Meet the Thunder Mountain Bike Team in Sedona, Arizona
We are proud to have a team at our bike shop who is just as passionate about working on mountain bikes as they are riding them! Our team is our most valuable asset and some of our best mountain bike riding buddies are the ones that we work with every day!
So, we wanted to introduce you to our team here at Thunder Mountain Bikes! We sat down for a Q&A with everyone about their mountain biking experience, favorite bike, accessory, and trail here in Sedona, AZ! Here’s the inside tips and recs from our bike shop team! Our hope is that you recognize all our faces the next time you walk into Thunder Mountain Bikes and feel welcomed, excited for your next adventure, confident that your bike is in the best hands for repairs or rentals, and feel part of our growing mountain bike community! Please stop in and say “Hi” to our Team! We can’t wait to meet you!
Phil Yates
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Phil moved to Sedona, Arizona four years ago from Snowshoe, West Virginia to ride his mountain bike year-round. The former Trail Builder and Snowcat Operator now spends his time overseeing the daily operations at Thunder Mountain Bikes. Phil is also a part-time Mountain Bike Coach for the Sedona Mountain Bike Academy.
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Michael Woodruff
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With over 26 years of experience wrenching on mountain bikes, Michael is an expert in the field of mountain bike repair. For years you could find him in the Teton Mountains, (one of his favorite places to play outdoors) but now Michael calls Sedona home. When he isn’t “in the office” you can find him hanging out with his pup, Suzia or on a mountain bike ride. He also enjoys time on the Verde River during the summer months.
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James Godwin
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As a former Trail Builder for the US Forest Service, James gives the BEST trail advice because he knows the Sedona, AZ Trail System so well! Need a local beer or coffee recommendation? James is the man to ask! When he isn’t at Thunder Mountain Bikes talking all things mountain bikes, you can find him at home drinking craft beer or brewing amazing coffee.
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Cam Rose
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Cam escapes to Sedona every winter to enjoy the world class Sedona, AZ singletrack. We are lucky to have Cam as an accomplished mountain bike repair mechanic at Thunder Mountain Bikes. Cam’s passion for bikes goes beyond mountain biking, In fact, once he rode his bike across the entire US!
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Mason Bond
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Professional Enduro/ Mountain Bike Athlete and California native, Mason loves riding in Sedona, AZ because of the endless amounts of technical terrain. When he isn’t at Thunder Mountain Bikes, you can find him at the Sedona Bike Park riding or volunteering for trail workdays.
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Dakota Farrar, aka: “The Grom”
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Dakota attends Sedona Red Rock High School and works at Thunder Mountain Bikes part time. He is on the local NICA team and in his spare time shoots video and photos for TMB.
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Ben Philo
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Born and raised in Sedona, AZ, Ben picked up mountain biking to try something new and have fun. However, mountain biking has changed his life! He loves the community that riding mountain bikes has brought into his life and his main mission at Thunder Mountain Bikes is to help people get stoked and have more fun!
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Erik Riveron
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Erik is from New Jersey and currently lives in Flagstaff, Arizona. He’s a former student at NAU and holds his Level 1 BICP Instructor Certification. He loves mountain bike riding in Sedona, AZ because of the epic views and challenging trails.
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Ryan Decker
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Ryan’s a Sedona, AZ resident, hardtail expert, and lover of afternoon mountain bike rides in the Adobe Jack area. If you are lucky enough to see Ryan in the shop ask him for his local restaurant recommendations. He’s your post ride go-to for all things pasta, burritos, donuts, and more!
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Joanna Yates
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Born and raised in West Virginia, Joanna learned how to mountain bike in Slatyfork, WV. She moved to Sedona, AZ to ride her mountain bike full time and work on her mountain bike skills. If you can catch her in the shop she’s usually getting content for social media or talking to guests about her favorite Sedona, AZ trails. Joanna is a Professional Mountain Bike Guide and Coach who works for the Sedona Mountain Bike Academy.
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Michael Curtin
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We like to call Michael “The Man Behind the Curtin”! He’s behind the scenes working remotely to make sure Thunder Mountain Bikes stays organized, stocked with product, and our inventory is constantly updated. However, more than just his job, Michael brings a sense of humor to the TMB Team every day!
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Harrison Shotzbarger
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Originally from the City of Angels, Harrison moved to Sedona, AZ for the 250 plus miles of singletrack in our backyard! He rides with his traildog, Buddy who has an impressive 2 years of riding under his paws. Harrison has rode almost 2,000 miles with just Buddy! When Buddy stays behind, Harrison loves to adventure out on bikepacking trips with friends.
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Aaron Benson
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Aaron moved to Sedona, AZ from Alaska after working in Wilderness Therapy. His love for the outdoors shows when you hear him talk about our Sedona trail system. For Aaron, mountain biking is about the experience and being outside. When he isn’t at the shop you can find him in Flagstaff hiking with his black lab, Django.
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Evan Puglia
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Evan believes in having fun and not taking mountain biking too seriously, so his favorite rides are the ones he gets to enjoy with friends. His background in cycling grew from racing XC in Vail, Colorado. Soon after, he entered the mountain bike industry where he went on to work for IMBA headquarters, coaching for VVASA Youth MTB camps. Evan is the Co-Owner of The Sedona Mountain Bike Academy.
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Jason First
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A native of Southern California and a San Diego State alum with a degree in business and sales, Jason First spent almost a decade at boutique bike components brand Crank Brothers before launching Thunder Mountain Bikes. “I’ve been immersed in the bike industry forever, so starting a shop just made sense,” he says. Jason believes in the power of mountain bikes to build community and connection.
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Mike Raney
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From the day he started at Dirty Harry’s Bikes in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at age 14, Mike knew he’d someday have his own bike shop. The only years he didn’t work full-time in the bike industry was while in college at Flagstaff’s Northern Arizona University, where he earned a business degree while racing road, cross country and downhill, and during a five-year stint as a purchaser and brand manager at BTI, one of the country’s biggest bicycle suppliers. Along with partner Jason First, whom he met on the race circuit, Mike returned to retail in 2011, when the pair launched their shop in Sedona. Mike was also the vision and force behind the Sedona Mountain Bike Festival.
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