Michael Blanton

Experienced Technical Director with a demonstrated history of working in the Snowsports, Bike Park and Zipline industries. Skilled in Guiding, Instruction, Coaching, Event Management, Training Programs, and Training Delivery. With a focus of creating memorable experiences, enhancing peoples lives, and having fun doing it.

• Recognized for Outstanding and Dedicated Leadership as the PSIA/AASI-RM Snowboard Committee Chairperson 2011-2014

• PSIA-AASI Snowboard Level 3 Certification
• PSIA-AASI Alpine Level 1 Certification
• PSIA-AASI Freestyle Level 1
• PSIA-AASI Children's Level 2
• PSIA-AASI RM Snowboard Examiner Level 3
• PMBIA Level 1 (Mountain Bike)
• AIARE Level 1 (Avalanche)
• Bonsai Practitioner Level 1 (Zipline)

Dave Schuiling

Director of Education at PSIA-AASI

• I'd like to recommend Michael as an inspirational team leader, who utilizes the power of a team concept to accomplish great results. Michael's ability to connect at a deep level has proven his success in communication skills to drive outcomes. He is a lifelong learner committed to training and mentoring others and exemplifies the true passion of a student to the sport or project. This modeling has earned him the respect of his peers and groups that he manages. He is a purposeful and idealistic manager with business acumen to support all of the positive initiatives he has accomplished as a manager/director. Michael will be an asset to any team, with specific skills to resort/hospitality management to help foster new business through beginner conversion, training, creative revenue generating initiatives and drive long term objectives toward overall growth. He has my highest recommendation.

Daniel Sundquist

Owner@Pollux Adventures, Mountain guide at Exum

• I have worked with Michael in numerous capacities for nearly two decades.
  I can say with great confidence that there is no more guest centered Instructor/guide out there than Michael. He completely immerses himself in his client’s experiences on every level. He is not simply content to get someone up and down a run or a mountain, but rather makes every effort to ensure that the entire experience is as memorable as can be.
  Michael’s technical skills are exemplary. He embodies everything I look for in an instructor/guide; personality, skill set, communication, and techniques. I look for instructors/guides who are really a “one stop” shopping experience – individuals who can perform any task at the highest level of competence. Particularly, I have never worked with a more competent guide/instructor. He is as at home and happy guiding a mature woman down a green groomer, as he is taking a couple of highly experienced sliders up Tellurides legendary Palmyra peak, or showing a family around in the back country in Austria, as he is coaching and mentoring the most experienced snowboard instructors in the US.
  Furthermore Michael's life and guiding experiences have taken him to a staggering number of locations throughout Western Europe, Asia and North America. I am confident that you can send Michael to any mountain range and/or immerse him in any culture on the planet and he will figure out how to navigate the challenges that present themselves faster than anyone.
  Michael has a natural charisma that makes clients immediately at ease and confident in his ability to keep them safe, amused and successful in whatever endeavor or challenges they have chosen.
  I strongly urge anyone reading this to favorably consider Michael’s candidacy for their operations.

Tony Macri 

Snow Trainers LTD Owner/Director, AASI National Team Member, AASI RM Examiner and Freestyle Committee Chairman, SBINZ Examiner

• I have had the pleasure of working with Michael for many years in the Snow Sports Industry. Michael is an innovative educator and can easily relate to many different audiences. He consistently shows great leadership abilities through his thirst of continuously learning and helping others to learn. He pays particularly attention to safety and guest services. It’s been a pleasure to work, learn, and grow with Michael. I would strongly recommend Michael for many different roles within our industry.

Chris Rogers

AASI National Team | WNTR Ski + Snowboard Training | Vail Ski + SB School

• Michael and I have worked together on numerous projects over the last several years through our various roles with PSIA-AASI and AASI RM. As Chair for AASI RM's Snowboard Education Committee, Michael kept our group organized and on-track with delivering updates to the organization and members, and paved the way for a number of important updates to our standards and processes.