Our Team

Elayne Chow, Founder

After many years of management consulting, Elayne left the corporate world to live her dream of spreading the love for leading a fun-filled adventurous life with like-minded women.

Elayne was tired of the constant focus on promoting physical activity to lose weight and improve appearance.  So she started Graceful Edge to inspire women to get out there, all in the spirit of having fun.

Originally from Canada, Elayne is partial to all things cool.  Winter running, skiing, toques for every occasion and ice cream.

Carolyn "Carrie" Rumbarger, Co-Founder

Carrie left her position as VP of Sales and Marketing of a Fortune 100 company, realizing that all work and no play is a sad but all too common phenomenon. Carrie teamed up with Elayne to encourage women to take the time to experience the fun and satisfaction of an active lifestyle.

After a much needed karma realignment volunteering for Habitat for Humanity in New Orleans, she got back on the road to have some fun. An adventure in Alaska, a hiking trip in Utah, quickly followed by a snowshoe excursion in Colorado and fishing in Costa Rica, Carrie's love for the outdoors is back in high gear.

Jenn Brown, Resident Triathlete

With over 20 triathlons already under her belt, Jenn's immersion into the sport has been fast and furious. Because she has been racing competitively since 2003, all distances from sprint to Ironman, she can not only coach experienced athletes looking to improve fitness, speed, or overall performance, she can also effectively relate to the questions and feelings of newer triathletes. Her knowledge and coaching style make her uniquely qualified to work with women and athletes new to the sport.

Jenn has an Economics degree and Business Minor from Johns Hopkins University, where she rowed varsity crew for in a nationally ranked boat. She is now the Executive Director of Girls on the Run of NOVA (www.girlsontherunofnova.org), a learning program for girls ages 8-14 that combines training for a 5K running event with self-esteem building, healthy living education. Jenn spends the majority of her racing season at off-road triathlons and mountain bike races, but still manages to race at least 3 or 4 road-tris per year. She recently qualified for XTERRA USA Nationals in 2007 at Lake Tahoe. Jenn is also a USA Triathlon and USA Cycling certified professional coach with Principle Fitness.

Margaret Connor and Katie Guida, Resident Swimmers

Margaret Connor is currently the National Manager of Masters and Open Water Swimming and the Director of Marketing for Sport Fair, Inc.. In addition, she as been an Open Water Instructor for the last 7 years. Margaret values her work with TEAMSPIRIT as an Advisory Board Member, a fundraising and awareness organization for Olympic hopefuls. She loves her work both in the swimming industry, and as a Mom to a college student at University of Mary Washington and a high school senior.

Katie Guida is the Captain of the University of Notre Dame women’s swim team, and a Champion in her own right. Honors include two Big East Conference Team Championships, and a Big East Conference Champion award in the 200 freestyle relay. She is a member of the Curl Burke Swim Club, a USS swimmer, a Northern Virginia Swim League swimmer & coach, and a regular Open water competitor.

Bob is a personal trainer certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He has coached more marathon runners than he can count. Bob works with individuals at all levels of fitness. For example, he has helped clients run their first marathon, achieve their personal best, and work toward qualifying for the Boston Marathon.  He is also a certified high school coach in the state of Maryland.

Spectacularly, Bob has completed 21 marathons. Currently Bob owns Xtend Fitness, loves to run trails with great views and motivate his clients. 

Coreena Fletcher, Resident Mountain Biker

Coreena Fletcher loves the two wheeling life, whether it's on her mountain bike, road bike, downhill bike or dirt bike. She's been mountain biking for over ten years including two years of downhill racing in Northern California. Coreena is also the co-founder of Loeka Clothing in Vancouver, British Columbia, outfitting women in hip cycling apparel as they're tearing up the trails.

In addition to outfitting cyclists in great clothes, Coreena seeks to introduce as many women to cycling as possible including hosting Women's Adventure Weekend, a fun filled weekend of biking, hiking and camaraderie.

Gene Hamilton, Mountain Bike Coach

Gene Hamilton lives to ride and rides to live. He has been competing and coaching snowboarding and mountain biking for over 18 years. He started his career as a snowboard coach but in 1999 his passion for mountain biking outgrew his passion for snowboarding so he started BetterRide (www.betterride.net) to provide mountain bikers with fun and effective, structured skills coaching year round.

A licensed USA Cycling Expert Coach, Gene works with athletes of all levels including top pro racers, junior experts and hundreds or riders who just want to feel comfortable on the trail. His popular Core Skills clinics focus on teaching the basics on bike handling and mental skills in a safe environment and eliminating those "other skills" taught by well-intentioned friends and boyfriends. A decent rider himself, Gene is no stranger to the podium including a Silver, and two Bronze Medals at the UCI World Masters Championships.
Photo credit: John Shafer

Christina Heyniger, Resident Adventure Globetrotter

Christina Heyniger, is the founder of Xola Consulting (www.xolaconsulting.com) and
Off the Radar (www.travelofftheradar.com), an online resource for adventure travelers. Xola (which means ‘stay in peace’) provides research and consulting services to adventure travel companies and tourism boards around the world.

