Meet the Athletes

Ethan Blocker is a UCI U19 mountain bike and gravel racer for Freefly Elite Development. He works at Bicycle Sport in Charlotte, NC and is set to race for Belmont Abbey College this summer.

Paul has been cycling as long as he can remember. He’s here to give it his all to win this competition and is looking forward to the live music afterwards.

Simone recently moved to Charlotte, NC, after living in Florida most of her life. She started racing a decade ago and has since won multiple state championships, a national championship, and competed in UCI worlds races for mountain biking. She is excited to represent her new hometown and race at one of her favorite trails.

Ben is a 3 time U.S. National Champion including Elite Crit Champion. He has been racing at a high level for over 20 years. Ben is currently the owner/operator of Rocket Revolution Coaching out of Greenville, South Carolina.

Adam has been racing in endurance events for 8 years now and has developed a love for the community across all disciplines. He focuses most of his training around triathalons, but he loves the challenging nature of mountain biking races.

Kerry is passionate about cyclocross and crit racing, and thrives on the challenge of merging the unpredictable terrain of gravel with the high-intensity, short-course nature of crits and cyclocross. This combination promises exciting and dynamic racing, and it’s an experience he’s always eager to embrace.

Nicole is a multi-discipline cyclist from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and has been racing for 9 years. Currently focusing on international mountain bike racing, she competes in UCI events and World Cup races. Nicole is currently attending Brevard College and looks forward to participating in local events.

Jackson is a 14-year old cyclist with a bright future ahead as he has competed on the Junior National level with many Top 10 finishes.

Andrew is a cycling enthusiast that’s been riding mountain bikes since he was 7-years old. He has competed on the state and national level, winning and placing on the podium at multiple state championships. Andrew enjoys riding and racing the many trails the Whitewater Center has to offer.

Sarah, age 31, found her love for cycling in 2020 in the mountains of North Carolina. Though she loves to ride gravel, downhill and even enduro, her real passion is in XC. She craves the grit of a XC race and feels most in her element when on a XC track.

Coley  is a 16-year old 10th grade cyclist with Rocket Revolution in Greenville, SC, focusing on cross country mountain and road biking. He competes in the SC NICA league and is currently participating in the US Mountain Biking Series across the Southeast. He recently began competing in road cycling races.

Leigh currently lives in Charlotte, NC and has successfully balanced a full-time job with a full racing schedule. She discovered cycling in college by racing in the 2017 Indiana University Little 500. Leigh’s passion for cycling has been found in road racing & gravel. She has raced all over the country, competing in UCI events, National Championships events, and premier gravel races. Leigh also had the opportunity to race in Belgium and Ireland for a summer.

Madeleine is a mountain bike and cyclocross racer hailing from North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She is currently studying Communications and English at Brevard College where she races on the D1 Varsity Cycling Team. Maddi’s career highlights so far include racing seven cyclocross world cups and two cyclocross world championships, with her best result being 27th at the 2024 U23 World Champs in Tabor, Czech Republic. When not studying or racing, Maddi loves giving back to her cycling community by mentoring with Ride Like a Girl.

Mya is from Reno, Nevada and currently a junior at Brevard College. She races for her collegiate cycling team and for Dirt Camp Racing.

Madison is a passionate cyclist, runner, hiker, and outdoor enthusiast. She is a 5th grade math teacher and keeps her students engaged with fun and unexpected exercise challenges throughout the year which they love.

Crystal is a pro XC mountain bike racer based in Brevard, NC. Crystal was the 2024 Tuck Fest female champion and will be attempting to defend her title at Tuck Fest 2025. She will also be participating in the U.S. XC Pro Tour this year.

Andrew has been riding and racing for over 15 years. After turning pro in 2023, Andrew chased the Lifetime and Belgium Waffle Ride series. He now manages his own team, Ink Properties Racing and continues to race full-time with his friends. When he is not racing, Andrew enjoys good coffee and hiking with his dog, Tsali.

