Welcome to the RIDE BACKWARDS Athlete page. We are honored to help support some exceptional firefighter athletes as they pursue excellence in a variety of sporting events. Please scroll down the page to see their pics and learn more about these talented firefighters & the events they compete in.

TEAM PALM BEACH COUNTY

Team Palm Beach County: 2010 Firefighter Combat Challenge WORLD & NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!

TEAM RESERVOIR

Team Reservoir was formed in 2006 with the intentions of just "trying out" the combat challenge. They quickly became addicted and have been making 5 to 7 events every year since!

Team Reservoir currently competes in the relay, team, over 40, Chief's, tandem, male open divisions, and a triathlon in full gear on 9/11 every year. Team Reservoir in the last two years has had six Top 3 finishes in the relay division, one 1st place finish on the male individual, and one 2nd place National finish in the Chief's division. One team member was the 2008 Rookie of the Year and they're the current state record holders in every division. Team Reservoir loves to compete, bottom line!

The team does numerous 5k's and warrior dashes every chance we get throughout the year. Team Reservoir members are as follows: Josh Swales, Clarence Parks, William Vancor, Michael Price, Jason Watkins, and Ross Cook.

KEITH ASHBURY

Keith is a Captain with the Virginia Beach FD. He has competed in the Firefighter Combat Challenge since 2000, with two individual top 10 finishes in 2007. Keith had a new personal record of 1:48 at the 2010 US Nationals, as a member of Team Stihl. He is also sponsored One Life Fitness and Firehouse Subs.

When not hitting it hard at the gym, Keith spends time snowboarding, surfing, and mountain biking. Keith is looking forward to another successful season in 2011.

Together with Chris Cerci, Keith took 1st at the 2008 FCC National Championships in Over 40 Tandem.

MO BELL

Mo headed overseas after graduating from Elon University & played basketball professionally for six years. After retiring from basketball, he joined the fire service and is 5 yrs in as a firefighter with Farmers Branch, TX.

2012 will be Mo's third season in the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge. 2011 was a great year as he welcomed his first child (a daughter) and set a new PR of 1:50, dropping almost 13 seconds off his previous best. Mo is looking to improve on that this coming year and once again have a positive season.

"The end goal right now is obviously to go Lions Den, it will take a lot of work but I'm looking forward to the fight. I am blessed and truly proud to be associated with Ride Backwards!"

JASON BERNSTEIN

Jason Bernstein of Altoona, IA, is a Firefighter/ Paramedic on the City of Des Moines Fire Department. He is stationed at #4, the technical rescue station for the city & surrounding area.

"RB has been gracious enough to sponsor me as well as be my main clothing merchandiser for my club the Altoona Triathlon Club," writes Jason. Besides founding the ATC, Jason has also chaired (and raced in) the ALA stair climb in Des Moines for the past 7 years with his best effort being 3rd place firefighter overall.

An endurance sport enthusiast, Jason has particpated in the FF Combat Challenge, various stair climbs, triathlons, and rock climbing. But his main passion is triathlon. He has currently completed 3/4 of the distances in the sport of triathlon, participated in numerous Half Ironman races in KS, TX, & IA, and is in training for his first Ironman (140.3 miles) in Louisville this August.

Jason's wife Kerrie and two young sons are all triathletes and climbers. Jason's rock climbing hobby has taken his family to various places around WY, CO, & OK so far. "Healthy living and pure enjoyment fuels me in every endeavor. It is truly my philosophy that passion is contagious and I got the fever. See you at the races."

MACKENZIE BRIGGS

MacKenzie Briggs is a career firefighter in South FL. This is his sixth year competing in the Firefighter Combat Challenge.

He ended 2010 running a 1:26, finishing 2nd in the U.S. & 5th in the world, and setting the state of Forida record. Team Palm Beach County set a world record, and were the first team to win both the U.S. National & World championships in the same year. In 2011, Mac took 1st place at FCC Nationals, with wife Whitney also taking first. 2012 challenges will be run with Team SO FLO and co-ed tandem Cracker Jack Pirates.

