GQ Article

Inside Ahren’s Vision and The Ascent to Ascenso

By Zach Baron

Ahren doesn’t fit the mold of the typical hotel developer, or the typical anything, for that matter. Raised in Alberta, Canada, where beach volleyball courts are as rare as palm trees, Ahren made a surprising name for himself on the sand. But this story isn’t about his professional career as beach volleyball; it’s about something far bigger.

I first heard of Ascenso, a new boutique hotel in Costa Rica, while planning a family vacation to. Word was spreading in our friend circle about this new sanctuary in the hills of Nosara, a place that promised more than excellent service and a good view.

My wife sent me the link to the website and I was amazed at how they had designed the buildings on the edge of a cliff, surrounded by lush jungle and the indoor and outdoor spaces seemed to meld together. It seemed to embody the kind of intentionality you don’t often see in hospitality. I was defiantly curious, and when I found out the mind behind it, I couldn’t resist reaching out for an interview.

When I first touched base with Ahren for the interview, I let him know that I was going to be in town, and he quickly responded with his own question, “Zach have you ever been on a men’s retreat?”. To be honest that was a first for me, as journalist being ask a question back right away and at the same time being invited to a men’s retreat. It seemed the timing lined up when I was going to be in town and he instead I join him at *“The Balanced Man Retreat”* which he was hosting at Ascenso, his new playground in the hills.

I was definitely hesitant. A week of hiking in the jungle to remote waterfalls, self defence classes, breathwork and raw conversations with a group of men I’d never met? It sounded intimidating, to say the least. But the draw of both the retreat and the man behind it was strong enough to overcome my reservations.

With eight retreats hosted annually, each selling out a year in advance, and only 20 men per event, I was lucky that Ahren managed to squeeze me in. His selling point was “It will make for a better interview, we can to drop in together for a week and really get to know one another.” The truth is, we didn’t need a week, it seemed to happen with all the guys in the first 24 hours. No egos, no authority, just thoughtfully authentic questions that opened the space for men to drop.

The Balanced Man Retreats are no ordinary wellness retreats; they’re intense, immersive experiences designed to push men beyond their limits—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Ahren’s goal is to guide men to deeper self-awareness, breaking through the blocks that hold them back. “The retreat is about taking off the mask,” he says. “It’s about presence, awareness, and defining the bigger picture of your life.”

Each retreat is crafted with intention, combining challenging physical activities with opportunities for authentic, open-hearted conversations. “My buddy and I started this in the beginning for away to bring our close friends to together in Costa Rica, to take a pause from our day to day lives and reflect on what we are doing and how we are showing up. Its a rare thing for guys to have real conversations with any depth or substance, so we created it”.

Its clear their vision is to impact men at their core and truth be told it has created a major shift in my thinking. Ahren is clear on their philosophy, “There are no guru’s here, the men leading will shine a light on the path, but we are all discovering how we walk that path for ourselves, that’s the only way it works.”

By the time Ahren and I sit down for this interview at Ascenso’s open-air restaurant, it was post retreat and I was in a totally different head space. I’m here not just to interview Ahren but to understand how a vision like this gets built, and what it takes to make it real.

Ahren seems relaxed, grounded, and fully present, even as the restaurant buzzes with guests and sounds of the jungle echoed though the night air. Dressed casually in a black button down, jeans and no shoes, the customary dress code for this place it seems.

I was intrigued and simple asked him *“How did you pull all this together.?”*

“I set a clear vision of what I wanted years ago,” he tells me early on. “I read that vision every day, and it’s what kept me aligned.” He says it matter of fact, like its that simple, but there’s a sense of conviction that’s hard to miss. Ascenso, with its modern Mediterranean architecture, embodies a simplicity that feels welcoming and luxuriance at the same time. It’s a manifestation of Ahren’s Definite Major Purpose, shaped by years of focus and refinement.

The restaurant’s atmosphere is warm and intimate, the air filled with the mingling scents of wood-fired dishes and a fresh ocean breeze. As we talk, Ahren’s wife, Melissa, makes a brief appearance to say, their young child balanced on her hip. Ahren’s gaze shifts entirely to them, as he stands to greet her. The exchange is brief but tender, just a few soft words and a smile that seems to hold the weight of everything they’ve built together here. As he rejoins me “When my family’s here, they’re my priority,” he says simply, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world. It’s a moment that encapsulates what he has truly built: presence, in every sense of the word.

Ascenso isn’t just a retreat space; it’s a residential community, too. The land stretches beyond the main hotel, with ten homes cascading down the ridge line, one of which Ahren and his family call home. “This is more than just a place to stay,” he explains. “It’s a place to we live and create from. We are surrounded by nature, family, and a sense of community.” The residential component adds a deeper layer to the vision—one that combines lifestyle with a sense of connection.

When I ask Ahren what the most fulfilling part of seeing all of this come to life is, he smiles thoughtfully. “The most fulfilling thing is knowing it’s all within us,” he says. “We are co-creators, the storytellers of our lives. And to see it unfold, in ways that are more spectacular than you can imagine, is the true gift”.

As the sun dips below the horizon and the cicadas begin their nightly chorus, I realize that Ascenso is more than just a boutique hotel or a retreat venue. It’s a living embodiment of Ahren’s philosophy: that with a clear vision, focus, and unwavering intent, life can be shaped exactly as you dream it. And for Ahren, this isn’t just about building a business—it’s about building a life worth living, surrounded by family, community, and a brotherhood of men seeking deeper purpose.