Our Team
Steve has owned and operated Chasing Epic since he started the company in 2015. A long-time Colorado mountain biker and a veteran of the adventure sports world, Steve has worked with numerous adventure travel companies, outdoor gear manufacturers, and ski resorts across the west as a photographer while spending the first several years of his life in corporate America. Steve believes in putting together trips like he would for his closest friends- a trip where we focus on having fun, riding the best trails, and enjoying the company of others that love riding as much as we all do here at Chasing Epic.
Jay Volak | Trip Leader
Jay grew up racing BMX and Downhill in New England before relocating to Colorado over a decade ago. Seeing his bike as his personal ticket to freedom, Jay has ridden from the lush North Shore of Vancouver, BC to the forests of Northern New Hampshire, and back down to the Red Rocks of Sedona, AZ. Travel and adventure are huge passions for Jay, and he enjoys leading trips that encompass the whole gamut of what an area has to offer both on dirt and off. As a former professional Freeskier and current Fitness Coach and Personal Trainer in Denver, Jay values the benefits of eating right and physical training to achieve your goals.
OUR GUIDES
Alastair (Ali) Adams | Whistler – Squamish – Pemberton
Born on the edge of the peak district in the UK, Ali first enjoyed mountain biking in his teenage years around the Derbyshire area with a group of friends not afraid to ride all day and get up to as much mischief as those mid 90’s bikes could take. Two wheels took a back seat for a while as he studied and travelled in his early twenties, but since becoming a full time guide in 2007 the bike has been the mainstay of his personal and professional life. To help with this ambition Ali has his CTC Technical Leader, IDP level 2, PMBI lvl2, GSMBC lvl3 and 80hr OFA. Life as a guide saw Ali work in a whole host of epic Euro destinations but BC is now very much home and with a never ending network of trails, this is the place he is most excited to share.
Austin Long | Whistler – Squamish – Pemberton
Driven by the life-changing experiences he’s had on the bike, Austin has developed a deep passion for guiding and sharing everything this MTB utopia has to offer. The endless trail network, high level of local talent, and ever-evolving riding goals continue to push him forward—not only as a rider, but also as a coach and guide. He holds a PMBI Level 2 certification and OFA Level 3 (80-hour) first aid, bringing both skill and safety to every ride. Whether chasing new lines or contributing to trail building efforts, Austin brings stoke and progression to every ride, always more excited for tomorrow than the day before.
Ben Pritchett | All Things Colorado
Ben is the soft-spoken mountain goat who leads our rides in Crested Butte, Durango, Fruita, Moab and Monarch Crest. His lifelong curiosity with natural history accelerated early in life as he earned his degree in wildlife biology and ecology. An AMGA Ski Guide, Ben has over 20 years of guiding experience in western Colorado. Ben has also served as the Program Manager for AIARE and an avalanche forecaster for the Crested Butte Avalanche Center.
Dave Bumgarner | All Things Colorado
Dave has been guiding all over the American west and throughout Europe since 1998. He has directed well-established outdoor programs in Colorado and Germany. He is a certified AMGA guide and certified AIARE and ACA instructor. When he’s not guiding for us he teaches for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). He is currently working on his masters degree in Higher Administrative Education, and he loves sharing the outdoors with his clients.
Eric Chizum | Sun Valley
Born and raised in the Wood River Valley, Eric has been riding bikes in the Sun Valley since a very young age. His passion for bikes evolved into a career racing bikes professionally for many years, but he has since retired and now spends his time as a guide and coach for the SV Devo team (and putting in lots of HUGE rides, follow him on Strava!). His enthusiasm for working with young bike riders is known throughout the valley, and he has the skills and knowledge to teach riders of all ages and abilities how to rip on a mountain bike.
Jack Chambers | Whistler – Squamish – Pemberton
Making the move to Whistler in 2021, Jack is originally from the UK. In his own words: I love to find the limit, whether it’s the possibilities of my kit and how hard I can push my overbuilt Yeti or what I can physically withstand. I love the challenge the local trails offer with next level features while developing the techniques to overcome them! He is excited to share a world he could only dream of while living back in the UK, his passion is unlocking potential in any rider and their bike!
Janae Pritchett | Crested Butte – Fruita – Moab
Janae is an exuberant coach, hyper-motivated athlete, and super fun person to lead you into the mountains. Achievement is her middle name: professional athlete, mountain guide, fitness coach, mother of two, Yale University degrees in Geology and Environmental Studies, and mathematics curriculum developer. Now retired from racing, she shares her passion for the outdoors and adventure through her guiding and mountain biking school in Crested Butte.
Sydney Dickinson | All Things Colorado
Come explore the mountains with one of Colorado’s most versatile, inspiring, talented, and fun female guides. As Crested Butte locals describe her, Sydney Dickinson is a `legend in the making.` After earning her BS in Health and Exercise Science, Sydney moved to Crested Butte with her husband, Rob. Since then, she has proved to be a formidable athlete, taking every sport she does by storm. A talented coach and guide, Sydney provides exceptional, personalized feedback while taking her clients on the unforgettable adventures of a lifetime.