Ambassadors

Getting more women on bikes and spreading the Costa Rican Pura Vida (Pure Life) mantra through the sport mountain biking is their passion. Tim is the Exec. Dir. of the Mountain Bike Association of Arizona and Evie leads a weekly women’s mountain bike ride at McDowell Mountain Park. The two love to race their bikes in XC mountain bike events like the Whiskey 50, Grand Junction Off-Road and the Dakota Five O. Evie also races Downhill in the summer.

Their goals are to further the sport of mountain biking through introducing junior riders, encouraging women, and spreading good vibes wherever they go.

He is fascinated with wrangling the data and finding keys to helping athletes improve their fitness.

Joe is inspired by the cycling community, in many ways. He finds the friendships made while riding last a lifetime, and these friendships drive him to train harder. Joe is always inspired by the competition; the thrill of battling back and forth with an equal competitor inspires him to be better everyday, and to never give up. Joe is inspired by the lifestyle that cycling encourages. The focus on full body health, from nutrition to exercise, stretching and strength, and mental awareness and toughness. Cycling has taught Joe to strive for a balanced life, and achieving that balance is greatly inspiring.

He is grateful for all the beautiful places and the many amazing people that climbing has introduced to him. Many of these introductions have become great friends scattered around the world!

Jeremy is most inspired by outdoor climbing in beautiful places with good friends who strive to push their limits.

At the beginning of 2016 Jeremy made it a goal to climb a v13 by the end of the year. He trained throughout the winter climbing 4-5 days a week to get the fitness needed to accomplish that goal… During the summer of 2016 he met success when he climbed his first v13: Clan of the Cave Bears! With this boost of confidence he went on to climb 2 more v13s shortly after.

James has been climbing throughout the United States for twenty years, and while he’s got a few proud lines to his credit, he’s most proud of the small part he’s been able to play in the successes of others. He trains hard, climbs a lot, and considers himself a balanced all-around climber. James is a member of the Wisconsin Climbers’ Association, the American Alpine Club, the Access Fund, the American Mountain Guides Association, the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education, and the Northwest Avalanche Center.

In 2017 James hopes to climb 5.13 sport, 5.12 trad, ski up and down Mount Rainier, do three laps of Cannon Cliff in a day, climb Clip a Dee Doo Dah (5.3) with his oldest son, and, as always, hopes to log more pitches and problems than last year.

The sport also provides her with enduring friendships, a social scene, and motivational peers.

Erin’s short-term plan is to enjoy the spring 2017 outdoor bouldering season at Devils Lake. She will also participate in a couple of training sessions at Train Climb Summit in Madison. She hopes to get stronger and more efficient with her time through the training program. Follow her on Instagram and her Athlete Facebook page to glean more specifics on her training. Erin also hopes to get accepted into UW-Madison’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program and begin that summer of 2018!

You can find Erin at the following:

https://flashfoxy.com/foxy-fridays-erin-ayla
https://frictionlabs.com/blog/yoga-for-climbers-moves-to-master
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSLUwYqWEpk
http://www.asanaclimbing.com/erin-ayla
https://frictionlabs.com/athletes/erin-ayla

Erick loves Mikes Mix products because they allow him to continue executing at a high level and he appreciates the high quality ingredients and simple formulas.

In addition to climbing, Erick is a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison studying Mechanical Engineering and Sustainability. In his free time, Erick enjoys cooking, listening to music and hanging out with friends. Some of his goals for the future include getting better at sport climbing as well as climbing v12.

Dan now resides in the driftless Region of Wisconsin and his past times include paddling, cycling, skiing, running and trapping. Dan still actively races and has recently competed in the Ironman Wisconsin, Birkebeiner and local triathlons. In recent years, Dan has found great satisfaction in getting others involved in the sports close to his heart. He organizes and coach’s a youth Nordic ski team: Snowflake Youth Nordic and the Driftless Endurance triathlon club.

Each year since he has improved on a national level and this past season he made three trips to Europe to race Cyclocross World Cups and the World Championships! Some of Caleb’s mountain bike goals for the 2017 season are to win a WORS mtb pro race, podium at mtb nationals and top 10 at Ore to Shore.

