Hey, it's a new feature on RIDEBACKWARDS.COM! The RIDE BACKWARDS Athlete Gallery page. Learn more about the firefighter athletes that RIDE BACKWARDS is proud to support, who they are, where they're from, and what events they are competing in.
This page is a work in progress. Stay tuned for more firefighter athletes, event information, and other content coming your way.
CHRIS CERCI
Chris has been a career firefighter for 10 years, and is currently on the job with the City of McKeesport, PA. He began competing in the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge in 2001 and had his best year in 2007, earning titles of Pennsylvania State Champion in two divisions and United States Grand National Champion in the 40 and over division. Entering the 2008 season with a current PR of 1:39, he hopes to finish in the top 3 at Nationals and top 5 at Worlds.
"I began running for Team STIHL in 2007. Crossfit Pittsburgh offered to be my training sponsor and now I will proudly wear the name RIDE BACKWARDS. I feel very fortunate to be involved with so many good people."
KEITH ASHBURY
Keith is a Captain with the Virginia Beach FD, where he's been on the job for eight years. He has competed in the Firefighter Combat Challenge since 2000, with two individual top 10 finishes in 2007. Keith was a five-year member of Team Stihl and is being sponsored this year by both Gold's Gym and RIDE BACKWARDS. When not hitting it hard at the gym, Keith spends time snowboarding, surfing, and mountain biking.
Together with Chris Cerci, they make up RIDE BACKWARDS Tandem, with their season starting in DC on April 2nd. We're proud to have them on Team RB, and wish them the best of success in 2008!
SUE J.
Sue has been an avid mountain biker for fifteen years. Her love of mountain biking began in college with the goregous trails in the area and her first race in 1993. Love at first sight, Sue continued racing the Wisconsin Off-Road Series (WORS) every possible weekend and added other races including the infamous Chequmegon Fat Tire Festival.
In 2003, she earned her professional NORBA license after pursuing the dream for a couple of years with the encouragement of a very good friend. Since then, Sue has found a new way to test her stamina with 24-hour mountain bike racing. Having the National Championship 24-hour race right in her own state (24-Hours of Wausau, Wisconsin) was an invitation she couldn't resist. First racing the 12-hour solo event in 2005, then tackling the whole 24 hours solo in 2006, she found her new niche. The following year brought yet another world of endurance events to light when Sue competed in her first ever Ironman Triathalon in Madison, WI. That same year, staying true to her mountain biking colors, she joined three other fantastic women racers for a four-person team to win the 2007 National Championship 24-Hour Team Title in Wausau.
All of this endurance training keeps Sue fit for her professional passion of firefighting. "Thanks, RIDE BACKWARDS, for the wonderful opportunity to represent you through my professional and recreational loves."
THE CASPER COMBAT TEAM
The Casper Fire Department has always been a progressive department when it comes to physical fitness. Casper Fire was one of the first departments to adopt the CTT as an annual mandatory fitness assessment. In 1992, when the Scott Firefighter Challenge began, Casper formed a team. The original team won worlds three years in a row. Brian Spaulding was the first competitor to break 2:00, and held the world record for several years. Mike Vogt overcame a severe bout with cancer between their second and third years. Mike's an inspiration to everyone who competes. Two of the original members are still on the job (Spaulding and Vogt) and our current team looks to them for advice and guidance. The current team was formed in 2006 by a young group of firefighters who want to bring the challenge back to Casper. "Obviously, our predecessors have set the bar high and we know we have our work cut out for us."
The Casper Combat Team qualified for Worlds 2007 in several events, and just barely missed qualifying for the finals as a team. Jenn Holt ran her personal best, 2:48, in Las Vegas and ranked 5th in the world for women. Jenn was also admitted into the Lion's Den for her outstanding Sub 3:00 performance in 2006.
The slideshow below includes Casper photos from Worlds 2007, a hard training session this fall, and the 1992 championship trophy they're working hard to bring back to Casper, Wyoming again.
* For information on how to become a RIDE BACKWARDS Athlete, contact us at rbathletes@ridebackwards.com