SOURCE ENDURANCE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Professional Indoor Soccer Player
Job Titles:
- Professional Cyclocross and Mtb Racer
Job Titles:
- Professional Triathlete and Ironman Athlete
Kristen has been racing bikes and/or coaching others in bike racing since 2012 when she was handed a titanium GT to borrow from a family friend. She started racing road, mountain, and cyclocross bikes all at the same time in 2013. Through racing in small fields and wanting to help increase the number of women bike racers in America, she founded a women's developmental bike racing organization, Lady Gnar Shredders (LGS). LGS is dedicated to bringing more women into bike racing and supporting their development. She developed a passion for mentoring athletes through LGS and started coaching individual athletes in late 2016.
Kristen is now a level 1 USA Cycling coach as well as a Registered Dietitian specializing in sports nutrition. Kristen obtained her RD from the Ohio State University in 2015, completed her Master's of Science (MS) in Nutrition from The Ohio State University in 2015, and became a board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) from The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in 2018. She provides individualized nutrition counseling services which complement her coaching. With Kristen's diverse experience in the sport of cycling and expertise in nutrition, she provides a comprehensive approach to her coaching.
Kristen raced professionally on the road from 2016-2021 on a variety of Domestic Elite teams in both criteriums and stage races across the USA and Canada. In 2013 she completed Tour Divide in 23 days finishing with the 4th fastest recorded women's time in the history of the race.
Since retiring from racing in 2021 she has served as a Team Sport Director for various teams and programs. In 2022 she made her director debut as the Directeur Sportif for Wolfpack Women's Professional Racing team. Today, she is the Junior Women's Road Director for USA Cycling where she passionately guides the next generation of American talent towards professional and medal-worthy performances. You can find her in Europe DS-ing at the top junior and elite UCI races where she works with both the junior women's program and elite women's national teams.
Job Titles:
- Professional Soccer Player
Job Titles:
- Program Coordinator for SoCal NICA
Nikki got into endurance sports at a young age. Starting in fifth grade, she was an avid runner. She ended up earning an athletic scholarship at Indiana University and University of Wyoming after garnering 11 state titles in cross country and track & field. She is still the only person in Nevada's history to win state titles in cross country and the 400m, 800m, 1600m, and 320m (‘01 and ‘02) and holds state records in the 800m (‘02) and 1600m (‘01). She graduated from University of Wyoming with a B.S. in Human Food and Nutrition. She worked in the Nutrition and Exercise lab for four years and has been published multiple times for research on vitamin D in the athletic population. She also became a Level 2 coach for USATF (United States Track and Field).
After a break from running to co-own two coffee shops for five years, Nikki found the mountain bike. Missing the competitive aspect in her life, in 2016 she jumped into a race and finished mid-pack in the Expert Category. She quickly made her way through Cat 1 (silver medal at USA Cycling national Championships in ‘16) and earned her UCI Professional License in one year. She then co-founded KS Kenda Women's Elite MTB, which focuses on getting more women and girls on bikes by creating an inclusive and open environment with outreach in communities. At the same time, Nikki took online courses and earned her multiple subject teaching credential and M.A. in Education and Teaching.
Nikki is now the Program Coordinator for SoCal NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association), which has nearly 1,500 student-athletes and 850 coaches. In this role she is responsible for the GRiT program (Girls Riding Together), Skills Coach Trainer program, marketing and social media, fundraising and sponsorship, among other responsibilities. She is on the Advisory Council for CAMTB (California Mountain Biking Coalition), which focuses on trail advocacy.
Nikki believes that the key to reaching goals on the bike lie in keeping riding fun while pushing limits. She is currently a Level 3 USA Cycling Coach while working on her Level 2. She is excited to help clients reach their full potential while juggling life's demands.
Job Titles:
- Professional Cyclocross Racer