Background:

2011 brings Laurel into her 18th year of bike racing. She has a USA Cycling Level 2 Certification (with distinction). Along with the development of training plans, Laurel really enjoys the one-on-one and group work of teaching bike handling skills to anyone who rides a bike. She is the director of non-profit organization: Early Bird Women's Developmental Cycling Team, developing and honing racing skills for women who want to enter the sport of bike racing, and develop through the ranks. As a category 2 racer who follows the US National Racing Calendar circuit, Laurel is enthusiastic about reaching her potential as an athlete, and she shares this same enthusiasm with her clients. In 2010, she started racing on the Track at Hellyer Velodrome and earned a Gold medal at the Northern California Master's State Championships. She specializes in criterium racing, and loves time trials, track racing, and stage racing.

• 1991-University of California-Davis, Bachelor of Arts-Psychology, Minor in Physical Education
• 1991-1994 Assistant coach for the University of Wisconsin-Madison Women’s Rowing program.
• 1994-1998 Spinning Instructor, Personal Trainer, and one-on-one coaching for teenage athletes.
• 1994-1998 Team Building workshops for both men’s and women’s rowing teams.
• 1998-University of Wisconsin-Madison, Bachelor of Science-Kinesiology
• 1998-UW-Madison, School of Education-Physical Education Teaching Certificate
• 1998-UW-Madison, School of Education-Adapted Physical Education Teaching Certificate
• 1999-2002 Assistant Coach the LaFollette High School Girls’ swim team-helped coach them to the Wisconsin State Championships annually.

Coaching Philosophy:

I like to laugh with my clients. I believe in the power of two people (coach and athlete) putting their heads together to think about one person (the client) and helping them reach their potential. I also take my clients seriously, whatever their goals may be. I believe in taking an athlete right where they are, regardless of their fitness level, and helping them develop to the next level. Such development can happen physically, psychologically, and physiologically, this is the most exciting thing about coaching for me. One of my favorite things is teaching a cyclist how to corner at speed, then actually having a tough time staying on their wheel once they have practiced the skill. Another favorite part of seeing an athlete develop is hearing how they learn to read their body, and push when they know they can push, and pull back when they realize they need to pull back. This level of self-reflection is a clear sign that an athlete is developing. I also believe deeply in a strong support network. If an athlete has support from family, friends, and healthcare providers to foster their development, then I can do my job training and coaching the athlete to bring them to the next level much more efficiently.

Laurel has a hopeful, friendly, encouraging, manner, and knows how to push her athletes where they need it. She consistently sees where more can be done for one of her athletes to move forward with their development, and she has a way of getting them to do the extra things, without overwhelming them. Her pre-cycling athletic background consists of amateur roller speed skating, high school basketball, volleyball, softball, soccer, and women’s rowing at UC-Davis. She started her road racing career in Wisconsin in1994. She raced the National Racing Calendar Circuit for 8 years, and still hopes to dabble in the NRC some before she lets the Pros go on without her. In her spare time she enjoys studying alternative medicine, directing the Early Bird Women, teaching peer counseling and teaching bike safety clinics to elementary school students.

Laurel’s National Racing Calendar (NRC) Experience Since 1994

• Redlands Cycling Classic, Redlands, CA
• San Dimas Stage Race, San Dimas, CA
• Manhattan Beach Grand Prix, Manhattan Beach, CA Criterium
• Cascade Cycling Classic, Ben, Oregon
• Nature Valley Grand Prix, Minneapolis, MN
• 2003 and 2004 San Francisco Grand Prix, San Francisco, CA
• San Rafael Cycling Classic, San Rafael, CA
• USPRO Criterium Championships, Downer’s Grove, IL
• Tour De Toona Stage Race, Altoona, Pennsylvania

California State Championships:

• 2010 Master’s Track Women’s 40-44: Gold Medal Match Sprints
• 2011 Master’s Track Women’s 40-44: Gold Medal Points Race

Wisconsin Racing Experience:

• Tour of America’s Dairyland, Wisconsin