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!”

David Bowman has been serving the citizens of Charlotte NC for 15 years. Currently a firefighter on Heavy Rescue 3 and a member of the North Carolina Helicopter Rescue Team.

2012 will make 14 years and over 150 races in the Firefighter Combat Challenge. Fortunately, Dave has been blessed to be successful in a sport that is so enjoyable. His accomplishments are as follows: 6 time Grand National Champion 2 time US National Champion Over 40 tandem World Record holder Former co-ed tandem & over 40 relay world record holder 2010 3rd in the world in over 40 2011 2nd in the world in over 40

“In addition to the above accomplishments, working with a great company like Ride Backwards only adds to the blessings in my life.”

Keith has 15.5 years in the fire service, and is a five-year Captain with the Virginia Beach FD. He’s competed in the Firefighter Combat Challenge since 2000, and been a member of Team Stihl for nine years. Together with Chris Cerci, Keith took 1st at the 2008 FCC National Championships in Over-40 Tandem. Keith’s personal record is 1:48 set at the 2010 US Nationals, and he’s working hard to get a sub-100 in 2012.

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

In addition to being sponsored by RB, Keith is also sponsored by Stihl Inc., Firehouse Subs and One Life Fitness.

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 is a firefighter from Halifax, NS. 2012 will be her fourth year competing in the Firefighter Combat Challenge.

She & husband MacKenzie Briggs, whom she met at a Combat Challenge, compete in co-ed tandems together as the Cracker Jack Pirates. In 2012, Whitney will also be a part of So-Flo women’s Combat Challenge team.

Whitney is a certified CrossFit coach in Pompano Beach at CrossFit CVI, and her CrossFit training helped her meet her goal of running a sub-3:00, placing 3rd at 2010 Nationals and 4th at Worlds in both individuals & co-ed tandem. Whitney is currently ranked 1st in the U.S in the women’s category and hopes to score in the Top 3 at Worlds this year.

A soccer and rugby player in high school, Whitney brushes off the old gymnastic skills from time to time (she was a competitive gymnast for nine years) and likes to snowboard. Whitney & Mac live in Deerfield Beach where when they aren’t training, like to ride their beach cruisers and go to local markets. 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.

Derrek is a career firefighter in Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada. He began his combat career back in 2010 with Lambton College and later as a volunteer firefighter. Derrek is the 2010 Canadian Rookie of the Year, a team member of the 2010 Canadian college relay champions & reigning Canadian college relay title, and he has also won a variety of regional medals along the way. His efforts in 2012 secured him a spot amongst Canada’s top 10 firefighter athletes and a new PR of 1:22.95.

Come winter, Derrek switches out his combat boots for his skates, competing in the extreme sport of Red Bull Crashed Ice. He grew up in the rinks playing competitive hockey; finishing off his last season in the GOJHL. Training is year round for this guy! CrossFit has taken Derrek’s abilities to a new level and he is determined to continue raising the bar for himself.

“The best company, the best gear, and an amazing mission. I’m extremely proud to represent RIDE BACKWARDS.”

Melanie was a firefighter/EMT in the DC Metro area for nine years before relocating to Lewisville, Texas in 2010 to finish her MS in Emergency Management. She has been a lifelong athlete, playing highly-competitive sports in college and for several years after graduating, as well as competing in several triathlons over the past few years.

After struggling through a life-threatening illness and several serious knee injuries, Melanie recovered fully and took up the fast-paced sport of 3-gun action shooting (using pistol, rifle and shotgun) in late 2010 and has competed in several matches over the past 18 months, consistently placing in the top 3 of her division.

She is looking forward to the upcoming season, during which she will travel to Arizona, Louisiana, Nevada and Oklahoma to compete in higher level 3-gun and long range precision rifle shooting matches against more seasoned shooters. She is also sponsored by SWFA and AR Gold.

John DeForest has been a dispatcher/firefighter 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.

