Vivalpin Team

Your mountain and ski school for more than 40 years!

The VIVALPIN team stands for alpine expertise and the highest quality, because nothing is more important than the safety of our customers. That's why we rely on trained mountain guides for all our mountain and ski school offers, who are happy to pass on their enthusiasm and experience in mountain sports to you. Whether you are a beginner or an ambitious mountaineer, we offer high-quality courses, guided tours and events in mountain and ski sports 365 days a year. Our focus is on your experience and your complete satisfaction with all our services. We look forward to your individual request and can't wait to welcome you and make your time in the mountains unforgettable.
We love the mountains and our profession!
Your VIVALPIN mountain guide team

Our office team

Christof Schellhammer

Founder, managing director and head of the Vivalpin Mountain School

Christof has been a state-certified mountain and ski guide since 1984. He was an instructor and examiner in mountain and ski guide training for many years and knows all the tours in the Vivalpin program. His work as a professional mountain guide has taken him to many mountains around the world. He has climbed many large Alpine faces with guests and spent several winters in Canada as a heliski guide. Today you can still meet Christof with guests on the most beautiful tours and summits in the Alps and the mountains of the world.
You can reach Christof at

Max Pohl

Managing Director and Head of the Vivalpin Ski School

Born in Werdenfels, he grew up in the mountains and lives for mountain and ski sports. Although Max was a passionate ice hockey player until the age of 20 and skated in North America and Austria alongside SC Riessersee, he always retained his passion for the mountains of this world and climbed numerous peaks in the Alps, the Himalayas, the Andes, the Caucasus and the High Atlas. After completing his state ski instructor examination in 2012, he embarked on a new sporting challenge, which he continued by joining the team of instructors of the German Ski Instructors' Association and taking over the management of the Vivalpin Ski School. Max gained the experience for this during his tourism studies and several winters in Austria and Switzerland as a professional ski instructor. As a passionate freerider, mountaineer and mountain biker, he also spends most of his free time in the mountains. The best way to reach Max is at:

Wolfgang Pohl

Founder and mountain guide legend

Wolfgang is a state-certified mountain and ski guide as well as a state-certified ski instructor and was involved for 30 years as an instructor and examiner in professional training courses for mountain guides and ski instructors. As a qualified sports scientist, he has also written numerous specialist books and publications such as the well-known alpine and skiing curricula. In over 40 years as an active mountain guide, he has guided his guests not only through the north face of the Three Peaks or other major Alpine faces, but also up the eight-thousander Cho Oyu or Mount McKinley in Alaska.

Emma Schellhammer

Head of Event Agency, Communication and Marketing

Emma studied tourism management and trained as an occupational therapist in Cologne. Emma is also an enthusiastic skier (DSLV Level 2) and mountaineer with an amazingly large touring repertoire for her young age. Emma is taking over the communication and marketing divisions from Franziska Pohl and is responsible for the event agency. You can reach Emma at:

Julia Pöschl

Head of ski school and office manager

The state-certified business economist and hotel manager is the sunshine in the Vivalpin office. Julia has been working at Vivalpin since summer 2022 and provides expert advice on booking your experiences. As a local, the budding ski instructor knows most of the hiking tours and many mountain and via ferrata tours around the Zugspitze.
You can reach Julia during our office hours by phone or email at 

Simon pound

Head of department mountain school

Simon is a passionate mountaineer. He has a degree in business management and has been with Vivalpin since 2023. Simon knows his home mountains around the Zugspitze in summer and winter, but after spending a semester abroad in Taiwan and traveling to many parts of the world, he also looks "outside the box". In his spare time, Simon works as a ski instructor and in the Krün mountain rescue service. 
You can reach Simon at: 

Markus Becklass

PPE representative and responsible for rental and test equipment, member of the Vivalpin competence team

The state-certified army mountain guide can look back on a biography that would last several lifetimes. Markus is considered an absolute equipment expert and is therefore also responsible for the rental and test equipment of Vivalpin's partner companies. You will also meet Markus in the mountains at avalanche training sessions, at events organized by The North Face, Roland Berger or other partners and customers. 
He will be happy to answer your questions at markus.@vivalpin.com

Alina "Charly" Plath

Summer & Winter Event Manager

Alina has been an integral part of the Vivalpin team since 2021 and, as summer and winter event manager, is the creative head of our ensemble. Growing up on the beautiful Ammersee south of Munich, skiing has accompanied her from an early age. She learned to ski on countless powder runs together with her family in the beautiful Zillertal. Alongside her master's degree in sports management, she decided to start training as a state-certified ski instructor in 2021 and turn her hobby into a career. Today, Charly is not only an incredibly good freerider, but also a sought-after sports model and always knows exactly what needs to happen in front of or behind the lens to get the best results. As a course instructor and member of the teaching team at the Vivalpin ski school, Charly also impresses with her friendly manner, her professional expertise and her enthusiasm, inspiring guests and colleagues alike.
Alina can best be reached at: instagram.com/vivalpin

Claus Mooshofer

Head of the Lowa Test Center in Grainau

If you are looking for the best mountain boot, then you should definitely visit Claus at the LOWA test center in Grainau. Claus not only knows the mountains like the back of his hand, he also knows every seam and every pad on "his" LOWA shoes. Claus will give you perfect advice before and after your personal shoe test!