"RB is an amazing company with incredible gear and even more incredible staff. I'm blessed to be able to train and compete while wearing Ride Backwards gear!"

Mac & Whitney are also distributors for Advocare supplement company. Check out their many offerings from post workout recovery to skincare and more.

WHITNEY BRIGGS

Whitney is a career firefighter with Halifax (Nova Scotia) Regional Fire & Emergency Services. 2010 was her second year competing in the Firefighter Combat Challenge, and she impressively cut her individual p.r. from 3.57 to 2.58 over the season.

She & now husband MacKenzie Briggs, whom she met at a combat challenge, compete in co-ed tandems together. The pair came in 2nd at the 2010 Kissimmee, FL FCC with a time of 1.47. Whitney also placed 1st in female tandem with a split time of 2.56, & 4th in her individual run.

Whitney's crossfit training helped her meet her 2010 goal of running a sub-3.00, placing 3rd at Nationals and 4th at Worlds in individuals, and 4th in co-ed tandem.

Off the course, Whitney snowboards, brushes off the old gymnastic skills from time to time, and is trying out some MMA. You can contact Whitney at whitney.macleod@yahoo.ca. Whitney & Mac are also distributors for Advocare supplement company. Check out their many offerings from post workout recovery to skincare and more.

WARREN CANN

Warren has been with the City of Boca Raton, FL since 1999, first as a lifeguard before being promoted to the fire dept. He's currently a FFD/Medic and spends his time competing in several athletic events throughout the year including the Firefighter Combat Challenge. Over the past several years Warren's teams have fortunate to have won several medals participating in the Firefighter Combat Challenge and the Firefighter Olympics, but the camaraderie and memories created during the events is the true reward.

Warren is heavily involved in the BR Benevolent, which raises money for several organizations including The Olivia Scott Foundation (children's cancer research), The Haven of Boca Raton (foster care home for boys) & Troop Care packages (Operation Thank You). Along with the tremendous support of Ride Backwards, they have raised a significant amount of money to help fund these organizations.

CHRIS CERCI

Chris Cerci has been a firefighter for the City of McKeesport in southwest PA for 11 years. He began competing in the Firefighter Combat Challenge in 2001. Over the last few years Chris has earned the following: Over 40 US Grand National Champion, Over 40 US National Tandem Champion, 3rd Place Over 40 Tandem World Championship Finals, 2nd Place Over 40 Individual Qualifying day 3 2008 World Championships, 3rd Place Over 40 Individual Qualifying day 2 2009 World Championships, 3rd Place 0ver 40 Individual US National Championships, 2x 4th Place Over 40 Individual US National Championships, Top 10 Individual over 40 2009 World Championship Finals, 5x Pennsylvania State Champion. Currently Chris holds a personal best time of 1:39 and hopes to better it in 2010.

Chris is also sponsored by Northeast STIHL and CNP-Professional Sports Nutrition. Check out Chris's new Crossfit gym at crossfit343.com.

You can contact Chris Cerci via email at paraff_pit@yahoo.com

JON DAVIS

Jon (JD) is a retired USAF Fire Fighter, having served 22 ½ years. He currently lives in Mountain Home, ID, working as an Emergency Manager and NIMS trainer.

JD is a touring racquetball player and competes all over the country, consistently placing in the top three in his skill (Open) and age (40+) divisions. His most recent notable accomplishments are finishing 2nd in the 2010 Western States Police and Fire Games, and 1st in the 2010 Minot, ND IRT.

Outside of the upcoming local and state tournament, JD plans on finishing the 2010-2011 with strong showings at the Colorado Pepsi Cup Championships and the 2011 World Police and Fire games in New York City.

Jon is also sponsored by Gearbox Racquetball.

JOHN DEFOREST

John DeForest has been a dispatcher with the Springfield, MA Fire Department for the last 5 years, and is a member of the MA State Special Ops West Team. 2008 was his first year of the Firefighter Combat Challenge; in 2010, John recorded four Top 3 tandem finishes and set a new individual PR, of 2:03. 2011 brought a 1:53 1st place co-ed tandem win with Heidi Charest in Elkton, MD.

