Logo of Pearl Izumi, featuring the letter

Meet Our Athletes

Our athletes come from wildly diverse backgrounds and have equally diverse plans and goals for the upcoming season. The common thread that ties them all together is the way in which they engage with their respective communities and give back to the cycling community at large.
A smiling cyclist holds a small dog on a road.

Alexey
Vermeulen

GENERAL BIO

My name is Alexey Vermeulen. I grew up in Michigan and started my career on the road before transitioning to the dirt to race gravel and mountain bikes in 2019. I am most well known for riding with my dachshund, named Willie, on my back while training. My biggest wins to date include 3x Iceman Cometh, BWR SD, 2x Chequamegon 40 and 2x podium in the Lifetime Grand Prix Overall!

FUN FACTS

Favorite ride you've ever done and why?
Riding from Boulder to Crested Butte over 3 days during Covid. Coming from road racing, I had rarely done multi day point to point rides, but the lack of racing during the pandemic opened up the opportunity! 300 miles and 30,000 feet with a good friend over old mining passes, and it was a ride I will never forget!
 
What got you into cycling?
I got into cycling through my grandfather (OPA) who had raced in Holland before WWII. After immigrating to Canada after the war, his love of bikes rubbed off on me and we shared rides whenever he came to visit. My first foray into racing was at a kids triathlon with my mom and from then on my passion grew each year!
 
Craziest thing they’ve seen/experienced on your bike?
In 2017 I was out riding in Girona with friends and we found what could only have been a pet bunny hopping up the road. We picked it up and carried it about 3km into the next town where we randomly ran into a family/girl wandering around the coffee shop we stopped at...we didn't need a translator to figure out it was her bunny. Quite an end to the day as we were contemplating how to ride down the mountain with a bunny in our jersey!
 
Favorite riding buddy?
Do dogs count? Sir Willie the wiener and my girlfriend Sophie Linn.
 
Favorie post-ride meal?
Chocolate milk and cold pizza.

FAVORITE PEARL IZUMI PRODUCTS

Cyclist riding on a gravel path in a misty forest.

Andrew
L'Esperance

GENERAL BIO

My name is Andrew L'Esperance and I grew up on the east coast of Canada, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. I am currently living in the Eastern Townships just east of Montreal, Quebec. I race MTB and gravel bikes for Maxxis Factory Racing and love all different kinds of riding. I come from a World Cup XCO background and have been transitioning more into the endurance MTB and gravel space the past two years. Throughout my XCO career I always was drawn to the adventure races and managed to fit them in at the beginning or end of the season. I have had very cool experiences racing MTB stage races like Croc Trophy in North Queensland in Australia, Epic Israel, Swiss Epic and a few others. Now, races like these and many other are standard on the schedule, and that's pretty cool. I am the current Canadian MTB Marathon National Champion and am 2x BC Bike Race Champion, winning in 2021 and 2023. I finished 6th overall in the LTGP in 2022.

FUN FACTS

Favorite ride you've ever done and why?
Woah, tough question, so many amazing rides! My favourite ride ever has to be a single-day ride around the Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island in Northern Nova Scotia. It is a stunning 300 km loop with several big climbs. I did it with two very good friends, Geoff and Dustin, and we camped the night before, got up at sunrise and just rode the whole day. It was my first super long day on the bike and it was incredible. It took 10 hours and we ripped it! I have not gotten back to do it since, that was about 10 years ago, so I have to make that happen!
 
What got you into cycling?
I was lucky to have access to bikes and fun terrain to ride them growing up. Our family rode bikes together on vacation and I rode with my older brothers. I am the youngest of 4 boys. My oldest brother, whom I massively looked up to, did a few bike races and of course, I had to do a bike race. From there, well, I did my first race, a local Tuesday-nighter short track and I just kept going.
 
