Big Picture Skiing

Meet Our Team

Demelza Clay

APSI Level 4 Instructor
Australian National Demo Team
BAppSci (Exercise & Sports Science)
Former APSI Lever 4 Examiner/Trainer
Heli/Cat Guide (CSGA & CAA Avalanche Operations Level 1)
Former Technical Director, Hakuba, Japan

Demelza never planned on a career in the ski industry, but after completing a Sports Science degree in 2000, she fell headfirst into the magic of endless winters and a lifelong obsession with skiing. Raised in the Australian Alps in a family of freeskiers, Demelza quickly realized she could combine her love of skiing with her interest in biomechanics and coaching, launching a career more exciting than she ever imagined. A natural athlete and communicator, Demelza uses her deep understanding of human movement to coach her clients like athletes. She empowers them to grasp skiing on a deeper level, guiding them through carefully designed drills that help them arrive at their own insights and learn as efficiently as possible. Her skiing style—marked by a blend of power and grace—reflects her obsession with precision and understanding the technical details of the sport. As a woman in a male-dominated industry, Demelza became a trailblazer, from being the first Australian heli-ski guide in Canada to the only female member of the Australian National Demonstration Team in 2011. Now based in Canada with decades of diverse coaching and guiding experience, Demelza can often be found oscillating between ski gear, bike gear, and bikinis in pursuit of her next adventure.

Tom Gellie

2 X National Demo Team
Alpine Level 4 instructor
Telemark Level 4 Instructor
BAppSci(Eco Tourism)
Diploma in Structural Integration
Founder of the "Functional Body" clinic, Sydney

Tom Gellie’s skiing journey began with cross-country as a child, but it wasn’t until he was 22, after completing a Bachelor of Applied Science, that he discovered alpine skiing. His strong scientific background sparked a fascination with the biomechanics of the sport. Instead of focusing on speed or technique alone, Tom sought to understand how the body moves, why certain techniques work, and how small adjustments can dramatically improve performance. This deeper approach set Tom apart from other coaches. He saw skiing as an art form, where every movement has purpose and every muscle plays a role. To share his insights, he created Big Picture Skiing, a platform that blends biomechanics with practical coaching. Through his videos and lessons, Tom helps skiers at all levels unlock their potential by understanding the science behind their movements and refining their technique. Today, Tom is a leading expert in skiing biomechanics, offering a unique coaching style that combines science and the artistry of movement. His approach has transformed how skiers approach performance, focusing on the small details that make a big difference. Tom’s journey from a curious child in the Australian Alps to an internationally recognized expert underscores the power of passion, curiosity, and knowledge.

Jason Simpson

CSIA Level 4
PSIC Level 4
CSCF Level 3
Former Director of Mountain Sports, Panorama, BC
Former Assistant Ski School Director, Lake Louise, AB
Former Training Supervisor, Whistler Blackcomb, BC
Commercial Pilot/ Flight Instructor

Former Director of Mountain Sports, Panorama, BC With a background in ski racing, Jason started teaching skiing while attending university. Upon graduation, he moved to the Rocky Mountains to be a ski instructor for one season. To his own amazement he achieved the CSIA Level 4 instructor within 1season. For the past 30 years, his passion for the sport has remained undiminished. Jason finds joy sharing his passions with others. As a ski instructor, mountain bike coach, ski race coach, and flight instructor, he continues to help and inspire others to love and master these endeavours sports as much as he does. “Confidence comes from understanding. When we know how something truly works then we can practice well and improve. Demystifying something is my goal when working with others”. A huge fan of The Matrix, Jason’s philosophy can be summed up by this quote from the trilogy: “It’s the question that drives us. It’s the question that brought you here.”

Demelza Clay Testimonials

"Demelza, you have a gift. Your attention to detail is amazing (you don’t get level 4 for nothing) but it’s your curiosity and willingness to dive deeper with each one of us that has you stand out from others.”

"I really enjoyed your teaching. Because you also have a background in kinesiology/physical therapy, your explanation in everything is well articulated and it makes sense a lot to me. Thanks for teaching us the forward moving ideas and techniques that connect skiing to other physical activities that I know of without the ski boots!! I love it. I love how my feet feel in the ski boots now and how they are working, and that's how it should be!!

"Hi Demelza, I myself can’t even believe what magic you’ve spelled on me until I saw the videos you recorded and photos a photographer took for me today - they can’t stand a close look but I’m skiing more like a “pro” 😂. The training, specifically those instructions from you has amazingly changed my skiing which makes me outstanding in the group here”

"Goddess - thank you so much for an amazing couple of days – it was amazing to ski, slide and face plant with you all as witness to my growth under the tutelage of the incomparable Demelza Clay”

Demelza I cannot say enough how thankful I am for your skill and ability to communicate and translate everything. Skiing related all the very contagious smile! You effin rock!

“Demelza - just want to add that not only do I very much appreciate how you teach, but you are one of the funniest… and yay is icing on the cake. You are truly a spectacular coach and I can’t wait to be on the team again!”

Jason Simpson Testimonials

“Jason is an amazingly adept coach. A critical thinker and observer who is always figuring out what’s “off” and how to improve it. His video analysis was so helpful, that I started looking at everyone else’s feedback for my own learning. Plus he’s fun and an all-around great guy”

“Your diagnostic and therapeutic ability is amazing, you should have been a “ski doctor”.

“I live at a world class mountain and every day before I hit the slopes, I try to rewatch Jason’s feedback video because of how simple and fundamental it is to my performance. If you ever get a chance to spend a day with Jason – don’t miss it!”