Coaches
BJC is powered by a dedicated team of over 50 experienced coaches who bring expertise, enthusiasm, and a deep love for cycling.
Coach development is at the heart of our program. We combine in-house training with best practices from other sports, ensuring our coaches are always learning and growing. Veteran coaches mentor new staff, and former BJC athletes have the opportunity to step into coaching roles through our training program.
Athlete wellness and safety are top priorities. We’re proud to have earned Gold Level Certification, the highest distinction available, reinforcing our commitment to SafeSport and the well-being of every rider.
Senior Coaches
Pete Webber
Pete is BJC’s Executive Director and has led the organization since 2013. A former professional mountain bike and cyclocross racer, he competed at the World Cup and World Championship levels before spending 12 years in cycling advocacy with the International Mountain Bicycling Association. Pete is a member of the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame and loves helping young riders grow both on and off the bike.
Lester Pardoe
Lester has coached with BJC since its beginning in 2006 and serves as Director of Devo Programming. He holds a degree in Physical Education and completed two years of High-Performance Coaching training at Canada’s National Coaching Institute. A former elite speed skater and national-level coach, Lester brings decades of experience developing athletes across multiple sports.
Margell Abel
Margell has been racing bikes for nearly three decades and is a three-time National Champion. She coached the CU Women’s Road Team for 11 years and has been with BJC for more than a decade. She loves helping young riders challenge themselves, support their teammates, and develop a lifelong connection to cycling.
Michael Robson
Michael grew up in Australia and has spent his life on two wheels, with experience in BMX, road, track, mountain biking, cyclocross, and motorcycle racing. He has coached with BJC since 2012 and believes cycling is a powerful way for young athletes to develop resilience, confidence, and a sense of adventure.
Gigi Gerchar
Gigi is a BJC alum who discovered a love for cycling through BJC’s cyclocross program. They went on to race for the Clif Bar Development Team and professionally before earning a mechanical engineering degree from CU Boulder. Gigi especially enjoys using the bike to teach life lessons and help young athletes build confidence.
Team Coaches
Ali O’Donnell
Ali grew up in Boulder and has competed in endurance sports for much of her life. She raced collegiate cross-country and track before joining the CU Triathlon Team, where she was part of a national championship team, and later earned her professional triathlon license. Ali enjoys mentoring young athletes and helping them build confidence in pursuing ambitious goals.
Anthony Hilligoss
Anthony is a U23 cyclist racing for Kelly Benefits Cycling while attending the University of Colorado Boulder. Originally from Minnesota, he began racing at age nine and has competed in road and cyclocross events throughout the U.S. and Europe. Anthony loves the technical and tactical side of bike racing and considers himself a lifelong student of the sport.
Campbell Watson
Campbell has been part of BJC as an athlete or coach since 2014. He has raced cyclocross, road, and cross-country and also enjoys enduro riding and fixed-gear bikes. Having grown up in the program, Campbell brings a valuable athlete perspective to his coaching.
Carson McCue
Carson grew up in Boulder and competed in alpine ski racing, cross-country running, and track before discovering competitive cycling at CU Boulder. He raced mountain bike, cyclocross, and road with the CU Cycling Team and competed in seven collegiate national championships. A recent CU graduate, Carson is now pursuing a career in aviation while continuing to ride and race.
Casey Crazier
Casey started riding BMX and mountain bikes as a young child and later raced road bikes in college. He has coached multiple youth sports and spends plenty of time riding Colorado trails with his family. Casey enjoys helping young riders discover what they love about cycling, whether that means racing, exploring, or simply having fun.
Chloe Fraser
Chloe is a BJC alum and graduate of Boulder High School and Colorado Mesa University. She has competed across multiple cycling disciplines, represented Team USA at the Cyclocross World Championships, and earned third place at the U23 Criterium National Championships. She brings extensive racing experience and a firsthand understanding of developing through BJC.
Craig Belville
Craig is a licensed USA Cycling and Colorado High School Cycling League coach and holds a Double-Goal Coach certification from the Positive Coaching Alliance. He has raced road, mountain bike, gravel, and cyclocross and is passionate about helping athletes pursue goals while learning important life lessons. His coaching philosophy is simple: Fun is Faster.
David McNutt
David grew up in Boulder, racing junior road and working as a bike mechanic while in high school. He now works as a Special Education Career Coach with BVSD. David enjoys helping young riders find their own path in cycling and develop a lasting connection to the bike.
Ezra Ward-Packard
Ezra discovered cycling after injuries ended his high school running career and went on to race for the Team Novo Nordisk Development Team for three years. After stepping away from full-time racing, he rediscovered his love of cycling while leading bike touring trips for teenagers. He has since worked in bike shops and competed in bikepacking races throughout the western United States.
Huybert Groenendaal
Huybert grew up in the Netherlands, where bicycles were part of everyday life. His athletic background includes adventure racing, ultrarunning, Ironman, XTERRA, and mountain bike racing. He has coached mountain biking at Boulder High School since 2022 and brings a broad love of endurance sports and outdoor adventure to BJC.