Craziest thing they’ve seen/experienced on your bike?
We were on the island of Maui for a training camp during the time 4-5 years ago when there was a false alarm nuclear missile warning. We were just starting our ride when the notification came to our phones. We stopped as a group and tried to figure out what to do. At this time, with the information we had, there was an incoming missile. We discussed and someone took the lead and we reasoned that things didn't look good no matter where we were, so we decided to keep riding. It was a surreal experience. About 1-2 hours into the ride we got a notification that it was a false alarm. We had a good ride but really only fully understood what had happened once we got and saw the news. Wild experience, still gives me chills thinking about it.
 
Favorite riding buddy?
My wife Haley. We are both professional bike pedallers and we feel fortunate we get to be on this journey together.
 
Favorie post-ride meal?
A good Burrito and a Jaritos.

FAVORITE PEARL IZUMI PRODUCTS

Canyon EcoLoft Jacket, PRO Alpha Layer (I haven't tried it yet but I know I will like it), PRO Bib Shorts
Cyclist sitting on a bicycle in a forested area.

Brendan
Johnston

GENERAL BIO

I am 32 year old father of 1 year old Maeve, husband to Sue. I live in Canberra, Australia. I have been racing bikes for close to 20 years. I started out with XC mountain bike racing have done road, marathon mountain bike and gravel since. I have 6 national titles, and have stood on the podium at the National Road championships. I have worked as an electrician for the my whole career until the past 2 years where i have moved to a more full time focus on racing and the Life Time Grand Prix.

FUN FACTS

Favorite ride you've ever done and why?
I love riding from my home in Canberra to the South East Coast of Australia (where i grew up). It's about 180km and I usually ride home for Christmas to see my family.
 
What got you into cycling?
My dad would take us along to road races, I very soon found mountain biking and was thrilled to combine the fitness aspect of my racing with the thrills of mountain bike.
 
Craziest thing they’ve seen/experienced on your bike?
Unbound Mud 2023!
 
Favorite riding buddy?
Mountain Bike World Cup stalwart Bec Henderson.
 
Favorie post-ride meal?
A big strawberry milkshake.

FAVORITE PEARL IZUMI PRODUCTS

Smiling cyclist in colorful outfit against a mural background.

Hannah
Otto

GENERAL BIO

I’m from Longmont Colorado and race gravel and XC MTB. I started racing on the road and still enjoy the a fast road group ride, but now I spend most of my time on dirt and single track. Since transitioning to dirt I’ve won the Foco Fondo and Miami Gravel, and I was recently 3rd at Belgian Waffle Ride Kansas. The last two years I focused mostly on the Lifetime Grandprix. For next year I’m really excited to branch out to some new events — including Cape Epic in March and the Rift in July, in addition to the tried and true favorites like Unbound and Leadville 100.

FUN FACTS

Favorite ride you've ever done and why?
When my husband Jake and I first started dating we decided to ride across Missouri on the Katy trail on a whim. We rode from where I was living at the time in Saint Louis to my aunts house in Kansas City over 2 days. The first day was the longest at 164 miles. It took us 9 hours and we were absolutely cracked at the end. It was my longest ride ever and the first time I realized I might enjoy gravel racing.
 
What got you into cycling?
I used to dance competitively. When I went to college I quit dancing and started running to stay fit. My senior year I had a bad running injury that required surgery and took about a full year of rehab to just be able to walk normally again. After that, my doctor recommended I not continue running. I was devastated and borrowed one of my dad’s bikes so I had some way to exercise outside. A coworker noticed I was commuting to work and invited me to a race on the weekend. I got 3rd and it’s been a complete obsession from there!
 
Craziest thing they’ve seen/experienced on your bike?
Some of the views and nature I’ve experienced on my bike are truly mind blowing. But the moment that stands out to me as crazy is in Unbound 2022 (mud year) I was riding in a small group descending through a cow pasture. It was a pretty rough and loose descent, and I looked up to see a cow barreling towards the road just a few seconds away from crossing our path. I grabbed brakes and lost traction on the rear wheel, slowing just enough that I missed the cow by an inch. It miraculously darted through the small gap I managed to open between me and the rider in front. I had to slow down and double check that I was actually okay, I couldn’t believe I made it through in one piece and that no one else crashed as a result.
 
