Our Team
Meet Your Adventure Guides
Some of our Race2Adventure staff has been working together since the days of Eco Challenge and Primal Quest in the early 2000’s. Since then, they have been snowballing their knowledge around adventure tourism. Whether it be logistics in Fiji, operations in the San Juan Islands, eco-tourism in Costa Rica, or growing under the Race2Adventure umbrella, there is no question you will see these faces together, time and time again.
Merritt Hopper
Founder and Event Director
Biography
Merritt helped orchestrate races with the world’s most popular adventure race of all time, the Eco Challenge, in New Zealand and Fiji. He then went on to be the Logistics Director in Tahoe, Volunteer Director in the San Juan Islands, and Director of Operations in Moab, Utah for The Primal Quest. Since then, Merritt moved on to develop his own race in Costa Rica that pulled elements of an adventure race, but simplified the experience so that just about anyone could be a part of it. After three successful years in Costa Rica, he has executed his concept in Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Peru, Chile, Spain, Ireland, and is now introducing it in Central Europe, New Zealand, and Norway!
Sergio Sanchez
Global Course Director
Biography
Sergio has been working in race course logistics since 2005, developing numerous international events. He recently competed with Team Costa Rica at the most coveted adventure race in the world – Eco Challenge Fiji. He also played important roles in various biking and adventure races such as the Trio Adventure Challenge, Costa Rica Solo Adventure Race, Rios Tropicales Challenge, and Guanaride. Now it’s all about making successful races in multiple countries and continents.
Maria Winther
Event Planner
Biography
Embarking on trails and adventures, Maria embraces exploration with boundless enthusiasm. As an athlete, she conquers challenges with grit and determination and we are forever grateful to have her as a member of the R2A family.
Lars Bukkehave
Course Director
Biography
Lars takes exploring to the next level. He was born in neighboring Denmark, but moved to Norway to enjoy the better winters and mountains. His passion is bringing other people out into the wild, working as a trekking, ski, kayak and climbing guide. Lars’s passion for adventure led him to being a part of the Norwegian national team in Rafting and Ski-Mountaineering. His absolute biggest sporting passion is Adventure Racing. Lars has participated in over 100 Adventure races on 6 Continents, winning the Patagonia Expedition Race and ARWS Oregon Expedition Race.
Luciana Smania
Videographer and Photographer
Biography
Luciana is no stranger to R2A and all we’ve done over the years. We first teamed up in her native country of Costa Rica and have been enjoying adventures with her ever since. The photography and videography of Race2Adventure is amazing. There is no way anyone leaves an R2A experience without plenty of captured memories to bring home with them!
Shelby Catlett
Social Media Manager
Biography
Shelby Catlett is a photographer and social media manager who believes life is best lived outside. As a photographer and the social media storyteller for Race2Adventure, she captures the energy and connection that happen when we explore the world. When she’s not documenting the journey, she’s participating in it – traveling, competing in adventure races, mountain biking, and backpacking.
Dustin Strupp
Photographer
Biography
Dustin Alton Strupp transitioned from archaeology in Alaska and Nevada into award-winning photojournalism. As a staff photographer for The Courier Journal, he was named Kentucky Photographer of the Year six times and earned National and Regional Photographer of the Year honors from the National Press Photographers Association in 2017. When Dustin isn’t running the trails with R2A in Scotland and South Africa, he leads global storytelling at WaterStep, amplifying the fight for safe water around the world.
Andrew Coleman
Medical
Biography
Dr. Andrew Coleman completed his Emergency Medicine residency training at Denver Health in 2015 and is board-certified in Emergency Medicine. Andrew also works as a Colorado Army National Guard Flight Surgeon, during which time he cares for helicopter pilots and oversees flight medic training at Buckley Air Force Base in Colorado. He has experience working for the Leadville 100 mountain bike race, as well as the expedition physician for a mountaineering group for a trip up Denali in 2018. But nothing compares to the experience he’s had with Race2Adventure.
Kristen Coleman
Medical
Biography
Kristen is an Emergency Medicine PA. She is highly experienced in the field of Emergency Medicine and is proficient in emergent procedures (orthopedic reductions/splinting, complicated laceration repairs, ultrasonography, arthrocentesis, regional nerve blocks, I and D of abscesses, lumbar puncture, etc). She’s also really fun, really nice, and thankfully rarely has to put those skills to use. We’re excited to have her as a mainstay at Race2Adventure.
Mike Fricke
Race Staff
Biography
Mike is a realtor, ski instructor, musician, and event planner in Squaw Valley, Lake Tahoe California. He’ll have a smile bigger than anyone’s and makes sure to be the last one in bed every night. Mike has been a part of Race2Adventure for over a decade. He’s ready for all of our upcoming ventures in Costa Rica, New Zealand, and Europe.
Carter Shields
Race Staff
Biography
Carter is the clown of the crew. He is a mechanical engineer that works around the clock for Race2Adventure when we’re on the ground. Carter began his career in race logistics in 2005. If something is broken, Carter can fix it. You can also find Carter working hard to make sure all of our racers and their belongings are getting from A to B. If he’s not doing those things, he’s with you, having a great time. Carter has worked for every one of our races over the past thirteen years.
Angela Botta
Race Staff
Biography
A native from New York, Angela is the Mom of the race staff. She is a world traveler who has spent a good deal of time throughout South America, South East Asia, Europe, and most recently India. She also has a background in herbal medicine. Angela is a certified yoga instructor and has been known to put on a few complimentary sessions for the group throughout the week.
Jamie Randazzo
Race Staff
Biography
Jamie has competed and worked on the logistics side of racing since 2005. Born and raised in New York, Jamie relocated down to Tampa, Florida in 2000. He continues to support races throughout Central America, South America, Europe, and the South Pacific. He has been with us for all thirteen years.
Kevin Hickey
Race Staff/Medical
Biography
Kevin’s first experience with eco-tourism and racing was with the 2002 Eco Challenge in Fiji. Since then he has worked in logistics for Primal Quest Tahoe and on several R2A races around the globe. Kevin has 14 years of guiding and outdoor education experience and is the owner of The Tahoe Adventure Company. He is also EMT certified and a ski patrol guide in Lake Tahoe for the past twenty years.
Matt Ertl
Race Staff
Biography
Matt is a native of Colorado. He’s been on adventures with us in Ireland, Norway, and Scotland. Next stop for Matt with the R2A crew is Scandinavia!
Listen to the Podcast
From the Eco Challenge in Fiji to Race2Adventure, hear what R2A is all about.
