THE SNOW SAFETY TEAM

Adam

• ​Completing Diploma in Avalanche Risk Management (Level 6)         Otago Polytechnic
• ​CAA Avalanche Operations Level 1
• ​Canadian Avalanche Association Active Member
• Founding Director of Avalanche Australia.
• ​Founding Director of Mountain Sports Collective.
• Avalanche technician for Avalanche Australia
• NSW SES Alpine Search and Rescue member.
• Current working with Children Check.
• ​​Cert IV Training and Assessment (TAE40116)
• Wilderness First Aid   (SISSS00126)

He has travelled the world to many alpine areas including  Japan, Canada, France, Kashmir, Israel, Scotland, Italy, Austria, Andorra and New Zealand.

​Adam Has been delivering avalanche training in Australia and overseas since 2014. 

Travels on: Splitboard, Touring Skis or Snowshoes.
Specialty : Splitboard touring, Avalanche Instructor.
Favourite Australian zone : Carruthers Peak NSW, Razorback VIC.
​Favourite international destination : Gulmarg.
Bucket list destinations : Kamchatka, Chile and the Arctic Circle.

A member of ​Avalanche Canada, Avalanche Australia, CAA , and SIA
Ambassador for XTM Performance, Mammut ANZ and Endeavour Snowboards

Nima

Nima began his love for all things mountains at an early age in the mountains of the Alvand region near his hometown Hamedan, Iran. Nima has been a mountaineer for 16 years and has made winter and summer ascents of most of the high-altitude peaks in Iran including Mount Alam-Kuh from German Flank (4,848m) and Mount Damavand ( 5610m). Nima was part of an expedition with Iranian Federation of Mountaineering for Muztag-Ata Peak (7546m) in China in 2006. He also skied and climbed in Swiss alps and New Zealand. Nima started backcountry skiing in 2015 and has not headed back to the lift line since. He particularly enjoys long alpine climbs and ski mountaineering. He holds a Level 3 Instructor Certification in Rock climbing and Ice climbing form the Iranian Federation of Mountaineering.
Nima loves that mountaineering differs from other outdoor sports as nature provides the field of action and all the challenges for the participant. Climbing mountains epitomises the sensations provided by putting one's courage, strength, and stamina to the ultimate test in an environment fraught with risk. In his own words, “I strongly believe that mountaineering is not a sport but rather a group activity , with each member both supporting and being supported by the group's achievement at every stage and it is extremely rewarding to assist people in learning new skills or achieving their goals.”

Marcus 

• CAA Avalanche Operations Level 1
• Wilderness First Aid   (SISSS00108)
• Avalanche tech for Avalanche Australia
• Ski Patroller at Thredbo NSW Australia
• Ski Patroller at Fernie BC Canada

​
Marcus is a Ski Patroller at Fernie in B.C. Canada in the Northern Hemisphere Winter and a Ski Patroller at Thredbo in the Australian Winter.
Travels on: Touring Skis, Splitboard or Snowshoes.
Specialty : Ski touring, Avalanche Instructor.

Rowan

• ​Canadian Avalanche Association Professional Member
• Advanced Wilderness First Aid
• Avalanche blasting permit​

Rowan has been a professional member of the Canadian avalanche association for over 25 years. As a young ski patroller he was fortunate to learn the craft under Parks Canada in the early 1990's. Since then, He has been involved in many operations worldwide including Alaska, New Zealand and Japan. Skiing  and climbing adventures have taken him throughout North and South America. Now he is looking forward to some time down under!
​Specialty : Ski touring, Avalanche Instructor.

Nicholas

• ​CAA Avalanche Operations Level 1​​
• Senior first aid
• ​​Avalanche tech for Avalanche Australia
  

Nicholas is a Ski Instructor at Mt Hotham in the Australian Winter. He also runs Winter Sports Physiotherapy at Mt Hotham
​Travels on : Touring Skis. 

Paul

• Avalanche Risk Management Level 5 (ARM L5) Otago Polytechnic New Zealand​
• Avalanche tech for Avalanche Australia
• Wilderness First Aid   (SISSS00108)
• Snowboarded, toured and summitted major peaks in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, India, Chile, France, Italy & Norway

Specialty : Splitboard touring, Avalanche Instructor.

Tom

Tom Robb has been working as an outdoor educator and adventure tour guide for the past 13 years.
Tom has certificates to guide Backcountry Touring, canoeing, bushwalking, rock climbing, abseiling, surfing, snowboarding, snorkelling and mountain bike riding.  

• Diploma of Outdoor Recreation
• Bachelor Degree in Outdoor and Environmental Education.
• First Responder First Aid certificate.
• Swift Water Rescuer Certificate.
• APSI Level 4 Snowboard Instructor
• Working with Children Check.
• ​AST 1
• AST 2​
• Avalanche tech for Avalanche Australia

​Tom has a huge passion for teaching in the outdoors and is excited to continue his journey guiding young people through not only the wonders that nature can provide, but also the positive impact we can leave on our Earth for generations to come. 

