Guides and Staff

  Njord Rota – Owner

Njord holds a unique position in the industry, being both a guide and a helicopter pilot. Njord started his career ski guiding in the Garmisch-Partenkirchen region of the northern Alps and then worked as a ski patroller. Soon after he became a helicopter pilot working for the US Army and then continued his career as an experimental test pilot for Lockheed Martin. He’s also been a professional whitewater kayaker, the publisher of Kayak Magazine, and a teacher for aspiring boaters and skiers. He spends his summers fighting wild land fires and teaches high altitude and mountain helicopter flying in Leadville, Colorado.

Tanner Haskins – Operations Manager, Lead Guide

Originally hailing from Vermont where he grew up on the slopes of Killington and earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering from UVM, Tanner now calls the jagged Sawtooth peaks of Stanley, Idaho home.  Tanner travels a well-worn circuit beginning with rafting the River of No Return and Middle Fork of the Salmon in the summer, followed by backcountry touring guiding and teaching avalanche courses in the early winter, and ending with a spring-time pilgrimage to Alaska’s Chugach range.

At work Tanner’s passions include finding the best views and deepest pow as well as not answering the question “How long do you plan to do this for?”.

During his free time Tanner enjoys mountain biking, skate skiing, hiking, hunting, taking photographs, and road trips.

Jimmy Tart – Lead Guide, Forecaster

Originally from Texas and calling Hailey, Idaho home after two decades in Park City, Utah,  Jimmy brings a wealth of experience and energy to Majestic Heli Ski. He worked on the Park City Ski Patrol and snow safety department for sixteen seasons, he also trains avalanche professionals for Silverton Avalanche School, guides for Park City Powder Cats and has guided skiers in South America for Ski Arpa

Jimmy loves bikes, strong coffee and smooth chocolate.  He’s looking forward to showing you the most amazing trip to Alaska you could imagine.

Alan Davis – Guide

Alan grew up in Southcentral Alaska and studied biology prior to his guiding career. He has been fortunate to ski and climb many mountains around the world including Asia’s Himalaya, South America’s high Andes, and throughout the North American West. In the early summer months, he works for the US National Park Service as a Denali Climbing Ranger.

Between work, he spends free time wearing flip-flops, drinking coffee, and searching for good surf at home in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Alan’s passion for showing his guests good lines in wild places is limitless.

Matt Doskocil – Guide

Matt was born and raised in New Hampshire where he learned to snowboard in the White and the Green Mountains of Vermont. He earned a four year degree from Northern Vermont University with a degree in tourism and hospitality. After college Matt came to Majestic Heli Ski as an intern and has done every dirty job. He has a passion for snowboarding, big mountains and ensuring all of Majestic Heli Ski guests feel welcome and at home.

Matt’s infectious smile and positive attitude will be sure to make your trip to Alaska even better.

Drew Layman – Guide

Drew is from Bend, Oregon, where he developed a passion for skiing powder that he can’t wait to share. Drew has worked as a ski guide and patroller for a number of different operations in Utah, Colorado, Alaska, and has spent three seasons chasing an endless winter in the Southern Hemisphere patrolling and guiding in New Zealand. When not at work Drew has a love for big mountain exploration with multiple personal and professional expeditions to far-flung regions of the world. He guides high-altitude mountaineering, skiing, and trekking in the Himalayas for his company Fall Line Expeditions. When not on snow Drew enjoys a wide number of activities from whitewater rafting, to mountain biking, and sport climbing.

Shannon Finch – Guide

Shannon Finch was born and raised in Utah, she grew up skiing in the Wasatch mountains and has recently found herself spending more and more time skiing and & guiding in the Uinta Range. Currently she splits her time in the winter season guiding with Majestic, Park City Powder Cats & Wasatch Powderbird as well as teaching avalanche courses for the American Institute for Avalanche Research & Education. Shannon recently hung up her ski patrol jacket after working on the mountain for 12 years. While ski patrolling, Shannon was a primary dog handler for an Avalanche Rescue Dog named Lēif Rowëyn and together they certified as a Level A rescue team with Wasatch Backcountry Rescue. During the spring & summer months she works as a whitewater kayaking guide, traveling around the western United States in search of whitewater. She is an EMT, an enthusiastic guide, an avid educator, and skis with poles that are about 6” shorter than everyone thinks they should be.

