The Section 8 Team

Tobin Leopkey- Founder of Section 8, Program Director & Head Ski Coach, Tobin first became qualified as a ski instructor in 1992. He is currently an examiner for the Canadian Ski Instructor’s Alliance, a C.S.I.A. level IV certified instructor and holds the I.S.I.A. stamp. He graduated from the Canadian Outdoor Leadership Training program in 1998 and also holds certifications with the Canadian Ski Guide’s Association, Canadian Ski Coaches Federation, BC Freestyle Ski Association, Canadian Avalanche Association and holds CSIA Terrain Park and Advanced Wilderness First-Aid qualifications.

Tobin grew up skiing the steep and deep tree lines on Vancouver Island but has been found teaching and participating in outdoor pursuits in various corners of the globe. He lived for many years in Whistler where he taught instructor training programs and skied as a member of the Whistler-Blackcomb Demonstration Team. He has trained everyone from aspiring instructors to Canada’s burly military personnel to young kids who have grown into world renowned freeskiers. Unable to ward off the irresistible allure of Vancouver Island Tobin and his wife, Kana moved to Courtenay BC to start Section 8… He looks forward to the day that he’ll be soon chasing his two young daughters Miyuki and Satsuki around the slopes.

Tobin and his gang of trusty ski and snowboard pros can’t wait to sculpt you into the ultimate snow rider, adventurer and leader.

Mike Bray- Co-owner, Director of Snowboarding for Section 8 as well as the Technical Director of Snowboarding for Mount Washington Alpine Resort. Mike is a Level IV Instructor and Level III Examiner with the CASI and sits on its Technical Education Committee as the British Columbia representative. He is a Freestyle and Carving Coach/Examiner for the CASI and also holds certifications with the CSIA as a Level II instructor and CANSI as a Level I Telemark Instructor.

Mike is an avid snowboarder/skier/surfer who spends his winter months in the mountains of Vancouver Island and summers just seconds from the Islands best Surfing Beaches. Mike has taught across Canada from Ontario to BC as well as internationally in Andorra. He was one of a handful of Canadian snowboarder instructors chosen to represent Canada at the Interski congress in Austria in 2011.

He has been settled now for 16 years on Vancouver Island to take advantage of Canada’s deepest snow-packed mountains and most desired Surfing beaches

Nigel Harrison- Co-owner of Section 8 and Program Development officer, Nigel is a CSIA level III and BASI grade III ski instructor, and holds the ISIA stamp. An experienced mountaineer he also holds the UK’s M.I.C., or Mountaineering Instructors Certificate. He’s been lucky enough to have taught skiing in most European countries, North America as well as Australia and New Zealand, and has skied for himself in all kinds of weird places, like Morocco, Venezuela, and Greenland, and climbed all over the world, from Hong Kong to Nepal, and from Canada to Corsica, both with clients and just for fun.Nigel now lives in Courtenay in what most people would call a shed, at the foot of Mount Washington, and is looking forward to his 16th season teaching, though he’d be the first to admit he’s not exactly sure about that number. In the summers he likes to mountain bike and climb, and tries to make his vegetable garden grow. “Any good tips for carrots?”

Mike Manara- is a CSIA Examiner and Level IV ski instructor as well a level II CSCF alpine racing coach, and Level I CASI snowboard instructor.  Mike is heavily involved in the with the ski industry. He is the Snow School Director at Mount Washington Resort, the Chair of the British Columbia CSIA Committee and the Snow School Chair for the Canada West Ski Areas Association.

Jennifer Young- is a CSIA level IV Instructor and is the first woman from Vancouver Island ever to achieve the elite certification. She has been tearing up Mount Washington since she was a toddler. She has been a ski instructor on the mountain for the past eleven winter seasons and is a Supervisor in the Snow School. When not on the mountain you can find her out fishing and running her own salmon guiding company.

Darrin West - is a CSIA Examiner and Level IV certified ski instructor as well as being certified by the Canadian Ski Coaches Federation. Darren is the Technical Director of Skiing at Mount Washington Resort responsible for training all the instructor staff.  Nobody really knows how long he’s been there but we can only guess it’s been an eternity.

Brett Smalley- is our race specialist. He is a CSIA course conductor and level IV ski instructor. Brett is also certified as a CSCF level II race coach. He is a senior instructor/coach at Mount Washington Resort and helps with staff training and race programs. Brett is a full time ski professional and in the off season, he travels to Australia to mange and coach alpine racing programs for junior athletes competing at an international level.

