GET TO KNOW OUR COACHES
ARIZONA
Amaryth Gass - Sedona, AZ
Amaryth was born and raised in the woods of New Hampshire, spending all of her free time outside. Mountain biking gradually became her preferred outdoor outlet, accelerated by living in Colorado and Arizona. She has bike-toured through both Europe and Asia, and continues to be amazed by the universal language of bikes. Amaryth is a Wilderness First Responder, yoga teacher, and PIMBA Certified Instructor. While coaching she is passionate about presenting material in a way that is tailored to the client's abilities, goals, and learning style. Amaryth loves to ride, guide, and instruct the technical and ever-changing terrain of Sedona because it empowers rider's confidence in the saddle. Her background is in Wilderness Therapy and is currently a practicing Licensed Clinician, at times using client's experiences on mountain bikes as a metaphor for internal growth. Other than riding her mountain bike, Amaryth also appreciates awesome dance moves, asian cuisine, and thrift stores.
Tara Alcantara - Tucson, AZ
Tara is the Owner of Home Grown Mountain Biking Tours www.homegrownmtb.com, a shuttle, rental, and guiding company in Tucson, Arizona. She is also a Certified Personal Trainer, Wilderness First Responder, and PMBIA Certified Mountain Bike Instructor. Tara grew up and learned to mountain bike in Boise, Idaho. When she moved to Arizona and met her husband, she introduced him to mountain biking and the two of them have dedicated their lives to progressing the sport and making Tucson a better place to ride. Tara spends 20+ hours per week volunteering for TORCA www.torca.org, the local advocacy and trail maintenance organization she co-founded. A rider with 25 years experience, Tara continues to push the limits on the bike. With several Downhill MTB Racing podiums under her belt, her first love is riding fast down big mountains. Favorite places of all time to ride are Retallack and Whistler, BC, Angelfire, NM, and Moab, UT. Additionally, she can be found cross-training at the gym, cooking up delicious vegetarian food, and obsessing over her three K9 children! Tara spends as much time as she can on Mt Lemmon, a magical place where the riding is exhilarating and the beauty is unmatched.
Joanna Yates - Sedona, AZ
Joanna is a fan of adventures on her bike, snack breaks on rides and fast technical downhill. She moved to Sedona, AZ from the beautiful mountains of West Virginia, where she coached full time at Snowshoe Bike Park. Riding in the rugged West Virginia terrain helped her to overcome her fear of difficult trails by stepping out of her comfort zone. She believes you can do the same with her guidance on how to build a strong mental mindset while riding. Joanna's coaching style is of powerful guidance, technical knowledge and strong structure. She builds confidence in her students by focusing on practice, commitment and FUN. She currently holds her Level 1 and Level 2 Mountain Bike Instructor Certification through Terra Method.
When she's not on a bike, Joanna is teaching local yoga classes and enjoying hikes with her 10 year old Siberian Husky, Lana. She also loves giving back to local trails by volunteering for trail work days. She believes community and connection are important part of cycling and loves the friendships she has gained though riding her bike. Follow Joanna on Facebook @bikesyogabadass and on Instagram @joanna_yates_
When she's not on a bike, Joanna is teaching local yoga classes and enjoying hikes with her 10 year old Siberian Husky, Lana. She also loves giving back to local trails by volunteering for trail work days. She believes community and connection are important part of cycling and loves the friendships she has gained though riding her bike. Follow Joanna on Facebook @bikesyogabadass and on Instagram @joanna_yates_
CALIFORNIA
Emily Kay - Arnold, CA / Bear Valley, CA
Emily has worked in the outdoor recreation industry for over 20 years in a variety of roles, focusing on youth development and getting more mums engaged in adventure! Emily considers herself a "gateway" coach, specialising in getting new riders excited to develop their skills and progress along their own path. Building confidence and love of the sport is always the goal. Emily is a certified mountain bike coach through PMBIA (Professional Mountain Bike Instructors Association), and ski instructor through PSIA (Professional Ski Instructors of America). She resides in Arnold - the central Sierra - with her family, finding the fun in being outside!
Kim Larson - Truckee, CA
Kim has always loved spending her time in the outdoors. Over the years she has developed a passion for teaching (Scuba Diving, Skiing, Snowboarding, and Soccer) and inspiring others to spend more time outdoors learning new things! Kim took up mountain biking in 2007 as a way to recover from knee surgery and take a break from training for Ironman. Some of her first rides were with her husband on his hard tail with toe clips on technical trails in Northern California. Despite all of those challenges her mountain bike journey did not end. She found a local women’s mountain program through Team LUNA Chix where she connected with like-minded women and started improving her technical skills. Fast forward a decade later, Kim took over the local women’s program, and when Team LUNA Chix retired the program, she founded “Tahoe Mountain Bike Girls.” Through Tahoe Mountain Bike Girls, Kim and her team bring women together to learn a new sport, stay active, and encourage other women in their communities to participate in the two-wheel fun, while fundraising for local nonprofits. Kim is an IMBA ICP Level 2 Instructor. On top of running TMBG she spends her summers at TD Bike Works teaching women and kids the fundamentals of mountain biking and helps them build their confidence out on the trails. Kim understands that pushing yourself out of your comfort zone can be scary, but it can also be incredibly empowering and fun! In her free time she races Xterra Off-Road Triathlons and takes a lot of mountain biking road trips with her husband and yellow lab Kuta!
COLORADO
Kim Godfrey - Boulder, CO
Kim races pro downhill and dual slalom and loves to go fast. She's been coaching since 2014 and has her Terramethod Level 1 certification. She's been riding and racing bikes since 2007 and has experience with nearly every discipline, (triathlon, road, xc, endurance xc, cx, super d, downhill, dual slalom, enduro, jumping into foam pits, etc.) and with all of that she can relate to most anyone's background. Kim loves to coach and see things click with clients. She's very passionate about coaching and wants everyone to become a better rider and discover how great it is to have bikes in your life.
