Welcome to the RIDE BACKWARDS Athlete page. We are honored to help support some exceptional firefighter athletes as they pursue excellence in a variety of sporting events. Please scroll down the page to see their pics and learn more about these talented firefighters & the events they compete in.
Check out our RB Athletes in action on the RIDEBACKWARDS YouTube Channel!
* For additional news on our RB Athletes (or if you have sports news of your own), be sure to check out The Board.
CHRIS CERCI
Chris Cerci has been a firefighter for the City of McKeesport in southwest PA for 11 years. He began competing in the Firefighter Combat Challenge in 2001. Over the last few years Chris has earned the following: Over 40 US Grand National Champion, Over 40 US National Tandem Champion, 3rd Place Over 40 Tandem World Championship Finals, 2nd Place Over 40 Individual Qualifying day 3 2008 World Championships, 3rd Place Over 40 Individual Qualifying day 2 2009 World Championships, 3rd Place 0ver 40 Individual US National Championships, 2x 4th Place Over 40 Individual US National Championships, Top 10 Individual over 40 2009 World Championship Finals, 5x Pennsylvania State Champion. Currently Chris holds a personal best time of 1:39 and hopes to better it in 2010.
Chris is also sponsored by Northeast STIHL and CNP-Professional Sports Nutrition. Check out Chris's new Crossfit gym at crossfit343.com.You can contact Chris Cerci via email at paraff_pit@yahoo.com
KEITH ASHBURY
Keith is a Captain with the Virginia Beach FD, where he's been on the job for eight years. He has competed in the Firefighter Combat Challenge since 2000, with two individual top 10 finishes in 2007. Keith was a five-year member of Team Stihl and is being sponsored this year by both Gold's Gym and RIDE BACKWARDS. When not hitting it hard at the gym, Keith spends time snowboarding, surfing, and mountain biking.
Together with Chris Cerci, they make up the RIDE BACKWARDS Tandem. We're proud to have them on Team RB, and proud of their accomplishments in 2008.
MACKENZIE BRIGGS
MacKenzie has been a career firefighter and paramedic for Palm Beach County Fire Rescue in Florida for 2 years. This is his second year competing in the Firefighter Combat Challenge. He had a perfect year his first year, getting a better time every run. He ended the season last year with a time of 1:41 at Worlds.
This year, on his first run of the season, he broke into the sub-100 seconds club with a time of 1:38. He has been in the top 10 of every individual, open tandem, and coed tandem competition he's entered. MacKenzie is now chasing the sub-90 seconds club and hopes to reach it by Worlds in Las Vegas.
TEAM MUTUAL AID
Team Mutual Aid, formally Team Boca, began competing in the Firefighter Combat Challenge in 2003 and consists of firefighters from Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and Palm Beach County fire departments. The team's members rank from firefighters to chiefs, with time in the fire service ranging from 1 to 20+ years of service. Team Mutual Aid trains, competes, and plays hard while still committing time to give back to the community.
Team Mutual Aid has achieved success in multiple categories, including open division (team, relay, tandem, individual), female division (relay, tandem, individual), over-40 division (relay, tandem, individual), and over-50 division (tandem, individual). The Combat Challenge requires firefighters to maintain a high level of fitness, but the camaraderie amongst the competitors is the most rewarding. Team Mutual Aid is honored to be teaming up with RIDE BACKWARDS for the upcoming season.
JON DAVIS
Jon (JD) is a career firefighter of 18 years in the US Air Force, and has been deployed all the over the world. He is currently a fire inspector/investigator, stationed at Mountain Home AFB in Idaho. He plans on serving his country for a few more years before he retires.
JD has been playing competitive racquetball for 5 years, and has been appointed as a member of the USAF Racquetball Team the past 3 years. Competing in the Open/A & Men's 35+ division at the local, state, regional, & national levels, he consistently finishes in the top 3. JD is currently ranked #3 in Men's A, #2 in Men's Open Age in Idaho, and #16 DoD-wide! His next goal is to compete in doubles and win a National Championship.
