Gear West Bike
Jan, founder of Gear West, alongside her husband, Brian. Winter is Jan’s love, with all the things snowy and chilly. However, when the snow thaws, she eagerly transitions into triathlete mode for biking, running, and swimming outdoors. Jan’s triathlete journey started back to a time before Aero Bars even existed, back to her days at Ironman Hawaii in 1985! Jan is a busy gal. She and Brian poured their hearts into making Gear West the ultimate destination for specialty bike, ski, and run customers. When she’s not at the store helping out through the sale transition, you’ll find Jan hittng the mountain bike trails, creating empowering women’s programs, baking delicious cookies, going for runs with her poodles, and staying sharp with business podcasts. And let’s not forget about her two grown sons, whom she keeps close through regular communications. Stop by, meet Jan, and get inspired!
Brett joined the Gear West crew in 2018. He found a place where his passion for the outdoors thrives. Since starting competitive swimming at just 5 ½ years old, Brett has been hooked on the thrill of endurance sports. The triathlon bug bit early, with the first race at age 11. Since then, it’s been a yearly tradition, with no signs of slowing down! Dabbling in cyclocross and gravel rides. Coaching Masters Swimming since 2010, sharing his passion for the pool with others. Off the road and pool time, you’ll find Brett and his wife, Nancy, enjoying their daughter’s soccer games
and grooving to the blues tunes of their son’s band. An avid coffee connoisseur and IPA enthusiast, Brett firmly believes in life’s simple pleasures. At age 42, Brett faced a challenge with cardiovascular disease. But with a lesson learned to listen to one’s body, Brett came out stronger with clean pipes after angioplasty and a stent. The result? Still training, still racing, and still savoring those “finer things” in life.
Curt is a cycling enthusiast and part of the Gear West family for over a decade. His lifelong passion for cycling started at the young age of 5 when he first laid eyes on his Huffy Blue Beard. Since then, Curt has brought his infectious enthusiasm for biking to helping customers find their dream bikes for epic adventures for years to come.
Outside of work, you will find Curt hanging out with his wonderful family – wife Julie, daughters Allison and Anna, and their adorable trio of fur kids: Charlie, Morty, and the new addition, Daisy. Fun fact: Dolly Parton is Curt’s all-time favorite singer
Sean is our 80’s rock aficionado. Sporting a legendary mullet in the day, he tore up Lincoln Way in his IROC Z, blasting Def Leppard during his track star college days. All grown up, he may still revert to his 80’s music and impress you with his track running days, you’ll find him now, ripping it up on the mountain bike singletracks and hanging out with his wife, two boys, and his adorable pups.
Gear West Nordic and Run
Corey discovered his love for running in fourth grade after outpacing his entire elementary school, including the sixth graders, in the mile run. Almost 30 years later, he still enjoys running, along with skiing and biking. Corey recently completed his 8th Birkie and is looking forward to his first marathon since 2018. At Gear West, Corey focuses on fitting skis and shoes, ensuring customers are equipped for their outdoor pursuits. In his free time, he pulls or pushes his one-year-old son, Alden, in a chariot.
Meet Brian, aka Speedy, the go-to guy for all things running and skiing. With a passion for helping athletes achieve their best, he’s been selling running shoes since 1991, guiding runners to their peak performance. In 1998, through working at Gear West, Speedy rekindled his love for cross-country skiing. Here, where he spends his winters helping skiers chase their dreams – be it conquering the Birkebeiner or gliding through Finland’s snowy landscapes. When he’s not at Gear West, you’ll find Speedy coaching the cross-country ski and track teams for the last 25 seasons at Orono High School. His passion and wealth of knowledge show that he is all about supporting athletes on their journey to success.
A Minnesota native, Sam returned to the Twin Cities after a decade drifting through the Western States. A year-round obsessive Nordic skier, Sam finds time for runs and bike rides, reminiscing about his past in triathlons.
When he’s not fitting skis at Gear West, Sam trains with various ski clubs in the metro area and coaches the Minneapolis South/Roosevelt High School team. Proudest moment? Conquering a triple-threat endurance challenge: 3 different kinds of races in 3 different climates on 3 consecutive weekends. Whew! Good job, Sam!