Britt Greer - Golden, CO
As a Colorado native, Britt grew up in the outdoors skiing, snowboarding and wakeboarding. In 2009 after returning from a year long gallivant in Patagonia, she was introduced to the world of mountain biking and was instantly hooked. She's been racing enduro since 2014 and has dabbled in DH and XC. Britt has her BICP Level II cert and has been coaching since 2015. For her, nothing is more rewarding than helping progress and empower others on the bike. As a coach, Britt has a keen awareness for different learning styles, a knack for getting people out of their comfort zones with confidence, and a clear communication style. Britt is the Director of Ladies Programs at COMBA (Colorado Mountain Bike Assocation) and devoted to spreading her love of bikes to others. Weekdays she can usually be found on the local front range trails and weekends she's racing enduro, coaching or exploring the world with her bike.
Katie Branham - Colorado Springs, CO
After learning how to ride in the unlikeliest of places while living in Indiana, Katie Branham has been riding for 15 years and has been racing and coaching since 2015. She first picked up a mountain bike to train for an off-road triathlon, and was frustrated and terrified while trying to learn from the guys. Fortunately, Katie found a women’s mountain bike clinic that year and became hooked on the process of learning bike handling skills and gaining more confidence. Katie is an Alabama native who found her home in Colorado Springs with a day job in communications and marketing. She races and leads rides for the Women’s Mountain Bike Association of Colorado Springs.
Emma Dunn - Salida, CO
Originally from the UK but has called Colorado her home for 25 years. Emma has raced everything from Motocross, Moto and MTN bike Enduro, XC, and CX, AND even on a single speed! You can say she has a passion for 2 wheels and is always off somewhere on a new adventure in her van filled with bikes.
Emma is a BICP level II instructor and teaches everything from beginner to advanced MTB courses with VIDA, VNTR Birds, and Juliana.
Emma is a BICP level II instructor and teaches everything from beginner to advanced MTB courses with VIDA, VNTR Birds, and Juliana.
Kelsey Lobato - Durango, Co
Bikes! Hell Yeah!
Kelsey has been mountain biking since her high school days-long time ago don’t ask. She has been coaching for two years now and competing in local enduro races. She has her level 1 PMBIA, working on getting her level 2. She loves creating a positive atmosphere and camaraderie found by just going out and riding bikes with women of all ages.
Kelsey has been mountain biking since her high school days-long time ago don’t ask. She has been coaching for two years now and competing in local enduro races. She has her level 1 PMBIA, working on getting her level 2. She loves creating a positive atmosphere and camaraderie found by just going out and riding bikes with women of all ages.
FLORIDA
Misty Mahoy - Mt. Dora, FL
Misty started her passion for bikes growing up riding in the neighborhood with her crew. Who knew she would fall back in love with it so many years later. Looking for a hobby she could do with her boys, she was hooked once again. She started the Florida MTB ladies to get more women in the mountain bike sport. After building her group up, she found that there were skills missing in her riding. After assisting and taking skill clinics, she was so stoked to see her riding improve and the new confidence that she found, she wanted to share it with everyone! Now she is a PMBIA certified coach and loves helping riders build a solid foundation of mountain bike skills, while having a super amazing time doing it! Follow her on Instagram @AllAboutBalanceMTB
MAINE
Nicole Cyr - Portland, ME
Nicole started mountain biking at age 12 and immediately became hooked. On her 13th birthday she attended a 3-day mountain bike clinic in Vermont, and the experience resonated with her; at that point she knew mountain biking would be a huge part of her life. She is an avid racer, coaches kids, guides bikepacking trips, leads clinics, and continues to enjoy riding on trails. Nicole graduated from Keene State College in New Hampshire with a Health Science degree, and is Professional Mountain Bike Instructor Association Level 1 certified. Through cycling she met her amazing husband and they look forward to sharing their love for dirt and singletrack with their 1 year old daughter.
MARYLANDDiana Allen - Baltimore, MD
Diana is a California native and currently lives outside of Baltimore, Maryland. She is a level 1 PMBIA instructor. Diana has competed in a variety of bike disciplines, including road racing, criteriums, track, cyclocross, cross-country and downhill. She currently races pro enduro. Outside of racing, Diana is committed to promoting an outdoor lifestyle and getting more people on bikes. She loves to work with beginner women and kids. Diana is a volunteer staff member of the Maryland Interscholastic Cycling League (MICL). Her roles include coach supporter and the Girls Riding Together (GRiT) assistant. She is also a Little Bellas program lead and part-time mechanic at Crank It Up Bikes, a female-owned and operated bike shop. Instagram: @di.animal
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MICHIGAN
Ty Corle - Ann Arbor, MI
Ty made the transition to mountain biking after years as a runner, triathlete, roadie, then cyclocross racer. She loves spending time in the woods and helping people progress their mountain bike skills from "This is scary" and "That's impossible" to "This is fun!" and "I did it!". Ty is the head coach of an elementary level kids' mountain bike team, a BICP level 1 certified mountain bike coach, and a USAC level 3 certified coach. Her favorite rides are long and technical. She is a Marji Gesick 100 mile bike finisher, an Ironman, a registered nurse, and a former engineer. In her spare time you can find her training her current foster dog, riding her bike, or watching TV on the couch with her husband.
MONTANA
Jane Quinn - Helena, MT
Jane started mountain biking on the steep, rocky singletrack trails of Montana in 2007 and quickly fell in love with it! She and her husband were drawn to Bend as an outdoor mecca in 2012, and Jane started doing local races. She won the Oregon 24-hour cross country MTB race in 2014, and hopes to try her hand at Enduro in the coming season. Jane became director of the Dirt Divas women's mountain biking program in 2013 and loves working with her team of ambassadors to help women build confidence in their mountain bike skills and to share the love of singletrack!
Jessie Kay - Whitefish, MT
Originally from Minnesota, Jessie's earliest memories of mountain biking consist of clipping into her mom's 1999 Specialized Stumpjumper and struggling to keep up with her speedy, spandex-clad friends. Now in Montana, Jessie brings over a decade of experience in instructing youth, teens, and adults in outdoor endurance sports. A PMBIA certified coach, Jessie works as a lead instructor with Bozeman Youth Cycling and Crosscut Mountain Sports Center to build community around bikes. In the winters she works as a nordic ski coach. She is primarily interested in how sports can teach lessons about mastery, mental flexibility, resilience, and self-compassion. As a rider, Jessie is all about finesse, flow, and fun. She pays attention to the little details and believes that a focus on the foundations leads to more harmony on trail.