Favorite riding buddy?
My favorite riding buddy is my best friend Starla Teddergreen— who is also my teammate for Cape Epic!
 
Favorie post-ride meal?
I am currently really partial to a roast beef sandwich on toasted sourdough with havarti cheese, horseradish, & dill.

FAVORITE PEARL IZUMI PRODUCTS

The Women's PRO Bib Shorts are an absolute game changer especially with the drop tail design.

I rarely leave home without the Quest Jacket in my pocket — it compacts down really small but still makes a huge difference on a cold descent.

The AmFIB Lobster Gel Gloves are truly the only way to train comfortably in temps below 40 degrees.
Cyclist in colorful jersey and sunglasses, preparing for a ride.

Hannah
Shell

GENERAL BIO

I’m from Longmont Colorado and race gravel and XC MTB. I started racing on the road and still enjoy the a fast road group ride, but now I spend most of my time on dirt and single track. Since transitioning to dirt I’ve won the Foco Fondo and Miami Gravel, and I was recently 3rd at Belgian Waffle Ride Kansas. The last two years I focused mostly on the Lifetime Grandprix. For next year I’m really excited to branch out to some new events — including Cape Epic in March and the Rift in July, in addition to the tried and true favorites like Unbound and Leadville 100.

FUN FACTS

Favorite ride you've ever done and why?
When my husband Jake and I first started dating we decided to ride across Missouri on the Katy trail on a whim. We rode from where I was living at the time in Saint Louis to my aunts house in Kansas City over 2 days. The first day was the longest at 164 miles. It took us 9 hours and we were absolutely cracked at the end. It was my longest ride ever and the first time I realized I might enjoy gravel racing.
 
What got you into cycling?
I used to dance competitively. When I went to college I quit dancing and started running to stay fit. My senior year I had a bad running injury that required surgery and took about a full year of rehab to just be able to walk normally again. After that, my doctor recommended I not continue running. I was devastated and borrowed one of my dad’s bikes so I had some way to exercise outside. A coworker noticed I was commuting to work and invited me to a race on the weekend. I got 3rd and it’s been a complete obsession from there!
 
Craziest thing they’ve seen/experienced on your bike?
Some of the views and nature I’ve experienced on my bike are truly mind blowing. But the moment that stands out to me as crazy is in Unbound 2022 (mud year) I was riding in a small group descending through a cow pasture. It was a pretty rough and loose descent, and I looked up to see a cow barreling towards the road just a few seconds away from crossing our path. I grabbed brakes and lost traction on the rear wheel, slowing just enough that I missed the cow by an inch. It miraculously darted through the small gap I managed to open between me and the rider in front. I had to slow down and double check that I was actually okay, I couldn’t believe I made it through in one piece and that no one else crashed as a result.
 
Favorite riding buddy?
My favorite riding buddy is my best friend Starla Teddergreen— who is also my teammate for Cape Epic!
 
Favorie post-ride meal?
I am currently really partial to a roast beef sandwich on toasted sourdough with havarti cheese, horseradish, & dill.

FAVORITE PEARL IZUMI PRODUCTS

The Women's PRO Bib Shorts are an absolute game changer especially with the drop tail design.

I rarely leave home without the Quest Jacket in my pocket — it compacts down really small but still makes a huge difference on a cold descent.

The AmFIB Lobster Gel Gloves are truly the only way to train comfortably in temps below 40 degrees.
Cyclist in front of a lion mural, wearing a racing jersey and helmet.

Jake
Magee

GENERAL BIO

I am from Horsham, Victoria in Australia. Before I raced pedal bikes I raced motorcycles, both flat track and supermoto. I won a national championship on the flat track before switching to pedal bikes in 2009. On the road, I raced on several UCI teams in more than 10 countries, and won the Red Bull Last Stand before switching to dirt in 2020. On gravel I prefer the medium distance events over the long hauls. I won the Gravel Worlds 75 mile, and have been 2nd at several BWR events and The Rad Dirt.. In 2024 I will continue to race mid-distance gravel events including the BWR series and some Lifetime MTB events.