Ines Sommerfeldt

Accounting and dunning

Ines is the grande dame in the background. She keeps track of all the figures at the Vivalpin Mountain and Ski School and the Vivalpin Event Agency. With her reserved, considered manner, Ines is the perfect back-up in the Vivalpin team. You can always rely on her and when the going gets tough, Ines is also happy to provide expert customer advice. 

Our mountain guide team

Georg “Schori” Straub

State-certified army mountain guide, state-certified ski instructor, lecturer for first aid & alpine mountain rescue

Simon Gietl

State-certified mountain and ski guide; professional mountaineer; expert for demanding and extreme tours

Simon Gietl - top alpinist and your guide at many VIVALPIN events.
Markus Vogl

State-certified army mountain guide, member of the Vivalpin competence team, with VIVALPIN since 2016

Jana Kees

Mountain hiking guide, Tyrolean ski instructor, candidate paragliding instructor

Theo Förster

State-certified mountain and ski guide, all-round mountaineering and mountain guide, member of the Vivalpin Competence Team, with VIVALPIN since 2022

Thomas Storck

UIMLA mountain guide, specialist for alpine crossings, member of the Vivalpin competence team

Christian Hessing

State-certified mountain and ski guide, climbing instructor and all-round mountaineer, Mont Blanc expert, with VIVALPIN since 2004

Josef Hümmer

State-certified army mountain guide and canyoning guide, member of the avalanche commission and member of the Vivalpin competence team

Hanna Hörmann

UIMLA mountain hiking guide, with VIVALPIN since 2019

Lenz Boehm

State-certified police mountain guide, member of the Vivalpin competence team, with VIVALPIN since 2010

Alex Baier

State-certified mountain and ski guide, all-round mountaineer, with VIVALPIN since 2000

Alisa Winter-Menhofer

Tyrolean mountain hiking guide, with VIVALPIN since 2024

Christian Treimer

State-certified mountain and ski guide, with VIVALPIN since 1996, expert for ski tours and steep descents

Andreas Stippler

State-certified army mountain guide, state-certified ski instructor, freeride expert

Annegret Storck

UIMLA mountain hiking guide, expert for Alpine crossings, with VIVALPIN since 2016

Stefan Scheiblauer

State-certified mountain and ski guide, with VIVALPIN since 2021

David Sikan

Mountain guide, mountaineer, paraglider, with VIVALPIN since 2018.

Hannes Imhof

UIMLA mountain guide, mountaineer and climber

Nadine Stippler

Nature & Hiking Guide, Hatha Yoga Teacher

Michi Zahler

State-certified ski instructor, mountain hiking guide, freeride and outdoor guide, member of the Vivalpin Competence Team

Vevi Glatz

Mountain hiking guide Tyrol, with VIVALPIN since 2025

Wolfgang Wagner

State-certified army mountain guide, with VIVALPIN since 2025

Stefan Schmidtchen

State-certified army mountain guide, Rottach-Egern mountain rescue team leader, with VIVALPIN since 2008

Benji Bickel

Mountain guide aspirant UIAGM, with VIVALPIN since 2022

Matthias Holzer

State-certified mountain and ski guide, with VIVALPIN since 2022

Alex Neundlinger

UIAGM mountain guide candidate, mountain runner and Skimo competitor

Renate Baumgartner

Mountain hiking guide, with VIVALPIN since 2015

George Meysner

UIAGM Mountain Guide Aspirant

Michi Knilling

UIAGM mountain guide candidate, with VIVALPIN since 2024

Marcus Schrödl

Army mountain guide, member of the Krün mountain rescue team, with VIVALPIN since 2025

Sanni Schäffler

UIMLA mountain hiking guide

Tina Gerstenberg

UIMLA mountain guide, with VIVALPIN since 2021

Bernd Breher

State-certified army mountain guide

Georg (Schori) Straub

State-certified army mountain guide, DSV/DSLV ski instructor, international rescue specialist, air rescuer, with VIVALPIN since 2023

Julia Rieger

UIMLA mountain guide candidate, trail runner

Helmut Hesch

State-certified mountain and ski guide, medical doctor, with VIVALPIN since 2000

Max Huttner

UIMLA mountain guide, since 2016 with VIVALPIN

Michi Trepte

State-certified army mountain guide, state-certified ski instructor, with VIVALPIN since 2000

Stephanie Mile

Mountain guide, with VIVALPIN since 2004

Verena Peuler

Mountain hiking guide, expert for Alpine crossings, ski instructor

Christian Zanfir

UIMLA mountain guide, yoga teacher, since 2021 with VIVALPIN

Florian Winter

Mountain hiking guide, with VIVALPIN since 2025

Markus Black

Mountain guide aspirant UIAGM, with VIVALPIN since 2023

Angelika Sonnweber

Tyrolean mountain hiking guide, with VIVALPIN since 2007

Cat Juhran

UIMLA mountain hiking guide and all-round mountaineer, member of the Vivalpin competence team

Robert Asner

Mountain hiking guide

Florian Harrasser

Mountain hiking guide from South Tyrol, extreme climber and rope companion by Simon Gietl

Oli Weiss

State-certified army mountain guide

Laura Schlömmer

Mountain guide candidate UIAGM, since 2024

Alltimelaura - the popular and well-known influencer.
Flori Bomhard

Certified outdoor trainer, climbing instructor, member of the Vivalpin Competence Team, with VIVALPIN since 2018