Coaches:
Jeff NeilsonJeff Neilson has a vast experience in racing including adventure racing, mountain bike racing, and road racing. He is using this knowledge to guide others through the learning process. He has his Bachelor of Kinesiology from McMaster University. Other certifications include: NCCP Level 2-Road NCCP Mountain Bike Sport Nutrition Level 1- The Sport Nutrition Council of Alberta Completion Bike Fit Physio-Cycle Postioning.
Advisors:
Mental Performance - Evan Weslake
Evan launched into the world of ultra endurance sport as a teenager by working to qualify for the Canadian National Sailing Team.
“At first I really wanted to go the distance and make that Team. For years I would spend days at a time on the water, long cold tiring days. That’s just what you did – It was great! I’ve changed course since then, but those early years showed me how important it is to have a foundation of confidence, resilience, and an ability to control my focus.”
That background and a love for playing outside lead to over 100 endurance events including expedition races and mountain bike stage races. Evan has logged upwards of 500 full days competition at ultra endurance events and he is especially proud of only three times ever backing out of an event! Evan has always been fascinated by the psychology behind an individual’s performance. What keeps people going, and more importantly what keeps people focused! This has ultimately led to two psychology degrees including a graduate program in Sport Psychology.
As a mental performance consultant, Evan has delivered hundreds of seminars to kids and adults across North America as well as providing one-on-one consulting to endurance athletes, and small teams. This combination of experience and schooling means that Evan is a mental performance consultant who has not just read the books, but who has also pushed himself through many of the same trials that you do!
As a contributor to Athletic Progression please feel free to ask Evan about mental performance related to your sport. Some of his favourite topic areas include; Injury Recovery, Goal Setting, Debriefing, Burnout/Mental Exhaustion, Visualization, Energy Management, Confidence, Motivation, Resilience, and Focus Control.
Mechanical- Dave WilliamsI'm not at all a racer (and I don't play one on TV), but I do have fun hanging out with them, helping them out, so they can achieve their goals (and mocking them along the way). This might be helping them to win, or just finish. It all started with some buddies going into a race and I thought that just sounded dumb, but might be fun, so why not just help them out. After the race I realized that I was good at the tech support, and enjoyed it.
I've helped out teams over the years with bike races (24 hours of adrenaline in solo, 4 and 10 person teams, 4 years of TransRockies), adventure races (Sea 2 Summit, Full Moon, Raid the North), and local bike fundraisers (Parkway Parade of Pain).
As for hired support I am a bike mechanic all summer, a general gear geek, and have run rental stores so I have a very good idea of what you will need for the race. You can stop thinking and just race, let me worry about where the bike lights are, where that chicken bacon burger is, and where the sunscreen got too.
For the larger races, or larger groups, my other half, Brenda, is available too (for Wrench and Wench support crew). She is an ex bike tour guide, ex heli ski guide, ex massage therapist, ex solo 24 hours racer, and is now a nurse (and was always a great baker) I have a full shop at home, (both parts and tools) so if you are coming to Banff for a ride, drop off the bike after, and I'll have it done for your next trip out to Banff, or can sometimes arrange for a drop-off back in Calgary in a few days.
Maybe I'll even join you for a mountain bike ride, and can show you some
Medical - Alana Heise Alana Heise is a Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, as well as an avid mountain biker and outdoor enthusiast. She spends the working part of her days at Preventous Collaborative Health, and also CUPS Medical Centre. She focuses on health promotion and illness prevention, using fitness and lifestyle changes to prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, as well as women's health, harm reduction, as well as travel medicine.
Education: Master of Nursing, Post Master Nurse Practitioner Diploma; University of Calgary
Other qualifications: current HC CPR, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
Volunteer positions: President Terrascape Racing Club
Interests: Cycling, mountain bike racing, gardening, reading, ice cream.
