Leader Spotlight: Aaron Colussi

Meet Aaron Colussi–Phenomenal photographer, videographer, and the guy you'll probably see on our most adventurous and active SurfYogaBeer trips, running with a full pack of gear while snapping your most epic photos. 

Croatia - 2022

How did you first hear about SurfYogaBeer?

My first intro to SYB was when I hired Mantas to model a shoot around 2013. A couple of years later, I hired Mantas again, and he invited me to lead and photograph a trip they were taking to Crested Butte (a skier/snowboarder's dream in Colorado). Since I had just moved to Colorado that year, I jumped on board, and the rest is history.

What has been your favorite or most memorable SYB trip, and why?

That would probably be my first trip to Iceland in 2018. It was a very different style of trip from what SYB had done before. Iceland was the first true mountain trip and required a lot of scouting and exploring of trails that you didn't get on other SYB adventures. The crew we had on that trip was fantastic, and the location and home base were, hands-down, the nicest any SYB trip had at the time. 

One of the stand-out days was when we ran the 22-mile-long Asbyrgi Canyon. Even though we were completely toasted by the end, we had a raging party under the midnight sun that evening—core memory.

Iceland - 2018

What has been one of the most rewarding parts about traveling with/leading SYB trips?

For me, it's experiencing and exploring a new place with a new crew and shifting certain elements of trips around (as much as I can) so that there's never a redundancy from one trip to the next, and people can have new experiences each year. That's mainly why I go on mountain trips. I love that there are always new trails and ski areas to navigate and experience. Beaches are boring.

Go-To karaoke song or favorite stop-you-in-your-tracks dance song? 

Total Eclipse of The Heart, by Bonnie Tyler

Dream vacay?

Not to push the SYB premiere trip in 2025, but skiing in Japan is pretty much it. It's going to be EPIC. I'm so excited to take an extra two weeks in the country just to ski!

Crested Butte - 2017

When you're not repping SYB, what can people find you doing?

I'm lucky because I'm always on the road doing what I love, but my number one favorite non-family-related activity is trail-running in the mountains with my dog Anna.

Why travel with Aaron?

I try to make sure our guests have the most incredible experience, regardless of the location we're exploring. That means pushing a bit to summit the mountain or ski the black run. My go-to line is, "Hey, if I can do this wearing a 40lb backpack, then we can definitely do it together," so I'll never push someone to do something unsafe or that I wouldn't do.

SYB is all about community and building relationships throughout a trip, but it's also about self-exploration and discovery. The term "leader" is a tricky one for me because I don't always want to be "first" or in the lead on a trail or ski run. I want to be side-by-side with the guests and enjoy the experience together. 

And because I hate having my own photo taken while I'm leading a trip, that just means more candid, action-packed, memorable photos I'll be snapping of you! Join me in 2025 in Japan and the Dolomites!

Dolomites - 2024

SurfYogaBeer is an active and social travel company focused on global, local, and private adventures, offering group trips for people of all ages and fitness levels. We're all looking for adventure. Travel with us–change your life.