Career Highlights
– 4th 2017 Cyclocross National Championships
– 5th 2016 Cyclocross Pan-American Championships
– 32nd 2017 Cyclocross World Championships
– 7th at 2016 Cyclocross National Championships
– 10th at 2015 Cyclocross National Championships
– 1st overall in Ore to Shore Soft Rock 2015
– 2nd overall Chequamegon Short & Fat 2015
– 1st in stxc at Utah Tech Devo Pro XCT
– 1st in xc at Chile Challenge Pro XCT
– 2nd in stxc at Chile Challenge Pro XCT
– 3rd in pro men at WORS Englewood Opener
– 4th in pro men at WORS Camrock Classic

Ben has been lucky enough to be taken up with the JAM Fund crew based out of the Pioneer Valley in west Mass. They are a local development team that is made up of a family of national cycling champs, and encouraging mentors.

Currently, Ben attends college at the University of Massachusetts and is working towards a B.S. in Resource Economics and a B.S. in Sustainable Food & Farming. At the University Ben has become the vice president of the cycling team, which he enjoys immensely, where he strives to build a larger cycling community that benefits everyone. The cycling team is flourishing and has grow to its largest level in ten years while also having the largest women’s team in fifteen years! Mike’s Mix has provided the club with additional support which has helped the members work to their potentials.

Looking to the future Ben has big goals. After one year racing cyclecross Ben was able to race at CX Nationals 2016. This year he hopes to go back and get better results. Training harder, getting faster, and growing cycling are things that push him. In his free time Ben is likely working on the farm, vigorously writing his thoughts down on sticky notes, eating, or thinking about cycling.

Adam is inspired by people that make fitness and adventure a lifestyle. People that in a world full of materialism and a million ways to make a lifestyle weak and dormant, that haven’t been beaten down yet.

Recent accomplishments: second place in the 36 hour Ultimate Suck, one of Livestrong.com’s ten hardest races in America. 1st place in the 12 hour Midwest Suck.

Adam’s short term goals are to squat 405 pounds, deadlift the same, and bench press 240 pounds, while still running a sub 5 minute mile. He’s currently at a 395 squat, 385 deadlift, and 230 bench with a 4:50 mile! Adam will start training for the Toughest Mudder in April, while also preparing for Dances With Dirt’s Wisconsin half or full Marathon.

Facebook: Adam Gura and Midwest Endurance Society

A short video that Adam made demonstrating his unique sense of humor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrLliQMwqxo

Chris is a founding member of the HWDAMF, a group of hard-working adventurists that get after it. Mike’s Mix is the first brand officially approved by the HWDAMF and the diamond logo appears on many of our labels. One of our most active ambassadors, Chris continually brings new customers to Mike’s Mix and is always getting the Mix involved with kayaking events. Chris is truly one of the most generous individuals we have met and would take the shirt off his back for someone in need.

Since then I have climbed across the US, and in Canada, Patagonia, France, Thailand and Norway. Most of my extended trip are to ice climb and to go alpine climbing, as we have little of that around southern WI. I co-authored the ice climbing guide book for Munising Michigan and have put up a few FA’s across the Midwest on both rock and ice.

A few accomplishments:
-Gimme Shelter, Mt. Quadra, Canada WI 7-
-Whillans-Cochrane, Aguja Poincenot, Patagonia M4 5+ 70
-The Casual Route, Longs Peak, Colorado IV 5.10a
-North Face, Mount Edith Cavell, Canada IV 5.7
-Cathedral Traverse, Tetons V 5.8
-Direct South Buttress, Mt. Moran V 5.8 A1
-Frendo Spur, Aiguille du Midi, Chamonix D 5c III
-Stool Pigeon, Devil’s Lake 5.11b R
-10% Real, Orient Bay, Canada WI5
-HMR, Pictured Rocks Nat. Lakeshore, MI WI5

Goals-While I am not one to pre-spray (except to my friends ) I have a few trips scheduled this year, two to Canada in the summer months and one to Switzerland in the fall. Wish me luck for good pre trip training, good weather and logistics while I am there and for plenty of Mike’s Mix post climb recovery for when I get back down!

