Athlete, owner of HART Cycling, coach/sports nutritionist at Ignition Coach Co. and Ciclismo Racing
26 Years Old • Fort Collins
Tell us about yourself, your history and how you came to be where you are now.
I grew up in Estes Park, spending just as much time outside as inside. I jumped from my father’s shoulders to riding bikes as a medium of exploring the outdoors at an early age. I competed in my first bike race at 12 years old and decided I was going to beat the top three guys in that race before I really took racing seriously. Unfortunately, the winner of that race was Christopher Blevins, who is now a world champion, Olympian and dominating the world cup circuit. So the jury is still out on whether I’m serious or not.
Explain your career, achievements and professional highlights.
I went pro on the mountain bike at age 18 with Tokyo Joe’s Racing Team and snagged myself a few national podiums, including one at collegiate nationals for the University of Colorado Boulder. In 2021, I founded HART Cycling with my teammate, and we have since finished in the top 10 at the national championships every year, raced in eight world cups and won some races along the way. Coaching is a natural job for me, along with racing and studying exercise science and nutrition. I’ve even had the honor of working with several other elite athletes around the world.
In what ways do you give back to the community?
I love coaching the high school mountain biking teams in Fort Collins. We have beginners, national champion contenders and everyone in between riding in the mountain parks and having a blast. It’s so rewarding to see them progress, achieve their goals and find what they love in exercise, whether it’s racing, riding, hiking or running. I’ve seen kids take what we introduce to all kinds of awesome places. The key for me is that they build healthy habits for their minds and bodies as they tackle the next thing in life. I also get opportunities to volunteer with Arboretum Coffee—I’m a big fan of the executive director.
What do you consider the biggest accomplishment or challenge you’ve overcome, either professionally or personally?
The balancing act of Hannah running Arboretum Coffee alongside my training, traveling and racing is a constant challenge. We’re both pretty tired, stressed and overreached much of the time, and the worlds we work in are very different. It’s rewarding to find little ways in between my training that I can support Hannah and invest in her work, help her brainstorm or just be the house spouse while she untangles some nonprofit puzzle.
Tell us something unique about you.
My scholastic career took me through music, business, creative writing, philosophy, exercise physiology and sports nutrition (they call it ADHD), and I finally settled on dropping out, paying off loans and getting a couple certificates that get the job done just fine. I’ve played violin longer than I’ve raced bikes, and I enjoy writing poetry and fiction as artistic outlets.
Where do you see yourself in five years? In 10 years?
I see myself still competing in the national and international races, most likely towing around a kid or two, and still enjoying coaching other athletes toward their dreams and victories. I’ll still be juggling Arboretum and other adventures with Hannah and having a darn good time with it. I know I want to race world cups when I grow up, but the world has a good few wonders I haven’t explored yet.
What piece(s) of advice would you give to your younger self?
Be patient. Work on what’s in front of you and don’t worry what other people are doing, what could be or might be or isn’t. Hypotheticals don’t count, and they’re a lot of work.
Take responsibility for yourself, take care of yourself and be generous. Just pedal the bike. Dreams are for chasing.
What do you love most about biking?
The freedom. I can explore so many places that are inaccessible by car and more remote than I can hike in a day. I can clear my head, look at a dozen waterfalls, ride through a few different ecosystems and be back home for lunch. Everywhere I ride, I get to immerse myself in the place without walls or windows locking me away from the fresh air. With nothing but a bike, carbs and willpower, the whole Front Range is just a quick pedal away from my house. I think that’s pretty cool.
What is the most rewarding thing about coaching the high school mountain biking teams?
On the bike, kids often begin the program struggling with the long climbs and technical descents, but after a couple months of pushing their limits, they’re noticeably stronger, smoother and more confident. Off the bike is what’s most rewarding to watch: The kids come in with unique backgrounds, dispositions and challenges, along with awesome, awkward and childish tendencies. After a few years of real-life challenges, victories, losses, dreaming and hard work, they’re adults. I’m proud of the resilience and compassion I see in my athletes. Mountain biking is both an incredible outlet and a learning tool to foster these real-life attributes.
Local business shoutout:
Besides Hannah’s coffee shop, I love Perelandra Bookshop, with their eclectic collection from all corners of literature, and Drake Cycles and Brave New Wheel for their investment in the cycling community and dedication to good wrenching.