Colleen Maher is an endurance off-road cyclist based in Brevard, NC. In 2021, she got her first bike and just three years later, in 2024, she became the Women’s Amateur Gravel National Champion after winning the USA Cycling Gravel National Championships. That same year, she won the Highlands Gravel Classic, qualifying for and competing at the UCI Gravel World Championships. Now racing in the elite off-road scene, she’s set to take on major events like the Sea Otter Classic and return to Unbound in 2025.

Beata is a passionate mountain biker based in Brevard, North Carolina, with 17 years of racing experience. A four-time National Champion in Marathon and Cross Country, she has also earned two UCI Masters World Championship bronze medals. She thrives in the mountains she calls home, finding joy in nature and the thrill of bike riding and racing.

Cypress is an accomplished mountain bike racer who has spent years immersed in the sport. Over those years he has spent time focused on cross-country racing, cyclocross, and most recently eMTB racing, winning the GNCC National Championship series the past two seasons. With his focus shifting towards coaching, Cypress uses his expertise to help other riders excel in the sport with a focus on both fitness and skill development.

Malcolm is a 27-year old MTB racer from Ontario, Canada. He has been racing for over 10 years across North America and spends most of his time training in Brevard, NC. He has raced MTB and CX for the last 7 years and is excited to be coaching more with the Durham Shredders MTB program in 2025.

Tyler is a professional MTB and cyclocross racer from Toronto, Canada now living in Brevard, North Carolina. He has been racing on the MTB World Cup Circuit for 6 years, but also like to compete in other competitions such as Marathon MTB, Gravel, Cyclocross, and Enduro events.

‘Slammin’ Sammy’ Halbert is a professional motorcycle racer with over 20 years of experience, using bicycle training to enhance his competitive edge. Halbert’s illustrious career is highlighted by his 2009 AMA Grand National Flat Track Championship win, and an X Games Gold Medal in 2017. 2024 marked another breakout year for Halbert, winning major events in the USA and abroad, notably becoming the first non-European rider to win the FIM Flat Track World Championship.

Sam is a 37-year old native of Charlotte, North Carolina. He works in the motorcycle industry and continues to express his enthusiasm for bikes on the track by participating in races on the weekends.

Ales is an XC Mountain biker who also finds himself in the mix at gravel races and road criteriums. As a Charlotte, NC resident, he is doing his best to be an ambassador for the sport and keep two wheels facing down as fast as possible.

Henry is originally from Boone, NC but now resides in Knoxville where he spends his days chuffing mid set at the Vol Wall and ripping countless days to produce his projects at the Obed. He only climbs overhangs and in his free time enjoys getting to study.

Harrison is a 20-year old Charlotte local that is currently based out of Boone, NC and is a student at Appalachian State University. He is pursuing a biology degree and is psyched to compete in deep water solo. His days consist of school work during the daytime and climbing training at night.

Josh is a 25-year old speed climber from Utah with seven years of climbing experience and four years of competitive involvement.

Isaac is a 17-year old climber from North Carolina. He favors climbing in Boone and this will be his first time at Tuck Fest for Deep Water Solo.

Olivia is a 17-year old competitive climber who began climbing 11 years ago in Santa Cruz, California and now lives in New York. She loves to climb indoors and outside. Olivia has competed in the Psicobloc Open Series in 2023 in Montreal, Canada and has deep water soloed at Summersville Lake, West Virginia.

Zoe is a competitive rock climber from the East Coast who has been climbing for nearly 20 years. Initially, she focused more on competitions with results including wins at youth and collegiate national championships and multiple invitations to compete internationally as part of the U.S. National Team. Now, she dedicates more time to getting outside on trips to boulder, sport climb, trad climb, and deep-water solo.

Addy is from Kennesaw, Georgia and has been climbing for almost 10 years. Having grown up on the youth circuit, she has recently shifted her focus to tackling challenging outdoor routes. Addy loves to climb at Dayton Pocket and Pep Boys, Tennessee.

