Meet Mark Herbison and Max Powers – two forces of nature shaped by the wild Kootenays. Mark is a multi-sport outdoor adventurer, in Golden, who has challenged himself in every possible way. After a tragic accident he didn’t slow down or wait for permission – he kept going. Not defined by labels or accessibility boxes, Mark’s strength comes from relentless curiosity, grit, and an unshakable love for the outdoors.
Max lives for flight. A Red Bull X-Alps competitor, he pushes the limits of human endurance in the air and on the ground. When he’s not racing across mountains, he’s building community through his paddling business, in Invermere, sharing his passion for movement and water in the Birthplace of Adventure.
MARK HERBISON
Mark is a ACMG/IFMGA certified mountain guide based in Golden. With expertise spanning ski mountaineering, rock and ice climbing, trail running, kayaking, mountain biking and paragliding, Mark is recognized as a versatile mountain athlete. He played a significant role in mountain rescue and avalanche control (in the surrounding area) and brings experience from working with Parks Canada in mountain safety and emergency response in national parks.
In 2021, Mark and his friend, Will Gladd achieved a remarkable milestone as the duo successfully completed Mount 7’s Summer Septuple in Golden. In a single day, they participated in kayaking, cross-country biking, skiing, downhill biking, climbing, hiking/trail running, and paragliding – demonstrating exceptional skill and determination across seven distinct sports.
On February 14, 2024, Mark joined Josh Lavign (mountain filmmaker, climber and backcountry skier), and Christine Lustenberger (high-profile Canadian skier, mountaineer and backcountry skier) – and they successfully complete the first ski descent of the ‘South Couloir’ on Mount Sir Sandford (3,519-m / 11,545-ft), the tallest summit in the Selkirk Mountains.
And, in that same year (2024) in September while exploring in Utah, Mark was involved in a serious paragliding accident that resulted in a fractured wrist, a severe ankle injury, and significant nerve and arterial damage. Due to the extent of his injuries, medical teams performed a below-the-knee amputation on his lower left leg. He has since been open about his recovery and rehabilitation, as well as the ways he is adapting his mountain lifestyle to his new circumstances.
In Mark’s words, “Comparison is the killer of joy. I stopped comparing my current self to my old self very early on in my recovery, as I knew it would only lure me into darker spaces. I took on challenges that I’ve never done before, competing in my first X Triathlon and 4.5-km open water swim. Being the only amputee to compete in the events, I was shocked when I placed 2nd in both for my age category. I wouldn’t have been able to do either of these events without the support and encouragement from family & friends who has been a huge part of my recovery.
I was gifted an entry into the Golden Ultra in 2025, which I knew I had no chance of completing in my current state. But I trained all summer (with coach Kylee Toth with Evoke Endurance) increasing my run distance and tolerance of the stump to 5, 10, 20, 30, 42-km, week by week the distance added up and the effort was paying off as I grew stronger.
I ran the 60-km, 2400-m elevation gain/loss in just over 10-hrs. Hours behind the leaders, but I didn’t care, I just finished an ultramarathon, my first ever official race, within 11 months of having my foot cutoff. I am stoked and looking forward to what’s next!”
MAX POWERS
Originally from Kempten in Allgäu, Bavaria, Germany, Max has been chasing adventure since he first took to the skies in Germany in the late ’80s. After discovering paragliding in 1987 (and hang-gliding soon after), his love for aviation quite literally took flight.
Max went on to compete multiple times in the legendary Red Bull X-Alps – an epic paragliding race where just 30 elite athletes from around the world navigate by air and on foot from Austria’s Dachstein Glacier all the way to Monaco. This event showcases unparalleled endurance and adaptability, requiring traditional navigation tools when the inaugural race began in 2003.
After immigrating to Canada, Max found his home in the Columbia Valley in Invermere. In 2006, he and his late wife Penny took over what is now Canadian Mountain Experience / Columbia River Paddle, building a business rooted in connecting people with nature through unforgettable water-based adventures. Penny’s commitment to making paddling accessible to as many people as possible and to sharing the breathtaking waterways of the Columbia Valley – will never be forgotten. She believed that time on the water should be welcoming, joyful, and available to everyone, no matter their experience. Through her passion, she opened doors for countless people to discover confidence, connection, and a deeper appreciation for this incredible place she called home.
As a avid aviation enthusiast with experience in single-engine aircraft, sailplanes, and ultralight planes – Max offers instruction for tandem paragliding flights during the winter months at Panorama Mountain Resort and summer flight adventures and lessons in Invermere with his company, happily named Flying Max. Outside of his work at Columbia River Paddle and RE/MAX Reality, you’ll find Max exploring the valley’s outdoor experiences, such as hiking and alpine skiing with his two children.
“I’ve spent 40 years racing paragliders across the Alps at the edge of my endurance. But the most ‘adventurous’ I’ve ever felt was my first morning paddling the Columbia Wetlands in total silence. It taught me that adventure isn’t always about speed; sometimes it’s about how much of the landscape you can actually soak in”, shared Max.
Cover photo courtesy of by Mark Herbison, paragliding over Golden, BC.