Other accomplishments include: 2013 race the runways half marathon in Brunswick Maine, 2 hours and 3 mins. 2013 Boston stair climb American lung assoc 41 flrs, 82 flights full gear on air 10 mins 20 secs. 2012 hero rush 5k obstacle course dedicated to WD Patterson, 36 mins. 2012 springfield stair climb American lung assoc 24 flrs, 48 flights 5 mins and 10 secs OVERALL 2nd place, 30-39 1st place winner. 2012 Boston stair climb American lung assoc 41 flrs, 82 flights 10 mins 30 secs, 10th place 30-39.

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.

Artiska is a Driver Operator for Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, and has been in the fire service 11 years.

Artiska started to compete in the Firefighter Combat Challenge in 2011, and is the newest member of Team Female So-Flo.

Irena is a firefighter/paramedic for Boca Raton Fire Rescue, with over nine years in the fire service. Competing since 2004, Irena is a two-time FCC Grand National Champion.

She won along with her partner David Bowman the World Championships in 2007 in Co-ed tandem division. In 2008, Irena and her partner Cindy won the female division at the Worlds.

In 2010, Irena & fellow RB Athlete Sheri Peacock formed a female tandem team named Hakuna Matata, stealing silver in the 2010 championships & 4th place in 2011. Team Hakuna Matata returns for the 2012 FCC season.

Irena has a 14 year old son Danny whom she loves tremendously and competes with in various adventure/running events.

Sue Juedes will be starting her 2012 season with her first-ever Hustle Up the Hancock climb as part of the famed Team Ride Backwards-MFD. Quite different from past seasons of long-endurance sports, she is looking forward to pushing the anaerobic zones to the maximum for this event. She has been training to try to keep up with the speed-demon Gail Campbell also of MFD. Sue is entertaining several adrenaline-pumping competitions this year including the Tough Mudder, Muddy Buddy & a local Mud Run.

Another event that Sue has signed on for includes her first Ragnar run. Joining a group of firefighters from the MFD, Sue is looking forward to teaming up with them for this multi-day running event. Watch for photos online of the gals in costume.

Sue will compete include a handful of WORS mountain bike races with a focus on the Subaru Cup race in July. This is a national event held at Nordic Mountain in Mt. Morris, WI and is a terrific spectator race with lots of extra activities, music, and fun for the whole family. Sue hopes to secure a coveted spot in lottery for the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival, a 40-mile race in September. Another great mountain bike, this race is tough to gain entry due to its popularity. Cross your fingers that she makes the drawing.

Just for kicks, Sue may return to the Door County Half-Ironman in July. We’ll see if enough muddy, team competitions come up to keep her from the triathlon scene or not this year.

This season is about fun! Stay fit for the job, have a great time, and don the awesome RB gear at a bunch of events.

Domenic Maccio has been a Firefighter/EMT for 23 years. Currently he is an Industrial Firefighter at a large Paper Mill and also serves as Deputy Chief on the Woolwich Fire Department in Woolwich, Maine. Some of his certifications include: HazMat Tech, EMT-B, Confined Space Tech, High Angle and Extrication Specialist.

Domenic competes yearly in multiple stair climbs, mud runs, cycling events, 5k’s and recently ran his first ½ marathon. He took 1st place in his division at the Fight for Air Climb, Springfield and plans to compete in the Firefighter Challenge this year.

He prides himself on raising money for charities that benefit firefighters and military veterans and is passionate about spreading the word on the importance of firefighter health and fitness.

Clarence is a firefighter at Reservoir FD and a Senior Instructor at the Mississippi Fire Academy, training nearly 17,000 firefighters a year.

Clarence has competed in the Firefighter Combat Challenge since 2007, winning FCC Rookie of the year in 2008 and earning Lion’s Den induction in 2010. He currently holds the record for “Fastest Mississippi Competitor”.

Clarence ran several cancer-awareness 5Ks in 2011, and was recently appointed as Fire Chief for the City of Newton, Mississippi.

Sadly, we lost WD this year, but he will always be a member of TEAM RB. His unending service and commitment to athletics was an inspiration to many. WD ran a good race!

Walter D. Patterson is the Director of Environmental Health and Safety, Fire Marshal at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. He is a 34-year member of the fire service currently serving as a Firefighter with the Grove City Fire Department Station 95. Walter is also the former Assistant Chief of the Stoneboro Fire Company.