FUN FACTS

Favorite ride you've ever done and why?
My friends and I once road our fixed gear bikes from Boulder to Cheyenne. The ride was not really planned and the route turned out to be mostly dirt. We had about 12 flats between the four of us, and ended up having to abandon the dirt roads and bushwhack with our bikes over to I25. We finished the ride on I25 all the way to Cheyenne. Just outside town we found a diner and drank about 5 gallons of coke. I and another friend continued on to our hotel, only to be passed a few minutes later by the rest of our group in a truck. Turns out the waitress at the diner felt so bad for us she loaned them her truck to get to the hotel and would pick it up with her boyfriend later. It was epic and my favorite ride to date.
 
What got you into cycling?
I have been on two wheels since before I could walk. One of my moto teams was sponsored by Trek and I got a road bike for cross training. At first I thought it was silly, but once I got on it to see how fast I could go down this hill I was hooked.
 
Craziest thing they’ve seen/experienced on your bike?
When I was racing on the road in Australia my team was selected for a stage race in Tahiti. The race was organized by the government also providing lodging and food, and to date it was the craziest experience of my life. We were sleeping in mattresses on the floor of with 10 of us to a room, and most of us got sick from the food. There usually wasn’t enough food to go around either. Every day we had these insanely long transfers before the stage start and we’d arrive at the start 10 minutes before the race was going off. It was tough but now a great memory.
 
Favorite riding buddy?
I often train with my friend Ruth. She is a good friend of me and my wife, Hannah, and we just get on well together on the bike.
 
Favorie post-ride meal?
Anything with bacon.

FAVORITE PEARL IZUMI PRODUCTS

Smiling cyclist wearing a cap and a jersey with logos.

Sean
Fincham

GENERAL BIO

My name is Sean Fincham and I’m from Squamish BC, Canada. I grew up riding/racing downhill and BMX bikes. I started XC racing at sixteen years old and it became my focus. I raced World Cup XC for most of my career and competed in nine world championships. In 2024 I changed my focus to marathon/gravel and had a solid season. For 2025 I want to take what I learned last year and go for more wins.

FUN FACTS

I still love riding and (very rarely) racing downhill and enduro. I raced a Enduro World Cup and finished top 50.

FAVORITE PEARL IZUMI PRODUCTS

My favourite PEARL iZUMi products are the Attack Jacket and PRO Neoshell Jacket. I couldn’t train without them!
Cyclist in vibrant gear posing with a bicycle under sunlight.

Whitney
Allison

GENERAL BIO

Whitney Allison has been racing road professionally since 2013. In 2018, mere days before Colorado Classic, she was hit by a driver of an Airstream from behind. The impact of the hit, and the ugly insurance process to ensue, drove her to redefine her career for herself under her own brand, Bike Sports. After her team Hagens Berman Supermint folded in 2019, she planned to transition to gravel in 2020. 2021 saw her on the podium in five of the seven races she entered, and three of them wins. 2022 carried a similar momentum, showcasing her as a consistent, powerful rider. 2023 saw several podiums at races like BWR Arizona, North Carolina, & Kansas. Additional results include events like 1st BWR Utah twice, 4th Unbound twice, and 2nd and 4th and SBTGRVL. For Whitney, the limit pushing and what-ifs fuel her in this space.

Outside of bike racing, Whit utilizes her experience and talents to help people stay on bikes. She co-runs FoCo Fondo, a 9th year gravel cycling event in Fort Collins, Colorado. In addition she co-managed Bike Sports, which in addition to running the racing program, has a bike fit studio, a free route website, and Bike Sports TV. 2021-2023, she also served on the Bicycle Advisory Committee for the City of Fort Collins.

FUN FACTS

Favorite ride you've ever done and why?
In 2017, my team Colavita-Bianchi was spending a week riding in Limoux, France before hitting up a few spring classes. We did a training ride through the Gorges De Galamus that was jaw-dropping…and a little scary with the ledges.
 