John and Heidi will pair up for co-ed tandem again in 2012 as Team Massholes RB, and male tandem races run with Joey Jones as the J&J Express. FF stairclimbs keep John busy in the off season, with two more (as well as a Tough Mudder) planned for 2012.

When not training for the Challenge, John likes to spend time with family and friends, kayak, mountain bike, run, work out & travel. John's home training centers are Crossfit Iron Will and Best Fitness in Springfield, MA. John is also sponsored by Tokkyo Nutrition, Complete Nutrition & Starfield Lion fire gear.

Contact John via email at Dispatchsfd@gmail.com. His quote to live by: "If you train hard, you'll not only be hard, you'll be hard to beat."

JOEY JONES

Joey Jones was hired to the Evansville Fire Department in 1998 and is currently assigned to Quint 5. His certifications include Firefighter I/II, Hazardous Materials Technician and Emergency Medical Technician.

Joey became active with the Firefighter Combat Challenge in 2006 and has a personal record of 1:55.65. Joey also competes in several 5K races throughout the year and in 2012 he plans to add powerlifting to his list of activities.

Joey is the father of 7 children who are always on the side lines cheering him on.

SUE JUEDES

This 2011 season is about balance and recovery for Sue Juedes. Last year was a blur of accomplishments that included earning a promotion to Apparatus Engineer at work, finishing the Ford Ironman in Madison, WI under her goal time of 12 hours, and tackling a major house remodel. Therefore, 2011 will be a much more chill year with only a few choice athletic endeavors.

Sue will be returning to her love of mountain biking to represent RB at a handful of Wisconsin Off-Road Race (www.wors.org) events, with a major focus on the Subaru Cup PRO XCT in Mt. Morris, WI. She is also registered for the famous Chequamegon Fattire Festival in September. Just for giggles, Sue is considering her first off-road triathlon at the Exterra Event this August in Sheboygan, WI. In keeping with the spirit of multi-sport fun, Sue will be donning her new RB tri-kit at the Door County Half-Ironman in July. As they say, "Half-Ironman: half the time, twice the fun."

SHERI PEACOCK

Sheri Peacock joined the fire service in 2003 and began competing in the Combat Challenge right after rookie school. She earned a bronze medal at the World Competition in 2004 with a PR of 2:24. She is one of only a handful of women to break the 2:30 mark. She has been a member of the Lion's Den since 2003 and still holds the North Carolina State record.

In 2009, she started competing in tandem events beginning with a co-ed. In 2010 she joined forces with Irena Elmstrom and earned a silver medal at the World competition in the Female Division. In 2011, they earned a fourth place finish but ended the season with a respectable PR of 2:05.47. That was only 0.05 seconds from the Bronze Medal. In 2012 they are shooting for gold.

When not competing in the combat challenge, Sheri teaches group exercise classes and does small group personal training. She also has done several 5Ks, half marathons and mud runs as well as some triathlons.

BOB RECOB

Bob Recob is an AE with the City of Madison Fire Department. He has been an avid outdoorsman since way back when he was 8 years old, riding his bicycle to go fishing with his Zebco 202. He shot his first deer with a handmade bow his stepbrother made in his high school shop class. Bob has worked as a professional guide on the Chippewa Flowage in northern Wisconsin. He also has taken multiple trips out west, where he shot a 6x6 bull elk in Idaho.

In 2010, Bob won the Treeland Walleye Challenge with a 27 3/4 inch walleye in less-than-favorable conditions. This year Bob looks to defend that title, along with another bow-hunting trip to Idaho in September. He starts the season in May with the Tiger Musky Open.

Check out our RB Athletes in action on the RIDEBACKWARDS YouTube Channel.

For additional news on our RB Athletes (or if you have sports news of your own), be sure to check out The Board.

THANK YOU for your interest in becoming a RB Firefighter Athlete. Our team roster has reached capacity for the 2011 season, and we are not accepting any new applications at this time. If any new spots become available we will post them here, or drop us a line and let us know you'd be interested in future opportunities. Best of luck in all your events this season!