Tom Arnold – Tom has been on snow since the moment he could walk, skiing from the age of 1 in France and the rest of the European alps, you could say he’s a mountain boy (or at least that what he likes to tell us!) Tom took up snowboarding when he was 8 whilst still ski racing and then rode powder on a snowboard and has never looked back! Doing 6 weeks a year until he left school then… he decided to snowboard for life. Tom undertook an instructor course in Quebec and has been teaching in Canada and Australia full time for many years since, He is a level 3 CASI instructor (going for his level 4) as well as a level 2 freestyle coach also a level 1 and park evaluator.
Your most likely to see Tom on the first chairlift in the morning and riding up last at the end of the day and can be found by the fire with a beer at the end of a powder day!
Life ambition, to snowboard on every continent and have fun with good friends and pass on the stoke to people with a snowboard, surfboard or guitar under my arm!
Tom says ‘come do section 8 and change your life and change mine too’

Marthe Bakker - is a CASI level III snowboard instructor and Level II CSF freestyle coach. She is a snowboarding phenomenon from The Netherlands. Due to the lack of snow in Holland she trained to become a snowboard instructor as well as ski instructor in Austria where she obtained Anwarter Schilehrer, landes snowboard lehrer. After working in Europe she decided to “fly out to some real BC powder” and ended up at Mount Washington in 2004. Her smooth style and infectious smile will inspire you even in the nastiest conditions. In summers she works as an outdoor guide in Europe as a surf instructor on Canada’s West coast or heads to the southern hemisphere for more snowboarding. She is “very much looking forward to coaching you this winter and teaching you some sweet tricks in the park!”

Jan Neuspiel – Owner of Island Alpine Guides directs our advanced mountain skills and avalanche courses. Jan’s guiding and teaching career has spanned more than 20 years and at least that many mountain ranges. Most of this time has been spent working and living in the Himalayas guiding, climbing and trekking in Nepal (he speaks fluent Nepali) and running a helicopter skiing operation in India. Jan has climbed and skied in BC’s Coast Range, the Rockies, the interior ranges, all over the mountainous west of the USA, Europe, Alaska, the Canadian Arctic, the Himalayas and of course, in Vancouver Island’s mountains. For a number of years now, Jan has called the Island home. Jan says the unique beauty of these mountains has captured his heart and he looks forward to sharing these most special places with you. Jan brings his vast experience and dedicated professionalism plus a sense of fun to his work as a teacher and a guide. Jan is certified through the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides.

Paul Laperriere – Master of the tent! Paul is a Graduate of the Canadian Outdoor Leadership Training program and a senior member of the Canadian Avalanche Association. Paul has been a long time teacher of outdoor education in every corner of the globe. He has trained the Canadian and British Armed Forces and guided for a number of outdoor television series. Paul helps out with some of our alpine skills and avalanche safety training courses. He also runs a great second hand gear store called the “Blue Toque” and a bicycle courier business in downtown Courtenay.

Neil Allison – is a CASI level III snowboard instructor and Level 1 Evaluator. He has been riding for over 10 years, both in Europe and Canada, finally deciding the Canadian way was best in 2003 when he first qualified as an instructor in Canada. He loves carving and the challenge of the steeps, deep powder that’s so plentiful on the hill. Having done seasons in Fernie and Kicking Horse working with other instructor training courses, he found Mount Washington and never looked back. Neil is returning to Mount Washington for the 6th year to enjoy the excellent snow conditions, fantastic terrain and be part of the awesome team on the hill. In the off-season, Neil is an IT consultant and training to be a life/personal coach

Ryan Stuart- A graduate of the Canadian Outdoor Leadership Training program and a member of the Canadian Avalanche Association Ryan has spent many years teaching and guiding a variety of outdoor adventures. He is certified a telemark instructor and teaches alpine skills and avalanche safety training programs with Section 8.Ryan is also a freelance journalist. You can find his articles in many outdoor adventure magazines.

Kathryn Rutherford - is a CSIA level III ski instructor and level I CSIA course conductor. She is also Program Coordinator of Mount Washington Free-ride Club.In the off-season Kathryn works in a music shop repairing and cleaning musical instruments. When she wakes up from the dream she may settle down to be a school teacher, but until then she enjoys playing music in various bands and counting the hours till the snow starts to fly again…so she can “keep the dream alive!”