What got you into cycling?
As a high school soccer player burnout, I was looking for a new sport in college and thought triathlon would be fun. I ended up on a ride with the UT Austin collegiate team and although I was immediately dropped, one of the guys stayed back and rode with me. I was hooked and had the perfect introduction to road racing through collegiate cycling. Still have never done a triathlon.
 
Craziest thing they’ve seen/experienced on your bike?
You know, I think just about any of these gravel races are pretty insane. Just the sheer energy requirements to complete one of these routes is a lot and then to full-gas race it is hard to comprehend, even though I do it multiple times a year. It makes me in awe of the human body.
 
Favorite riding buddy?
Probably Zack. He accuses me of half-wheeling all the time, even though his endurance zone is “so much higher”. We’ve been together for over a dozen years, it’s fine.
 
Favorie post-ride meal?
Loads of seltzer water, a Fat Tire, and anything savory.

FAVORITE PEARL IZUMI PRODUCTS

Cyclist riding on a gravel road surrounded by greenery.

Zack
Allison

GENERAL BIO

I'm Zack! I grew up in Arlington, VA and started racing bikes pretty young at 14. I decided pretty promptly to leave Arlington for Fort Collins, Colorado to pursue bike racing and go to Colorado State University. Racing in college and on various elite teams like Mercy Elite Development Cycling and then pro teams. Racing professionally on the road with Elevate Pro Cycling starting in 2014. I scraped together a few wins on Elevate like Team Time Trial and Team Pursuit national titles in 2015. In 2015 I had the grand idea, a bit ahead of it's time, to start FoCo Fondo! Now a staple US gravel event, FoCo Fondo had humble beginnings as a glorified group ride with a couple aid stations. After Elevate I enjoyed the next few years racing for Team Clif Bar where I was on the USA Crits overall podium two years running, raced Unbound gravel for the first time in 2016 coming in 9th place and winning San Rafael Twilight professional criterium in 2018. From 2019 and into the pandemic it was time to mix it up. Going full time gravel with Bike Sports in 2020 when there were basically zero events. Bike Sports, myself and Whitney, focused all of our energy on FoCo Fondo, Bike Sports, eventing and racing. Now, in 2024, Bike Sports, Whitney and Zack are still putting together a full time racing schedule, putting on a 2500 person FoCo Fondo Gravel Race, I'm doing bike fits under the Bike Sports banner, and coaching for Source Endurance.

FUN FACTS

Favorite ride you've ever done and why?
There's a crazy, mostly gravel, 200k loop we do from our front door in Fort Collins. Maybe it's cliche to say your favorite ride is from your front door, but this "200k of Awesomeness" loop has it all.
 
What got you into cycling?
My dad and I would ride the huge network of bike paths around DC. I just liked to real fast and race people that didn't know they were being raced.
 
Craziest thing they’ve seen/experienced on your bike?
I'll go existential with this one. If you take a step back, and you look at a bike as a means to move around planet earth, it's nuts where you can get to. The bike and the places I've been as a whole are the craziest thing. I've gone bike packing, hundreds of miles from home, carrying everything I need, to places cars can't even get to.
 
Favorite riding buddy?
Reluctantly I'll say Whitney. She's great, I'm crazy lucky to have a wife that's enjoyable to ride with, and work with......and live and travel with.....and not really get sick of that much...yet....jk never...
 
Favorie post-ride meal?
Chickie nuggies.

