Meet the Whistler Team

Event Coordinator / CAA 2 PRO
Gwen is a longtime Whistler local and is deeply connected to the mountains she works and plays in. With over 30 years of experience in the ski and avalanche industry, Gwen has built a career rooted in safety, education and rescue. Her diverse background includes roles as a professional ski patroller at Whistler Blackcomb, outdoor education business owner, CARDA dog handler and instructor, member of Whistler SAR, and instructor with the Canadian Avalanche Association Industry Training Program. Recently, Gwen was involved in the development of the new CAA AvSAR program as a subject matter expert. Her commitment to the outdoor community and passion for mentoring the next generation continues to drive her work in avalanche education and mountain safety.

CAA 2 PRO / ACMG Ski Guide
Gabe Nolan is a professional mountain guide working between Washington State and British Columbia. Gabe has over a decade of experience in the industry as a Ski Instructor, Ski Patroller, Avalanche Educator, and Ski Guide, and has worked all over the globe, chasing winters in Utah, Japan, Wyoming, Washington, and Canada.

CAA 2 PRO / BC MOT Avalanche & Weather Program
Jeff is an avalanche professional with a rich and varied background in avalanche forecasting, ski guiding, search and rescue, outdoor education, and production work. Now entering his tenth season with the BC Ministry of Transportation’s Coast/Chilcotin Avalanche and Weather Program, Jeff plays a key role in monitoring and managing the snowpack along Duffey Lake Road, one of British Columbia’s most dynamic avalanche corridors. Originally from the BC Lower Mainland, Jeff now calls Pemberton home, where he lives with his son, and continues to embrace the full spectrum of outdoor adventures that the province has to offer. Whether he's analyzing snow layers or chasing fresh lines, Jeff brings deep knowledge, hands-on experience, and contagious enthusiasm to everything he does. He’s passionate about sharing what he’s learned and connecting with others who love the mountains, and yes, just like the rest of us, he’s always down to surf some pow.’

CAA 2/Whistler Blackcomb Ski Patrol / Squamish SAR
Phil has been working as a professional ski patroller on Whistler Mountain since 2014 and spent 4 of those seasons living in his van. He now assists with the forecasting team on Whistler as well as with Squamish SAR and has started instructing for RECCO. He is stoked to share his knowledge and experience at Whistler's new SOTS series.

RCMP
Steve has served with the RCMP for 40 years with the last 18 being in Whistler where he has worked closely with Whistler Blackcomb Ski Patrol and Whistler Search and Rescue. He is an avalanche educator with Extremely Canadian and freelances, teaching to RCMP and other government agencies. He previously sat on the board of the CAA, sits on the CAA Complaint Investigation Committee and is currently a Whistler Search and Rescue volunteer.

MC/Host
Meteorologist David Jones has been forecasting & broadcasting weather for decades. His passion is communicating weather to aid decision-making. A keen powder hound, Jones was the Environment Canada lead for the Avalanche Canada Mountain Weather Forecast. In 2015, for his dedicated service to media and emergency managers in British Columbia, he was awarded the Rube Hornstein Medal for excellence in operational meteorology and the Avalanche Canada Service Award. Today, Jones provides daily video forecasts for the Whistler alpine via Instagram and Substack.

CAA 2 PRO / ACMG Ski Guide / Lead Guide Whistler Heli Skiing
Jerome David has been working on Snow and Dirt in Whistler since 1998. On the road to becoming an ACMG ski guide, he worked 11 years with Whistler Blackcomb Patrol. He has been ski guiding for the past 19 years. In the summers, Jerome has previously had a long career working as Whistler Mountain Bike Park patrol. In the summer, he runs the Heli-Biking program for Coast Range Heli-Biking. In the Winter Jerome is lead guide and guide manager at Whistler Heli-Skiing.

CAA 2 PRO / AVALANCHE EDUCATOR
Bryce is a 28-year resident of Whistler and Pemberton with a background in avalanche safety and mitigation work on mining, transportation and recreational projects. Locally he works as the lead avalanche forecaster for Powder Mountain Snowmobile Club’s grooming operations in the Brandywine area. Bryce also instructs AST courses and industry training courses for the CAA and is a volunteer member of Whistler Search and Rescue. His varied professional background combined with many years skiing and snowmobiling in the Sea to Sky backcountry gives him a unique perspective on traveling safely through avalanche terrain.

CAA 3 PRO / Avalanche Forecaster Whistler Blackcomb/WSAR
Nicole is a long term resident of Whistler, BC with over 20 years of experience as a professional ski patroller and more recently Avalanche Forecaster on Blackcomb Mountain. She is also an active member of Whistler Search and Rescue (WSAR). As an avalanche professional, she has worked in a variety of sectors including mining, forestry, industry, and ski area management, and is passionate about helping to educate the public about snow and avalanche safety, terrain access and decision making in the mountains. She is excited about this opportunity to work with SOTS to provide her community with tools on how to be safer and have fun in the Backcountry!

CAA 2 PRO / ACMG Mountain Guide
Chris has worked as an outdoor education instructor, a ski patroller, a snow cat ski guide, a heli ski guide, a ski touring guide, an Ice climbing guide, a rock climbing guide, a mountaineering guide, a film safety rigger and a pipeline rescue specialist. Chris nourished his skills in the Strathcona Alps of Vancouver Island before graduating to multiple ascents of Mt. Waddington, BC’s highest peak. His experience ranges from ski touring in the Japanese and the European Alps to alpine granite climbing in Argentina. He has called Squamish home for 27 years, where he has established himself as a mountain rescue training specialist. He is awaiting the publishing of his first book, Destination: The Mountains, weathering the storms of a guide’s life.

Whistler, BC