Lexie Hendricks - Big Sky, MT
Lexie grew up being in the outdoors everyday with her younger brothers. In 2013 she fell in love with mountain biking while biking with the outdoor program at her college in Northern Minnesota. She has now called Big Sky, Montana home for 4 years. Lexie loves the rugged terrain of her home in the mountains. In her Montana home she loves to snowboard, cross country ski with her dog Poppy and enjoy long days in the wilderness.
Lexie has worked hard developing inclusive women’s mountain bike clinics in Big Sky. Her favorite part of coaching is helping guide people through their fears and help grow skills to push past those fears to excel in mountain biking. She currently holds her Level 1 PMBIA mountain bike instructor method.
Lexie has worked hard developing inclusive women’s mountain bike clinics in Big Sky. Her favorite part of coaching is helping guide people through their fears and help grow skills to push past those fears to excel in mountain biking. She currently holds her Level 1 PMBIA mountain bike instructor method.
NEVADA
Cierra Smith - Reno, NV
Cierra started mountain biking at 8 years old with her father and fell in love -- so in love that she began racing at age 10. After winning five national titles and riding for the AllRide Academy, a junior race team, Cee became a professional racer. She specializes in teaching jumping skills and riding technical, fast terrain. Riding mountain bikes has played a huge role in her development as a well-rounded individual, proving that if we push through the tough stuff, there's always something to gain. Her love for the sport is what inspires her in everyday life and coaching is her way of passing on that same knowledge and love to her students. She also really loves her two Weenie dogs, just ask her!
NEW YORK
Amy Brown - Ithaca, NY
Amy’s first ever mountain bike ride was at a downhill park, at the end of the day, bruised from head to toe and smiling from ear to ear she knew she was hooked. She bought her first bike shortly after and spent the summer of 2006 learning the ropes with another newbie women on some local trails up in Ontario Canada. After graduating from grad school as a physical therapist Amy moved to Ithaca, NY where she has been riding XC trails ever since.
Amy has been a downhill ski coach for 20 years, and has been working with other women in the Ithaca area to provide skills sessions and rides for other women to help grow the community of women mountain bikers since 2015. In 2017 Amy got her level 1 ICP certification. Seeing the sense of accomplishment and joy in riders as they conquer a new skill or challenging obstacle is the best reward.
Amy has been a downhill ski coach for 20 years, and has been working with other women in the Ithaca area to provide skills sessions and rides for other women to help grow the community of women mountain bikers since 2015. In 2017 Amy got her level 1 ICP certification. Seeing the sense of accomplishment and joy in riders as they conquer a new skill or challenging obstacle is the best reward.
NORTH CAROLINA
Shanna Powell - Brevard, NC
Shanna is certified as a Professional Mountain Bike Instructor Association Level 2 and BICP level 2 skill instructor. Her riding career began in 2006 as a way to recover from a whitewater kayaking injury. A lover of all bikes, Shanna can usually be found riding her singlespeed hardtail in Pisgah National forest, her dirt jumper or her downhill bike in the surrounding area…or off on some adventure meeting new people and exploring new trails around the world. Shanna prefers fun rides over the seriousness of racing (though she does sometimes) and really considers herself more of a rodeo clown on a bike, reminding folks that bikes are fun!!! The technical trails of Pisgah have been perfect for sculpting Shanna into a technical downhill rider shredding the forests of WNC with her crew of likeminded “Lady Birds”. Having a crew of women to ride with has been quite empowering, full of support and skill progression. In the fall of 2015 Shanna decided she wanted to take the love and passion to the next level by sharing it with others through instruction. When not on the trail, Shanna runs EndlessBikeCo, a small American made component company in Brevard North Carolina. ***Follow Shanna on Instagram: @endlessbikegirl
Bernadette Merriman - Brevard, NC
"Bernadirt" started riding bikes 9 years ago in Pisgah on a random outing with girlfriends, on a bike two sizes too small, and with no clue what was in store for her. That ride sparked a new passion and journey that continues today! She bought her first bike one week later and rode with whomever would go with her. She became pregnant 5 months after getting into the sport and didn't pick the bike back up until her daughter Greysen was 18 months old. She used mountain biking first to get back in shape, then as a means to grow her community, and to define herself in another way. Biking has opened the door to new and amazing people that are not only riding buddies but a community that has grown beyond bikes! Bernadette wants those experiences and that community for all women who decide to throw a leg over a bike, including her daughter. Bernadette feels that getting to promote "the stoke" and show that anyone can ride a bike when they have the skills is amazingly gratifying! Bernadette shreds the Pisgah on a mountain bike as well as dirt jumping, bike parks, downhill, enduro, cross country, gravel and road grinding. Level one trained in Terra Method, Bernadette loves to teach and spread the joy of bikes! #sharetheride
Heather McNamara - Brevard, NC
Heather has been a certified mountain bike skills coach since 2018. She is passionate about helping other’s progress their riding skills and especially enjoys riding and working with women and new riders. Heather has a background in physical therapy and movement instruction, and uses that experience to create targeted, personal skill instruction for her clients. She worked with her states’ youth league in Michigan from 2015-2019 and currently lives in North Carolina where she enjoys riding and volunteering
for local organizations including Dirt Skrrts and the Friends of DuPont State Forest. Heather especially enjoys instilling confidence in her clients through safe and guided instruction and lots of focused practice. She highlights the fun in riding and loves to teach clients skills to make their own riding more fun and playful. Since 2019 Heather has coached for Grit Clinics, Ladies AllRide, Ninja MTB Performance, Copper Harbor women’s clinic and local mountain bike chapters. She lives in Brevard, North Carolina where the trails provide endless opportunity to grow as a mountain biker. Heather loves the natural
beauty of western North Carolina and when not riding is often hiking with her husband Greg and dog Jet, seeking out one of the many scenic vistas or gorgeous waterfalls in the region.
for local organizations including Dirt Skrrts and the Friends of DuPont State Forest. Heather especially enjoys instilling confidence in her clients through safe and guided instruction and lots of focused practice. She highlights the fun in riding and loves to teach clients skills to make their own riding more fun and playful. Since 2019 Heather has coached for Grit Clinics, Ladies AllRide, Ninja MTB Performance, Copper Harbor women’s clinic and local mountain bike chapters. She lives in Brevard, North Carolina where the trails provide endless opportunity to grow as a mountain biker. Heather loves the natural
beauty of western North Carolina and when not riding is often hiking with her husband Greg and dog Jet, seeking out one of the many scenic vistas or gorgeous waterfalls in the region.