Todd, the jack-of-all-trades at Gear West. His ski journey began in 1986, waxing skis and mounting bindings. Nowadays, you’ll find him managing receiving and keeping track of inventory. When the bike shop gets busy, Todd jumps right in. Come winter, he’s your go-to guy in the ski shops, sharing his passion for the slopes. Ask Todd about his favorite ski spot, and he’ll light up talking about Winter Park, Colorado. Off-duty, you’ll catch him tinkering with classic cars, doing home repairs, and nurturing his green thumb in the garden. Fun facts about Todd, one truth and two lies: Todd was an astronaut and spent 6 months in space. Todd loves chocolate. Todd has won the Indy 500 three times.
You’ll find Al in the Nordic Ski Service area waxing your cross-country skis, classic or skate. Our all-around Nordic service guy! Not only has Al been one of the few that has parƟcipated in the Birkebeiner Ski Race the longest, but also has raced in National Championships all over the world in 5 different sports! He has a lot of great stories to share, that’s for sure. Stop by to see his gigantic trophy that is displayed on the workbench, that is a telltale of a story.
When Al is not whizzing by on XC skis, you’ll find him out in the summer months on the trails with his mountain bike, running, or kayaking on the lakes nearby.
Wendi is our Gait Analysis Guru, or better known as "The Shoe Whisperer." When she's not working hard to find you the best shoes, she is busy spending time with her horses.
In the mid-eighties, the emerging sport of triathlon captured Kevin's heart. It was a whole new way to compete, he was hooked! The thrill of racing was only surpassed by the incredible people he met along the way. During those triathlon days, Kevin became a dedicated Gear West customer, a loyalty that lasted for over 30 years. ReƟred from corporate life, you can find Kevin at the bike shop to help you get the bike of your dreams. Kevin transitioned from triathlons to mountain bike racing, seeking new challenges. The idea of conquering the Leadville 100 MTB race became a goal, and this year marks the 10th year taking on the legendary course. Even though competition runs in his veins, his greatest joy comes from his amazing wife and two boys. Kevin says, “There’s something truly special when my wife and I line up together for the same race.” As Fall comes around, it means one thing: hunting season with his two trusty dogs. And of course, a loyal Hawkeye fan through and through!
Gear West Alpine
Jeff, a native of the Driftless Region in Northeast Iowa, found his lifelong passion for the outdoors at a young age. From skateboarding and biking to camping and fishing, he thrived outdoors. At 13, he discovered snowboarding and never looked back. After high school, he moved to Utah, where he rode with his childhood heroes and immersed himself in the snowboarding scene. Jeff has since coached, judged, and managed a snowboard shop, all while tearing up the slopes and mountain biking in the offseason. Now a father to a 10-year-old, he continues to share his passion with her as she follows him in his footsteps of snowboarding.
Life-long skier, wannabe gravel cyclist, and Hawaiian shirt advocate. Passing my passion for floral patterns and euro carves onto my daughter Kaia and wife Kate. Interests include (but are not limited to) tacos, doodling, Fanny packs, and high-fives. Born in Utah, raised in Colorado, new(er) to the Midwest. Lucas grew up in the outdoor industry and is amorous about being outside. Lucas spent a big chunk of his young adulthood chasing Slopestyle and big air competitions all over North America, Europe, and on a few occasions down under in New Zealand. He is currently aspiring to ski powder in Japan and own a camper van.
Mark is our expert boot and shoe fitter extraordinaire. With a career spanning back to 1968, Mark started in alpine retail, selling skis and mounting bindings. In the 80’s he fine-tuned skis and tested demo equipment for ski companies. Mark also managed a ski shop in Michigan, specializing in footbed fitting. After a hiatus of working in the IT world, Mark is back with us, crafting custom footbeds for alpine, Nordic, biking enthusiasts. Mark enjoys time chasing good skiing powder and cruising on the bike trails.
Meet Willie, Gear West Alpine and Park Specialist. As a former US Ski Team Athlete, Willie has conquered some of the world’s most thrilling competitions, from the Aspen X and Euro X games in France to the Winter Dew Tour at Copper Mountain. He’s graced the slopes of the World Championships in Utah, Canada, Mammoth Mountain in California, Switzerland World Cup Tours, and many more incredible events. Swing by the Alpine Ski store and let Willie hand-pick the perfect setup you’ve been dreaming of! On his off days, you’ll catch Willie cruising in his four-wheeled rig golf cart, making impressive shots on the green and enjoying the action of golfing.