Coaches and Guests

The Dirt Series coaching team combines a deep love of the sport with exceptionally responsive and flexible teaching skills.

In our 2012 roster you'll find plenty of competitive accolades, decades of instructional experience and, most importantly, coaches with an unparalleled interest in helping you meet your riding goals.

Coaches and guests are as follows:

• Sylvie Allen: Former Canadian Downhill Champion and National Team Member, multi-time national series cross-country medalist, Fitness Programmer and Personal Trainer based in Whistler BC.
• Tanya Allen: Former New Zealand Mountain Bike XC Team Member, amateur downhill and skate-ski competitor, registered Dental Hygienist, certified in Exercise Science.
• Caralyn Bennett: Ultra-enthusiastic cross-country, freeride, and downhill rider, savvy business entrepreneur, petroleum engineer, and co-founder of the volunteer network Women Making a Difference.
• Tracey Billett: Freeride and downhill mountain bike dedicate, former national level ski racer, CSCF Level III Alpine Ski Coach, and Physical Education Teacher based in Rossland, BC.
• Cassandra Boon: Multi-time provincial and national series Downhill Champion, former US pro team rider, undergrad in athletic therapy, Doctorate in Chiropractic.
• Casey Brown: 2011 Canadian National Downhill Team Member, pro-elite racer and freeride competitor. Former BC Junior Downhill Champion and BC Junior Freestyle Ski Champion. Forest firefighter and artist.
• Penny Cameron: Trans Rockies and BC Bike Race finisher, ski and mountain bike Pro Patroller, bike mechanic and multi-sport athlete based in Whistler, BC.
• Shannon Casson: Dedicated cross-country and downhill mountain biker, elementary PE teacher, record-holding college basketball player, Masters Degree in Kinesiology and Physical Education Pedagogy.
• Suzie Clarke: NCCP Level III club coach, former industry sales representative, instructor with Vancouver’s Adaptive Snow Sports Program, Human Resources professional.
• Lesley Clements: Pro-elite cross-country, marathon, and multi-day mountain bike racer; podium finisher at both the Trans Rockies and the BC Bike Race. Teacher and bike team coach at Pemberton Secondary.
• Chrissy de Vall: Cross-country Olympian, World Championships medalist, and Commonwealth Games Champion. Former professional athlete and women's product technical specialist for Trek Bicycles. Bachelor of Science, Level 3 Coach, Guinness World Record Holder.
• Penny Deck: Avid North Shore rider, 24-hour soloist and multi-discipline racer, Nutrition and Physiology lecturer and PhD student at Simon Fraser University.
• Tammy Donahugh: Slopestyle, dirt jump, and pro dual slalom competitor. Featured video personality. Former Operations Manager for the International Mountain Bicycling Association.
• Amy Esnard: Competitor in Super D, road racing, and Olympic triathlon. Surf instructor, yoga teaching in training, and former competitor in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu at the Pan American Championships.
• Lu Furber: Longtime bike park administrator, programmer, and coach. Former ski school director and current Dirt Series Program Coordinator. Certified instructor in skiing, snowboard, and freestyle.
• Julie Gamache: Downhill, cross-country, and slopestyle competitor. Professional ski instructor, ski patroller and landscaper. Former professional rodeo competitor and equestrian coach.
• Leanne Hildebrand: Mountain bike club coach and planning committee representative. Fastball, white water kayaking, and rock climbing instructor. Masters Degree in Human Rights and Social Justice Policy.
• Angela Houghton: Longtime multi-day mountain bike guide and instructor, recreational endurance racer, Moab Mountain Bike Instruction founder and director, and yoga instructor.
• Emily Johnston: Pro downhill, 4X and dirt jump competitor, featured mountain bike video and demo personality, and one of the very few women who can do a back flip to dirt. Currently based in Lahaina, Maui.
• Jill Kintner: Three-time 4X World Champion, BMX Olympic Bronze Medalist, pro-elite World Cup DH racer, and Red Bull team athlete from Seattle, WA.