FAVORITE PEARL IZUMI PRODUCTS

Cynisca Cycling Team Logo

Cynisca Cycling Team

A cycling team poses outdoors in matching blue and orange uniforms.
Cynisca Cycling is a US-based UCI Continental Women's professional cycling team. Our mission is to develop and empower women both on and off the bike, providing opportunities for growth and success at the highest levels in the cycling industry.
As we enter the 2025 season, Cynisca Cycling, alongside its partners, sponsors, and supporters, remain dedicated to fostering growth, providing opportunities, and making a sustained commitment to the future of women’s cycling. Behind the scenes, we are predominantly women-run staff, and continuing our commitment to developing female talent in 2025, we have hired a former professional cyclist as an assistant directeur sportif (DS) to mentor and guide our riders. We have also hired one of our retired riders as our new social media manager.
Cyclists riding on a road, wearing matching blue and orange uniforms.
A cycling team poses in front of a castle on a sunny day.
Our goals for 2025 are to secure World Tour race invites, acquire funding this year to allow us to have a Pro-Women's level team as well as a Continental Women's team in 2026, and to grow our current national champion count from three to five. One of our goals, to secure World Tour race invites, has already been achieved. We will be racing at the Tour de Flanders and Amstel Gold and hope to secure an invitation to the Vuelta a España.
Logo of HART Pro Cycling featuring a heart and bicycle wheels.

HART Cycling Team

Smiling cyclist in red jersey and helmet, standing outdoors on gravel path.

Isabella
Rice Robles

GENERAL BIO

Hi, I am Isabella! I’ve been told a few times that I remind people of the energizer bunny and have been described as aggressively friendly. I am from Little Rock, Arkansas. I started biking about 6 years ago, and started racing in the fall of 2020 while going to school at the University of Colorado Boulder studying my Pre-medical degree. In 2022 I decided to jump into the deep end and started racing the UCI XCO MTB Pro Circuit in the USA. In 2023 I finished 10th in the Pro Women Mountain Bike National Championships and raced my First UCI World Cup. I think what makes me most excited about cycling and racing professionally is the ability to connect and inspire with other women and younger athletes on the bike. I truly believe that with some faith in yourself and hard work anything is possible.

FUN FACTS

Favorite ride you've ever done and why?
I truly love every chance I get to be out on my bike. But, some of my favorite rides have a couple of key components: friends, pushing the limits, amazing views, a goal, and snacks. One ride that definitely met this criteria was summiting Mount Elbert on our mountain bikes, a 14teener in Colorado, with my Husband, Ben. It was a wild day filled with pushing our bikes at altitude, and descending some rowdy trails in the midst of some stunning Mountain Views. It was an epic day on the bike.
 
What got you into cycling?
It really was the perfect storm. I was an injured runner, and around that same time I met my husband, Ben, who was a mountain biker. He introduced me to mountain biking, and shortly after that we moved to Boulder Colorado. It was in that community and with the help of my husband that I became the cyclist I am today.
 
Craziest thing they’ve seen/experienced on your bike?
Hmmm. Probably almost running straight into a black bear on a mountain bike trail at around 20 mph. Don’t worry, the bear was okay. (So was i)
 
Favorite riding buddy?
Definitely depends on the type of riding I’m doing. If I am going out to adventure and ride some rough trails, hands down, my favorite riding buddy is Ben my husband. He always knows how to make it a good day on the bike. But if we are talking a good ole suffer fest, my favorite riding buddy would have to be August Bailey. He’s one of our best friends and always has a route, a goal, and some quality snack stops.
 
Favorie post-ride meal?
Mixed berry (blackberry, blueberry, and raspberries) pie with a latte.

FAVORITE PEARL IZUMI PRODUCTS

Two cyclists in red jerseys racing on bikes.

Jeremy
Norris

GENERAL BIO

I grew up in Estes Park, CO wandering the sub-alpine on my bike. I love to ride and race all the bikes but spend most of the time on the XC bike. I went pro in mountain bike with Tokyo Joe's Racing Team in 2017 and currently race for HART Cycling. I am a coach with Ignition Coach Co., a coach for Ciclismo Racing in Fort Collins, head coach for Fort Collins High School, sports nutritionist, and poet.

FUN FACTS

Favorite ride you've ever done and why?
So far pre-riding the Mont Sainte Anne course in the rain following Nino Schurter's lines down the tech. It was like a childhood dream!
 
What got you into cycling?
My dad used to tell stories of racing the legendary races around Boulder when he was a kid and racing the dawn of MTB in college. I would ride around town daydreaming that I was sprinting in the World Tour or ripping World Cups. It took one race when I was 12 to solidify my love of racing and riding bikes.
 