A strong advocate of a healthy lifestyle, Walter enjoys working out two hours a day at the Edinboro University Fitness Center and cycling - about 120 miles a week during the summer months. His favorite cardio workout is running stairs with a weight vest. In preparation and training for his first stair climb event, Walter lost 40 pounds. He participated in the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Memorial Stair Climb at the Fire Expo in Baltimore Maryland and the 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb in Pittsburgh.

He recently participated in the Polar Bear Bike Tour and looks forward to participating in the Warrior Dash and other extreme obstacle events in 2012. He also has plans to participate in his first 5k race and ride in various charity cycling events in northwestern PA.

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.

Aaron Piering is a Firefighter Paramedic in South Florida. This is going to be his 3rd year competing in the Firefighter Combat Challenge. His very first run 2 years ago was a 2:15 in Orlando, Florida. He ran his PR and entered the Lion’s Den at World’s XXX in Myrtle Beach in 2011 with a 1:36.

Aaron was part of Team Palm Beach County that won the U.S. National and World Titles in 2010. He was also the rookie of the year runner-up in 2010.

Aaron loves to train in many different ways and in the last two years has started doing triathlons, 5Ks and adventure races. In January 2012 he took 32nd place out of approx 7,400 participants in the Warrior Dash in Pompano Beach, Florida. Oh, and last but not least has just brought in the newest and youngest member to the Ride Backwards family, Mason Raymond Piering.

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 2012, Bob will take to the open water once again in May for the Tiger Musky Open. He also will be competing in the Treeland Walleye Challenge as well as the LR Turkey Contest.

Tim is a 26-year student and educator of the fire and emergency services, currently serving as Editor-in-Chief for FireRescue Magazine and Fireifghternation.com. Tim is also an Assistant Chief with a metro fire department in Southern Nevada.

A constant competitor, Tim competes in numerous sports but has recently taken on the challenge of competing in marathons and triathlons. In 2012, Tim will be running in six marathons (including his third Chicago marathon in support the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors) and two triathlons.

Marc Schiele is a firefighter with the Evansville Fire Department and is assigned to Engine 4. Though this is his first year with Team Evansville Metro, he is hoping to make a big impact for the team and proudly represent the community he serves.

Rick Stephens has been in the fire service for 14 years - a career firefighter, and a 9-yr Fire Captain at Miami Dade Fire. Rick is on the Hazmat and Technical rescue teams, and is a Fire Instructor & Paramedic. A Combat Challenge competitor for 10 years, Rick has earned the titles of FCC Grand National Champion in 2004, Over-40 State Champion in 2010, and 2011 Tandem National Champion.

Rick’s looking forward to competing in 2012 with Team SO FLO.

Nick is a twenty-six year member of the fire service, currently serving as the fire chief of the Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Fire Department.

Nick started competing in the individual, tandem, and relay events of the Firefighter Combat Challenge in 2010 after teaming up with Ride Backwards Athlete Chris Cerci and discovering CrossFit. Nick played Division III College Football and continues to participate in sports primarily for the love of competing and staying fit. In addition to the Firefighter Challenge, Nick participates in mud runs (Ruckus, Warrior Dash, etc), 5K races for firefighters and veterans charities, and is a goaltender for the Pittsburgh Metro Firefighters Ice Hockey Club. Nick was the 2011 Over-40 winner of the Pittsburgh Firefighter Fitness Challenge.

Nick is also excited to return to the gridiron this Summer as part of his high school alumni football team where he can’t wait to “just hit somebody,” legally.

Lori is a Driver Operator for Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, and has been in the fire service 14 years. Lori has competed in the Firefighter Combat Challenge since 2003, and is a 2012 member of Team Female So-Flo.

When not competing in combat challenge, Lori enjoys CrossFit, participating in the Warrior Dash and playing ice hockey with her husband Jason. She is planning her first CrossFit competition as well as the Super Spartan Race Feb 2012. Lori is most passionate about spending time with her handsome 3-year-old son Ty.