Natalie Lew - Raleigh, NC
Natalie spent most of her life running in circles around a track. She was a heptathlete for the University of Texas; held the school and conference record for about 26 years, and was a member of one USA National Team. After college, Natalie spent a decade working in the SCUBA industry - teaching basic to intermediate level SCUBA courses at shops and universities; working as a Diving Safety Officer on underwater archaeology projects; and working as a Dive Master and First Mate on North Carolina dive boats. Natalie first road a mountain bike in 1997, but quit about a year later subsequent to a basketball knee injury. After a long break from any form of exercise, Natalie returned to cycling in 2011 and soon thereafter realized that not only is cycling her passion, but teaching and coaching are too. Aside from her job as a Clinical Research Associate (CRA), Natalie is the Head Coach and Team Director of the Southern Wake County Trail Hawks, a middle and high school mountain bike team that is part of the North Carolina Interscholastic Cycling League (NCICL) - one of the leagues in the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA). Natalie is a BICP Level 2 MTB Skills Coach, a PMBIA Level 1 MTB Skills Coach, and a NICA Level 3 Coach. Natalie has been riding a unicycle since her early teen years and started racing BMX in 2018.
OREGON
Lindsey Richter - Bend, OR
Lindsey grew up in Portland, OR and started racing mountain bikes in 1996 as a means to stay in shape while she sat at a desk working in advertising and PR. She fell in love with the freedom mountain biking brought into her life, but also fell in love with the challenges, frustrations and excitement. She currently travels North America teaching women's mountain bike clinics: Liv Ladies AllRide: Powered by SRAM with the mission to show women how mountain biking can change their lives. She is passionate about the symmetry between mountain biking and life and has a unique style of teaching that helps women develop a deeper relationship with their bikes while she also inspires them to live their best life. She is certified through PMBI (Professional Mountain Bike Instruction), and IMBA ICP (Instructor Certification Program). Fun Fact: Lindsey was on the TV show Survivor: Africa in 2001. Full Bio Here
*** Follow Lindsey on Instagram @ladiesallride and Facebook.
*** Follow Lindsey on Instagram @ladiesallride and Facebook.
Meredith Brandt - Bend, OR
Our Grit Clinics' founder is proud to be an Austin, Texan but even prouder to have found the mountains and all the recreation that accompanies them. She moved to Bend in 2004 with the idea that she might stay for an entire year. Many years later, she's still mountain biking, skiing and swimming daily in Central Oregon. The idea for Grit Clinics was born when she and her friends would go mountain biking and "session" technical sections of trail until they either succeeded or exhausted themselves trying. Meredith thought "Hey, wouldn't it be nice if we could teach women in Bend how to ride more confidently by breaking down the skills and teaching them in a really fun and supportive environment?" Five seasons of Grit Clinics later, Meredith is pumped to see a whole new group of excited, passionate and skilled female mountain bikers out "sessioning" on the trails. Her most rewarding coaching moment is teaching the ladies how to pop their first wheelie. Meredith has over 11 years experience on the trails in Bend and surrounding areas. She's also explored trails in Canada, Washington, Utah, Idaho, California, Texas, Montana, South America and many other fun places. She is certified through PMBI (Professional Mountain Bike Instruction). *** Follow Meredith on Instagram @gritclinics and Facebook.
Agnès C. Rodriguez - Bend, OR
Agnès was born and raised in "ze" South of France. She started coaching to share the stoke and smiles that mountain biking brings. She loves to help riders of all abilities and walks of life. Agnès helps her students build strong foundational skills, trust their skills, which then allows them to progress safely and confidently.
Being a yoga teacher as well, Agnès weaves into her coaching mind/body connection and body awareness concepts. When Agnès is not shredding her backyard trails in Bend, OR or Sedona, AZ , she's most likely eating cookies, drinking coffee, playing with her savage dogs and cat, or traveling somewhere with her bike. Agnès is also a graphic designer, marketing consultant and MTByogi.com founder.*** Follow Agnès on Instagram @agnes_mtbyogi and MTByogi.com
Being a yoga teacher as well, Agnès weaves into her coaching mind/body connection and body awareness concepts. When Agnès is not shredding her backyard trails in Bend, OR or Sedona, AZ , she's most likely eating cookies, drinking coffee, playing with her savage dogs and cat, or traveling somewhere with her bike. Agnès is also a graphic designer, marketing consultant and MTByogi.com founder.*** Follow Agnès on Instagram @agnes_mtbyogi and MTByogi.com
Ali Halpin - Bend, OR
Ali helps run the day to day at Grit Clinics! She found her way to mountain biking from downhill ski racing after a series of knee surgeries put her off the snow and onto the dirt. Ali spent 3 years coaching and directing the youth mountain bike program for the Mount Bachelor Sports Education Foundation before going back to school to get her Masters in Teaching. She holds a PMBIA Level 1 coaching license. When she isn’t wrangling teenagers you can find her chasing the fast ladies in pro xc mountain bike and cyclocross races. Ali has a deep passion for working with people, and blends her teaching knowledge with her coaching to better understand an individual's unique needs and learning styles. Ali is stoked to help people realize their potential, have breakthroughs in their riding, and smile and dance along the way!
