possible advice and a fantastic holiday. 

TRAVEL & ADMIN TEAM

Yuko Kan

Base Coordinator - Niseko, Japan

Atsushi Iwai

Japanese Liaison - Furano, Japan

Craig Sheppard

A long-time ski patroller at the Lake Louise Ski Area in Alberta Canada, Craig specialised in avalanche control and held the position as the Avalanche Forecaster for several years prior to moving Down Under. Aside from his day job at “The Lake”, Craig also juggled work as an avalanche educator with the Canadian Avalanche Association and ski guiding in many locations around Alberta and British Columbia. Although ‘Sheppy’ has experience heli-skiing and cat-skiing, his favourite guiding is self-propelled uphill and he’s looking forward to Japowing with you!

Simon Clissold

Simon's first real backcountry turns were in Chile in 1996, and since that epic beginning he's taken his splitboard all over the world in search of adventure, from Alaska to the Himalayas to Kyrgyzstan and of course Japan. After spending a winter working atop Tokachidake (central Hokkaido) all the way back in 2005/06, he's super happy to be back in Japan, helping others on their own deep pow missions.

Beth Thursby

Originally from Perth, Australia — where snow is a rarity — Beth first experienced a true winter on a working holiday in Canada in 2014. After traveling extensively, Japan always felt like home. Having studied Japanese since high school and frequently visiting, she decided to relocate there in 2023. Previously a travel agent, Beth is excited to be part of the travel team. When not snowboarding in Hokkaido, she enjoys relaxing by the water, soaking up the sun. Despite the epic snow, she might even prefer the warmth of summer.

James Robbins

Sales Team - Niseko

Guiding team

Mal Haskins

Mal is based in Wanaka New Zealand where his passion for the mountains, climbing, mountaineering and skiing can be quenched. He is an IFMGA / NZMGA Mountain and Ski Guide. During the winter months in New Zealand he lectures on the Tai Poutini Polytechnic Ski Patrol Program, works at Mt Cook Heliski as a lead guide and snow safety officer, Forecasts for the Mt Cook Avalanche Advisory as well as running his own operation based from Wanaka, Mountaineering, Ski-touring, Ski Mountaineering teaching avalanche courses. He is a member of Wanaka SAR and Winter Mt Cook SAR teams. During Summer he spends time down on the Antarctic Peninsula taking people climbing - Mal loves to ski and enjoys sharing his love of being outside and seeking adventure with like minded people.

Paul Black

After cutting his teeth backcountry skiing multiple seasons in Austria & France, Blackie kept his love of winter going with 23 years Ski Patrolling, 14 as Thredbo Ski Patrol Captain & 14 years skiing in Hokkaido, 10 as a Ski Guide. Holds NZMSC Avalanche Pro 1 & is a Patrol Trainer/Examiner.

Gareth Bevan

Gareth has been skiing Japan since 1999, including over 30 resorts in Hokkaido & Honshu. He holds his NAMSG (US mechanised ski guide) cert L2 and L2 Avalanche cert. He has heli-guided in Valdez AK for 4 years for H2o heli guides & has Ski Patrolled at Thredbo for 10+ years. Whilst he’s well skied, he can’t beat Japan’s pow!

Alistair Martin

Alistair lives his life in search of good skiing, good food and warm water. Which is why he keeps returning to Hokkaido. The 2025/2026 winter will be his 6th winter in Hokkaido. Alistair has ski patrolled for 9 winters in New Zealand and the United States. When not found skiing he can be found thinking about skiing on tropical islands. Or sitting in an onsen thinking about where to ski tomorrow. He holds the NZ Avalanche Risk Management Lv 6 and the AUS Certificate IV in Emergency Medical Response.

Greg Young

Greg grew up in snow deprived Western Australia until one taste of fresh pow kickstarted a new life in the mountains, and he now lives in Furano year-round. After 20+ winters snowboarding across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Europe and guiding in Hokkaido with Whiteroom since 2013, he is convinced Japow is the meaning of life. Greg holds his NZMSC Avalanche Pro 1, NZSIA 2 and Remote First Aid - and loves nothing more than sharing the stoke of a powder day.