Although he isn't assigned to a shift right now, JD strives for excellence in his physical conditioning, and is extremely proud & excited to be the newest member of Team Ride Backwards. "Thanks for welcoming me to such a strong group of professionals. I will represent the Ride Backwards family with pride & integrity."
Jon is also sponsored by USAF Sports and Team Ektelon Racquetball.
JOHN DEFOREST
John DeForest has been a dispatcher with the Springfield, MA Fire Department for the last 3 years. 2008 was his first year participating in the Firefighter Combat Challenge, and as a member of the 2008 State FCC Team Champions (Team Springfield), he competed in the 2008 National FCC in Clayton County, GA, finishing with a personal best of 2:56 for the year. John turned it up in 2009, and crushed 2008's best time, twice, with a 2:24 at the NE Championship, and a new PR of 2:20 in St Louis, qualifying for Vegas in the team & tandem divisions.
When not training for the Challenge, John likes to spend time with family and friends, kayak, mountain bike and workout. John's home training center is Crossfit Iron Will in Springfield, MA.
JASON BERNSTEIN
Jason Bernstein of Altoona, IA, is a Firefighter/ Paramedic on the City of Des Moines Fire Department. He is stationed at #4, the technical rescue station for the city & surrounding area.
"RB has been gracious enough to sponsor me as well as be my main clothing merchandiser for my club the Altoona Triathlon Club," writes Jason. Besides founding the ATC, Jason has also chaired (and raced in) the ALA stair climb in Des Moines for the past 7 years with his best effort being 3rd place firefighter overall.
An endurance sport enthusiast, Jason has particpated in the FF Combat Challenge, various stair climbs, triathlons, and rock climbing. But his main passion is triathlon. He has currently completed 3/4 of the distances in the sport of triathlon, participated in numerous Half Ironman races in KS, TX, & IA, and is in training for his first Ironman (140.3 miles) in Louisville this August.
Jason's wife Kerrie and two young sons are all triathletes and climbers. Jason's rock climbing hobby has taken his family to various places around WY, CO, & OK so far. "Healthy living and pure enjoyment fuels me in every endeavor. It is truly my philosophy that passion is contagious and I got the fever. See you at the races."
JOSHUA STERRY
Joshua Sterry is a Mixed Martial Arts Fighter, currrently fighting out of Madison, Wisconsin as both a lightweight and featherweight fighter. Joshua began his training as a MMA fighter five years ago, with Mua Thai kick boxing at Golds Gym. He has since been hired with the City of Madison Fire Department where he shares his passion for firefighting.
Joshua now trains with the Chosen Few fight team, in both Brazilian Jui Jitsu and Mua Thai.
ROBERT VER HELST
Robert Verhelst is a triathlete, road racer, and adventure racer. He lives and trains in the beautiful city of Madison, Wisconsin, where he works as a full-time firefighter and owns a fitness company, Abstract Fitness. Robert has competed in the Alcatraz Triathlon, Hawaii Half Ironman, and North Face 50mi Endurance Race.
Robert specializes at the Sprint and Olympic triathlon distances as well as road races ranging from 5k to marathons. Robert is also training in javelin to attempt for higher aspirations in 2012.
Robert's fitness background includes numerous athletic pursuits such as swimming competitively for 20 years, playing college-level basketball and water polo, and competing in water polo and swimming events at the 2005 World Police and Fire Games in Quebec, Canada. In February 2008, Robert founded a masters water polo team, Badger Water Polo, in which he coaches and participates.
"Fitness to me is a catalyst for building a stronger, happier, and more productive life."
MELISSA JONES
Melissa Jones works for Palm Beach County Fire Rescue as a Firefighter / Paramedic. She's been on the job for 6 ˝ yrs and loves every moment of it.
Melissa began competing in the firefighter combat challenge last year and can't get enough of it. Her first competition was in Omaha, Nebraska where she and her partner received a bronze medal for the co-ed tandem. They then qualified for the World's competition in Vegas, but fell short before reaching the main event.
