The Snow Safety team

The Australian Team

Adam

Completing Diploma in Avalanche Risk Management (Level 6) Otago Polytechnic
CAA Avalanche Operations Level 1
Canadian Avalanche Association Avalanche Practitioner
Founder of Avalanche Australia.
Founding Director of Mountain Sports Collective.
Avalanche technician for Avalanche Australia
Current working with Children Check.
Cert IV Training and Assessment (TAE40116)
Wilderness First Aid (SISSS00126)
Heights work and rescue (RIIWHS204E PUASAR022)

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 CAA , APSI and SIA
Ambassador for Rhythm XTM Performance, Mammut ANZ, Endeavour Snowboards, POC, Avalanche Australia and Splitfest DownUnder

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.”

AST 1
AST 2

Antony

CAA Avalanche Operations Level 1

Snowboarded, toured and summitted major peaks in Australia, New Zealand and Europe.
Specialty : Splitboard touring, Avalanche Instructor.

Marcus

CAA Avalanche Operations Level 1
Wilderness First Aid (SISSS00108)
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 Avalanche Professional.
CAA Avalanche Operations Level 3
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

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
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
DOE expedition Leader

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
Wilderness First Aid (SISSS00108)

If Tim isn't out guiding tours, 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
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.

Roland

Avalanche Risk Management Level 5 (ARM L5) Otago Polytechnic New Zealand
AST1 / AST2
Snowboarded, toured and summitted major peaks in Australia, New Zealand and Kashmir

Specialty : Splitboard touring.

Jacqui

Senior First Aid
AST1
AST2

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

Blake

CAA Avalanche Operations Level 1

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.

AMBASSADORS

Michaela Davis - Meehan

We first met Michaela when she booked on an avalanche course in 2014 and we have continued our relationship with her continuing her Avalanche skills training.
Since then Michaela has Placed 1st in 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.
2023 will see her back on the main tour as a wild card entrant!

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 the FWT for 2023.
Images by Andrew Mazzocato.

Leonie Wohl

Leonie has been snowboarding for 10+ years first entering the backcountry in 2015on a day she had with us on a backcountry trip to dead Horse Gap. Leonie then went on to complete her AST1 with us 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 completed her Level 2 safety training in 2021.

The Gulmarg Team

Omar

FOUNDER | DIRECTOR OF MOUNTAIN OPERATIONS | HEAD GUIDE
Omar is the beating heart of Kashmir Powder Tours, a third generation Gulmarg skier and a former Indian National Ski Team member. The son of a local skiing legend, he literally grew up on the slopes of Mt Affarwat. After years of racing, Omar turned to Guiding as a way to share his passion for his home with the increasing number of foreigners visiting Gulmarg in Winter.
Respected as a local heavy hitter, Omar is one of the most accomplished guides in Gulmarg.
As the Director Of Mountain Operations and Head Guide, Omar is responsible for day to day operations during the winter months. He keeps the stoke high on the tough hikes with his infectious positivity and penchant for teaching you Kashmiri whilst you are gasping for thin Himalayan air.

Anees

MOUNTAIN GUIDE | POWDER HUNTER
Anees Bhatt is a professional snowboarder and with over 15 years of experience competing and training locally and globally. He grew up in Gulmarg and truly loves “his” mountains. As such he’s travelled through and ridden every nook and cranny that Gulmarg has to offer. Be it Phase 1 or the back mountains Anees has brushed them all.
He is a fantastic guide who has many secret powder stashes up his sleeve which you’d miss if heading out alone.

Mehraj

MOUNTAIN GUIDE | POWDER HUNTER
Mehraj Bhatt is a professional Skier. Known for his calm demeanour and eye for detail, one can always find Mehraj investing time with his students to help them excel. Mehraj has also competed in various competitions with podium finishes and needless to say has traversed every slope that Gulmarg has to offer.