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This summer, NSP Bike Athletes hit the dirt, climbed to altitude, and raced with purpose, bringing the spirit of the red jacket to mountain biking competitions and communities across the country. From grueling road events to rugged enduros, these patrollers balanced racing, training, and service with grit, resilience, and a deep love for the sport.

Michelle McGee – Pushing Limits On and Off the Bike

For Michelle, this season was about perseverance. Between parenting, patrolling, and training, she pieced together a summer packed with memorable moments. Her biggest highlight came at the legendary Downieville Classic, where she earned a 5th-place finish in a highly competitive professional field, all while managing the weekend solo as both a racer and a mom.

Michelle also took on the Climb to Kaiser, a 155-mile road challenge with over 15,000 feet of climbing. After ten hours in the saddle, she crossed the line in 15th overall. “My true love is mountain biking,” she said, “but I learned a ton training for Climb to Kaiser.”

Her contributions went far beyond racing. Michelle patrolled at her home resort of China Peak during the California Enduro Series and served as a medical course marshal at the Sea Otter Classic before lining up to race in the pro category. She now looks ahead to taking a leadership role at the 2025 Women’s Toboggan Clinic in February.

Maddie Miller – Letting Go to Find Her Edge

Maddie used this season to reset, both mentally and physically. Coming off a demanding skimo winter, she shifted her focus early on, trading structured bike training for alpine ski objectives. That reset helped her find freedom on the bike later in the season.

At the Snowmass 50, Maddie powered through two grueling laps and nearly 10,000 feet of climbing, matching her past performance with more clarity and consistency. She claimed the podium as other riders dropped out - holding strong deep into the race. Her proudest ride came at the Big Sky Biggie, where she descended with confidence and grit to take 3rd place in a stacked women’s field.

Off the trail, Maddie led the development of NSP’s Cycle C refresher, launched new avalanche and rescue education content, and contributed to the update of Outdoor Emergency Care, 7th edition. Her work connects decision-making, travel, and wellness into a unified vision for field-ready patrollers.

Samantha Braden – Building Strength and Racing with Grit

Samantha made the most of every mile this season. She kicked off her summer at the Beaver Blitz with a muddy, technical ride to third place, then trained at Mt. Hood’s Southern Alpine Racing Camp as a Coach-in-Training, building strength and experience.

Her highlight came at the USA Cycling Endurance Mountain Bike Nationals in Roanoke, Virginia, where she tackled a 45-mile course and placed 17th in the nation. Sam followed up with another 3rd place podium at the SM100K—despite an early flat tire—thanks to quick support from her coach and relentless determination.

In addition to her racing achievements, Sam represented NSP proudly at the Southern Division Conference and was honored as Southern Division Outstanding Young Patroller of the Year and National Runner-Up for the 2025 Outstanding Young Adult Patroller Award. She now heads into her senior year and final NICA season with big goals ahead.

Riding Toward the Future

From California to Colorado to Virginia, NSP Bike Athletes showed how far passion, training, and teamwork can take you—on the trail and in the community. Whether it was crossing finish lines, mentoring others, or responding on patrol, Michelle, Maddie, and Sam represented the NSP Athlete Program with strength and service.

We’re proud of their accomplishments and inspired by the impact they continue to make. Here’s to more miles, more growth, and more ways to serve in the 2025–26 season.