Isabelle has taken on the role of crew chief for Race Across America. She brings her vast experience in ultra-cycling, experience as a nurse and a sense of humor that can handle the mental degeneration of the crew after the second night...
She is a Furnace Creek 508 Hall Of Famer (5 finishes, including one solo); has done Paris-Brest-Paris and was part of the record-setting 4X women's team Raw Milk Cats at the 2011 Race Across America.
If you could travel back in time to witness any event in history, what/where would it be?
Cairo, Egypt to see the construction of the Pyramid at Giza and the Sphinx.
Photo: Riding her bike, of course!
She currently lives in Laguna Beach, CA.
Tracey is the only crew member who I've not met, however she comes HIGHLY recommended by several people we know, including Wayne & Charlie. When I spoke with Tracey on the phone I knew almost instantly that she would be a fantastic addition to the crew!
As a physical therapist, one of her responsibilities will be to figure out how to keep my body functioning when it really doesn't want to anymore. Tracey is an extremely accomplished ultra athlete as well, having won the 2010 UltraMan Canada, and 2011 UltraMan United Kingdom races! She also aspires to do RAAM one day, so hopefully crewing will be both inspiring and informative.
Like Wayne & Charlie, she lives in Penticton, British Columbia, and she also has an Alberta connection, having attended the University of Alberta. I'm thrilled to have her onboard, and am looking forward to meeting her and getting to know her!
If you could only listen to one song, what would it be? What wouldn't it be?
Eminem, One Shot - I listen to it before every race...it motivates me. Anything R&B.
Photo: run portion at 2011 Ultraman Wales
While Sandy cannot return as crew chief (she chiefed for Joan at 2010 Race Across Oregon and 2011 Race Across The West), she has agreed to be on call to assist the crew as needed. She has crewed and raced in more ultra-cycling events than any sane person would ever dream of. She is the perfect crew chief because of her dedication to the sport of ultra-cycling, her organizational skill, and the ability to keep Jason's gummy bears off the floor of the support van.
She currently resides in Arcata, CA with her boyfriend Bill and Cog The Dog; and is busy plotting her revenge on RAAM.
Favorite Food:
York Peppermint Patties
Photo: at the Davis 24-Hour Challenge
Joan's husband Mike has crewed for her on all of her ultracycling adventures except for the 2010 Furnace Creek 508, when he was attempting it solo himself. His background in ultra-endurance sports includes Ultraman Canada 2011, 2011 American River 50 Mile Run, two Ironman Triathlons, a finish at the 2008 HooDoo 500, two attempts and one finish at The Furnace Creek 508 (2009 and 2010; finished in 2011), 17 double centuries and one triple century.
All of this while doing freelance web design work and studying Web Design at The Art Institute of Sunnyvale (on track to graduate in September 2012).
Where is your favorite place that you've been?
The top of Lembert Dome (in Yosemite National Park next to Tuolumne Meadows). I always liked it for the view. It now holds sentimental attachment since it is where I proposed to Joan.
Photo: With cycling legends Jim Ochowicz and Davis Phinney
Joan's younger sister crewed for her at the 2009 Race Across Oregon. Her sense of humor went a long way when Joan was suffering on day two of that race. She's a specialist at making ham & cheese rollups.
She loves to travel, and has been to the summit of Kilimanjaro (highest point in Africa) among other exotic places. She is currently attending school in Edmonton, Alberta pursuing a degree in Nursing.
If you could travel back in time to witness any event in history, what/where would it be?
Trickier, history is endless...to the time of Noah to secure a berth for the unicorns.
Photo: In the woods, along the Avenue Of The Giants (northern California Redwoods)
Mike met Doug when they both started working at REI-Cupertino way back in August of 1995. They have rock climbed and trekked in Nepal together over the years.
Doug is the head mechanic at the REI store in Folsom, CA; and brings many years of experience working on bikes and tinkering. How many people do you know who have built their own skis? He also has the ability to stay calm in a crisis, a very worthy trait to have in a crew person.
He lives in Cameron Park, CA with his wife Allyn.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
I was a Base Camp Manager for the 2000 Everest Environmental Expedition that completed the largest environmental cleanup ever on Mount Everest. Over a period of 6 weeks, our climbing team members hauled tons of trash off of the mountain and recovered more than 600 discarded oxygen bottles from as high as 26,000 feet.
Photo: Going out for a spin on a pennyfarthing...
