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Ken Bell Ken Bell started road racing in High School while living in Corpus Christi, TX. After riding and racing through college, Ken’s energy shifted to work and family, but the pull of cycling was too much. After a few years off the bike he returned as a mountain bike racer in the mid nineties quickly rising through the ranks, becoming an expert level racer. It was on a training ride in 1997 when Ken met Jason Berry, laying the foundation to what would eventually become Gripped Films.
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Connor Bell Connor began riding as an infant strapped into a burley trailer on one of his dads many training rides on the WO&D bike trail. As a grade schooler, Connor made the podium at the Massanutten HooHa kids race 4 times. Connors first real race at the 2007 HooHa came to an abrupt end when the crank arm (recently “tightened” by his father) fell off, forcing him to quit. Connors second race went much better when he ended up getting 3rd place at the 2007 Wakefield race age 13-14. Connor grew tired of his dad’s hand-me-down bikes and finally purchased a proper race bike using money earned from stuffing ORTA DVDs into envelopes. Connor hopes to qualify for Junior Nationals this summer in Vermont.
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Chris Brown Born and raised on Huffys and chocolate chip cookies. Bought a mountain bike as a commuter in college. Was introduced to trail riding by fellow GFKer Dietrich. Cut my teeth, and nose and face and arms and legs on the trails of Gambril and the Frederick Watershed and sometimes Patapsco. Once things started becoming less painful and more fun on the mountain bike, it seemed like a good time to get a road bike and start trying to keep up with the older men on this team. I've offered up my services as a sacrificial lead out to any team member who wants to be led out for the 1st 6 minutes of any Cat 5 race around.
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David Cazenas I have been racing here and there for the better part of the last decade. From 24hr mountain bike races to duathlons, XC and sprint-length mountain bike races and adventure races as well as one long endurance mtb. race. After the pinnacle of my racing "career" with the completion of the Shenandoah Mountain 100 in 2005 I am looking for a re-embodiment onto the racing scene. This season I would like to dabble in the road racing scene while also continue in my favorite venue, the 24 hr race, that is if I can find someone to cook for me and a nice comfy place to rest my tired legs.
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Kate Greiner My first bike was a pepto bismol pink Ross banana bike – flowers, streamers, the works. I was hooked on bikes from then on. I've always loved being outdoors and quickly got turned on to mountain biking after college. After many gashes, bumps, and new lungs, I knew nothing could turn me away from the trail. I loved the physical challenge and social atmosphere of mountain biking. I quickly got into racing even though I didn't look like much of a competitor – tennis shoes, lopsided helmet, hand-me-down baggies, and a tank top. Nothing beats a couple hours on the trail with good friends, a good bike, and cold beer afterwards. Even though it's a cliche, I'm sayin' it anyways – Life is good.
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Grace Hong Grace is really a runner (trail marathons, 50Ks) but has dabbled in triathlons. Thanks to her husband David Olsen (also a Team GFK member) she has a road bike that he won in a raffle at an adventure race. Grace really likes riding her road bike and is trying to like her mountain bike. She also likes to swim. Her passion however is food and cooking, and she does all these athletic activities to maintain her eating and drinking habits and to see her husband. She has also been known to feed many other members of Team GFK. In her day job, Grace raises big bucks for Children’s National Medical Center. She is also a classically trained pianist and active volunteer.
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Aaron Kobilis After years of mountain biking in the early 90's, and a several year hiatus from the sport, I returned to cycling full-force in 2004. My brutal and self-induced initiation back to the sport: a year of grueling endurance training leading up to my first triathlon (NYC) and a 2000 mile ride from Vancouver, Canada to Mexicali, Mexico. Total mileage for that year: 4,000+. Since then, I have traded my long distance high for the thrill of shorter and faster local rides, both on and off-road. My plan for 2008? Shift my focus back to endurance training and compete in time trials, road races and triathlons. My goal? Get back into peak shape, compete in some local races and spend a lot of quality time training and riding with friends, followed by frosty beverages.
