Your Guides

Bernie Steidl

Founder & whitewater guide

Bernie grew up in a kayaking family and was already claiming first descents in the Alps in his youth. The “Sturzfahrt vom Nanga Parbat” expedition in Pakistan, which he joined at age 20, was a great success. In 2008 he turned his passion into his profession by founding SOURCE TO SEA. Through his daughter, who now paddles busily at his side, he realised how important it is to pass on the value of nature and the joy of paddling to the next generation — which is why he also works to protect Tyrol’s wild rivers as chairman of the WET association.

• [VERIFY: Zertifizierung – z.B. IRF Raftguide]
• [VERIFY: Zertifizierung – z.B. Wildwasser-Rettungsschwimmer / Swiftwater Rescue]
• [VERIFY: Zertifizierung – z.B. Erste-Hilfe-Kurs]

Eli Trafoier

Whitewater guide & operations

Eli — team lead of the kayak school. From a summer job as a secretary at a rafting company in Vinschgau to slalom racing in Verona to kayak instructor in Tyrol: that’s Eli’s impressive path to becoming a paddler with an exponentially rising learning curve! Kayaking was love at first sight for her. When it comes to sport, Eli is up for everything — really everything — and passes on her knowledge with great attention to detail. She also plays a key role in organising the kayak school and the OETZ TROPHY, fearlessly handing out tasks and managing the volunteer team.

Vali Stern

Whitewater guide

Vali has been a kayak instructor with S2S since the 2023 season and has become impossible to imagine the team without. He teaches courses at every difficulty level, is hugely motivated, and has a knack for passing his love of kayaking on to our guests — hardly anyone on the team gets as many kind emails and as much positive feedback after a course as Vali. There must be something to it :-). Alongside his work at the kayak school he leads the Innsbruck canoe polo team and works as a ski instructor in winter.