While Dawn has not crewed for Joan before, she comes highly recommended by people she has crewed for in the past. And she must have the heart of a saint: she put up with Bob and Jay of team Spike The Wonder Dog at the 2010 and 2011 Furnace Creek 508.
She was also on the four person team Spike The Wonder Dog in 2009 at The 508.
If you could have one super hero power, what would it be?
Since I love to travel, but hate to fly--I wish I had the super hero power to teletransport myself places!
Photo: At an aid station during RAGBRAI.
She currently lives in Los Altos, CA.
We met Wayne and his wife Charlie at Ultraman Canada in 2011. He has completed nine Ironman triathlons as well as Ultraman Canada. He has a great sense of humor, and should make a fine addition to the crew.
He recently relocated to Penticton, British Columbia from his native Alberta.
Obscure/Interesting Personal Trivia
My last guitar gig was July 23 at the Banff Center and I have two more planned - one in Jasper on April 21 and another at the Wine Summit in Lake Louise on May 23.
Photo: Finish at Ironman Canada
We met Charlie and her husband Wayne at Ultraman Canada in 2011. She has done numerous Ironman triathlons, and edged out Wayne at Ultraman for family bragging rights.
She lives in Penticton, British Columbia; the endurance sports mecca of Canada.
If you could have one super hero power, what would it be?
Not a super hero, but always wanted to be like Samantha Stevens in Bewitched.
Photo: At Ultraman Canada check-in 2011.
I know Alan through Integrate Performance Fitness - the studio where I do strength training and spin classes. Without Alan, I'm not sure who Al (the instructor and dictator supreme) would pick on! ; )
Alan is very thoughtful and sincere, and although he's generally quiet, if you can get him to open up he has some pretty cool stories/ experiences to share! For example he's built his own computer, has his name on about 20 patents, has navigated at all day car rallies, and has completed all 5 passes of the Death Ride! Given all this expertise, we'll be looking to Alan to help out with electronics and navigation.
Alan resides in Los Altos, CA, and I'm looking forward to having him join us and be the electronics/power guru!
Day Job
Scientist/Engineer at Palo Alto Research Center
Donna is the latest addition to my crew, and I’m thrilled that she was able to commit on such short notice! I’ve not met Donna, but she’s a friend of Charlie & Wayne’s from Calgary, and came highly recommended! She’s a triathlete and mountaineer, and a fellow Albertan. I’m looking forward to meeting Donna and welcoming her to our band of misfits! ;)
Donna resides in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and I'm looking forward to having her join us for this adventure!
Favorite Place Visited
Nepal and diving in Bali
We met Justin through Erin. They were teammates together on the Stanford University triathlon team, and he crewed for Erin at Ultraman Canada in 2011.
Justin possesses the all-important traits in a RAAM crewmember: boundless enthusiasm and a sharp wit.
He lives in Austin, Texas with his girlfriend Aileen.
If you could only listen to one song, what would it be? What wouldn't it be?
Something long would be the one song to listen to. Can I count the Wagner Ring Cycle as one song? That might be pushing it. Maybe more modest would be the Ralph Vaughn Williams Tuba Concerto. I'm pretty sure that'd be at least one person's do-not-want song. One song not to listen to...anything dubstep. Pandora keeps trying to play that for me.
Photo: Halloween, perhaps...
Another crewmember with tons of ultra-cycling experience. We first met Willy at the 2009 Furnace Creek 508 when he was racing solo as Long-Eared Jerboa. He has finished the Furnace Creek 508 three times, including one solo.
He also has ridden Paris-Brest-Paris where he met crew chief Isabelle Drake and crewed for her team at Race Across America in 2011.
He has a masters degree in tax, and works as a Tax CPA. He and his wife Jennifer live in Pacifica, CA.
Proudest Accomplishment
I went back to college later in life. I managed to get my BS in Accounting and a Masters in Tax from SDSU which led me to my wife which led me up to the Bay Area and three great girls. So if you want to live in a great area for cycling, go back to school : )
Photo: racing cyclocross
Joan's younger brother crewed for her on her first ultra-cycling endeavor, the 2008 Furnace Creek 508. He has a fondness for discussing everything from the mundane nature of existance to whether CS Lewis knew what he was talking about. Or perhaps he just likes to argue with his brother...
He is currently studying Veterinary Medicine at the University Of Calgary. He enjoys riding his bike when it's not -30 outside...
Photo: In Yosemite Valley, March 2010
Donna crewed for Joan at the 2009 Race Across Oregon. She has the kind of boundless energy that makes for a good crewmember. She also had no problem suggesting to Mike that he put shoes on when his feet were getting a bit ripe in the 100+ degree weather on day two...