• Lisa Lefroy: Former mass-start long-distance downhill racer, two-time Avalanche Cup Series champion, and Race Face Freeride Challenge semi-finalist. Event organizer, and sales and marketing coordinator for Tourism Whistler.
• Sarah Leishman: Pro-elite downhill racer, ski and mountain bike Pro Patroller, former World Championship level snowboard coach, freelance writer, and Gravity Logic trainer.
• Janet Liu: Dedicated XC and DH rider, CX competitor, and year round bike commuter; ACMG rock climbing instructor, Kinesiology graduate, and aircraft maintenance engineer in Edmonton, AB.
• Tera Meade: Three-time Canadian Dual Slalom Champion, multi-time Canadian National Team Member, Fitness Programmer and Personal Trainer, Fitness Competitor, and Sociology graduate.
• Connie Misket: Pro-elite downhill and super D racer, amateur cross-country and singlespeed competitor, dedicated skier and aspiring speed skater, based in Salt Lake City, UT.
• Anita Naidu: Dual Slalom, Giant Slalom and Slopestyle competitor; accomplished rock climber and multi-sport athlete; project engineer, international human development activist, and PHD candidate.
• Courtney Nash: Recreational XC and DH racer, incessant freerider, three-year Team LUNA Chix ambassador, trail builder, freelance writer, web producer living in Bellingham, WA.
• Sandy Ostler: Accomplished mountain biker, runner, skier and windsurfer. Mother of four, Masters Degree in Recreation Management, based in Hood River, OR.
• Kathy Pruitt: 2010 US Cyclo-Cross Singlespeed National Champion, 2009 Downhill World Championship Medalist, ten-time US National Team member, former pro motocross racer, living in Santa Cruz, CA.
• Pam Reid: Year-round road, cross-country, and downhill rider. Major League soccer player, and bronze medalist at the 2005 World Masters Track and Field Championships. Computer programmer based in Victoria, BC.
• Michele Rideout: Whistler Bike Park Guide, Fire Rescue Services Administrative Clerk, certified in ski, snowboard and disabled ski instruction, with degrees in both commerce and law.
• Amanda Ridgway: Enthusiastic DH and XC mountain biker, resort event planner and programmer, executive trainer, BC Mountain Bike Tourism Association Director, Graduate degree in Psychology.
• Candace Shadley: Founder and director of the Dirt Series program, former Provincial Mountain Bike Technical Director, longtime multi-sport athlete and coach, based in Whistler, BC.
• Katrina Strand: Three-time Canadian National Downhill Team Member, cross-country and super D competitor, Bachelor of Human Kinetics, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.
• Kat Sweet: 2010 NW Cup DH Masters Series Champion, Dirt Corps Team Member, Cascade Bike Club Youth Program Coordinator and Trips for Kids Director: Seattle.
• Bonnie Walmsley: Dedicated North Shore mountain biker, adventure racer, and competitive trail runner. Sport and outdoor event planner, and investment representative based in Vancouver, BC.
• Amy Wantulok: Former pro-elite cross-country racer, state title tennis champion, and bike industry retail manager. Current competitive hockey player, African drum instructor, and mountain bike trail advocate.
• Johanna Weintrager: Multi-day mountain bike guide, surf instructor, and yoga teacher running combined retreats in North and South America. Accomplished XC and DH racer, former competitive runner and ski coach, and sports nutrition consultant.
• Jennifer Wilson: Cross-country and marathon mountain bike athlete, formal professional skier and video personality, yoga instructor, and middle school teacher in Hood River, OR.

And, for co-ed camps ...

• Paul Howard: Dedicated year-round leader in instructor development, PMBI and CASI examiner, owner and director of ZEP Techniques.
• Ross Schnell: Two-time Singlespeed World Championship Medalist, 2008 All-Mountain World Champion, and successful cross-country, short track, super d, and bmx competitor.
• Kevin Wood: Accomplished downhill, cross-country, trials and bmx athlete. Aspiring dirt biker, concrete designer, and decade-long mountain bike coach.