Todd Copley
Team Founder and Team CaptainHead Commie Killer
Home: Deep Creek Lake, MD/Lyon, France
Todd was the adventure racing coach at the Adventure Sports Institute for their National Championship win and also heads up Expedition Planning for Lindblad Expeditions, a renowned adventure travel company, and the National Geographic Orion expedition vessel.
Previously he was the Executive Director of the Whitewater World Championships.
Todd captained the 2015 Raid in France World Series Team
Jon Gamm
Team Addict...
Home:
Denver, CO
2 times
Colorado Colfax and Pikes Peak Marathons
20+
Xterra off-road tri's to date and counting
3x
Harvest Moon Half Ironman
1x
Panama City Beach Full Ironman
Numerous
10k's, half marathons and multiple ultra distance Italian Marcie & German
Volksmarches performed at blood alcohol level greater than 0.02.
West
Point graduate
U.S.
Army Airborne Infantry officer
Computer
geek that loves long walks in the woods, grappa & hallucinations.
Jon was part
of the Raid in France Team
Kim Owens
Home: Grand Rapids, MI
Race
Director and Ultra runner, Kim Owens joins Summit AR/Team Commie Bar this year
as the first female EVER on the team.
She has successfully completed numerous ultra running events and 24hour
adventure races..... She runs all winter
in Michigan.... what more do we have to say...
Guillaume Calais
Team Logistics
Home: St. Victor sur Rhins, France
Raids Longs
Raid in
France : 2010 (7ème), 2011(non classé), 2012, 2014 (16/28)
Aventure
Catalane : 3-4j
Raid Millet
4j (8/40)
Raid 74 :
40h non stop
XA Series
France Italie en 2000
VTT:
Chemin du
Soleil 2011,2012
Tourelloise,
Trails :
UTMB 2006
(420eme), 2007
P’tite Trot
à Léon: 240 km/D16000m (autour du Mt Blanc)
Les
Templiers
Diagonale
des Fous (en préparation pour 2015)
Dan "Bait"Schaefer
Home: Madagascar and Western PA
Home: Madagascar and Western PA
Dan Schaefer
decided to be a Commie Killer at age 11.
The son of Missionaries stationed in the Communist “Peoples Republic” of
Madagascar, young Dan spent his days dodging military check points and making
improvised weapons. Although new to
Adventure Racing, Dan is no stranger to adventure. He’s traveled the world and
hiked on three continents. Dan has
canoed with gators in Georgia and been rescued by some of the toughest
hillbillies north of the Mason Dixon line, and spends an average of 30 nights a
year sleeping under the stars. He’s
currently a Police Detective in Suburban Philadelphia and is a member of and
Physical Fitness Coordinator for his department’s SWAT team. He also successfully initiated and ended a
high speed vehicle pursuit while on a Police mountain bike (yes, he chased down
a car while on a bike—for a littering violation).
Recent
Accomplishments:
Appalachian
Trail 4 State Challenge (PA-MD-WV-DC) 19:20
2012 Edge
Adventure Race 1st Place Co-Ed 3
Val Hardin
Black Mountain, NC
Started running at 10 years old, cross country at
UVA. Started doing triathlons in the early 1990s and then moved to Xterra in 2004. 8 time Xterra Regional Champion as well as several podium finishes at Xterra Age Group Nationals. Started Adventure Racing 7 years ago while living in PA. Competed at USARA Nationals last 3 years finishing 3rd place Coed Masters in 2015.
D.J. Angelone
Home: Mullica Hill, NJ
Team Shrink
Michael Scott
Home: Norfolk, VA
Complimenting our team psychiatrist, Michael brings a wealth of experience as a mental health counselor in Norfolk, VA. He's been involved in Triathlons for 9 years or so and the rest of Team Commie Bar do not hold that against him. He has completed Lake Placid Ironman and has a huge passion for hiking and camping with the family. This will be his 1st year in adventure racing.
Mark Bolyard
Home: Murphy, NC
I am originally from Missouri but have also lived in
Savannah, Ga and now live in Murphy, NC for the last 10years. Love the outdoors. I have been adventure racing for approx. 9
years. I have done everything from
sprint to expedition (Florida Sea to Sea x 3).
Have raced at Nationals both under USARA and Checkpoint Tracker, have
finished top 3 in all male categories twice.