She has made her own foray into ultracycling, with a valiant effort at the 2009 Furnace Creek 508. The winds that year are the stuff of legend. That she made it as far as she did speaks well of her tenacity and endurance.
Photo: 2009 Race Across Oregon
Diana's fiance is equally adept at finding humor in anything. Whether riding National Forest signs or dancing on the side of a deserted highway, he knows how to get the rider thinking of anything but how much it hurts to be on the bike. He's pretty handy at fixing electrical things, which is good when your lights stop working at mile 400! He crewed for Joan at the 2009 HooDoo 500.
He hangs his hat in Palo Alto, CA and is training for several 50 mile runs, and hopes to get into the Western States 100 some time soon.
Photo: During the 2009 HooDoo 500
If you have done any cycling event in northern California over 100 miles, you've undoubtedly met Lee. He's the guy driving SAG who has every model of wheel conceivable on the roof of his van. Just in case. It was an honor to have him on the crew for Race Across Oregon in 2010.
Lee has been part of several team RAAM records, the most recent of which was the Great Grand PAC Masters 4X team in 2009. The average age of the four members was 75!
Photo: 2010 Race Across Oregon
Elise stepped in at the last minute to crew at the 2010 Furnace Creek 508, and proved herself to be a worthy crew person. She was able to stay awake and alert for 45 hours straight, and was an expert Lanacane applier! At the Davis 24 Hour event in 2010 while crewing for Sandy she was able to inspire other riders by handing out enormous strawberries!
She lives in Oregon and has crewed at several ultra cycling events, including Race Across America. She's also an avid cyclist herself.
Photo: Holding a kitty...
Louise was crew chief at the 2010 Furnace Creek 508 where she was put to the test with what turned out to be a much more elongated and grueling event than what was anticipated! Having raced the 508 on both 2 person and 4 person teams the two previous years, Louise knew the course well and was able to provide strong leadership and organizational skills.
When Louise is not cycling herself, she can be found on the dance floor where she'll knock your socks off with her impressive dance moves!
Photo: Death Valley Spring Double?
Paul has crewed for other 508 riders in the past, but typically much faster riders (eg. David Holt), so crewing at the 2010 Furnace Creek 508 for Nanook was a bit of a different experience in that it utilized much of the allotted time! Being a gadget guy he was able to stay on top of the technology side of the race and provide updates throughout.
Paul has ridden numerous double century rides and brevets, up to and including Paris-Brest-Paris, the grand-daddy of ultra-cycling events.
Photo: 2007 Paris-Brest-Paris
Diana has a knack for finding ways to motivate tired and grumpy cyclists at 4:00 AM on night two of a race. She understands that humor is often what it takes. This of course makes her the perfect crewperson. That and a willingness to sing karaoke over the loudspeaker... She crewed for Joan at the 2009 HooDoo 500.
She lives in Palo Alto, CA and completed Ironman Cozumel and plenty of other crazy races in 2011...
Photo: During the 2009 HooDoo 500
Jason is the kind of guy you want on your crew for an ultra. Not only is he pretty handy with the bike tools; he has a great sense of humor. The kind of humor you want to throw out of the van at 2:30 AM on the second night of a race. Which makes him perfect. Everyone else is batty too! Jason crewed for Joan at the 2010 Race Across Oregon.
Aside from his techy "real job", Jason works part-time at Stone's Cyclery in Alameda, CA. He lives in Oakland with his cats, guitars and bikes. He finished the 2011 Furnace Creek 508 solo on only four of his bikes!
Photo: Death Valley Spring Double Century
Joan's younger brother crewed for her on her first ultracycling endeavour, the 2008 Furnace Creek 508, and again at Race Across the West in 2011. He is legendary for his ability to drive for nearly 30 hours straight. You know who got the late night shift!
Peter has a fondness for travel, and wants to see as much of the world as possible. So crewing is an excuse for him to see new parts of the continent. Peter currently lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia with his fiance Louise and enjoys classical music and acting.
Photo: During the 2008 Furnace Creek 508
Sheila proved herself an outstanding crew mom at Race Across The West in 2011, keeping the crew "sane" at least most of the way to Durango! Outside of crewing she's known for her fabulous pie crusts and pizza dough, her bowling prowess, beating Jason at board games, and being part of one of the strongest and fastest tandem duos out there with her husband Russ.
Photo: At the pre-race meeting for the 2010 HooDoo 500 with Russ