Jeff Herrick
Jeff discovered early that bicycles could provide fun, freedom, and a way to explore. He began coaching mountain biking in 2020 and enjoys helping riders of all ages and abilities become more confident and comfortable on their bikes. Outside of cycling, Jeff works on local and international efforts related to land health and sustainable land management.
Josh Winer
Josh started coaching with BJC when his son joined the Young Devo program in 2022. He now coaches older Devo riders, helping them develop skills, fitness, and confidence. Outside of coaching, Josh enjoys gravel riding, bikepacking, and long adventures in the foothills.
Julie Boylan
Julie discovered road racing while competing for the University of Michigan Club Team. After moving to Boulder, she raced road and cyclocross and continued to make cycling a central part of family life. She loves sharing the joy of riding and helping young athletes discover their own connection to the sport.
Kay Tuttle
Kay has coached with BJC since 2016 and is a Level 2 BCIP Instructor. She previously coached Boulder High’s mountain bike team and earned a bronze medal at the 2019 National Enduro Championships. Kay is passionate about helping young riders improve their skills, confidence, and enjoyment of riding.
Kendall Mueller
Kendall moved to Boulder in 2018 and discovered mountain biking in 2020. She was drawn to the technical challenge and momentum of the sport and believes athletics can teach perseverance, resilience, and how to be a supportive teammate. Off the bike, she works as a mechanical engineer developing climate-friendly technologies.
Ksenia Lepikhina
Ksenia began racing cross-country and cyclocross in Boulder and was part of BJC in its early years before going on to compete nationally and internationally. She now works as a data scientist and has developed a particular love for enduro riding. Ksenia enjoys sharing her broad experience in cycling and outdoor sports with young riders.
Luke Elphingstone
Luke grew up in BJC and graduated from Fairview High School in 2021. He races professionally for Project Echelon, is a former Collegiate National Champion, and won the USA Elite Criterium National Championship. Luke brings current high-level racing experience and a strong connection to the BJC athlete pathway.
McKenna Merten
McKenna is a professional downhill racer based in Longmont, Colorado, with World Cup experience and six national championship titles. She began racing BMX at age six and downhill at nine and has represented Ireland in international competition. McKenna is passionate about coaching and helping more girls discover mountain biking.
Merle Richter
Merle grew up in Germany and competed for the German Junior National Team in Nordic skiing and the German National Rollerski Team before continuing her career at Northern Michigan University. She moved to Boulder in 2025 to coach with the Boulder Nordic Team and rediscovered her love of mountain biking. With a background in Sports Psychology, Merle focuses on creating a fun and supportive environment where athletes can build confidence and resilience.
Mike West
Mike was born in Crested Butte and grew up in Durango, putting him close to the early days of mountain biking in Colorado. Over the years he has raced cross-country, short track, downhill, Super D, and enduro, including events on the World Enduro circuit. After decades in the sport, Mike especially enjoys sharing his experience, knowledge, and love of adventure with the next generation of riders.
Patrick Walsh
Patrick discovered cycling after graduating from CU Boulder and quickly developed a love for mountain, road, and gravel riding. He values cycling for its community, adventure, and the lessons it teaches about perseverance and growth. Patrick enjoys helping young riders experience those same benefits.
Ryan “Fez” Fezler
Ryan grew up in Colorado and has a career rooted in the outdoor industry. With a background in teaching and guiding, he has competed in numerous endurance events, including the Tour Divide, and has spent countless hours exploring by bike. He believes cycling can create adventure, opportunity, community, and connection.
Sarah Gahagan Tate
Sarah is a lifelong athlete with experience in mountain biking, gravel, cyclocross, triathlon, running, and multiple forms of skiing. She is also a strength coach and massage therapist at Revo Physiotherapy and has experience coaching middle school athletes. Sarah believes bikes can help young people develop independence, resilience, confidence, and a lasting connection to the outdoors.
Shelby Katz
Shelby has been racing since age 10, with experience in mountain biking, cyclocross, XTERRA, and triathlon. Before joining BJC in 2021, she coached with Little Bellas for more than seven years. Shelby loves helping young riders build confidence, seek adventure, and find joy on two wheels.
Sidra Aghababian
Sidra has more than eight years of racing experience in both cross-country and gravity mountain biking. Originally from Southern California, she moved to Colorado to study Environmental Policy and Business Administration at CSU. She loves helping young riders build confidence, explore new trails, and discover the joy of mountain biking.
Syrae Weikle
Syrae has more than 20 years of experience teaching Physical Education in Colorado and has coached sports including track, skiing, softball, and Special Olympics. She holds a degree in Physical and Health Education and loves helping kids develop movement skills, confidence, and a lifelong enthusiasm for being active.
Tess Amer
Tess is a former teacher and school counselor with a long background in endurance sports. She has competed in events including the Unbound 200 and Leadville 100 and brings both racing experience and years of working with young people. Tess loves helping riders develop confidence, resilience, and a lifelong love of cycling.
Will Campbell
Will discovered cycling after moving to Colorado in 2002 and working at a local bike shop. He raced locally in cyclocross before graduate school and a career in architecture shifted his focus away from competition. After watching his own son gain confidence through BJC, Will was inspired to begin coaching and help the next generation experience the same growth and enjoyment.