COEN BENNIE-FAULL
Coen Bennie-Faull has built a life around adventure, both in the mountains and behind the scenes of the stories that bring them to life. A professional freeride skier for Arc’teryx and Co-Founder of Higher Freeride, Coen is deeply connected to the global mountain community as both an athlete and storyteller.
As ANZ Film Team Manager at Adventure Entertainment, he works across Australia and New Zealand to bring some of the world’s leading adventure and mountain film tours to audiences, helping share stories of exploration, wild places and human possibility. Whether he’s skiing big lines in the backcountry, mentoring the next generation of freeride athletes, or hosting a room full of mountain lovers at a film screening, Coen’s passion for adventure is at the centre of everything he does.
Catch him in Melbourne, Sydney East, Melbourne South East, and Geelong
CAITLIN HORAN
Caitlin Horan is a Principal of a large college in Canberra, Australia. She has spent the last 25 years of her life pursuing adventure sports – climbing is her passion. She is the Australian Ambassador for Climbers Against Cancer, Co-host of the Rapp Podcast and the title author for ‘More Than It Hurts” a book about women in climbing. She is a qualified outdoor guide and advocate for the benefits of outdoor education in schools. Caitlin travels the world climbing and has two ascents of El Capitan under her belt. From bouldering indoors to climbing big walls she loves climbing in all its forms.
Catch her in Canberra
JOCK GUNN
Jock Gunn is a ski patroller, guide and dad passionate about steep skiing, backcountry travel and mountain culture. He has spent years working, travelling and collecting adventures and misadventures through alpine environments across the world. These days, much of that passion is centred around introducing his son Kit to the mountains and sharing the freedom that comes with life in the hills.
Catch him in Launceston
CHRISTIAN NICOLL
Christian Nicoll is a retail manager at the Wild Earth, Burleigh Heads store on the Gold Coast of Queensland, while also working as a multipitch mountain guide in the Glasshouse Mountains under the Instagram tag @summit_hollistics.
After completing a batchelor of Health science in Naturopathic medicine, Christian realised that the best way to stay young for as long as possible is to just get out and enjoy nature.
When Christian isn’t in the shop helping people gear up for their own adventures or guiding them up a multipitch climb while dishing out health advice, he’s either teaching lead climbing at the local indoor climbing gym, hiking with mates or hitting the local surf and freediving spots as much as he can.
Catch him in Gold Coast
FRANCESCA SMEE
Francesca “Chess” Smee is a professional mountain athlete on a mission to strengthen mental and physical wellbeing by encouraging people to explore more. She does this through guiding, education and producing and presenting motivational media. Chess began her career at Thredbo Ski School teaching the little groms in Thredboland to ski and snowboard. Naturally, she went on to expand her instructing experience in Japan, discovering the backcountry of Niseko and Central Hokkaido in her spare time. 15 winters later and her passion for the mountains and for empowering people to enjoy the outdoors safely continues to grow.
Career highlights include being a lead guide for a dynamic team of 40 international guides with Rhythm Japan. Women’s Program Lead with K7 Adventures in Kosciuszko National Park, Australia. Practicum heli-ski guide, avalanche educator and race and freeride coach in Revelstoke, Canada.
Catch her in Jindabyne
RILEY HASSELL
Riley is the Vice-President of UNSW’s Ski and Board Club, and spends as much time as possible in the mountains, whether it’s snowboarding, hiking or chasing the snow overseas. Heading into a Canadian ski season later this year and an exchange semester in Boulder at the foot of the Rockies, Riley is committed to building his degree around access to fresh pow. When he’s not on the mountain, he’s usually planning a trip to one.
Catch him in Sydney
PHIL CLARK
Phil Clark is the director and founder of Mad About Travel and has been crafting ski, snowboard, dive, mountain bike, and adventure holidays since 2001. Having biked, dived, skied and travelled extensively in Canada, Japan, and the USA, as well as many other destinations, Phil brings genuine firsthand experience and a passion for adventure travel.
At Mad About Travel, Phil and his team live by the philosophy of “living what they sell.” More than just travel agents, they are passionate adventurers who specialise in creating unforgettable holidays tailored to each traveller’s style and ambitions.
Whether it’s chasing powder in Japan, shredding the mountain bike trails of Whistler or planning the next great outdoor adventure, Phil’s knowledge, experience, and love for adventure make him the perfect host for tonight’s Warren Miller film experience.
Catch him in New Zealand
SEAN MARTIN
Sean is an avid outdoor enthusiast, emerging from hibernation in Autumn to make the most of the cool temps and clear skies of Winter. More at home when exposed on a mountain than contained in a concrete cube, Sean has travelled to many corners of the world to spy panoramas and touch snow. Currently, as he bides his time until the next expedition, he is sharing his experience and living vicariously through the adventures of others as an outfitter at Wild Earth Brisbane.
Catch him in Brisbane
ELIJAH CUSACK
Elijah Cusack is part of the team at Wild Earth, bringing a passion for adventure and the outdoors to everything he does. When he’s not helping customers gear up, you’ll usually find him hiking, snowboarding or climbing. Elijah thrives in winter conditions and loves expeditions that involve snow underfoot, steep terrain and a healthy dose of cold.
Catch him in Brisbane
ABBEY WILLCOX
Our special guest for the Brisbane screening has just made her Olympic debut, representing Australia in aerial skiing on the world stage at Milano-Cortina, placing 10th in the finals.
Come meet Abbey Wilcox at the Brisbane event on Friday 5 June
Catch her in Brisbane
PETER MOSLEY
Peter Mosley is the Group Business Director for Nine Plus, having worked with the Nine Network in Adelaide for more than 16 years. Based in the Adelaide Hills, Peter enjoys spending time outdoors with his family, exploring local trails and making the most of South Australia’s natural landscapes.
When he’s not on the trails, you’ll often find him on the river behind the ski boat, heading off on a four-wheel-driving adventure, or camping whenever time allows. More recently, Peter has become known for supporting his stepdaughter’s passion for outdoor climbing, often carrying climbing gear up mountains, and helping out with barbecues at events hosted by Sport Climbing SA.
Catch him in Adelaide
JAKE WOODS
Jake is a Bright local. After countless seasons as an instructor, trainer and coach at Hotham and abroad, he developed a strong passion for backcountry skiing and everything freeride. He currently runs trips for competitive freeriders in New Zealand and Europe with Coen & Nick @higherfreeride
Catch him in Bright