Sean Riley

Sean got his start as a patroller at Keystone, Colorado before heading to the South Island of New Zealand where he worked as a Snow Safety Officer at both Coronet Peak and Roundhill. With over a decade of ski patrol experience and another half decade of guiding, Sean spends winters year-round backcountry ski guiding, teaching avalanche education, and forecasting. He holds an AAI Avalanche Pro 2 Cert and is an AIARE Avalanche Course Instructor, as well as an Emergency Medical Technician and NSP Certified Ski Patroller.

Ta-yuan (Owen) Lee

Owen is passionate about skiing and enjoys his free time travelling the world to ski, climb and meet people. A native Taiwanese, he grew up in Aotearoa and the love for the outdoors saw him pursuing a career in New Zealand, Canada and Australia as a mountain guide and an outdoor education instructor for the past ten years. Owen has a science degree in ecology, New Zealand Certificate in Avalanche Risk Management Level 5, and Wilderness First Responder. He is a qualified NZMGA Apprentice Ski Guide and currently working towards becoming an IFMGA mountain guide.

Jesse Yelverton

Jesse found his passion for skiing in Colorado where he began his career as an avalanche professional. Jesse has worked as a ski patroller and avalanche forecaster in Colorado and New Zealand, as a skiing, rock and ice climbing guide, and as an ambulance emergency medical technician. He holds a degree in Snow, Weather and Avalanche Science from Colorado Mountain College, certified Avalanche Professional L2 by the American Avalanche Association, is a registered wilderness EMT-IV, qualified avalanche and wilderness medical instructor, and a professional member and aspirant guide of the American Mountain Guides Association.

John Nisbet

John’s a passionate skier with 40+ years’ experience, as well as a keen mountain biker. Following his passion, John re-trained as a Ski Patroller, after moving from Sydney to Wanaka, New Zealand in 2016. John’s qualifications include Certificate in Ski Patrol (Tai Poutini Polytech), including Pre-Hospital Emergency Care1, First Aid-First Responder, Controlled Substances Licence and Avalanche Risk Management Stage 5. John has a wife and two teenage children who are also keen skiers, sharing his passion for backcountry skiing in Japan, New Zealand and Australia.

Steve Parker

Steve is a splitboard guide, avalanche educator and university lecturer from NZ. He has numerous first snowboard descents in NZ, the Indian Himalaya and Afghanistan. This will be his fifth season guiding in Japan, drawn back by deep pow, therapeutic Onsen’s, matcha tea and the deep contentment that comes after a day guiding. Steve has a PhD, Avalanche management Level 6, NZOIA Alpine 1 and is a CAA Avalanche Educator. He loves to surf mountains.

Justin Goldberg

Growing up in Cape Town, South Africa Justin is permanently stoked and can’t wait to share his passion for everything outdoors. Having found his passion for skiing in Canada, he has not looked back and has been doing back to back winters from Japan to New Zealand. Working as an instructor, ski patroller and now a guide, Justin has an in-depth understanding of the customer experience and how to pair that with the safety and risk management of going out into the mountains. Permanently with a smile on his face and hopefully always covered in snow, Justin is eager for eerie adventure and will help wherever possible.

Hanne Mäkinen

Despite growing up in Finland, Hanne has lived most of her adult life in the Alps, where free skiing became a big part of her life. During summers she guides hiking groups in the mountains. After ski instructor training in Austria Hanne chased winter to New Zealand for several years, eventually finding her favorite snow and the hot springs on Hokkaido in 2018. Since then she divides her winters between Japan, Austria and Lapland. Hanne is a wilderness guide, ski patroller, level 3 instructor, wilderness first responder and has CAA level 1.

Mike Irwin

I'm from Tennessee USA, not much skiing there! I really found my passion after my first winter in Aspen, Colorado. Since then I've worked in Tahoe California, Queenstown New Zealand, and Japan. Skiing is my passion, it's taken me all over the world and I'm stoked to share it with others. I have 20 winters experience ski patrolling and forecasting, AAA Pro 2, AMGA apprentice ski guide, NZSIA level 2 instructor, Outdoor emergency care, pre hospital emergency care.

