The Bear National Team and the broader Development world greatly benefit from a significant number of professional physiologists, nutritionists, and former professionals who can help shape and direct the careers of aspiring young athletes. Several of these professionals made themselves available to me throughout the course of this project, allowing me to gain a better understanding of the industry.

Alongside these coaches and professionals, active and former Bear National team athletes took the time to describe the industry to me from their perspective. I am grateful for the opportunities this project has presented me and the interactions I have had because of it. Below are some of the audio clips found in the main articles, plus some bonus excerpts from my interviews.

 Julia Violich - Bear Director

Julia Violich has been with Bear National Team for more than ten years, seeing it through it’s infancy and into the development powerhouse it is today. Julia has long been a steward of sport, creating development teams and funding scholarship opportunities for students at her Alma Mater, the University of California, Berkley. Violich’s depth of experience stems for years as a competitor herself, racing for the US National team in Cross Country Mountain Biking’s hayday. Below are selected clips from my interview with the Bear Director and former USA Cycling Board Member.

 Caleb Swartz - Former U23 Rider

Caleb Swartz is a former U23 Elite rider with Bear National Team. After joining in 2019, Caleb experienced a superb four-year stint with the team, eventually graduating to his own Professional Cyclocross racing team with Giant Bicycles and NEFF Cycle Service out of his hometown of Madison, Wisconsin. Caleb admits he was already a fairly polished athlete prior to joining the team, but still benefitted greatly from the support structure developed by Bear and the opportunities presented by the team. Swartz is a perfect example of the development stage in cycling at work, turning an eager and avid cyclist into a professional athlete without burnout or degrading interest in the sport.

 Julie Young - Sports Physiologist / Former Pro Cyclist

Julie Young made a name for herself in the 1990’s as part of the US National Cycling Team. Today, Young is a Sports Physiologist out of Reno, splitting her time between running a lab and training aspiring professional athletes. Young has worked with Bear Athletes for a handful of years now, learning how the development stage impacts young athletes and helps shape their careers for years to come. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Young began providing bike fittings to Bear athletes, an essential process to ensure athletes don’t walk away from their careers with any unforced injuries.

 Ruth Holcomb - U23 Elite Rider

Ruth Holcomb has been the leading name in U23 women’s cycling since the start of the pandemic. The young talent has proven herself both on and off the racetrack, demonstrating a deep passion for the sport and a hunger for podium results on race day. Her racecraft earned her the National Championship in U23 Cross Country at the 2021 MTB National Championship in Winter Park, Colorado. Holcomb balances the demands of a racing career with school, attending Fort Lewis College in Durango Colorado.

Vaila Heinemann - U18 Rider

Vaila Heinemann has been a perfect example of the kind of rider the Bear National Team desires: hardworking, driven, and passionate about the sport. Heinemann has long been exposed to Julia Violich’s work as a high school athlete at Redwood High School in Northern California where Violich has long volunteered. The young rider was not always thought of pursuing a professional career but maintains that it is of interest as she moves to graduate from high school in 2022.

Vanessa Hauswald - NorCal Cycling Director

Vanessa Hauswald lives for the bike and loves to share it with anyone willing to listen. The sitting NorCal Cycling Leauge Director has taken significant strides to ensure every kid has the chance to get their butts on a bike and experience the sport that has given her so much over the years. As director of NorCal, Hauswald has seen unprecedented growth in the Northern California Cycling industry, with thousands of kids participating in the league’s races annually.

Rob Evans - Former Pro Cyclist

Rob Evans is part of the original Bear crew from back in the early 2000s. Spending time in college with Stu Bone getting their butts kicked by young guns with nowhere to race, Evans helped Bone form the original Bear Development Team. As a professional athlete himself, Evans wanted to help give young athletes an opportunity to get to the professional level. Although he is no longer part of the team in an official capacity after stepping down in 2012, Evans maintains a connection with the team as an athletic advisor.