Team Biographies

Adventure racing is all about the team.
So the following starts with team information,
then moves to individual biographies.

Our Primal Quest 2006 Race Goal:

To race well as a team, be smart and safe and as fast as possible, and finish in the top 10.

Our team mission:

To support the highest level of multi-sport athletic endeavors in the Charlotte, N.C. region.

In 2005, some of our top finishes to date included:

1st 4-person coed team, Potomac Highlands Expedition Adventure Race, WV, 62 hours
1st Blue Ridge Adventure Race
2nd AR 24 in Tennessee
3rd & 4th North Georgia Adventure Race, 30 hours, 110 miles, Qualified for Nationals
1st 4-person co-ed team, 3rd overall, Endorphin Fix, VA
3rd and 10th Mountain Sports Festival Adventure Race, Asheville NC
5th & 7th Smoky Mountain Adventure Race, 40 hours, 100 miles
7th Florida Coast to Coast Adventure Race, 320 miles
30th USARA National Championships, Tampa, FL

In 2004, some of our top finishes included:

3rd Potomac Highlands Expedition Adventure Race, WV 250 miles, Qualified for Nationals
3rd 4-person team, 5th overall, Odyssey Mega Dose, VA 145 miles
10th North Georgia Adventure Race, 110 miles
20th Subaru Primal Quest Expedition Race, Seattle, WA, 400 miles, 6 days

In 2003, some of our top finishes included:

7th USARA Nationals, Sierra Mountains, CA

Our Community Involvement so far includes:

Set-up Adventure Race training courses to promote Adventure Racing within the North Carolina community – and hosted several training days each year on those courses
Participated in United Way and Leukemia charity races
Created and acted as Race Director for the Over Mountain Adventure Race in September, 2005, a 30-hour race over 150 miles near Morganton, NC
Presented adventure racing seminars at REI retail store
Gave several speeches that incorporated spectacular television/ dvd coverage from CBS Sports and OLN of adventure racing as a metaphor for individual and organizational change

Individual Biographies

Our current team roster includes:

Name: Steve Deis
Age on 6/25/06: 34

Background: Steve has been adventure racing for over 4 years and is our Lead Navigator. Steve started his outdoor adventures while rock climbing and mountain biking throughout the U.S. Currently, Steve is dedicated to the sport of adventure racing as well as his daughter, Arden. Steve works for US Airways and lives in Charlotte, N.C.

Why I love Adventure Racing: "To push myself past whatever I previously thought I was capable of doing. I like the team sport aspect, being in an environment where life or death or success depends on your team’s decisions."

My most rewarding adventure racing memory: "Crossing the finish line of the 2004 Subaru Primal Quest because we did so well in that long expedition race against some of the highest caliber athletes in the world. I was proud of our training, the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, our ability to complete the race, and our ability to work well as a team."

My recent athletic accomplishments include:
Subaru Primal Quest- top 20 finish; Smoky Mountain Adventure Race 7th; North Georgia Adventure Rcae 4th; Florida Coast to Coast 7th; Midnight Rush 4th.

Contact information: 9428 Copper Hill Lane, Charlotte, NC 28269 704. 451.2462 or sjdeis(at)gmail(dot)com

Name: Michelle Hobson
Age on 6/25/05: 38

Why I love Adventure Racing: "The competition, I’ve done sports since 2nd grade, and the teamwork aspect of each race; they are always different."

My most rewarding adventure racing memory: "Winning the Blue Ridge AR last year. It required an all out sprint with another team and someone from the other team cramped up."

My recent athletic accomplishments include: Blue Ridge Race, 1st; North Georgia Adventure Race 3rd; Mountain Sports Festival 3rd; AR 24, Tennessee, 2nd; Endorphin Fix 3rd overall, 1st 4-person coed; Smoky Mountain Adventure Race 5th

Contact information: 210 Erving Rd, Morganton 28655 828.437.8969 or michobson(at)msn(dot)com

Name: Bill Jordan
Age on 6.25.06: 31

Background: Bill has been adventure racing for over 2 years and is the captain of Team Bear North. Bill started his outdoor adventures while living in New England where he competed in marathon kayak and canoe races. Since moving to the Carolinas over 6 years ago, Bill continues to race kayaks as well as mountain bikes along with his busy adventure racing schedule. Bill works for PBR Automotive and he and his wife currently reside in Columbia, SC.

Why I love Adventure Racing: "To continuously push the limits of my body and mind"

My most rewarding adventure racing memory: "Qualifying for 2004 Nationals."

My athletic accomplishments include:

Adirondack Canoe Classic 90 mile race – 1st place
Off-Road Assault on Mt. Mitchell- top 20 finishes
Multiple NORBA sanctioned Mountain Bike Races- top 20 finishes
Multiple USACK kayak races- top 10 finishes

Name: Doug Gray
Age on 6/25/06: 45

Background: Doug has been adventure racing for over 7 years and loves any opportunity to explore the wilds. Formerly an Outward Bound instructor, he has traveled in wilderness areas throughout the world. Doug is the author of Adventure Coaching: A Guidebook for Action-Based Success in Life and Work (2004). He is a business and adventure coach, speaker, and leadership trainer (see www.action-learning.com for details.) He lives near Charlotte, NC in Huntersville with his wife and two school-aged daughters.

Why I love Adventure Racing: "To remind myself, and others, that the limits of adventure are more spiritual than physical."

My most rewarding adventure racing memory: "2004 Primal Quest, 20th place, was exciting because we did so well, and humbling because of the tragic death that occurred."

My athletic accomplishments include: "Many top finishes in regional adventure races. Nationally, we have finished the USARA championships 7th in 2003 and 15th in 2002. I stay fit by combining ultra-marathon running, marathon canoeing, orienteering, whitewater canoeing, rock climbing, mountaineering, mountain biking, x-c skiing, ice hockey, soccer, and playing with our children..."

Contact information: Doug Gray, 9441 Titus Lane, Huntersville, NC 28078 704.895.6479 or doug(at)action-learning(dot)com

Name: Jennifer Iredale
Age on 6/25/05: 32

Jennifer began adventure racing in 1999 with a Balance Bar sprint race in Winder, GA and was hooked from the very beginning. With a background in mountain biking and running, Jennifer really took to the sport and began searching for other challenging races to compete in. To support her adventure racing habit, Jennifer works at Chick-fil-A’s corporate office in Atlanta. Her job requires travel, so Jennifer always searches for new trails to run or mountains to climb whenever she is on the road.

Why I love Adventure Racing: "The sport is all about pushing yourself beyond limits your mind has set and enjoyment of the great outdoors. The team aspect is particularly fun and rewarding."

My most rewarding adventure racing memory: "Being second to cross the finish line with my boyfriend Ed (on his 30th birthday) in Beast of the East 2003, our first multi-day adventure race."

My athletic accomplishments include:

Xterra Off-road Tri – 3rd place
Beast of the East (300+ miles) – 5th place
High Country Outfitters 12 hr Adv. Race – 3rd place coed
Planet Adventure Adv. Race (30 hr) – 6th place overall
Raging Russell Adventure Race – 2nd place overall
Kiawah Island Marathon – 5th place female
Dupont, NC Off-road Marathon – Top female finisher
1st coed Potomac Highlands, WV, PHEAR in 62 hours (2nd place overall)

Contact information: Jennifer Iredale, 458 Park Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30312 404.664.1547 or jennifer.iredale(at)chick-fil-a(dot)com


	Coaching and Training the Leader within Each of Us

Coaching and Trainingthe Leader within Each of Us