Check out our awesome coaches

I started mountain biking in the mid 80’s when some friends asked me to go riding with them. I bought myself a bike, and never stopped riding! I shared my love of biking by encouraging every person I knew to ride with me! 

My riding skills improved significantly after going to several years of women’s mountain bike clinics in Copper Harbor, MI. I was an assistant coach there and at the women’s clinic in Wausau, WI, then decided that I could make a difference and get more women on bikes by becoming a coach! I became PMBIA Level 1 certified, and recently BICP Level 1 certified. I have found that I truly love coaching and helping beginning riders develop self-confidence and better bike skills. What I love best is meeting & getting to know the amazing riders who sign up for clinics! I now coach at many different women’s & co-ed clinics throughout the bike season, as well as for the local technical college, and for some of my local mountain bike organizations. 

I also coach our local NICA team, and love watching youth make amazing improvements in skills & self-confidence while learning to be part of a team!

When I’m not biking, I enjoy kayaking, especially multi-day trips on Lake Superior & the Apostle Islands, paddleboarding, xc skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, fat biking, coaching our local youth Nordic ski program, camping & walking my dog, Moose! 

I have also been teaching fitness classes since the mid-80’s, including cycling, HIIT, Step, Strength, and my favorite, Zumba & Aqua Zumba! 

I am very excited to be starting a local Little Bellas program later this summer!! More girls on bikes! 

If there were anything that I could tell people, it would be: Go Outside and Play! 

BICP 1, First Aid CPR AED, Eagle Scout

Been biking for 13 years, love trail riding with friends.

Raced bikes competitively for 10 years.

I enjoy helping others reach their goals.

Secretly, I’d love to be sponsored by Culvers.

Let’s ride together!

Sweet spot: Technical trails

Hi, I'm Nita Diaz and fell in love with mountain biking over 10 years ago.  I am Level 2 BICP certified and coach for Ninja Mountain Bike Performance, CWOCC,  Copper Harbor Trails Club and hold local clinics in Appleton, WI.  I am so excited to be joining For the Love of BIKES this year and meeting more crazy mountain bikers!  My biggest thrill coaching is seeing someone overcome their fear and master a new skill or ride a line they never thought they could!  My favorite thing to coach is flatwork skills - by mastering balance and control of your bike you'll be amazed how much your riding improves in a short amount of time.

Lynn started riding her bike thru the Tannery Woods long before anyone discussed MTB’s, yes she’s that old!!! In the early 90’s Lynn obtained her first MTB, it was the original Gary Fisher Women’s Specific bike and what a ride it was. Over time her love of bike and being the woods grew, it grew the point she decided to get serious about 10 years ago and begin learning proper technique. That passion turned into Lynn becoming a BICP level 2 coach! She is also experienced in with Jumps, Drops, and Enduro Prep. Let Lynn’s passion become your opportunity to get Confident, Consistent and Excited to ride!!!

Hello all, my name is Lorissa Thorpe and I am Utah based and currently certified with a Level 1 BICP. I have raced mountain bikes most of my life and love sharing my love for mountain biking with new riders. I am excited to start this journey with you all! My favorite place to ride as of now is definitely, trestle bike park. One crazy thing about me is that I love chicken.

Mine is a typical tale in which I started biking when I met my husband! I have been biking now for about 17 years. I wasn’t very good at it until I was able to start biking with some wonderful women! I also then took a few clinics and I progressed much faster. I got the opportunity to coach at the Copper Harbor Womens weekend clinic and it was there I realized I love helping others learn how to bike and enjoy it! I am a BICP level 2 coach. I also am on the board here in Houghton for our Single Track Flyers program which is all about getting more kids on bikes! I also coach with this group. My favorite place to bike is in Copper Harbor and I’m spoiled in that I live so close! I have had the opportunity to bike several awesome trails around the Midwest and I’m always excited to try new trails out! I also Fat Bike, downhill ski, XC ski, and snowshoe as my other hobbies!

Hello, I am Deb Leaf. I started mountain biking at age 46. I fell for biking pretty hard. I am blessed to live in a community that has a strong history of mountain bikers. I truly loved the way it made me feel and how the fellowship is so strong. I attended my first mtb clinic and I knew that I wanted to be a part of something so life changing. I knew I wanted more skills and knowledge and people just loved sharing with me. I have received so many gifts of knowledge from others. And my motto is, you can't keep the gift you've received if you don't share them. And I believe with all my heart that the more I give the more I get. PAY IT FORWARD. Watching others grow in their life is such a joy. I believe that I use many of my bike skills in my daily life. And a fun fact about me is, there isn't much I won't try. I'm ready for any experience that comes my way.

Crystal started riding bikes regularly during the early 2000s - training for and competing in sprint triathlons. She found mountain biking when she learned about adventure races and fell in love with rocks, roots, and fast descents and hasn't looked back. After attending and participating in clinics,  she also found that her love for mentorship could be combined with MTB and that led to her becoming BICP level 1 certified in 2024. There's nothing more fulfilling than helping someone reach their dreams! Let's ride bikes together!

BICP Level 2, OEC Bike Patrol, First Aid, CPR

Based in Houghton Michigan

I have been mountain biking since 2012. An educator by trade, it was natural to want to coach mountain biking. I love helping folks grow in skill and confidence. I have a lot of compassion for struggling through new skills as I have had my fair share of frustration learning new skills. My favorite trails are in Copper Harbor, where I've served on the CHTC board for several years. I enjoy a good flow trail, but love the challenge of working hard getting down a technical trail. When not biking I enjoy canoeing, kayaking and hanging out with my husband and daughter.

Laurie is a lifelong lover of sport and raced triathlons for years, including 14 Ironman. She eventually saw the light and switched from road to mountain biking, catching the multi-day stage racing bug in the process. She has 23 stage races under her belt in the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Costa Rica, and Morocco. Laurie claims to have no speed but can go for days. She is BICP Level 1 and Wilderness First Aid certified.  Laurie loves helping other riders achieve the sense of freedom, feeling of accomplishment, and general “bad ass” confidence that mountain biking has given her.

Meet Coach Kim, a certified PMBIA Level 1 coach with a passion for mountain biking. She enjoys riding and racing across various disciplines, including enduro, gravity, and cross-country.  As an active member of the mountain biking community, Kim loves sharing her knowledge and inspiring others to hit the trails. Some of her favorite places to ride include Standing Rocks, the rugged terrain of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and the renowned trails in Bentonville. She is an active member of the PASTA (Point Area Single Track Association) board. Whether coaching or riding, Kim is all about having fun, building skills, and fostering a love for the sport.

Riding bikes has brought me joy from day 1. Having the opportunity to help others grow confidence, skill, and fellowship through biking is a dream come true. My experience involves bmx, xc, road, cross, triathlon, gravity, and dirt jumping. Winters are spent teaching in Park City empowering others to love playing in the snow. I’m happy to work with you on personal goals through group clinics, private sessions, and virtual coaching. Be safe and ride within your limits. My favorite things are sunsets and campfires. Trail dog: Spoke

Utah based
Hometown: Marshfield, WI
Past Coaching Experience: 4 years with Duluth DEVO as an XC and Enduro Coach, PMBIA Level 1 Certified Coach
Hobbies Aside From Mountain Biking: Skiing, Rock Climbing, Hunting, Fishing
MTB History: WI NICA Alumni, 2x Marji Gesick Finisher, Extensive WORS race experience, LSGS Enduro Series