Tim

• ​AST 1
• AST 2
• Avalanche tech for Avalanche Australia
• Wilderness First Aid   (SISSS00108)

If Tim isn't out guiding tour, he would probably be out fossicking for gold or in the backcountry touring on a splitboard. With more alpine knowledge of the local area than almost anyone, he can tell you about the history of the area and all about the natural Fauna and Flora

Lisa

• Avalanche Risk Management Level 5 (ARM L5) Otago Polytechnic New Zealand
• Remote Area First Aid  
• Avalanche tech for Avalanche Australia
• Backcountry Ski Guide, 5 years, central Hokkaido incl areas, Furano, Tomamu, Asahidake and Kamui.
• Ski toured major peaks in Australia, Japan and New Zealand.
• Ski Instructor in Thredbo, 5 years (current)
• Working with Children’s Check​

Lisa has been skiing backcountry for 10 years and skiing for a lot longer! She loves all things snow and is keen to share her passion by introducing others to the delights of the backcountry. After completing AST1 and having a few years backcountry experience Lisa decided to further her avalanche qualification with a more extensive course "Avalanche Risk Management” (ARML5) in New Zealand, where avalanche management is an everyday reality. She knows that terrain, weather, snow science / hazard evaluation, human factors and transceiver skills are so important in any backcountry experience. She is a keen advocate of being safe in the backcountry whether it be in Australia or overseas and loves to be able to share her knowledge with others.
Specialty : Splitboard touring, Avalanche Instructor.

Jacqui

• Senior First Aid
• AST1
• AST2
• Avalanche tech for Avalanche Australia

Jacqui has spent many season living and working in some great Alpine locations
​
Vail -  Colorado - USA 1998-99
Fernie - BC - Canada 1999-2002
Christchurch - NZ 2003-2004

Travels on: Splitboard
Specialty : Splitboard touring, Instructor.
Favourite International destination: Canada
​Bucket list destinations: Alaska, Austria
 

Darren

• CAA Avalanche Operations Level 1
• Wilderness First Responder 80hr
• CPR & AED - Adult & Child
• Owner Niseko Photography & Guiding in Japan
• Avalanche tech for Avalanche Australia

Travels on: Splitboard, Snowshoes
Specialty: Splitboard touring, Avalanche Training and guiding professional athletes and film crews.
Favourite Australian zone: The Main Range NSW
Favourite International zone: Central Hokkaido, Japan

Darren has worked across Hokkaido, Japan as a mountain guide for over 8 years. He regularly leads production teams and professional athletes into some of Hokkaido’s most extreme locations.
Before moving to Japan Darren spent 12 seasons working in the NSW ski fields.

Blake

• CAA Avalanche Operations Level 1​
• Avalanche tech for Avalanche Australia

Travels on: Splitboards
Specialty: Splitboard touring, Avalanche Instructor and guiding overseas.
Favourite Australian zone: The Main Range NSW


Blake has worked in Japan as a mountain guide for many years. Has spent many days also touring around the world chasing the stoke.

Michaela Davis - Meehan

​We first met Michaela when she booked on an avalanche course in 2014. 
Since then Michaela has won the Freeride World Qualifier Tour for 2019. Winning the FWQ has secured Michaela a spot on the elite Freeride World Tour (FWT) in 2020, making her one of six female
snowboarders and the only Australian athlete (ski or snowboard) to
compete in this extreme event. In 2020 Michaela come 2nd in the Freeride World Tour cementing here spot in the 2021 Freeride World Tour.

Despite her achievements, Michaela’s road to success hasn’t been
easy. A potentially career ending accident resulted in a broken back
in 2010 when she was competing in an elite slopestyle event in
Mammoth, California. This required two grueling surgeries, and
intensive rehab to be able to compete at the highest level again.
With determination, bravery and resilience, Michaela fought her way
back to be selected for the Australian Olympic Shadow team and
compete in the World Championships in Slopestyle.
She later switched her focus to filming (Persian Powder) and to
freeride. After a year off with a knee reconstruction in 2017/18,
Michaela went on to have her best ever year in international
competition, winning the FWQ and her spot in the professional FWT
for 2020. 
Michaela will be hosting  alongside Snow Safety Australia a "Women in the Backcountry" Avalanche course in Jindabyne this year and we will continue to support her on her path to becoming the winner of the FWT in 2021.
Images by  Andrew Mazzocato.

Leonie

Leonie has been snowboarding for 10 years first entering the backcountry in 2015 she then went on to complete her AST1 in 2016. Leonie’s chosen mode of transport in the backcountry is splitboarding which has taken her locally into the Main Range and abroad to Virginia Lakes and Mammoth lakes in California. ‘Wohl’ as she is known to her friends, has a passion for promoting and encouraging women in adventure sports which lead her to create a women’s backcountry group and forum in 2018 with an aim to build the women’s backcountry community and participation in Australia. Leonie’s positive vibes and and high stoke are all geared towards good times and building knowledge throughout the community. Leonie will be completing her Level 2 safety training and taking a women’s tour for Splitfest this coming season.