Patrick Reddish – Guide

Patrick Reddish grew up skiing and climbing in the Wasatch mountains of Utah. Currently he calls Park City home. He has spent years working internationally, guiding clients from the Andes to the Himalayas. Currently Patrick guides full time with Powderbird Heli Ski, based out of Snowbird, Utah at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon. Early mornings he can often be found working on the avalanche mitigation team for the Snowbird Ski Patrol. Patrick has spent the last 5 years sharing his depth of knowledge with skiers & riders teaching avalanche education for the American Avalanche Institute. He’s looking forward to returning for another year guiding at Majestic Heli Ski.

Theresa Gerdin – Guide

Theresa Gerdin, AKA “Tree,” was born and raised in Aspen, Colorado, a town where the beer flows like wine. She graduated from Colorado State in 2012 with a degree in Natural Resource Recreation. Throughout Tree’s skiing career, she has moved north on multiple occasions; first to Jackson, WY, then to Big Sky, MT, and to Alaska for her spring seasons. Like most snow sport enthusiasts, Tree follows the snow, and immerses herself in sharing her passion of skiing with everyone around her. Tree works for Big Sky Resort as a ski instructor, as well as PSIA-NRM as an examiner. She earned her front seat heli-guide position at Alaska Rendezvous before joining the Majestic Heli Guide Team. When Tree isn’t bouncing around snowy slopes, she is doing a myriad of different jobs throughout the summer. She has worked for the forest service on trail crews, as a wilderness ranger, a wildland firefighter, and a fire dispatcher. Recently she has focused her attention into working for a tree removal service in Bozeman, MT where she has improved her craft of running chainsaws and protecting the health of trees in her community. Tree will not just show you the good snow, but will have a giant smile on her face when skiing it with you.

Sara Lundy – Guide

Sara is a full time AMGA ski guide and AIARE avalanche course leader.  She has been ski guiding since 2003.  She lives at the base of the Sawtooth Mountains in Stanley, Idaho, with her husband Chris. During the off season she guides on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River and throughout the mountains of Idaho.  In her free time she is currently working toward her private pilots license, sneaking in her first solo flight just before this ski guide season pulled her back.  Sara loves to ski powder and loves to see her guests love it too.

Elias Holt – Guide

Born and raised in Talkeetna and in a log home, with a bush pilot / hunting guide for a father and a strong independent mother, Elias was given a great opportunity and perspective of the world and doesn’t want to waste it.  Elias started guiding at the age of 19 and has never looked back. Now with years of experience and many certifications he guides all over the globe.  Ski trips in the famous deep powder of Japan, month long expeditions in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, incredible views from high altitude expeditions on Denali and skiing incredible corn on the Antarctic peninsula.

Elias is certified in avalanche rescue and winter forecasting, rescue rope work and glacier rescue, ski instructing, rope access work, wilderness first responder and many other certifications. He is currently starting his route through the American Mountain Guide Association.

When Elias is not guiding, he enjoys watching late 80’s sci-fi movies, IPA’s and has a recent fascination with cribbage.

Kari Rowley – General Manager

Kari grew up in Virginia and moved to Aspen, Colorado to learn to ski after earning a biology degree at Roanoke College – and never left! She has been in HR, Finance and Hospitality for over 20 years and with Majestic since it started in 2013, and now manages all of Majestic’s back of the house goings-on. When you call or email to book your trip, Kari will be on the other end to answer all of your questions and help get you signed up for the best trip of your life! When not in Alaska, she keeps Majestic afloat from her home in Basalt, Colorado.