Melissa ran her best PR in the individual at 4:43. Her goal for the 2010 season is to run clean and cut her time down to 3:00.
SHERI PEACOCK
Sheri has been a firefighter for Greensboro, North Carolina for the last 8 years and is one of only a handful of women in a department of over 500. She has been a personal trainer and aerobics instructor for over 15 years.
Sheri became involved with the Firefighter Combat Challenge in rookie school and has competed off and on for the last few years, competing in 2003, 2004 and 2009. In 2004, she placed third in the world with a time of 2:24 and is still the North Carolina State Champion. Sheri hopes to make 2010 her best year yet.
TOMMIE OSBORN
Tommie Osborn has been a firefighter for Delray Beach Fire Department for 16 years. He began competing in the Scott Combat Challenge in 2003 and has a personal best of 1:41, most recently racing as a member of Team Mutual Aid. Tommie also has competed in the Florida State Firefighter Games since 1995 running the 100, 200 and 400 meters, and the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays each year. In addition, Tommie is a competitor at the National Firefighter Games and the World Police & Fire Games.
To kick off the 2010 season, Tommie will be climbing 55 stories in the Miami Climb for the American Lung Association on April 17th. He is also participating in the Coral Springs Fire Combat Challenge Relay fundraiser. On May 2nd Tommie competes in the Florida State Firefighter Games in Tampa, FL.
WHITNEY MACLEOD
Whitney has been a career firefighter with Halifax (Nova Scotia) Regional Fire & Emergency Services for almost two years, with 2010 her second year competing in the combat challenge. Her p.r. for the Firefighter Combat Challenge is 3.57, and for Firefit (the Canadian FCC) it's 3.35.
She and fiancé MacKenzie Briggs, whom she met at a combat challenge last summer, now compete in co-ed tandems together. The pair recently came in 2nd at the 2010 Kissimmee, FL Challenge with a time of 1.47. Whitney also placed first in female tandem with a time of 2.56 and 4th in her individual run.
Whitney's goal is to run sub-3.00 by Worlds and place in the Top 3. She would also like to take home 1st place for co-ed tandem with Kenzie!
You can contact Whitney at whitney.macleod@yahoo.ca
SUE J.
2010 brings another year of challenges for FF Sue Juedes. In addition to writing for a promotion to Apparatus Engineer, she has been training for the Ironman Madison, WI event this year. Both processes have brought many challenges and opportunities to learn and grow. Success with the AE process came in May when Sue completed all three tests required for this promotion. The Ironman event will take place in September, so she's working hard to prepare for over this summer.
Her athletic endeavors include a couple of mountain bike races with the WORS series, Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival, Ride the Rockies Colorado road bike tour, Door County Half Ironman, and Madison full Ironman. Sue?s first love is mountain biking, so she races several local Wisconsin Off-Road Series (WORS) races every summer. This summer she raced at Iola and Wausau, finishing in the top five women for both races. After riding over 35 hours in a week during the Ride the Rockies 540-mile road bike tour in the breath-taking elevation of the Colorado mountains from June 12-19th, Sue is gearing up for another WORS mountain bike race this weekend. Sue will be racing in the WORS cross country mountain bike NORBA National event at Mtn. Morris, WI on June 26th. It's a big deal to have a national venue right in her backyard, so cross your fingers for a strong finish. Mixing up some fun mountain biking with a ton of triathlon training, Sue will be practicing her Ironman skills at Door County for the Half-Ironman event on July 18th.
Come out to watch the amazing athletic event on September 12th as 2500 participants jump into Lake Monona at the start of the Madison Ironman. Swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles, and running 26.2 miles will give you many opportunities to cheer for all of the athletes taking the plunge. Watch for Sue in her Ride Backwards cycling jersey!
THANK YOU for your interest in becoming a RB Firefighter Athlete. Our team roster has reached capacity for the 2010 season, and we are not accepting any new applications at this time. If any new spots become available we will post them here, or drop us a line and let us know you'd be interested in future opportunities. Best of luck in all your events this season!