Craziest thing they’ve seen/experienced on your bike?
Either descending Trail Ridge Road in mid December in negative temperatures on a road bike, racing Missoula XC in an insane hailstorm as a junior, or racing the Mont Sainte Anne World Cup in classic Mont Sainte Anne rainy conditions.
 
Favorite riding buddy?
My HART teammates Samuel and Isabella.
 
Favorie post-ride meal?
Chocolate recovery shake then pizza.

FAVORITE PEARL IZUMI PRODUCTS

The AmFIB Lite Gloves, AmFIB Gel Gloves, and AmFIB Shoe Covers have saved so many chilly days and made for a pleasant ride.
Mountain biker racing on a dirt trail surrounded by green trees.

Samuel
Elson

GENERAL BIO

My name is Samuel Elson, and I grew up in central Minnesota. I currently live in Southern Utah, and I race XC mountain bikes. I love to do long rides out in the middle of nowhere, getting lost on random trails and dirt roads that nobody goes down. One of the biggest wins of my career was the Pro XCO Race at Sea Otter Classic in 2021.

FUN FACTS

Favorite ride you've ever done and why?
Riding Captain Ahab with my dad. It's one of our favorite trails of all time. Every ride we do there is one to remember.
 
What got you into cycling?
My dad took me mountain biking for the first time when I was about 7 years old, and I was hooked immediately.
 
Craziest thing they’ve seen/experienced on your bike?
The craziest experience I've had on a mountain bike was racing the UCI World Cup in Snowshoe, West Virginia. Racing a World Cup on home soil was unreal. Fans were amazing, and the whole experience embodied everything I love about the sport.
 
Favorite riding buddy?
Jeremy Norris. Always a goofball, you never know what's going to happen.
 
Favorie post-ride meal?
Anything from Chipotle.

FAVORITE PEARL IZUMI PRODUCTS

Easily my PEARL iZUMi Lite Skull Cap. I've had it for well over 10 years, and it's still perfect in a wide range of conditions.
ARI Racing Team logo

Ari Factory Racing Team

Jakob
Snow

GENERAL BIO

Hey all, my name is Jakob Snow and I’m a Professional Enduro racer from San Diego, CA. A big win for me was winning the BME overall for U21 Elites.

FUN FACTS

Favorite ride you've ever done and why?
Favorite trail or trail system has to be the golfie in Innerleithen, Scotland. It’s just a super unique place with it being a tree farm. So all the trees are in perfect rows which is super trippy when you ride but every trail is insane!
 
What got you into cycling?
I’ve always loved being on bikes or things with wheels in general! I started racing moto when I was younger, then transitioned into BMX for a bit. Took a break for a while trying all the traditional sports but never stuck to one thing. While I loved playing many different sports I never felt at home like I do with mountain biking.
 
Craziest thing they’ve seen/experienced on your bike?
I'd say seeing all the wild Kangaroos and Wallaby's while riding in Australia!
 
Favorite riding buddy?
My favorite riding buddies are Zander Hoppen and Connor Solis, I’ve known them both since I started racing and we always have the best time. We all used to be rivals when we were younger and competing against each other at the local events. Now years later we compete in different ways, trying to hit the hardest line or gap the strangest stuff!
 
Favorie post-ride meal?
Hands down Al Pastor street tacos from Primos market. They are .69¢ on Tuesdays and Fridays and are always satisfying after big days on the saddle.

FAVORITE PEARL IZUMI PRODUCTS

The Summit Pant paired with the Elevate Long Sleeve have been my go to recently, either on a short spin or an all day excursion. Then if it's a little chilly I throw on a Canyon ECOLoft Jacket and it's the perfect layer.

Kailey
Skelton

GENERAL BIO

Who am I? Hmm I’d like to say I am a happy, creative, good times having, individual that loves adrenaline but also the balance of chilling out. I am from Southern California and have been riding for a little over 4 years now. I love to ride downhill, enduro, and slalom. Speed and jumps are on top of my list! I have accomplished one of my biggest goals twice in my riding career thus far. I was able to achieve a professional women’s national championship downhill title 2 years in a row. I have my eyes set on many more in my future!