Sebastien Charest

Sebastien lives and breathes snowboarding, from his home in Northwestern British Columbia. He began turning this passion into reality by becoming a snowboarding instructor at age 15, and entering a guides training program at 17. Sebastien has been working toward a fulltime guiding career ever since with no regrets. Nothing brings him as much joy as empowering those around him to enjoy the freedom of snowy mountains. He lives in Terrace, BC with his wife, co-guide and always adventure partner. They have two beautiful dogs named Smokey and Mara. They shred.

Nick Thompson

Nick Thompson grew up in Montana and was on skis as soon as he could walk. He settled in Bozeman, MT to earn a degree in Snow Science from Montana State University and to hone his mountain skills. He spent four years as a professional ski patroller at the Yellowstone Mountain Club; he’s an EMT and holds a Pro-1 avalanche certification. Off the clock Nick guides whitewater rafting trips, enjoys mountain biking, and loves sharing his passion for the outdoors with family and friends.

Devin Wittig

Devin is a skier with a deep background in avalanche ops, backcountry travel, and northern fieldwork. He’s worked as an Avalanche Technician with industrial operations in Canada and as a Parks Canada Visitor Safety Officer on the historic Chilkoot Trail, managing all visitor safety calls, training staff, and writing the avalanche safety plan. Additionally, Devin is heavily involved with teaching avalanche safety courses in the Yukon, has worked in ski touring lodges across western Canada and works as a Canoe guide and fisheries researcher in the Yukon summer.

Sven Gorham

Sven has done back to back winters for 27 seasons, splitting his time between New Zealand, USA, and Japan with the past decade ski guiding in Hokkaido. Originally a school teacher, Sven moved into outdoor education, guiding climbing, canyoning and ski touring. Sven now spends his southern winters in New Zealand ski patrolling at Treble Cone, and instructing on the Polytechnic Ski Patrol Program. He has a NZ Avalanche Level 6 and a variety of Australian guiding and teaching certifications.

Lucy Hamilton

Lucy grew up in New Zealand, spending her weekends skiing and exploring the outdoors. She is a recent graduate of Timberline Canadian Alpine Academy and holds her Avalanche Operations Level 1 and Wilderness First Responder qualifications. Lucy spends her winters backcountry skiing and developing her guiding skills, and her summers working as a raft guide and kayaking on rivers throughout New Zealand and Canada.

Samuel Harrop

Originally from the French Alps and a fully certified French ski instructor, Sam (also English) has built his career teaching and exploring the mountains. Growing up chasing powder off-piste, he has lots of experience with big mountain backcountry, that he brings to Japan. Passionate about sharing unforgettable days on snow, Sam loves helping guests discover new terrain and experience the magic of deep powder.

Brad Saville

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Brad has since been living the good life in New Zealand since the start of 2009. Based in Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world, he is committed to looking after the Ski Patrol program at The Remarkables Ski Area. He and his avalanche dog, Bomber, have even travelled internationally to Colorado to keep current with their industrial skills on point.

Izzy Holmes

Izzy was raised in the White Mountains of Northern New Hampshire, where she began skiing at the age of 2 and alpine ski racing shortly after. Izzy ski patrolled at Heavenly Mountain Resort for 5 seasons and now returns to California each Spring to work as a Snowcat guide in the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. In summers she also works as a glacier mountain guide on Mount Rainier. Izzy maintains a Leave No Trace Certificate, Emergency Medical Technician Basic Certificate, Wilderness First Responder Certificate, and has a Professional Avalanche Training Level 1 Certificate. She is currently pursuing her American Mountain Guides Association Ski and Alpine Track.

Domingo Valdivieso

Born and raised in Santiago, Chile. Home of the best skiing and terrain in the Central Andes mountain range. Domingo started his career as a mountain guide in 2010, and from there he has been exploring and working through the mountains. He studied in Canada for several seasons reaching the degree of Avalanche Operations Level 2 and nowadays, he is the leader forecaster of the first public avalanche bulletin in Chile, an Avalanche Canada official course provider, backcountry ski-guide and a true lover of powder days.

Thomas Gregson

Thomas grew up in the coastal mountains of British Columbia, eventually moving to Golden, BC and falling in love with the backcountry and it’s endless possibilities. In the summers, he manages a crew of 19 tree planters, where safety is number one priority, right above hard work and good times. Thomas is certified with CAA Avalanche Operations Level 1, Avalanche Search and Rescue Level 1, and Occupational First Aid Level 3. Along with 7 plus years of backcountry experience, Thomas is excited to share Japan with you!

