Our Coaches
Mike Wolfe
Founder & Head Coach
Mike has been passionate, deliberate, and serious about training since he ran his first race–The Bridger Ridge Run–in 1996. He has since dedicated his life to mountain sports pursuits and adventures, and the training it takes to perform at the highest level in the mountains.
Though known most for his mountain ultra-running exploits, Mike is a diverse mountain athlete who loves it all. He has paddled 1,600 miles over a period of 90 days across Canada to the Artic Ocean, climbed first ascents on the 3,000-foot granite towers of Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, raced 100-mile mountain bike races, climbed El Capitan in Yosemite numerous times in a single day, snowboarded first descents in Grand Teton National Park, raced collegiate Nordic skiing, and he has been a passionate big game hunter since a young boy growing up in Montana.
Mike has been racing competitively as a professional mountain ultra-runner for over a decade. Mike has competed in over 100 ultra-distance mountain races around the world. Among the many races he has competed in, he holds numerous course records, and has placed top-3 at the world’s most competitive and prestigious mountain races: the Western States 100, the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc, and the North Face 50-mile Championship.
Mike’s commitment to the mountain sport community is evidenced by The Rut Mountain Runs in Big Sky, Montana which he co-created with Mike Foote.
In addition to being a professional mountain athlete and coach, Mike loves spending time with his amazing wife Stephanie and his kids Colt and Wren. Mike is also an attorney. Previous to taking a break from the full-time practice of law, Mike was a federal prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Emily Kipp
General Manager, Coach
Emily’s quest for balance was born in a cabin in the woods. Hailing originally from the Green Mountains of Vermont, Emily first instilled her passion for the outdoors roaming the woods around her family’s home. The desire to live a life of outdoor pursuits brought her to Missoula, Montana, where she pursued a degree in Exercise Science. Here, Emily found her calling; the intersection of sport, training, and the mountains.
Following her passion for cycling, Emily then moved to Arizona to work as a cycling guide. She has been leading road and mountain biking trips for The Cycling House for the past six years. She has lead groups of serious cyclists training for competition in locales including Tucson, California, and North Carolina. At these camps, Emily is guide, trainer, cook, motivator extraordinaire, and teacher.
She has been coaching and training athletes in Missoula since 2013. She coaches individuals at the University of Montana, teaching classes in cycling and circuit training. She has been coaching private clients for sports and competition in ultra running, cycling, and triathlon. She previously worked for Momentum Athletic Training in Missoula teaching ski conditioning classes.
A serious mountain runner, cyclist, triathlete herself, she has competed to top finishes over the years in cross country mountain biking, triathlon, marathons, and ultra-marathons. Tough, wild-hearted, and playful, her motivation comes from time spent in wild places, and spending time adventuring with close friends and trusted partners.
• BS — Exercise Science
• ACSM Certified Personal Trainer
• Precision Nutrition Licensed Nutritionist
Colleen Shields
Coach, Head of Nutrition
Colleen grew up in a small town nestled in the mountains of western Maine. With the desire to experience the beauty, outdoors, and character of the west, Colleen transferred to the University of Montana in Missoula to complete her degree in Exercise Science. She immediately joined the university's outdoor recreation group and fell in love with the outdoor culture Montana had to offer. After graduating in 2015, she completed her certification as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist as a way to integrate her passions for exercise physiology and mountain sports. Finding a close group of friends to trail run, ski, bike and adventure with, Colleen has discovered she's happiest when playing outside....and eating.
If there's one thing Colleen loves more than the intersection of endurance sport and the mountains, it's food. Colleen recently completed her post-baccalaureate degree in Food and Nutrition at Montana State and is currently completing her dietetic internship in Portland, OR in order to obtain her credentials as a Registered Dietitian.
• BS — Exercise Science
• BS - Food and Nutrition: Dietetics
Eli Kesselheim
Coach
Born in Bozeman, Eli was raised among the mountains and rivers of Montana and the surrounding mountain west. As a toddler he went on family adventures, floating the entire Yellowstone River before his first birthday, and joining his family on hiking, skiing and paddling adventures from the Arctic Circle to Mexico. He spent summers and vacations on long river trips in northern Canada, exploring the deserts of Utah, or backpacking along the west coast. He was not above skipping school for Bridger Bowl on cold-smoke powder days. When not in the outdoors he played soccer, football, basketball and everything in between. A focus on soccer in high school turned into a college soccer career at North Idaho College. He then finished his BS in Exercise Science at Montana State University. Following college, he worked in a physical therapy office in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho before the draw of Montana pulled him back.
Eli is ACSM CSCA certified and continues to grow as an athlete and outdoorsman. He is eager to engage with people who share his passion for outdoor exercise and fitness.
He has a great passion for bow and rifle hunting in the Montana backcountry, long days of trail running, and rafting/fishing trips on the Yellowstone. He’s a fun loving, energetic person who loves to socialize and is always up for the next adventure.
Ty Atwater
Distance Run Coach
Growing up in Western Oregon, Ty was an active trail runner, biker, boater and general outdoor person. He spent many of his weekends as a child on his family’s raft or camping in the central Oregon desert where he found a passion for outdoor education while working for an outdoor science school. He has spent the last 15+ years immersed in the outdoor education/recreation industry doing a little bit of everything from raft & rock climbing guiding to wilderness medicine and survival instruction. He currently manages the Outdoor Program at MSU where he coaches outdoor leadership skills, teaches a variety of courses and builds the stoke for outdoor adventures with students. As an active trail runner who loves competition, Ty has been racing trail events all over the west for the last 10+ years. He has run everything from 5k blitzes to 100 miler self-supported adventures and enjoys pushing his limits almost as much as eating junk food at aid stations.
BS – Biology
MS – Health Education
UESCA Certified Ultrarunning Coach