Tina Brubaker - Bend, OR
Tina "Earthquaker" Brubaker started racing cyclocross and mountain bikes in Portland, Oregon in 1994. Tina is a 'Jackie of All Trades' on a bike, with race experience that ranges from road and track, to cyclocross, cross country, and enduro. Her versatility on two wheels has made her a force to be reckoned with in the Pacific Northwest, where she's been crowned OBRA's "Best All Round" rider an impressive 4 times.
Earthquaker currently lives in Bend, Oregon and rides and races for the Speedvagen Family Racing team. As a PMBI certified mountain bike coach for Liv/Ladies All Ride, SRAM Gold Rusch Tour, Grit Clinics, and the Bend Endurance Academy, she mixes a lifetime of racing experience with an incredible knack for helping any level rider. Tina especially loves to share her passion for mountain biking with women. The transition from tears of frustration to tears of joy in accomplishment is what makes this job her all-time favorite.
Earthquaker currently lives in Bend, Oregon and rides and races for the Speedvagen Family Racing team. As a PMBI certified mountain bike coach for Liv/Ladies All Ride, SRAM Gold Rusch Tour, Grit Clinics, and the Bend Endurance Academy, she mixes a lifetime of racing experience with an incredible knack for helping any level rider. Tina especially loves to share her passion for mountain biking with women. The transition from tears of frustration to tears of joy in accomplishment is what makes this job her all-time favorite.
Kelsey Kelley Carson - Bend, OR
Kelsey is a native Bendite and the town's biggest fan. She picked up mountain biking after her college and travel adventures when she moved back to Bend in 2006. It was love at first ride. Since then she's had the opportunity to ride all over the northwest. Her ideal 'bike' day would be to gather all her friends in a van with a shuttle driver and do laps of single track goodness. Laughs and banter required- followed by beers of course. Cyclocross and Super D's / Enduro racing are her favorite forms of bike competition. Kelsey's loves are her two beautiful sons, Buck and Mack. Through cycling she has met amazing people (including her husband) and gained confidence and skills that have transferred to all aspects of her life. She loves using this knowledge to inspire other women.
Bonnie Phippen - Bend, OR
Bonnie has been mountain biking for about 20 years, after picking up the sport following a knee injury that resulted in her putting away her running shoes. And is she glad, as now mountain biking is her top passion. As a coach, she is continually rewarded especially when coaching women, because she remembers trying to learn the hard way (no coaching at first) and paying for it. Her goal is to keep you safe, while showing you what fun you can have with just a few tips and tricks. Bonnie has taught mountain bike clinics in the Bay Area for 5+ years before moving to Bend in 2011 and joining the team with the other fabulous Grit Clinic coaches. Her travels include riding in Moab, Crested Butte, Sun Valley, Fruita, Aspen, and Lake Tahoe.
Erika Schmid - Bend, OR
Erika was introduced to mountain biking in 1989 and it has been downhill for her ever since (and a bunch of uphill too). Known for her “Big Balls”, Erika has fervently embraced the wide spectrum of mountain biking culture from freeriding at Whistler, finishing the 100-mile Cream Puff (twice), to clearing Bend area trails with her chainsaw. In the summers, Erika guides Cogwild guests through the wonderful Central Oregon trails, while during the school year, she guides high school students through the wonders of Physics and Chemistry. As a PMBI certified instructor, she applies the methods from her teaching profession to her mountain bike instruction to optimize each learner’s experience. In addition to mountain biking, Erika enjoys story telling, philosophy, popsicles, skiing, movies, and traveling to New Zealand with her husband Kiwi Paul.
Sara Connolly - Bend, OR
Sara was born and raised in Bend, Or. She started racing mountain bikes in 2001 as a freshman in high school and fell in love with the sport. By 2008, Sara had moved on from mountain bike racing and started guiding with Cog Wild Bicycle Tours, where she meet Lindsey. Sara loves riding with people and showing them new trails! Adapting her Master's in Teaching degree, coaching mountain bike skills became a natural passion. Helping women conquer their fears by attacking technical sections gives Sara an unparalleled level of stoke and emense pride in her new found friends! She uses techniques learned in her PMBI certification. Coaching with Ladies Allride has become one of Sara's favorite times on the bike. The challenge of figuring out how to help each individual person is her true love.
Russ Risdon - Bend, OR
Russ started riding dirt back in Michigan in 1988 when he got his first mountain bike His passion for mountain biking has taken him and his family all over North America to different bike parks, discovering single track trails along the way. Russ has been guiding and teaching mountain biking in Bend, OR and through out the country for over 10 years. His number one goal, as a coach, is to make you a more confident rider. He is a PMBI certified mountain bike skills instructor and a Pilates teacher. Follow Russ on Instagram: @pedalfitruss.mtb
Heidi Slominski - Bend, OR
Heidi has been coaching with Ladies All Ride since 2014 and has been a IMBA Level II Certified Skills Instructor since 2013, she is also a MTB guide for Cog Wild. Heidi's passion for all-things-cycling began after her first mountain bike ride 10 years ago. Shortly after that first ride she started racing mountain bikes, started road cycling and enjoying 100 mile century ride events, gave triathlons a whirl and survived her first full Ironman Triathlon and a 24hr-solo MTB race with a top 10 finish. She has also raced Bend's High Cascades 100 mile MTB race. Through coaching, Heidi is able to give back to the sport she loves by helping women of all levels hone their MTB skills, giving them the confidence needed to ride safely, have fun, and enjoy the amazing sport of mountain biking! Being one who learned most of her dirt skills through trial and error (landing in a cactus is not fun!), Heidi understands the importance of learning how to break down technical riding skills, getting comfortable and controlling our fears so they don't override confidence.
When she isn’t riding a bike or helping others get rad on their bikes, Heidi loves winter sports, making up-cycled bicycle jewelry, hiking, and soaking up all that life has to offer through traveling and adventures with friends and family.
When she isn’t riding a bike or helping others get rad on their bikes, Heidi loves winter sports, making up-cycled bicycle jewelry, hiking, and soaking up all that life has to offer through traveling and adventures with friends and family.
