Ambassador Program

Get inspired by our ambassadors, Truckee-Tahoe badasses who share our passion for sweaty summits, backcountry turns and everything in between.

Meet the Crew

We made sure our crew loves the same activities you do – skiing, climbing, backpacking, running. These folks were handpicked to test the latest gear, report back on trail conditions, and share tips on everything from how to choose a running shoe to ways to get off the beaten track (literally) with backcountry cross country skis. Keep reading to get to know these humble crushers.

Join the Ambassador Team

Interested in becoming a Tahoe Mountain Sports ambassador? Perks include an exclusive in-store discount, free gear, free rentals, swag, and more. If that all sounds good then submit an application to join the team. And don’t stop there, you’ll get more benefits when you join the fam – view our current open jobs!

Trail Running, Climbing, Backpacking

Rachel Arst McCullough

Rachel never turns down an adventure, whether it’s a dawn patrol or polar swim (without a wetsuit!). Rain or shine, she’s motivated to get outside. Besides playing in the mountains, you’ll find her at the helm of McCullough Web Services, the company she founded to help clients improve their online presence with impeccably-designed and easy-to-use websites.
Recent Adventures Follow Rachel

Kyle Railton

Kyle Railton grew up in Tahoe, while refusing to actually grow up… He uses the mountains as his year round permanent playground.
Recent Adventures Follow Kyle
Trail Running, Moto Camping, Snowshoeing

Steve Buelna

A Truckee runner that doesn’t discriminate between pavement, trail, spikes, and snowshoes – it’s fun all year long! Known for coercing people into a “bad idea” any chance he gets (his idea of fun). He leads the Donner Party Mountain Runners Newbie Run, which is open to anyone. Steve ditched his Harley in pursuit of finding cool new trails on an Adventure Bike – trip reports are coming soon!
Recent Adventures Follow Steve
Trail Running, Skate Skiing, Backcountry Skiing

Kim Yamauchi

Kim is an avid outdoor enthusiast and enjoys playing in the mountains whenever she has the chance. You’ll find Kim trail running, hiking with her dog Mochi, and mountain biking in the summer. In the winter months, Kim enjoys skiing of all types – whether skate skiing on the Nordic trails, touring in the backcountry or charging downhill at our local resorts. When she’s not out playing in the mountains, she works from her home office for Oracle NetSuite.
Recent Adventures Follow Kim
Backcountry Skiing, Trail Running, Cross Country Skiing

Ben Hogan

Ben Hogan has spent most of his life in pursuit of skiing. He set off for British Columbia in 2001 but landed in Lake Tahoe chasing a storm and has lived the majority of that last 20 years here since. A recovering ski bum, Ben now works in healthcare and is an avid mountain athlete of all sorts. He spends his winter backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering and when the snow melts, you can find him running trails and dabbling in mountain biking. He lives in Truckee with his wife Lindsay and pug, Mr. Kellan. You can read his adventure blog at www.manystepsmakemountains.com.
Recent Adventures Follow Ben
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Helen Mino Faukner

Helen loves spending time outside and standing on the tops of things. She spends most of her time outside during the summer trail running and mountain biking here and there. During winter, she loves skiing! You can find her downhill, backcountry, and skate skiing.
Recent Adventures Follow Helen

Jillian Johnson

Jill has been obsessing over the Sierra Nevada for the past 11 years. When she isn't sleeping under the stars, identifying trees or sniffing bark she is adding to her certifications in the healing arts. She enjoys spreading her passion for nature and its healing powers through guiding. If you live in Truckee she has probably pet your dog! If you own a cow she will be your best friend.
Recent Adventures Follow Jill