Our TEAM
DrtPdlrs brings together a dedicated and experienced team of guides and instructors who are on a mission to DEVELOP the #futureshred of Minnesota.
We use the latest guide and instruction methodologies developed by the industry’s two most trusted certification programs: Whistler’s - Professional Mountain Bike Instructors Association (PMBIA) and IMBA’s - Bicycle Instruction Certification Program (BICP). But what sets us apart from other programs is we talk the talk and walk the walk -- we ride what we guide and instruct. You will never see us instruct a technique, skill or feature we can’t competently execute and accurately break down and demonstrate. We are continuously progressing our instruction methodologies in tandem with our own riding skills, all under the best practices of risk management developed by the National Outdoor Leaders School.
Dustin Schiltz
PMBIA Level 3 & BICP Level 2 Instructor / NOLS-Wilderness First Responder
Dustin has been sending it - whether he knew it or not - since he was roughly 5 years old. Being the guinea pig for his older brother and his bike crew cemented Dustin's ability to silence the negative voices in his head to overcome the risk at hand. Fast forward a few decades to today and he's riding Whistler, Moab, Fruita, Northstar, Trestle, Bentonville, regionally at Copper Harbor, Duluth, and the Iron Range. He has expert training from the global leader in mountain bike instruction Professional Mountain Bike Instructors Association (which is Whistler’s developed instruction program) and BICP. He's also a NOLS Wilderness First Responder and holds a NOLS Risk Management certification. Most of all, Dustin is excited to help inspire the #futureshred of Minnesota.
SAMUEL ALEXANDER
Instruction/Guide Aide & National Registered EMT
Sam has been riding for the last decade and is up for any adventure by two wheels. His riding experience includes not only local destinations like; Copper Harbor, Duluth and the Iron Range but he has also logged saddle time bikepacking the west coast, Patagonia and the Colorado Trail. His favorite trail nationwide is Monarch Crest in Salida, Colorado and locally he’s a fan of either Battle Creek or Whitetail. Beyond Sam’s interest in all things bike-related he has a wealth of knowledge in the areas of health, nutrition, and fitness, holding a Doctor of Chiropractic, Master of Science - Nutrition and is a National Registered EMT.
BRIAN MILLER
PMBIA L1 Instructor/Guide, NOLS-Wilderness First Aid
Brian loves exploring the outdoors. When he discovered that bikes don’t need to stay on pavement, a passion for mountain biking opened up new opportunities for adventure. He frequently rides the Cuyuna network of trails with his family. His favorite national trail is Ground Control in Sedona, AZ and he recently snuck in a couple of days riding Bike Park Wales. Brian is all about technical trail challenges and continues to work on proper jumping form. He received PMBIA Level 1 certification at Bryce Resort in Virginia and has completed the NOLS Wilderness First Aid course. Off the mountain bike, Brian enjoys fishing, hunting, foraging with family, and downhill skiing. To finance his hobbies, he works during the week in Technology and Data Risk Management within the Financial Services industry.
Christine England
BICP L2 Instructor / MCA L3 Certified
NOLS Wilderness First Aid & American Red Cross CPR
Christine has always loved sports and the outdoors, with her first love being gymnastics. She spent her youth through college competing and then instructing gymnastics. Perhaps this was a premonition of how she would enter mountain biking? After a running injury, she thought she would try mountain biking again…remembering when she and some friends would hit the unmapped trails in Georgia. Five years later and after leaving 25+ years in the business world, she has doubled-down on mountain biking, investing in her skills, certifications and coaching with the Loppet, Middle/High School teams and other organizations. Christine lives in Minneapolis, is married and has a teenage daughter.
NICK GIANOLI
PMBIA L1 Instructor/Guide & Retired USAF SERE Instructor
Nick and Dustin have been lifelong friends meeting in middle school and then eventually roommates during college. Nick then enlisted in the United State Air Force where he served 20 years and 6 days. He was the sole Air Component SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape) Specialist responsible for the entire Pacific Ocean. Nick is currently located in Golden, Colorado and some of his favorite local trails are Apex, Maryland Mtn, White Ranch and Trestle, where he was PMBIA certified. He’s been riding for about 14-ish years (some areas he was stationed didn’t have the opportunity to ride) and is currently looking to refine his air and double black tech skills. Outside of riding Nick is a Team Leader/Project Manager for an IT telecommunications startup that services Zoom and loves spending time with his wife and daughter.
Andrew gruhn
Instruction/Guide Aide
MCA Level 3, First-Aid Certified, LCW Devo Team Coach, Hopkins Mountain Bike Team Coach
Andrew comes to us, not surprisingly, through the Loppet Cycle Works program where he is the LCW Devo Team Head Coach and is also a coach for the Hopkins Mountain Bike Team. Like many kids who grew up in the 80’s bikes were freedom, we’d say they still are, and they had the ability to take you on any adventure you wanted. Fast-forward a few decades and Andrew is still finding that freedom on some of his favorite trails like Phil’s World in Cortez, CO nationally and Bobsled at Cuyuna regionally. We are stoked to have him on this year helping us out on progressing the mtb skills of Minnesota’s #futureshred.
MASON BACSO
Instruction/Guide Aide & NOLS-Wilderness First Aid
A Duluth native on our guide/instructor roster Mason comes from a track background where he made the Snowshoe National Running Team in high school and qualified for worlds in Italy. Since getting into mountain biking roughly a decade ago he considers DM in the Piedmont network his favorite local trail and nationally Windmill at Windrock Bike Park holds a special place in his heart. Outside of mountain biking he is a man of many interests including but not limited to: downhill skiing, rock climbing, running, xc skiing and video games.