Joe Goodacre is a 24-year old climber based in Boulder, Colorado. He has earned a reputation in the climbing community, securing several national and international titles. Outside of climbing, Joe stays active with skiing, surfing, and mountain biking.

Makaila is a current freshman at Spelman College in Atlanta, GA majoring in physics. She is originally from Raleigh, NC and has competed in the youth competition circuit for 9 years, placing in several national championships. Makaila loves overhang boulders and outdoor lead routes.

Zander Waller is a 21-year old climber from Atlanta, Georgia. His primary focus is outdoor bouldering, but he enjoys the occasional competition. When he’s not climbing, Zander loves to swim, ski, hike, cliff jump, and anything to do with the outdoors.

Elsa is a student and competitive climber for the University of Utah. She grew up in Arizona climbing Mt. Lemmon and making weekend trips to Priest Draw. Maple Canyon has become her favorite to climb in Utah. Other than climbing, Elsa enjoys coaching, cooking, and studying environmental sustainability.

Caden is a dedicated climber and routesetter based in Portland, with a history of strong performances at the national level. After taking a break from competing, he’s now focused on coaching and routesetting. Caden is thrilled to return to the deep water solo scene and take on this year’s challenges after taking a year off due to his work with USA Climbing.

Eric is a dedicated climber with a strong passion for development and tackling king lines. Drawn to quality rock and the thrill of high-altitude climbs, he has centered his life around the sport. Outside of climbing, Eric contributes to building KAYA Climb, enjoys cooking, dancing, and sunshine.

Julia Duffy is a 20-year old Charlotte, NC local who started climbing at the Whitewater Center. Julia is currently pursuing her master’s in computer science at the University of Utah. A sport climber at heart, her favorite climbing areas are the New River Gorge in West Virginia and Logan Canyon in Utah.

Maddy is a Charlotte, NC local and started climbing at the Whitewater Center. She is currently a student at Appalachian State studying cell and molecular biology. Maddy loves climbing for the community, challenge, meditativeness, and full-body workout. When she’s not climbing, you can find her lifting, studying, doing research, or watching her favorite tv show.

Joshua Fitzpatrick is a competitive rock climber and small business owner currently living in Salt Lake City. Josh climbs both indoors and outdoors, and he competes at the national level on the USA Climbing competition circuit. When he’s not climbing, you can find Josh running his business, Fitz Outfitters, which gives retired climbing ropes a new life.

Quinn is a 20-year old climber originally from Seattle, Washington that now lives and climbs in Salt Lake City, Utah. Deep Water Solo competitions are his favorite to participate in.

Yealiya is a 17 year-old rock climber from Georgia who has been dedicated to the sport for over 8 years. She’s an international competitor who has proudly represented the U.S. at Youth Worlds twice. Outside of climbing, she has a love for nature and enjoys sewing, crocheting, and all things creative.

Sofia is a highly accomplished whitewater kayaker and the first Mexican to achieve the Olympics in canoe slalom. Her outstanding achievements in extreme kayaking and canoe slalom have made her a trailblazer in both disciplines. Her love for the water and adventure has taken her to some of the world’s most challenging and breathtaking rivers.

Chris is a former professional kayak and standup paddleboard athlete. In his decades of competition and international travel, he has been fortunate to compete on both the US and Canadian National Teams in several paddlesports disciplines, run multiple 70+ foot waterfall first descents, partner with Fortune 500 sponsors, speak from the TED stage, and manage the Dagger Kayaks Pro Team. Chris’s life in the present tense is different but no less intense. He is a husband, father to three young daughters, a commercial real estate broker and investor by trade, and still loves to throw down in nearly every outdoor sport.

Harriet was born and raised in Johnson City, Tennessee and works as a physical therapist. She has competed in slalom, wildwater, and boatercross nationally since 2014. Slalom C1 is what she is best at and when she’s not paddling you can find her running, skiing, and hanging out with her family.

Carden is a high school sophomore from Bryson City, NC. She paddles whitewater slalom and kayak cross and is a member of the U.S. Junior National Team. When she is not kayaking, she enjoys river surfing and pole vaulting.

