Jan, owner of Gear West, alongside her husband, Brian. Winter is Jan’s happy place, occupying a whopping 10 months of her year with all the things snowy and chilly. However, when the snow thaws, she eagerly transitions into triathlete mode for the remaining two months, 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 pours her heart into making Gear West the ultimate destination for specialty bike, ski, and run stores. When she’s not at the store, 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.

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!

Kip, the mysterious legend of Gear West and the bike industry. With unknown number of years under his belt, he’s the man with connections to the entire biking industry. Kip’s the go-to-guy, earning the title of “favorite bike guru” among many. Rarely seen but always around, he keeps the coffee going, the shelves stocked in the service department, builds custom bikes, adding an element of surprise and mystery to Gear West—like a sighting of Bigfoot himself.

You will find Anne's passion at Gear West in the Alpine and Bike shop. She’s all about the great outdoors, from skiing since childhood to cycling adventures. During college, she joined the track team which led her training and racing for marathons. Then came the spark: witnessing a friend’s triumph at the Hawaii Ironman. That was it! Anne dove headfirst into the world of triathlons, for several years she participated in triathlons of all distances, including Ironman’s. The best part of this journey was the new friendships forged through training, traveling, and racing. Though Anne has moved on from triathlons, she loves to go on hiking and biking trips to foreign countries, skiing, and walking their beloved dog, Lacy. Yoga, reading non-ficƟon books, and watching documentaries are all part of her Ɵme relaxing. Adventures with her husband, Duncan, and their two adult kids, Nick and Allison, along with their furry pup, Lacy.
Anne’s happy place? The San Juan Mountain range in Colorado.

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.

David’s passion for Nordic skiing ignited at the age of 7 in the mountains of western Maine. This spark led to a remarkable ski racing career, representing the US Ski Team at three World Championships. After years of whirlwind travel and competition, David settled in Bloomington, where he now enjoys a quieter life with wife and son. With over a decade of experience in the ski industry, David specializes in the meticulous art of grinding and fittng skis. When he’s not perfecting skis at the store, he immerses himself in the great outdoors, whether biking, skiing, or running. Additionally, David generously shares his expertise as a coach for both juniors and adults in the Loppet Nordic Racing programs.xt

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.

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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.

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.

Isabel spent her childhood split between the Midwest and the mountains of Summit County, Colorado. With both parents as ski instructors, she didn’t have any choice but to learn the sport of downhill skiing at a young age. Her love for the sport grew quickly, and she is now a total gear nerd. In the months that we don’t have snow in the Midwest, you can find Isabel hiking and biking, or anything outside for that matter. Come visit Isabel in Alpine Shop for any questions you have about downhill skis or gear. In the summer, she’ll be hanging out in the bike shop.

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.

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.