Meet Claudine: One Of Our Expert Guides

From ski instructing in Australia to patrolling in Canada, guiding in Japan, and working with the Mountain Safety Collective, Claudine has carved out a seriously impressive snow career… and she’s only just getting started!

Growing up in Sydney but spending every winter in Jindabyne since her teens, the mountains have always been her true home. With plenty of qualifications, guiding experience across the globe, and a deep love for the backcountry, she’s exactly the kind of person you’d want showing you the ropes!

But beyond the credentials, Claudine is all about good food, great views and making most of mountain life. We got to know Claudine a little better and learn more about her journey… keep scrolling!

How did you get into guiding and what skills have you developed?

Honestly, it’s less of a straight path and more of a chaotic snow-covered zigzag – the kind you only understand when you zoom all the way out. It technically started when my mum and dad met on a chairlift (yep, ski love story), so you could say I was raised with skis on my feet and goggle tans in my blood. I ended up cross-country ski racing for Australia and got to travel the world – chasing snow, medals, and very questionable accommodation. But eventually I ran out of fitness and money, which is a tragic combo for a ski racer. So naturally, the next step was… a ski season! I started instructing and absolutely loved it – enough to follow the snow to Canada, where I did another season, then somehow found myself ski patrolling in Fernie. (Pro tip: give a girl some explosives and she’ll fall in love.) When my visa expired (RIP Canada), I came home to Australia, joined the guiding crew at Thredbo, and worked as a field observer for the Mountain Safety Collective – digging pits, studying snow, and nerding out over weather maps. Then came a guiding season in Japan (hello chest-deep pow and 24/7 ramen), and now I’m back where it all began, guiding in the Aussie Alps. As for skills? Let’s just say I’ve learned how to navigate terrain, read snowpack, dig a mean avalanche pit, and carry an unholy amount of snacks.

What’s your favourite thing about guiding in Thredbo’s backcountry?

The rocks. Yep – not the powder, not the views, not even the turns… the rocks. Big ol’ slabs of granite with wild, dramatic cracks running through them like nature’s own abstract art. I could stare at them for hours. (And sometimes do. Sorry, guests.) But the real showstopper? After a storm, when rime ice builds up on the rocks – it’s like Elsa went rogue with a chisel. Spiky, sparkly, and totally otherworldly. Honestly, it looks like the mountains just threw on their winter party outfits. Oh, and I guess the team’s alright too… when they’re not judging my rock obsession.

What kind of terrain can people expect to explore on a Thredbo Backcountry Tour?

A little bit of everything – it’s like nature’s buffet for adventure lovers! Expect wide-open alpine bowls, playful rolling terrain, sneaky little gullies, and tree runs that feel like they’ve been plucked straight out of a snow globe. Some days we’re chasing perfect windblown ridgelines with buttery-soft turns, other days we’re dipping into sheltered stashes and weaving through snow gums like backcountry ninjas. There’s mellow terrain for cruisy vibes and steeper zones if you’re keen to spice things up. Basically, if you like snow, views, and the kind of terrain that makes you yell “WOO!” mid-turn – you’re in for a good time.

What’s one thing people are always surprised to learn on a backcountry tour?

You spend WAY more time going up than going down! Yep, the dreamy powder turns you see in the movies? That’s like 10 minutes of downhill bliss after hours of skinning uphill, sweating like you’re in a sauna, and questioning your life choices. People think it’s all adrenaline and powder sprays – but surprise! It’s also snacks, layers on and off, and becoming best friends with your climbing skins. The uphill grind is real… but that one untouched run? Totally worth it.

What makes backcountry skiing or riding different to a resort day?

At the resort, it’s chairlifts, hot chocolate breaks, and perfectly groomed runs. You cruise down, hop back on the lift, repeat, and maybe grab some hot chips at the lodge. But in the backcountry? You earn your turns. No lifts here – it’s just you, your gear, and the mountain. You hike up (yep, uphill skiing is a thing), breathing in fresh air and dodging snowflakes while dreaming of the untouched powder waiting above. Then you drop in – no crowds, no corduroy, just you and the wild snow. It’s nature’s private ski park. But heads up: with no patrol, no signs, and no service, you’re also the guide, the weatherman, and sometimes, the avalanche expert. Resort = comfy and convenient. Backcountry = adventure, solitude, and the kind of satisfaction you can’t buy with a lift ticket.

Favourite snack to pack in your bag for a big day out?

Oh, hands down – a whole block of parmesan cheese. No slicing, no grating, no fancy packaging. Just a glorious, dense chunk of salty, aged perfection… and yes, I unapologetically take straight-up bites out of it like it’s an apple. People look at me weird, but jokes on them – I’m living my best life. Plus, nothing says “high-altitude gourmet” like gnawing on artisan cheese while standing in a snowstorm. Trail mix is fine. Energy gels? Meh. But a block of parmesan? That’s the kind of luxurious chaos I bring to the backcountry.

Fun fact about you?

I was on the news because a wombat gave me a kiss, and the video went viral #longlivewombatgirl. One minute I was minding my business, the next I was being lovingly mauled by Australia’s chunkiest cuddle machine – and the internet ate it up. Honestly, I peaked that day. Everything since has just been a slow descent from wombat fame.