Since I was a kid, I have always enjoyed the feeling of freedom riding the bike gives me.
As an adult, I have grown to love the fitness benefits that structured training has given me as well.
In addition, I also enjoy setting specific fitness and race oriented goals, and putting plans in action to achieve them

Seeing other people achieve a goal (life or sports) when they thought they would never even come close. I enjoy seeing the pure joy and excitement on their face, I always try to help others achieve their fitness or race goals by offering advice, and support through my own experiences.

Notable accomplishments
2012 USGP of Cyclocross – Planet Bike Cup – 2nd Single Speed
2013 Iceman Cometh – 1st place
2014 Iceman Cometh – 1st place
2013 Lowell 50 Spring Gravel Race – 1st overall (34 mile race)
2103 Master 35-40 Cyclocross State Champion
2014 Master 35+ Cyclocross Series Overall Champion
2017 Fat Bike Nationals 4th Single Speed
What are your short term goals?
Finish the Lumber Jack 100 on Fat Bike, and Get back on top of the podium for Iceman and the 2017 Cyclocross season!

Katie is passionate about climbing for the many avenues it allows her to cultivate; travel, adventure, mentoring younger climbers and instilling good stewardship for nature. Before climbing, Katie was always an athlete growing up competing in soccer, swimming, track and field, and water polo.

Outside of climbing, Katie enjoys cross training with weight lifting, drawing, painting and cooking. Katie is a healthcare IT consultant during the day. Her goals for the future include improving her competition performance, as well as climbing v10. Her favorite Mike’s Mix product is the whey protein, for its flexibility in smoothies, banana pancakes, and apple muffins.

Mike loves the training associated with the development of a climber as an athlete and the exploration of new areas to climb. He likes to climb in the Wisconsin Driftless Area but also enjoys traveling around the country to dabble in other world class climbing destinations.

When he’s not climbing Mike works as an Engineer and also has a passion for cycling. The combination of workouts and “fitness as a lifestyle” ingrained the natural curiosity for finding the best products for his body.

Mike’s favorite Mike’s Mix product is the Pink Vanilla Protein First, his go-to post workout recovery supplement. He uses the pure protein and Melissa’s mix chocolate in smoothies and the lemon sports hydration drink during endurance workouts.

In the future Mike would like to explore the US, and international areas of climbing. He trains hard and would like to keep developing in the sport of Bouldering. He also enjoys introducing new athletes to the sport and adores the comradery of the climbing and outdoor community. Mike would like to continue evolving as an outdoor advocate and is a member of the Wisconsin Climber’s Association, AAC, Access Fund, and the WI Bike Fed.

Besides training for climbing, Travis finds much of his motivation lies in exploring the wild places he spends his time in hunting for untouched rock to develop. In the last season alone he has established more than a dozen first ascents around Arizona. Travis loves the challenges route development poses: discovering if the unclimbed can be climbed, and all the mental and physical challenges that go along with that.
When Travis isn’t out playing in the dirt, you can find him at the local climbing gym where he is a route setter, bringing some of the outdoor inspiration to the indoor climbing scene. He also teaches classes at a local outfitter to people looking for more information on activities to get them outside. Travis’s goals for 2018 include continuing development of local crags, starting a draft of a guidebook for a new area, pushing himself and others to continue to grow and get stronger, and have as many adventures with his wife and dog as he can!

She committed to climbing, focusing on both sport and bouldering, and later discovered yoga as a supplement to the sport. She has competed at local gym climbing competitions in WI, CA, and TX. Growing up she had a heart condition, which restricted her from any rigorous physical activities. Years after her surgery and discovery of climbing, Celeste is motivated to push her limits and strive for healthy and environmental living.

Photo credit: Crystal Tan – www.crystaltanphoto.com

Jacob grew up in the outdoors but originally started his professional life at an actor and comedian for 10 years. Jacob switched to the outdoor industry in 2015 and couldn’t be happier to spend his days pebble wrestlin’ outdoors and exploring the backcountry.