Kelli Esselman - Bend, OR
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Kelli has been involved in outdoor activities from a young age camping and hiking. During her high school years, Kelli found a passion for cheerleading and followed that path for over over 20 years. Her experience in cheerleading lead her to the Portland Trailblazers where she spent 11 seasons with the team as part of their stunt team. This passion translated well into coaching and Kelli spent 10 years as a personal trainer helping individuals with personal/professional fitness goals and injury recovery.
While Kelli took some time away from coaching and cheerleading to raise a family, she still had the passion to return to the coaching world. As fate may have it, Kelli was introduced to mountain biking by her husband and was instantly hooked! As she progressed in her skills, she researched mountain biking camps and clinics to hone her skills. She learned of Ladies AllRide and took her first camp, where she was truly inspired by the incredible women leading it. Learning the fundamentals of mountain biking and having it explained in a way that made sense was a game changer. This was the point that she decided she wanted to continue to learn and grow to become a coach to help inspire others the way that she had been inspired. Kelli is PMBI certified and loves helping people build confidence on their bikes. Her favorite past time (besides being with her family) is coaching youth mountain biking and working for Girls AllRide and Ladies AllRide.***
While Kelli took some time away from coaching and cheerleading to raise a family, she still had the passion to return to the coaching world. As fate may have it, Kelli was introduced to mountain biking by her husband and was instantly hooked! As she progressed in her skills, she researched mountain biking camps and clinics to hone her skills. She learned of Ladies AllRide and took her first camp, where she was truly inspired by the incredible women leading it. Learning the fundamentals of mountain biking and having it explained in a way that made sense was a game changer. This was the point that she decided she wanted to continue to learn and grow to become a coach to help inspire others the way that she had been inspired. Kelli is PMBI certified and loves helping people build confidence on their bikes. Her favorite past time (besides being with her family) is coaching youth mountain biking and working for Girls AllRide and Ladies AllRide.***
Chris Moor - Bend, OR
Chris or “OJ,” as his close friends refer to him as, has been mountain biking since 1997, yes the days of bouncy 60mm travel forks and bad frame geometry. He moved to Bend, Oregon in 2006 while working for Cannondale Bicycle as the West Coast Team Mechanic. Originally from the state of Maine, he was forced to learn how to navigate the highly technical rocky and rooty terrain of the east coast and even raced a single speed in many popular New England races. Now perusing his undergrad in Kinesiology (Exercise science and biomechanics) at OSU-Cascades, he puts his knowledge to work as a IMBA certified skills coach and guide. Chris only believes in 3 seasons; mountain bike season, cyclocross season and ski season. Although he has mountain biked in almost all 50 states his favorite riding area is Oakridge, OR where he has been a Mountain Bike Oregon (MBO) trail guide since 2008 and is very familiar with all the trails there and the entire PNW. When not in the saddle he can be found turning wrenches part-time at Sunnyside Sports in Bend. Chris loves teaching beginner mountain bikers the skills to improve their level of confidence. He also gets very excited when he gets the chance to teach cyclocross skills, as it’s a blend of mountain bike handling and fitness. Another one of his favorite things is to guide fun groups on any trail system in the northwest.
Greg Dixon - Bend, OR
Greg has resided in Bend Oregon for the past 20 years. In this time he has built a life that revolves around committing himself to having fun in nature and sharing those experiences with others. 20 years teaching skiing, 6 years guiding mountain bikes, 7 years guiding rock climbing, 7 years as an environmental educator, and 2 years as a SUP instructor, Greg finds a life full of joy in showing others how to experience and enjoy the outdoors. He has guided and instructed mountain biking with Bend’s Cogwild. In the winter he travels the country training ski instructors in the telemark and alpine disciplines. With a highly technical teaching background, Greg enjoys using that knowledge to get his students to make breakthroughs in their riding and their fun factor!
Laurie Giessinger - Bend, OR
Laurie has lived in Oregon most of her life and lives for outdoor adventures! She discovered mountain biking when her son decided to take up free ride mountain biking as a teenager. It was something they could bond over and learn together. Now she and her son shred Whistler together! She participated in xc and enduro racing for a few years, but then decided her real passion was teaching others to ride so that they can be safer and truly enjoy the sport. She has been leading women’s group mountain bike rides for a local shop for 4 years and has been coaching for 3. Laurie loves to ride technical trails and hit jumps and drops, but understands that to get to that level you have to start with a good foundation of basics. She enjoys coaching beginner and intermediate riders the skills they need to really up their game.
Julie Browning - Portland, OR
Julie grew up in a small town in England, where she discovered her love for challenging herself physically. After competing as a swimmer, modern pentathlete (running, swimming, shooting, horse riding, and fencing: in case you’re wondering…the five disciplines required to be a King or Queen’s messenger!), triathlete, and road cyclist, she decided to give cyclocross a try. She quickly realized that to be a better cross racer she needed to be better at riding off-road. Enter mountain bikes into her life…finally. And she’s never looked back. Cross racing quickly took a back seat as Julie discovered that mountain biking was what she was looking for all this time. It checked all the boxes: physical challenge, mental challenge, sense of community, exploring, and being outside in nature. Julie enjoys being a student of the sport with a strong focus on progression. As a volunteer for the Ladies AllRide camps Julie experienced the power of a supportive community, the empowerment that comes with trying to do challenging things, and the ‘I did it’ big smiles. Julie is an IMBA Instructor Certified Coach and loves to help clients find those big smiles! She brings to her coaching compassion, motivation and support. Instagram: @breakawaycoachingpdx
Jackie Shea - Portland, OR
Jackie found a love of mountain biking after ending a collegiate career in Track and Field. The MTB world had camaraderie, community and progression that was becoming harder to find post "team-sport era". Native to Colorado, Jackie spent a lot of time busting legs and lungs in the high country, racing enduro and making friends with the women's biking community there. She began coaching as a way to help women claim space in a male dominated world and to bring the love of bikes to more people. A career change brought her to Portland where she began to fall in love with a whole new style of riding (hello loam!). Her focus now is in making the MTB community more inclusive, welcoming and diverse. She completed her PMBI level 1 certification in Whistler, BC and is welcoming to everyone, especially women, women identifying, non-binary, BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ folx.