Christina speaks regularly at industry events on topics ranging from small business management to humanitarian aid and tourism development in developing countries.

Julie Huck, Resident Adventure Cyclist

Julie Huck first started bicycle touring at 15 with her high school outdoor club and hasn't stopped since. She is the Membership Director at Adventure Cycling Association, a non-profit group whose mission is to inspire people of all ages to travel by bicycle, and has been with them for over 20 years. She has led many tours for Adventure Cycling and helped to teach their Bicycle Leadership Training Classes.

In 2001 she helped start a local women's outdoor group called The Dirt Girls. Now her favorite type of trip is to load up her BOB trailer and ride for a week on a section of the Great Divide Bicycle Route, a 2700-mile mountain bike route that travels from Banff, Alberta to the Mexican border, paralleling the continental divide. Cycling is her passion.

Beth Jensen, Canyoneering Guru

From a very young age, Beth knew that there's no place like the outdoors. She has been heavily involved in outdoor education for 10 years, teaching outdoor leadership skills at Northern Arizona University,, program director for Alpine Training Services (www.alpinets.com), an outdoor education school in the mountains of So. Cal. and currently part owner of an outdoor adventure company based in Southern California. 

Beth is the mastermind behind successful outreach programs targeting young women and has developed adventure leadership programs for Girl Scout councils throughout California and is also working with Girl Scout USA to provide wilderness leadership programs nationwide.

In addition to outdoor leadership, Beth also teaches the sport of canyoneering. As a member of the only canyoneering outfit in California, Beth loves to introduce people from all walks of life to the exhilaration of canyoneering.  Rappelling down waterfalls into pools of water, being enveloped by the breezes of the mountains….there is nothing else like it! 

Anna Levesque, Resident Kayaker

Anna Levesque, founder of Girls at Play LLC, has a passion for inspiring and teaching women through her Girls at Play workshops, instructional kayaking DVDs and books for women, her Girls at Play Summer Tour and her Girls at Play paddling and yoga vacations in Mexico. She is also a World Kayak Freestyle Medalist and a five-time Canadian Kayak Freestyle Team member with female first descents in California and on the White Nile River in Uganda. She has worked in over ten countries as a professional kayaker and guide and her sponsors include Dagger Kayaks, Shred Ready Helmets, AT Paddles, Kokatat and Smith Optics. For more information on Anna and Girls at Play please visit www.outdoorgoddess.com.
Photo credit: Paul Villecourt / outdoor-reporter.com

Seth Levy is the Manager of the Western Public Lands Initiative at American Hiking Society.  He has been actively involved in outdoor retail for many years and is a recovering “gear head.”  Seth has extensive knowledge of women’s-specific backpacking & hiking products and works to show women how enjoyable and empowering great outdoor experiences are.  Seth has hiked Vermont’s Long Trail end-to-end and walked the northern half of the Appalachian Trail in addition to long trips in Northern California and Alaska.  When he’s not providing expert advice about the hiking experience, Seth works to protect the 26 million acre National Landscape Conservation System. 

Jody Radtke, Resident Backpacker

Jody has more than 15 years of outdoor education experience, enthusiasm and know-how. A veteran of both sides of the outdoor program coin, Jody’s spent more than 1,000 days in the field during her career as an instructor with Outward Bound, where she was a course director, associate program director & staffing manager before becoming the Program Director at The Women’s Wilderness Institute in 2005. She also has a Masters degree in psychology from Naropa Univ. and 5 years of experience leading wilderness therapy programs. When she’s not working in the office or leading a course in the field, Jody’s probably playing outside. Her adventures include mountaineering in New Zealand and the French and Swiss Alps, and a 50-day unsupported canoe expedition within the Arctic Circle. Closer to home, you might find her tele-skiing, playing Ultimate Frisbee, ice climbing, dancing or playing her guitar.

Leslie Ross, Resident Backcountry Babe

According to local legend, Leslie Ross, founder of Babes in the Backcountry emerged from the womb skiing. Alpine and freeheeler extraordinaire, Leslie has won numerous races and events, including top finishes in the South American Free Skiing Championships, the Big Mountain Extreme Skiing Competition and the North American Free Skiing Competition. Leslie is also the three time National Telemark Free Skiing Champion, earning her the overall US Telemark Championship Award title in 2002.

When she's not holding her own amongst the big dogs, Leslie is spreading her love of skiing. Leslie is a ski ambassador for Patagonia and Black Diamond, an AIARE qualified avalanche educator and a PSIA certified Level III Telemark instructor. In 1996, Leslie founded Babes in the Backcountry, a group dedicate to educating women with the outdoor skills to enable them to be confident and self-reliant in the backcountry. Learn more about Leslie's inspiring adventures at www.babesinthebackcountry.com.