Running is my strong suit, I have raced multiple marathons with best
finish of 3:21, one 50K trail race and multiple other 5K, 10K’s. Also love mountain biking, I have competed
in a few 6hr endurance races and also completed the Six Gap Century bike race
multiple times. I have also completed
the Cherahala Challenge century bike ride as well as other gravel
grinders. Also enjoy paddling the
mountain lakes and rivers close to home in either kayak or SUP. Something I have taken up recently is
Obstacle course racing and am looking at a long term goal of trying out for
American Ninja Warrior.
Val Hardin
Black Mountain, NC
UVA. Started doing triathlons in the early 1990s and then moved to Xterra in 2004. 8 time Xterra Regional Champion as well as several podium finishes at Xterra Age Group Nationals. Started Adventure Racing 7 years ago while living in PA. Competed at USARA Nationals last 3 years finishing 3rd place Coed Masters in 2015.
Home: Mullica Hill, NJ
Team Shrink
DJ “ The
professor” Angelone first caught the bug for adventure racing due to his love
of reality TV and exposure to Eco-Challenge.
During undergrad, an instructor from a Health & Exercise Science
course taught him about “peak experiences” and the concept of “Flow.” He also vowed to do a 24hour race (and
beyond) as part of a goal setting exercise in that class. Ten years later he entered his first adventure
race and has been challenging himself ever since. Having completed dozens of 6 hour and several
12 hour races, the Flow has become addictive, so he decided to increase the
dosage to 20 hours this season. He looks
forward to learning a ton from this band of adventure athletes and will do his
best to bring them home with increased psychological vigor (even offering
reduced fees for his services).
Chris Farrell
Home: Long Island, NY
Chris has raced around the U.S. and in expedition races. Last year he was part of the 6th place Nationally ranked team.
Chris has raced around the U.S. and in expedition races. Last year he was part of the 6th place Nationally ranked team.
Scott Mead
Home: Berthoud, CO
Partner in a
software design firm, Scott is another anchor in Summit Adventure Racing
West. He will be on the Equinox 48 hour
team and will be an alternate for Raid in France.
Bio
Running:
San
Francisco Marathon
2x 24 hour
Colorado Relay
24hour Wild
West Relay
Cycling
2 x Courage
Classic
2 x 120 mile
Colorado Triple Bypass
Adventure
Racing
AXS Moab
2 x AXS
Buena Vista
9 x Colorado
14ers
JJ Potasiewicz
Heidi Snyder
2 Keystone
State Duathlon 1st Place in age group, 4th Place Overall
2012 Dirty
Grizzly Tri: 1st Place in Age group
Home: Deep Creek Lake, MD
Director and lead guide/instructor Andy Hershey has climbed and backpacked throughout West Virginia and the United States, and has been employed as a professor at the Adventuresports Institute (ASI) of Garrett College since 2005. Among other things at ASI, he coordinates the program’s academic backcountry and climbing related curricula. Since acquiring a bachelor’s degree in Park and Resource Management; and master’s degree in Sport Management, Andy has worked as a backcountry ranger in Yosemite National Park, worked in an adventure setting with youth-at-risk as an Adventure Specialist and Program Coordinator at the Yellow Breeches Educational Center, and with a variety of other outdoor education programs and guide services. Andy currently holds the following certifications:
Director and lead guide/instructor Andy Hershey has climbed and backpacked throughout West Virginia and the United States, and has been employed as a professor at the Adventuresports Institute (ASI) of Garrett College since 2005. Among other things at ASI, he coordinates the program’s academic backcountry and climbing related curricula. Since acquiring a bachelor’s degree in Park and Resource Management; and master’s degree in Sport Management, Andy has worked as a backcountry ranger in Yosemite National Park, worked in an adventure setting with youth-at-risk as an Adventure Specialist and Program Coordinator at the Yellow Breeches Educational Center, and with a variety of other outdoor education programs and guide services. Andy currently holds the following certifications:
American Mountain Guides Association: Climbing Wall Instructor (lead)
American Mountain Guides Association: Climbing Wall Instructor Provider
Wilderness Education Association: National Standards Program
Wilderness First Responder (former EMT)
National Association of Search and Rescue: SARTECH III
Leave No Trace Master Educator
Professional Ski Instructors of America: Cross Country Level 1
Professional Ski Instructors of America: Telemark Level 1