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Renee Laughlin Irish/Native American that's not born to drink, she's born to TRI!!! Prefer to multitask enjoying all three sports and my latest addition is tennis. I love my friends/family, fashion, and feeling healthy. Believe a positive attitude and an open heart can cure the world. Hero:Cecil Richards, Planned Parenthood. Fav. Quote: I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. ~Maya Angelo
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Shawn Mahal I've been racing mountain bikes here and there for a number of years starting back in the mid 90s in Harrisonburg, VA. In 2006 I started road racing in the DC area. To me Cycling is one of the most enjoyable ways to get exercise and to enjoy the outdoors. I hope to be riding well into old age. I can't thank those that got me interested in the sport enough and do my best to encourage anyone interested. Long road rides in the VA hills and riding trails with a group of buddies followed by good food and beer are what I enjoy most.
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Emily McDonald Recruited to GFK by Dori & Kate, partially due to an affinity for girly (pink) mountain bikes, I began mountain biking about 5 years ago down in South Carolina where I raced cross-country and short track for the University of South Carolina. Two of my biggest mountain biking accomplishments for the past year were completing Swank 65 in Pisgah, NC in November ’07 and recently qualifying at the Greenbrier Challenge for USAC nationals at Mt. Snow this summer. I’m excited to have found a fun group of people to ride and race with after just moving back up to the DC area. A mountain biker at heart, I have my roadie moments and have done a few adventure races. Okay, so maybe I like to play in the mud and dirt just a little… pink bike, pink hubs and all!
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Paul Morris Adventure Racer first, Mountain Biker second and serving a lifetime sentence of self-imposed exile from all road races. I serve as motivational speaker on the much feared and typically misunderstood GFK adventure racing quartet along with Cathy, Jen and Patrick. When not traipsing around the woods training with my GFK teammates or my redbone coonhound Kiera, you can find me trying to make it up to the bike widow in my life, Kristen. After dabbling in a few 12 hour races last season, I’m planning to complete my first 24 hour adventure race as well as several endurance mountain bike events and see where the trails lead this year.
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David Olsen A cycling tourist at heart, my love affair with two wheels was realized shortly after the purchase of a friend’s Legnano (a beautiful Italian sport touring bike) and a subsequent coast to coast trek across the continental United States in 1985. From this seminal event followed two decades of cycling activities and interests that have meandered in a variety of directions yet come full circle this year. The launching pad from touring led to 8 years of competitive road racing proceeded by recreational mountain biking, on and off-road triathlon competitions, endurance mountain biking events and finally a return to my roots in road racing. This time around however, I’ve got a more realistic perspective and training regimen, which allows for my indulgence in the consumption of ungodly amounts of frites, chocolate and beer, while cheering on my GFK teammates as they chase their dreams of podium finishes.
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Jon Posner Bicycle junkie and battle scarred industry veteran. I have been working in bicycle shops and in and around the MTB racing scene since the early 1990’s. Highlights over the years include managing the #1 MTB racing program in the U.S. in 2006, working with Chris Eatough to land multiple national and world 24 hour solo titles, and securing my own Super D national series title in 2005. I pretty much love cycling and bike culture everywhere. I manage one of the biggest bike shops in the Mid-Atlantic region, I commute several days a week, have a badass MTB trail riding right out the back door, and I have a hot wife who is nearly as good a rider as I am these days. What more do you need in life? Maybe a cold beer and a bunch of GFK Racing buds to hang with after the ride? See you on the trails.
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James Weigand My passion for riding began as a kid by enjoying the freedom of exploration my two wheels allowed me. From there my interest grew while working at a local shop and turned my focus to racing as a junior. I was fortunate to have been apart of the Baltimore Juniors racing team that got me to junior nationals in 1989 racing against some of today’s known legends Hincapie, Jonas Carney, and yes…Lance (he was fast then too)! Having achieved my goal of making it to nationals, my focus shifted to getting a college education. I pursued other sports for a while, but eventually came back to racing again by getting involve more in the mountain biking scene and sprinkling a few road races in here and there. Fast forward to 2008. Nearly 25 years later riding is still a passion –along with a variety of other outdoor sports interest that I share with my Gripped Films-Kenda teammates. Whether its windsurfing, kiteboarding, white-water kayaking, camping, hiking, climbing – these are the folks I would want to be doing it all with.
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