Chris has been in the winter sports business for nearly 15 years. First at an award winning specialty ski & snowboard shop fitting skiers and riders from ages 5-85 with boots, equipment and the right apparel.  Now, he works for SnowSports Industries America.

Chris started skiing 22 years ago and bought his first Burton Snowboard in 1987. His wife, kids and family are avid snow sliders too.

Kevin Smith, Running Guru

Kevin is a NCCP-Certified Running Coach with over 15 years of experience, coaching runners of all levels and all distances. Founder of Marathon Dynamics, Kevin has worked with thousands of runners to reach their personal goals. And contrary to do the saying, "those who can't, teach", Kevin is a serious road blazer himself. A competitive racer for over 25 years, Kevin is the 2005 Canadian 1500m Champion (sub master, 35-39) and a top finisher at the 2006 Mississauga Marathon.

Kevin's wisdom and insights have been featured on populuar media including TSN, Life Network, The Globe & Mail and National Post.

Kimberly Wilson, Resident Yogini

Kimberly Wilson is a teacher, designer, writer, activist, and entrepreneur with a master's in women's studies. She is the founder of Tranquil Space Yoga in Washington, D.C. and designs the eco-friendly TranquiliT luxe lifestyle line. Kimberly penned Hip Tranquil Chick to explore the yoga lifestyle for the modern girl. Her work has been featured on Martha Stewart Living Radio and in Daily Candy, Fit Yoga, and Shape.

Kimberly founded the Tranquil Space Foundation to expand her focus on spiritual activism, and she serves on the board of the Mid-Atlantic Yoga Association. Learn more at www.kimberlywilson.com.

Ashley Woods, Resident Rock Climber

Ashley started climbing with her family when she was six, and while some teenagers might look forward to getting their first car when they turn 16, she was delighted to receive her dad’s climbing gear. Since then, her love for the sport has been a driving force in her life.

Ashley is an AMGA-trained climbing guide, a member of the Colorado Women’s Bouldering team, and a co-founder and program director of The Spot Bouldering Gym. She has completed numerous technical alpine ascents around the world, and broke the world record for the longest “dyno” (the act of dynamically leaping to a hold) on her way to a second place finish in the 2005 World Cup competition. A Women’s Wilderness staff member since 2002, Ashley is a truly incredible teacher who loves sharing her passion for climbing with other women.

Lynn Yu, Resident Backcountry Gourmet

Lynn Yu is Graceful Edge’s backcountry gourmet. She loves to eat….well.  So much so, that she went and got her Ph.D. in nutrition.

Her favorite places to nosh include the Grand Tetons, Algonquin Park in Northern Ontario, and remote parts of Vancouver Island.  Never a shortage of people to go camping with Lynn!

Bobbi Sankey, Contributing Writer

Bobbi Sankey spent months living in a tent and hiking throughout Alaska between high school and college. She landed in the Colorado Rockies to earn degrees in geography and writing and then stayed a while, working as a journalist.

Recently she packed up and headed east to work for American Hiking Society as its communications manager and magazine editor. Bobbi grew up hiking, camping and horseback riding in Minnesota – you betcha! – and has traveled and hiked throughout the western U.S. and Central America. In her downtime, she enjoys playing guitar, reading, running, cooking and exploring trails with her new dog, Ginga.

Moira was a runner first, then a swimmer, then a biker. And then, well, you know where this is going. When she turned 30, she decided to become a triathlete. She flew to Florida in March of '06 where she dove into her first triathlon and her first 1.5 mile open water swim. Pictures of her on the beach depict her fear. "The buoy all the way out there??" she asked her husband.

Moira's background is a bit unique. She has a master's degree in opera performance and has been known to sing the national anthem for Boston Red Sox games. Now she sings country more than anything on her parent's back porch but she still likes to get out her old music every now and then for weddings and church gigs. Mostly though, these days, she's a writer. Now after her 2nd tri season, Moira feels a lot more confident with the whole thing & most recently, she dove into an ocean swim in 6 ft. high waves. She's come a long way, she's decided. And, she loves it.

Megan Sheahan, Contributing Writer

Put in a pair of ballet shoes at age three, Megan has been on the go ever since. She danced her way through high school, but decided to leave the stage behind to pursue something completely different in college -- the crew team. As a novice, then varsity rower, at Boston University, Megan helped lead the team towards medals at Eastern Sprints.

After college, her love for the water and a great workout remain. Weekends are full of kayaking excursions and long runs. Megan's love of fitness is rivaled by her love of travel and adventures abroad. Currently pursuing a career in international development, who knows where the wild world will lead her next.

The voice and vision of Graceful Edge was inspired by Elayne’s mom….Grace, who worked full-time, managed a household, and raised two crazy daughters, all while keeping her dignity and sense of humor.

And for that, we are ever so grateful.