Tom Lyons - Sisters, OR
I always had bikes, but after my grandfather showed me Han's "No way" Reys video big 5 and the movie RAD, it flipped a switch. Now it was practicing manuvers in the driveway, riding down curbs and looking for new ways to have fun on a bike. About a year later a friend introduced me to downhill and I knew I found something I wanted to do my whole life! 6 years of working my way up the ranks, and a 3rd at state champs. I was amassing injury after injury, eventually pulling out of racing all together.. Retiring at 20 years old. That same year I had an opportunity to coach some local youth and that passion for teaching and helping others, met that passion that kept me on the trail and everything clicked. Helping others, and being an ambassador of good times on 2 wheels.
Ive worked with everyone from 3 year olds to 65 year olds, 'never-been-on-a-bike' to national champions. My experience and approach to teaching paired with the PMBIA's level 1 certification gives me a unique way to assess and cater to each individual to create the most enjoyable and effective clinic or lesson. I specialize in more gravity-oriented riding like DH and jumping, but am always learning myself and love trying new things.
Ive worked with everyone from 3 year olds to 65 year olds, 'never-been-on-a-bike' to national champions. My experience and approach to teaching paired with the PMBIA's level 1 certification gives me a unique way to assess and cater to each individual to create the most enjoyable and effective clinic or lesson. I specialize in more gravity-oriented riding like DH and jumping, but am always learning myself and love trying new things.
Grant Carson - Bend, OR
Grant has spent the last 20 years finding ways to grin on two wheels and working as an orthopedic and sports physical therapist. Racing expert level in downhill, super d, cyclocross and cross country disciplines along the way was fun, but he prefers a romp with wife and friends in the backcountry these days. After witnessing the remarkable results his wife, coach Kelsey, had at the GRIT clinics, Grant decided to combine decades of teaching biomechanics in the clinic with his passion for riding.
Laura Bales - Bend, OR
Laura Bales is an elusive Native Oregonian, growing up in both Portland and rural North Eastern Oregon. She is currently living and riding in beautiful Bend OR. Her day job is in the medical field. In the year of 2020 she was randomly inspired to find a new hobbie and her passion for mountain biking was found. She gained skills through lessons, camps, and riding with friends. In 2023 earned her PMBIA certification and has been coaching ever since. When not on her bike she enjoys hanging out with her husband, 3 dogs and playing around with her horses.
PENNSYLVANIA
Karen Brooks - Pittsburgh, PA
Karen is doing her best to check off every square on the “Bike-Related Job” bingo card — wrenching and managing in bike shops, editing Dirt Rag and Bicycle Times magazines, advocating with Bike Pittsburgh, writing, consulting, hopefully getting into framebuilding, you name it — but by far the most rewarding part of her varied career is teaching. She is certified through IMBA and PMBIA to teach mountain bike skills, and through the League of American Bicyclists to teach safe riding on the street. She works with the Wheel Mill indoor bike park in Pittsburgh to help women have a blast on pumps and jumps. Karen rides a bike for transportation most days (check #cargobikeolympics), but also enjoys the rocky-rooty-muddy trails of the Eastern woods, and goes on bikepacking adventures when she can. Like so many women, she first got into mountain bikes through a boyfriend, then ditched the boyfriend and kept the bike. She would love to help you skip that first step and find true love — mountain biking! — the easier way.
TEXAS
Lynnette Wood - Lindale, TX
Lynnette grew up in Vermont tagging along behind her older brothers and their friends on a rusty hand-me-down Schwinn, then later covered a lot of hills and gravel on a used Beacon 10-speed her brother gave her for her 12th birthday. She didn't rediscover the thrill and fun in riding until some of her corporate coworkers invited her to ride the trails with them at lunchtime back around 2020. It was rough, and she walked a lot, but so much fun! It's hard to believe that was so long ago! Since then she has raced XC and 24 hour races (on teams and solo), but doesn't need to be racing to have a great time on her bike. As a former group fitness instructor, becoming a BICP (former IMBA) Level 1 instructor was a natural fit, and Lynnette is also a Sprockids certified instructor, and works with local NICA teams. Although she moved to Texas in 2009, she travels to VT every summer and helps a friend with his youth mountain bike summer camp program. After sitting at her desk all day, there's nothing better than hitting the trails. She often says, "I don't care what bike you ride, as long as you love riding it, and I love helping people discover that joy."
UTAH
Julie Widdison - Salt Lake City, UT
Julie is a Utah native who started mountain biking in the Southern Utah desert in college. After lots of crashes, and trying to figure things out on her own, she finally took a Ladies AllRide camp in 2017 and has never looked back!
After being a participant in 2 LAR camps, she volunteered for a couple camps before getting her PMBIA Level 1 Coaching Certification in 2022. She is excited to get people comfortable on their bikes!
When Julie is not riding her bike in the Wasatch mountains or road tripping with her husband and dogs, she works as an Emergency Physician for the University of Utah.
After being a participant in 2 LAR camps, she volunteered for a couple camps before getting her PMBIA Level 1 Coaching Certification in 2022. She is excited to get people comfortable on their bikes!
When Julie is not riding her bike in the Wasatch mountains or road tripping with her husband and dogs, she works as an Emergency Physician for the University of Utah.
VERMONT
Patrick Howell - East Burke, VT
'Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of riding a bike'- John F. Kennedy
Patrick has been enjoying that simple pleasure of riding a bike his entire life; from racing on BMX bikes in his youth, to mountain and road bike racing as an adult. As a certified professional mountain bike instructor (PMBI) and a Level 2 USA Cycling Coach Patrick now shares his passion with other cyclists of all skills and fitness levels. "For me creating and sharing a memorable riding experience is a day well spent in the saddle" Patrick can now be found instructing and guiding all over New England//East Coast..…...and enjoying the simple pleasure of riding a bike.
Certifications: Professional Mountain Bike Instructor (PMBIA), USA Cycling Level 2 Instructor (Road riding), Wilderness First Aid certified, Certified Spinning Instructor, Lead Instructor Mountain Bike Performance.