Evy is a professional kayaker who has been on the US National Team for seven years. She grew up in Western North Carolina paddling on the Nantahala River. Last summer in Paris, Evy won an Olympic bronze medal in women’s canoe. She also enjoys whitewater kayaking and competes in kayak cross around the world.

Marcella is a member of the US National Canoe Slalom team, and competes in the Kayak, Canoe, and Kayak Cross disciplines. She has been paddling competitively around the world for over 10 years, and enjoys skiing, spending time with friends, and fencing when she’s not on the water. Charlotte is one of the courses where Marcella has spent the most time training.

Alex Horne is a New Hampshire native that followed her passion for whitewater kayaking to West Virginia, where she enjoys kayaking over 150 days a year. She’s a member of the 2025 USA freestyle & squirt boat team, and enjoys spending time with her two deaf dogs Tili & Tali when she’s not on the water.

Casey is a canoe slalom athlete and has competed in 4 Olympic Games. His first boatercross race was at the Whitewater Center at the first Tuck Fest and his second at the Paris Olympic Games. This new sport has added a new challenge as Casey pursues a 5th Olympic appearance.

Sanderson is a Charlotte born kayaker who grew up paddling and instructing at the Whitewater Center, starting at the age of 8 years old. He remains in Charlotte working and pursuing a degree at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. In his free time, he enjoys traveling to rivers both locally and across the country.

Micah loves everything about whitewater from kayak racing, downriver freestyle, sharing her love for the sport. She lives in Ocoee, Tennessee and is a raft guide and photo boater.

Dayton was born and raised on the Southeast creeks where he developed a passion for kayaking and fast water. He enjoys the challenge of racing and kayaking with friends.

Michal has competed in slalom for over 15 years and represented the U.S. at the Rio and Tokyo Olympics. In recent years he has been focused on coaching, but is currently based in China with plans to compete again soon and a goal of going to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Fergus first stepped into a kayak in 1995 and has 30 years of paddling experience on various rivers.

Caitlin started out as a raft guide at the Whitewater Center in 2017. Since then she has traveled across the U.S. chasing whitewater and racing with friends. Some of her favorite races she has competed in are Iceman, Russel Fork Race and NFC.

Magnus is an 18-year-old whitewater kayaker from Charlotte, NC. He enjoys creek boating and downriver freestyle. His favorite rivers include the Ottawa River and the Green River Narrows. His favorite freestyle trick is an airscrew and he loves spending time outdoors.

Morgan Cox, a team paddler for Pyranha Kayaks, is based in Chattanooga, TN, and has been kayaking and competing for over 10 years. With a passion for pushing limits on the water, she specializes in downriver racing and creek boating. Off the river, Morgan is dedicated to mentoring new paddlers and building an inclusive kayaking community.

Landis, 20 years old, has been kayaking since he was 8, starting at the Whitewater Center. He is from Charlotte, but now attends Western Carolina University for undergrad, paddling in the area whenever he can.

Gibson grew up paddling at the Whitewater Center. He now lives in White Salmon, WA that is home to the Little White Salmon River. He has spent his winter season paddling high water at Little White and has also conquered several waterfalls. Gibson loves to compete and is excited to be making it out for Tuck Fest this year.

Hailing from Arden, North Carolina, Wesley is a professional kayaker and a proud member of the Liquid Logic Kayaks team. With years of experience on some of the world’s most challenging whitewater, Wesley is known for his bold style, technical skill, and passion for pushing boundaries. When he’s not racing or chasing waterfalls, Wesley serves as the Director of Outdoor Programs at Christ School, inspiring the next generation of adventurers. An avid explorer and outdoor enthusiast, Wesley’s love for the water is matched only by his commitment to sharing it with others.

Kenny Hank is a former US Extreme Slalom athlete turned engineer living in Greenville, South Carolina. Kenny is usually out chasing some of the biggest whitewater in the South.