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| “You
could not ask for a better guide.” (Jon Imhoof) |
| Don
& Colette F. Virginia, USA - Best of the South Island, February
2000 |
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| “Mark
was excellent - kind, knowledgeable, flexible, pleasant, brilliant!
A special thanks for the introduction to his Aunt & Parents!” |
| Susan
& Larry Rockafellow - Indiana, USA - Best of the South Island,
January 2003 |
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Your
Guides
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Serious
Fun is a part of a close knit community of professional guides and
outdoors people who regularly combine talents to provide the ultimate
in adventure. Small groups and a high guide to client ratio mean personalized
attention and a more intimate involvement with the environment and
people of the World.
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Jon Imhoof
Jon
Imhoof is the founder of Serious Fun and first began leading
hiking and sailing trips in Hawaii more than 15 years ago.
Moving to New Zealand in 1989, Jon started the first river
surfing company in the world before going on to establish
the first specialized heli-snowboarding operation in the country.
In 1996 Jon started another river surfing operation, on the
Zambezi River in Southern Central Africa. Jon has a degree
in Anthropology from the University of Hawaii and has been
into windsurfing, surfing, paragliding, kayaking, rafting,
scuba diving, mountain biking, climbing and just about every
other outdoor pursuit known to man. Jon designs the itineraries
and takes a personal interest in each trip. He and his wife
Allison host the last night's dinner at their home beside
the Kawarau river and enjoy meeting each group and sharing
tales of adventure.
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Mark Orbell
Mark
Orbell is a sixth generation New Zealander, a descendant from
one of the first migrant ships from England in 1849. Born
and raised on a sheep farm Mark has a unique incite into the
rural lifestyle of the South Island. He developed a love and
appreciation for the outdoors at an early age exploring the
country side and learning the patient skill of the fly fisherman.
After graduating from University Mark guided on the Routeburn
Track for 6 seasons. Having hiked the track well over 100
times, no one knows the trail better. His musical ability
and guitar playing are legendary, adding a folksy flavor to
any picnic or BBQ. Mark is also fast becoming one of New Zealand's
top "up and coming" outdoor photographers. His images
have been published in many forms including magazines, brochures,
calendars and postcards. The stunning photograph of a Fiordland
waterfall on the cover of Serious Fun's new brochure was taken
by Mark.
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Richard Morris
Richard
Morris is a native of New Zealand and has been a guide with
Serious Fun since 1987. Rich has led thousands on hiking trips
as well as mountain biking and back country snowboarding tours.
During his career he has also been a heli-ski guide, a riversurfing
guide and a bungy Jumpmaster. Like all our guides, Rich has
a variety of interests that span a wide range of subjects
including photography, music, maori culture, birds, plants,
geology, astronomy, philosophy and politics. Rich has an encyclopedic
knowledge of New Zealand’s natural history and wildlife
and delights in sharing the many natural wonders of his homeland
with visitors.
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Rodney Garrard
Rodney Graduated from Canterbury University , he majored in both Zoology and Geology. He has since been involved with a number of conservation projects both here in New Zealand and in South East Asia . Rodney is currently doing his masters in Environmental Management studying the impact of climbers and other recreational users of the alpine area in Mt Aoraki/Cook National Park. Rodney's passion for exploration and adventure has taken him to Africa , Asia , Canada , America , Europe and both Central and South America .
When referring to the South Island he says, "It's so dramatic, a huge and beautiful playground". His interests are mountaineering, mountain biking, snowboarding, scuba diving, sailing, chess and photography. His next goal is to summit Mt Aoraki/Cook but he wants to make sure people are using the fragile areas responsibly.
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Tony Loxton
Tony was born in Southern Africa and has lived between Australia and Africa throughout his life. In partnership with Jon Imhoof, Tony setup the first riversurfing operation on the Zambezi River in 1996. Whilst living in Livingstone, Tony guided hundreds of rafting, riversurfing and canoeing trips on the Zambezi River, and knows its waters intimately. He also spent considerable time in the Lower Zambezi National Park and knows this area very well. In 2000, Tony ventured to North America and guided rafting, hiking and mountain biking trips in the US, Canada and Alaska. He has an International Business Degree from Australia and is passionate about surfing, sailing, whitewater, diving, hiking, mountain biking and snowboarding. Tony designed the Living Waters of the Zambezi itinerary using his excellent knowledge and experience of Zambia which comes from having lived there for several years.
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