Meet the Staff ! Montana Whitewater Bozeman Gardiner Big Sky West Yellowstone National Park

Montana Whitewater Staff

Staff Museum


		MARGOT ZELL Managette - Gallatin since 1996 Founder of Montana Whitewater Mini Theatre (performed on the bus ride) and creator of the original "Stagecoach Skit", Margot has a knack for forcing people to join in on her campy hilarity. Bill sure fell for it! They paddled rivers all over Mongolia, Western Canada and the US together and now mostly live in Bozeman when they are not somewhere tropical trying to learn how to surf! She's a mom of 2 now! JULIE WYNBEEK (J-DUB) Yellowstone Guide & Managette since 2003 Rookie of the Year 2003! Julie's positive energy and willingness to be the rad-est chick in Gardiner make her very popular with everyone. A NOLS recruit from gnar in the backcountry, Julie shows that doing what you love makes you beautiful! JULIE MAJERUS (Madge) Yellowstone Guide & Managette since 2004 4th Grade teacher during the school year and a raft guide in the summer, she knows how to make the best of any situation! She snagged Rookie of the Year 2004 and she gets straight A's as assistant manager on the Yellowstone. MIKE BENEVENTO (The Gangster) Gallatin Guide since 2005 Mike has guided all over the US - California, West Virginia, New York and now works his skills on the Gallatin. His mellow coolness and chilled out demeanor make him a great asset to our team. His wildly criminal past makes him a favorite storyteller at Parties! Check him out on our local TV commercial! JAKE ZYWICKE Gallatin and Yellowstone Guide since 2004 Jakey baby is an avid kayaker, mountain biker, rock climber, traveler, mountaineer, hostage negotiator and guides on Both the Yellowstone and the Gallatin Rivers. He definately is like this young Harrison Ford Character. Yeah, Indiana Jones, thats it! He thinks his picture looks dorky! BULLET BOB EATON Gallatin and Madison Guide since 1981 It's not a nickname. It's a persona, a philosophy and a lifestyle. Bullet is one of the best assets that we inherited as a part of our 2006 purchase of Yellowstone Raft Company. He has spent 25 years as a raft guide on the Madison and Gallatin. He trained Bill Zell way back in the early 90's. He loves Nutter Butters. COURTNEY THURNER Gallatin Guide Hunter and Angler geeks drool over this Fish and Wildlife student hottie! As a raft guide, Courtney is calm, cool and above all, collectible. When she's not using her dichotomous key, she's designing ergonomic, ecological chakra aligning jewlery. She has a whip - don't make her use it! JIM KARAS Gallatin Guide and Shuttle Driver Another Michigan Refugee! Ski Bum turned Raft Guide, Jim started out as a shuttle driver and soon moved into guiding rafts. He loves cold drinks, witty conversation and trying to remember the 60's. Jim's years in the U.S. Navy make him a unique asset to our amazing team! He looks hot in biking shorts! PAM DESOTELL Yellowstone Guide Whether she's planning another inter-raft company soiree or taking daily dips at McConnel, Pam is usually surrounded by adoring fans! She commutes to Gardiner every summer from Wisconsin to get buff and go big. She's a lover, not a fighter! ETHAN GREAVES Gallatin Guide Sensitive and strong, Ethan is that new generation of men that women have been waiting for. He rides powder in the winter as a ski Patroller at the Yellowstone Club. He has a degree in Big Adventure from somewhere in Canada and he looks good in neoprene! He's the real deal!
BILL ZELL Manager - Gallatin since 1992 Aside from being a serious canoeist, expedition master, singer-songwriter, entertaining guide, amazing two-stepper, he is the resident computer geek-genius. With 2 masters degrees and five languages under his belt, Bill is the most overqualified river guide in the state. He keeps things going around Montana Whitewater with his boundless energy. Gotta love him! GREGG ELLESTAD (EL-STUD) Gallatin Guide since 1998 Ladies beware. Gregg is a charmer and archetypal Rocky Mountain Stud. Gregg gives a wild ride to the yahoos and deftly steers granny and the kids through big water. He's a Big Canyon Man who can tell stories that go farther back than you'd believe. Former Big Sky Dirt Bag King. Go ahead! Guess his age! STEVE ABBOTT (STEEEEVE -EEEE) Gallatin Guide/Safety Boater since 1998 Wild man Stevie came to MWW in 1998 after saving Bill's ass on the Middle Fork of the Salmon where he ran Dagger Falls without a flinch. Steve has paddled many rivers in the west by cataraft and canoe - seeking adventure around every blind corner. He spends most of his time at the Bozeman Hot Springs which explains why he looks so young and healthy. What a guy! DENNIS VANNESS (DEN-EYE) Gallatin Guide & Kayak Instructor since 02 Dennis started out with us as a safety kayaker during high water. When the water level dropped, he decided he couldn't live without us and he started guiding. His tongue is out in this picture because he is feeding himself with the extra food that he stores in his beard for those long days on the river. He's a mountain man! GAVIN COOPER (the GAVILATOR) Gallatin Guide since 2006 Originally from Ohio, Gavin is a Big Sky Ski Patroller in the winter, a world traveller in the off-season and a mellow dude who gets along with everyone. Rookie of the Year 2006. He's quite the athlete! HILARY HAYES Gallatin Guide since 2006 People love rafting with Hilary - she makes each trip super exciting! Whether she is paddling her Shredder, cliff jumping, skiing deep couloirs or just chilling in the yard, Hilary has a way of making it more fun than you could have thought. She's Dating the Gangster! SAM BOLLINGER Yellowstone Guide since 2005 Sam is one of those old guys who makes you believe in your own desire to make a lifestyle change. Who cares how he earned all his money in his previous life! He's a river guide and a hunting guide now. Back off ladies, he just tied the knot with his lady friend, Sue. He's livin the Dream! JESS ATKINS Gallatin Guide Jess first rocked the 2007 Guide School with his Rhinestone studded sunglasses. Then, he whipped off his shirt to show off his tatoo of the sheet music of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. He either seems to be chasing women or running away from them. He's a fishin' musician with talent to spare! ROBERT PRICE Gallatin Guide Don't let his dirty rockstar looks fool you! Robert is a tender hearted nature boy. On the full day trips, Deer come and eat oreos out of his hand. Eagles nest in his hair. Squirrels burrow in his dry bag. Half day trip -$50, Tshirt $20, A trip down the river with Robert -- Priceless... ROB WUDLICK Gallatin Guide The boss picks on him, but mostly only because he reminds the old man of himself. He's an MSU Engineering geek who will have to make the choice between a life of work and big money or a life of perks and lotsa honey. Luke... I am your fah-thah!