Patrick has been enjoying that simple pleasure of riding a bike his entire life; from racing on BMX bikes in his youth, to mountain and road bike racing as an adult. As a certified professional mountain bike instructor (PMBI) and a Level 2 USA Cycling Coach Patrick now shares his passion with other cyclists of all skills and fitness levels. "For me creating and sharing a memorable riding experience is a day well spent in the saddle" Patrick can now be found instructing and guiding all over New England//East Coast..…...and enjoying the simple pleasure of riding a bike.
Certifications: Professional Mountain Bike Instructor (PMBIA), USA Cycling Level 2 Instructor (Road riding), Wilderness First Aid certified, Certified Spinning Instructor, Lead Instructor Mountain Bike Performance.
Susan Clifford - Stowe, VT
Susan has been riding and racing mountain bikes for over 20 years. Introduced to the sport on a borrowed bike, she quickly found her way to a summer job in a local bike shop which happened to come with a bike of her very own! It wasn't long before she was bit by the racing bug and really began to explore the sport. Having successfully raced in XC, DH, and more recently Enduro, mountain biking has been a huge part of her adult life. An unrelated injury proved to be an ah-ha moment when it forced her to re-learn to ride a bike in 2010 on flat pedals. Totally humbled she admits Instruction and skills drills improved her riding far beyond 15 years of simply getting after it. With a newfound approach to her riding and racing she became IMBA(L2) and PMBI(L2) certified and has since helped beginners, mtb veterans, and racers throughout Northeast discover ah-ha moments of their own. Hundreds of miles of legendary singletrack and skiing opportunities lured her to the northern Green Mountains of Vermont where she resides with her husband and three chocolate labs.
Gage O'Donnell - Stowe, VT
Gage moved to Vermont as a young child and while loves to travel, good luck getting her to reside anywhere else. She appreciates all of the outdoor activities that Vermont has to offer. Her first experience mountain biking came as a kid while at dryland ski camp and she was hooked. Mountain biking became her summer 'skiing'; using mountain biking to get through the summer until ski season, and skiing to get through the winter until mountain bike season. Gage worked at kids mountain bike camps in high school, but it was her involvement with Little Bellas and Ladies Allride as an adult that grew her interest in giving back to the bike community and increasing passion to help both adults and kids grow their skills around mountain biking. Riding bikes can be a lifelong sport and Gage is excited to help you develop your skills so you can enjoy all that mountain biking has to offer. Gage holds a PMBIA L1 certification.
Meridith McFarland - Starksboro, VT
Meridith grew up riding her bike from the early age of six. As she grew up, she started riding BMX and then mountain biked the local race series. Coming from a Professional Snowboard Instructor background, the next logical step would be to attain her IMBA (International Mountain Bike Association) and PMBI (Professional Mountain Bike Instructor) certification, which she did in 2016 and 2017. Meridith has instructed beginner Bike Clinics at the Vermont Mountain Bike Festival and SheJumps women’s clinics. In 2017, She was on two panels for New England Mountain Bike Women’s Summit and attended the Liv Ladies Allride at Kingdom trails as a volunteer coach. “I love railing berms and rolling roots!”
Laura Jenks - Waitsfield, VT
Laura grew up in Vermont and her love for speed and the outdoors was fueled by her goals in ski racing. A career in art education and ski race coaching solidified as she graduated from college. Mountain biking was a hard and fast love as Laura started guiding rides for her alpine athletes. It wasn’t hard to see the connection between snow and soil and before she knew it, job opportunities were quickly presenting themselves. Now Laura is addicted to her time on her bike and is amazed at how community has sprung up around the sport. She has run the the downhill mtn bike program at Sugarbush Mtn. and helped facilitate other camps, events and festivals. She got her level I PMBIA certification in 2018, and has helped to nurture local women’s rides in the summer in the Mad River Valley where she resides.
VIRGINIA
Marlie Creasy-Smith - Richmond, VA
Marlie has been an avid mountain biker since 2006. She has been instructing and leading rides since then, becoming a certified coach in 2014. Marlie started XC riding and quickly progressed into freeriding and downhill where she found her true home and love. Her focus is primarily on women's specific freeride, XC, and DH clinics. She is a LIV Ambassador and races enduro and downhill for Coqui Cyclery in Richmond, VA. She mostly loves the camaraderie and awesomeness found while building confidence through skills with women on the trail - not to mention the undeniable freedom found on her bike.
WASHINGTON
Annick Chalier - Lyle, WA
Annick Chalier is a longtime Pacific Northwesterner, calling the gorge home since 2019. She has a passion for all things cycling and has been a mountain biker since 2013. She's raced road bikes professionally, raced cyclocross, dabbled in some endurance mountain bike racing, and is now finding a home in gravel racing. Through the years of training for racing, mountain biking has always remained a counterbalance to the structured intervals... a way to be creative in and connect with nature, dance down the trail hootin' and hollerin' with friends, and find distance from the outside world by being entirely focused on the moment with the bike.
After becoming a snowboard instructor at Mount Hood Meadows, assisting with several mountain bike clinics, and having experienced the benefit of receiving mountain bike instruction at several camps and lessons, Annick became a PMBIA Level 1 certified mountain bike coach in 2021. She loves the process of helping others unlock capabilities they didn't realize they had within themselves. The confidence that inspires is infectiously powerful and can transform a person's life. In addition to this confidence, the fun factor of mountain biking is in a category of its own and plays well with Annick's fun sensibilities! Annick is thrilled to be coaching with Grit Clinics and Ladies Allride since 2021!!
After becoming a snowboard instructor at Mount Hood Meadows, assisting with several mountain bike clinics, and having experienced the benefit of receiving mountain bike instruction at several camps and lessons, Annick became a PMBIA Level 1 certified mountain bike coach in 2021. She loves the process of helping others unlock capabilities they didn't realize they had within themselves. The confidence that inspires is infectiously powerful and can transform a person's life. In addition to this confidence, the fun factor of mountain biking is in a category of its own and plays well with Annick's fun sensibilities! Annick is thrilled to be coaching with Grit Clinics and Ladies Allride since 2021!!