Our INSTRUCTORS

Beth Allsworth

Beth has previously worked in Japan and Canada and is currently based back home in the UK teaching students with additional needs and disabilities to ski and snowboard. She is super stoked to return to Japan and help others to find their love for snowsports. Beth has her BASI Level 3 Snowboard qualification and is also an experienced ski, snowboard and adaptive instructor.

Theo Nivou

Théo grew up in the French Alps, where a strong background in ski racing laid the foundation for his technique and love of the mountains. His passion for skiing later took him abroad to Whistler, Canada, where he worked as a ski instructor before returning to Europe to spend four seasons teaching and guiding in Verbier, Switzerland. Alongside his professional instructing experience, he is an avid freeride and freestyle skier, always seeking new challenges and creative lines in the mountains.

Lian Baas

Born in a small village in the Netherlands, Lian started skiing as a kid in the European Alps. But after seven years of skiing, she made the switch to snowboarding and never looked back. She’s WSSV Snowboard level 2 certified and most recently been working at her local indoor slope helping people get out into the mountains. She’s super stoked for her first season in Japan and cannot wait to bring her passion for snowboarding overseas.

Matt Leuverink

Matthew is a passionate skier with 12 seasons of Instructing experience. He's a fully certified ski instructor with the New Zealand Ski Instructors Alliance. Matthew skis and teaches at a high level in all settings including race, park and freeride. If you want to take your skiing to the next level and have fun doing so, join Matthew for a lesson.

Tommy Cotterell

Tommy found his passion for the mountains in St Anton of the Austrian Alps where he learnt to ski as a toddler. Hailing from London (UK), he enjoyed a 5 year stint of corporate life in the ‘Big Smoke’... Utilising all annual leave for skiing trips; a return to the mountains was inevitable! Prior to arriving in Japan he has ski instructed in Canada, New Zealand & Australia, but has returned to Japan as it's simply the best. He holds CSIA ski certifications as well as Avalanche Skills Training level 2 and First Aid. He is in his element skiing deep powder, trees and moguls.

Callum Innes

Born in the Netherlands and raised in Scotland, I started skiing in Europe at the age of 8 and was instantly hooked. I began racing for my secondary school and later competed in France and Canada. While living in Whistler, I earned my instructor qualifications and spent three seasons primarily teaching private lessons, adult group sessions, and season-long coaching programs for kids. During that time, I also completed off-piste and avalanche safety training. I'm now excited to bring my skills and passion for skiing to Japan.

Chris Whittaker

Leaving his home nation of England in search of an adventure, Chris' over-a-decade-long 'Gap Year' is showing no signs of slowing down. Instead, a path has been weaved from East Asia, Africa, Europe, North and Central America, down to New Zealand and back again. Chris is a migratory species that spends the summers working as a Sea Kayak Guide and the winter months as a Snowboard Instructor.

Gonzalo Rivera

Born in Argentina, Gonzalo has been travelling around the world for the last 7 years, looking to learn what every place he visits has to offer in terms of terrain and ski instruction systems. He is currenly working towards his Alpine Level 3 from APSI, while also holding certifications from USA (Level 2 and Children Specialist) and Argentina's AADIDESS (Nivel Uno). He is fluent in English and Spanish, and has been teaching skiers of all ages and levels for over 4 years.

GUEST SERVICES TEAM

Riley Aspinwall

Riley began skiing on the East Coast of the US in Maine and Vermont where she fell in love with the outdoors. Inspired by the mountains, she moved West and began working in the outdoor industry as a mountain bike and hiking guide based in Utah. She has spent her winters living in various ski towns in Utah, Colorado, Queenstown, and now Japan! Riley is an EMT with a bachelors in Biology and has a passion for wilderness medicine. She is happiest when her spare time is filled with adventures in the mountains- tramping, skiing, or biking! Riley is looking forward to helping you enjoy every aspect of your winter holiday, as part of the Guest Services team.

" Julian and Taneli were AWESOME! They went above and beyond to make sure we found fresh powder every day "

Lisa Wilson

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