FUN FACTS

Favorite ride you've ever done and why?
It’s hard to choose only one, they’re all such a good time. I am going to choose any ride I get the opportunity to go on. It’s incredible we get to ride our bikes everyday, all over the world, and with our friends. Can’t take that for granted!
 
What got you into cycling?
I have always had a love for 2 wheels sports growing up with an older brother. As early as I can remember I was riding bikes by 3 years old. Racing BMX and jumping over my neighborhood friends on home made ramps was a daily occurrence for me. As I grew older I began to love the adrenaline, I started racing motocross and this drove my love deeper for the feeling of speed and aggressive riding. Fast forward to my late Teens, I was influenced by my boyfriend to try out racing, I’ve never looked back since!
 
Craziest thing they’ve seen/experienced on your bike?
The craziest thing I have ever experienced during a ride was in Park City, Utah. A few friends and I had come around a fast corner and ran directly into the back of a moose! The moose was a mama and had 2 calfs with her. We were nervous at first, as we know mamas can be aggressive with their young around but she was as graceful as could be. We waited patiently and she continued on with her day!
 
Favorite riding buddy?
My boyfriend, Nik. We share nothing but great times together and it is always a bonus to learn from his expertise.
 
Favorie post-ride meal?
Start off with a refreshing iced coffee, an americano or cold brew. I am obsessed with coffee, I'll start thinking of this coffee before the ride starts! Haha! The meal side of things, Poke bowl with extra poke is always so good!

FAVORITE PEARL IZUMI PRODUCTS

My favorite PEARL products include the Summit riding pants for their comfort, the PRO Barrier riding vest for colder
mornings, and the Summit jersey for easy maneuverability.

Nik
Nestoroff

GENERAL BIO

My name is Nik Nestoroff, I race mountain bikes professionally for Fezzari Bikes and I’m based out of San Diego, CA. I specialize in racing Enduro but I love all types of riding and racing. DH, Slalom and even road for training. I grew up racing DH which naturally transitioned into racing Internationally at a young age and competing at the World Cup level ever since. The last few years I have been racing Enduro, and It’s sparked a whole new love for training and racing for me.

FUN FACTS

Favorite ride you've ever done and why?
I love all types of riding so I definitely feel like it depends on the mood I’m in. One ride/place that comes to mind is Morzine, France. There’s a handful of bikeparks you can ride all on one lift ticket and they all connect through different valleys and mountains. One of the bike parks in the network is in Champery, Switzerland so I always thought it was super cool you can cross borders on your bike so freely there while enjoying amazing trails, food, and coffee haha.
 
What got you into cycling?
My dad got me into riding, he rode most of his life and actually raced DH right around the time I was born. So he was stoked when I showed interest in it at a young age. So not only did we get to spend more time together on the trails but also traveling to races and training are some of the best memories I have with him.
 
Craziest thing they’ve seen/experienced on your bike?
It’s hard to single one experience out. I try to group experiences based on specific trips I've been on to cool places with great culture. I’ve seen some amazing wildlife while out on bikes, but one of my favorite experiences bikes have brought me was traveling to Tasmania in March ‘23. The wildlife down there with the geography and everything else involved was super cool and felt like what was a once in a lifetime opportunity.
 
Favorite riding buddy?
I have so many good friends I was lucky enough to meet through riding. The few people I love riding with most are my dad and my girlfriend. I feel so lucky I get to enjoy the trails with not only my dad but also my girlfriend.
 
Favorie post-ride meal?
On race weekends I always try to eat the things that will correctly replenish my body to get me ready for the next day of practice or racing, but at home I love a good burrito after a ride!

FAVORITE PEARL IZUMI PRODUCTS

Lately on these “crisp” Southern California winter days haha, I’ve been wearing the Summit Trail Pant, with the Canyon Jersey which is such a comfy and casual jersey. I’ve been pairing that with the Summit ECOLoft Vest and I’ve been loving it.

Interested in becoming a PEARL iZUMi Ambassador?

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