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About Us

The Team behind Tromsø Ski Guides

a group of people posing for a picture in the snow

Lena, Merrick & Edda runs the Tromsø Ski Guides!

We are a professional guide company women-owned and operated by Lena Dahl, Merrick Mordal and Edda Rainer. We are based in Tromsø, Norway with internationally certified, professionally educated, and over 35 years of combined experience. We offer ski guiding, avalanche courses and tailor-made adventures, events, and expeditions for private groups and corporations. Our team also includes a professional photographer, Martin Andersen. We pride ourselves in working with talented and certified guides and partners who are passionate about their job and safety in the mountains. Our Mission is to deliver professional mountain products to local and visiting guests, and to generate local work and strengthen the local networks. Let us help you find your favorite trip and join us for the adventure of your lifetime!

Meet the Team

Lena Dahl - Owner & Guide Coordinator Dansk, Norsk, English

Lena is an internationally certified IFMGA/IVBV/UIAGM mountain guide via Nortind. She has guided in Norway and Europe since 2002, both during the summer and winter season, on snow, glaciers, ice and rock. She has 6 years of teaching experience from the outdoor education bachelor program offered by the College of Sogndal. She continued with her PhD on risk and safety in outdoor education in upper secondary schools. She lives in Tromsøya with her two children and is neighbors with Merrick and family.

Merrick Johnston - Owner & Guide Coordinator English, Norsk

Merrick is a multi talented athlete who guides on randonee, telemark and split-board and is 40 years young. She has been guiding for over 20 years. She finished her ski guide education via Nortind (skivegleder). Growing up in Alaska, she became the youngest to summit Denali (N. America’s highest mtn) at 12 yo, and began assistant guiding at 14 yo. Merrick moved to Norway in 2009 and has been ski guiding since 2011 in Norway. Additionally, she has guided summer and winter for Exum Mountain Guides in Wyoming. She has two children and loves keeping their lifestyle outdoors playful and safe. She is sponsored by Norrøna, SGN skis, Vertical Playground (G3), and Petzl.

Edda Rainer - Owner & Avalanche Course Coordinator Deutsch, Norsk, Svenska, English

Edda is a NF-certified avalanche instructor (level 1). She grew up in Austria with skis on her feet, moved to Norway in 2014 and is now based in beautiful Ersfjorden (Kvaløya). She is an active member of the avalanche instructor group of DNT Fjellsport Troms. Edda provides course participants the necessary skills to play safely in the mountains during winter time. Edda teaches courses in both English and Norwegian.

Tom Coney - Partnering IFMGA guide English, Français

Tom is a British IFMGA Mountain Guide residing in Chamonix and is 40 years young. He is also a BASI level 3 ski instructor, professional carpenter and joiner, took a University Degree in Mechanical Engineering.

He has worked as a ski, climbing and mountaineering guide in Scotland, Wales,
Switzerland, Italy, Austria, France, and Norway.

He has ski expeditions to Kyrgystan, Tajikistan, Alaska, and Sierra Nevada and has first steep ski descents in the alps, Valdez Alaska and Tajikistan.

Tom will be joining TSG for April and May.

Thomas Boillot - Partnering IFMGA guide Français, English

Thomas is French and has been a UIAGM/IFMGA certified guide since 2009. He is 46 years young. He received his training at the ENSA in Chamonix, french national mountain guide school.
He lived and worked for more than 10 years as a year-round local guide in La Grave and Ecrins National Park (France).
He discovered the Lyngen Alps in Norway in 2015 and moved to Lapland in 2017.
Skiing occupies a large part of his activity as a professional guide.
For Thomas, respect for nature, mountain’s conditions and safety rules comes first.

Partnering IFMGA Aspirant Guide English, Français

Polly is a British IFMGA Aspirant Mountain Guide residing in the Alps following mountain work and North Wales. She is to qualify with BMG summer 2023. Becoming a British Mountain Guide as a Woman.

Polly received the Mountaineering Instructor Award from Mountain Training UK in 2017. In addtion, she has received Single Pitch Award, Mountain Leader Award and Bushcraft Leader from UK based organisations.

Polly enjoys fostering positive human relationships in nature. For over 10 years, Polly has planned and delivered training programs to support the more effective work in outdoor environments with vulnerable clients. She has supported British Exploring to deliver a project with children in foster care. She has participated as the ‘Expert Partner’ in the FOLM project- A European project supporting young people to gain life skills and move towards employment through intensive outdoor learning and wilderness experiences.

TSG is thrilled to have Polly join us for March.

a person riding skis down a snow covered slope

Lena Dahl – Owner & Guide Coordinator

DANSK, NORSK, ENGLISH

Lena is an internationally certified IFMGA/IVBV/UIAGM mountain guide via Nortind. She has guided in Norway and Europe since 2002, both during the summer and winter season, on snow, glaciers, ice and rock. She has 6 years of teaching experience from the outdoor education bachelor program offered by the College of Sogndal. She continued with her PhD on risk and safety in outdoor education in upper secondary schools. She lives in Tromsøya with her two children and is neighbors with Merrick and family.

a person standing on top of a snow covered slope

Merrick Mordal – Owner & Guide Coordinator

ENGLISH, NORSK

Merrick is a multi talented athlete who guides on randonee, telemark and split-board. She has been guiding for over 20 years. She finished her ski guide education via Nortind (skivegleder). Growing up in Alaska, she became the youngest to summit Denali (N. America’s highest mtn) at 12 yo, and began assistant guiding at 14 yo. Merrick moved to Norway in 2009 and has been ski guiding since 2011 in Norway. Additionally, she has guided summer and winter for Exum Mountain Guides in Wyoming. She has two children and loves keeping their lifestyle outdoors playful and safe. She is sponsored by Norrøna, SGN skis, Vertical Playground (G3), and Petzl.

a person wearing a helmet skiing in the snow

Edda Rainer – Owner & Avalanche Course Coordinator

DEUTSCH, NORSK, SVENSKA, ENGLISH

Edda is a NF-certified avalanche instructor (level 1). She grew up in Austria with skis on her feet, moved to Norway in 2014 and is now based in beautiful Ersfjorden (Kvaløya). She is an active member of the avalanche instructor group of DNT Fjellsport Troms. Edda provides course participants the necessary skills to play safely in the mountains during winter time. Edda teaches courses in both English and Norwegian.

a man standing on top of a snow covered mountain

Tom Coney – Partnering IFMGA guide

ENGLISH, FRANÇAIS

Tom is a British IFMGA Mountain Guide residing in Chamonix. He is also a BASI level 3 ski instructor, professional carpenter and joiner, took a University Degree in Mechanical Engineering.

He has worked as a ski, climbing and mountaineering guide in Scotland, Wales,
Switzerland, Italy, Austria, France, and Norway.

He has ski expeditions to Kyrgystan, Tajikistan, Alaska, and Sierra Nevada and has first steep ski descents in the alps, Valdez Alaska and Tajikistan.

Tom will be joining TSG for April and May.

Photo Credits: Kristin Folsland Olsen, Martin Andersen, Nikolai Schirmer, and private TSG stock