Meet The Team

Antony McCoy

HOMETOWN: Cape Town, South Africa
FAVORITE RIVER: The Gore Canyon section of the Colorado River

BIO: Antony McCoy has been whitewater guiding and kayaking around the world since 1998 in locations such as Africa, Chile, and across the U.S. Antony is a Level 5 Swiftwater Rescue Instructor. During the winter, Antony is a ski instructor at Vail. His favorite stretch of whitewater is right here in Colorado on the famous Gore Canyon.

Whitewater Rafting Trips Dowd Chute Upper Eagle The Numbers Pine Creek and The Numbers

Mike Reid

HOME STATE: Arizona

BIO: Mike Reid has been whitewater raft guiding for more than 20 years. He is a founding member and served as the captain of the U.S. Men’s Rafting Team. During the winter months, Mike works as a ski instructor at Vail and at Beaver Creek Ski Resort.

Whitewater Rafting Trips Dowd Chute Upper Eagle The Numbers Pine Creek and The Numbers

Natalia Borecka Gray

HOME COUNTRY: Slovakia
FAVORITE RIVER: The Grand Canyon of the Colorado River

BIO: Natalia Borecka Gray has been guiding for more than 10 years in places around the world including Slovakia, Slovenia, Austria, Costa Rica, Brazil, and the U.S. Natalia grew up racing as a slalom kayaker, and then she took her skills to the Slovakian National Rafting Team. In the winter, Natalia likes to travel to different countries to raft, unless she’s working her real job in architecture and graphic design.

Whitewater Rafting Trips Shoshone Gore Creek Lower Eagle River Browns Canyon

Dan Koerber

HOMETOWN: Wayland, MI
FAVORITE RIVER: Grand Canyon section of the Colorado River

BIO: Dan Koerber found his love for rafting while on a Grand Canyon rafting trip and has been guiding Colorado’s rivers since 2014. Born and raised in Michigan, Dan is an adventurous traveler who loves the outdoors and other cool stuff like craft beer, bright colors, and the University of Michigan.

Whitewater Rafting Trips Upper Colorado River Dinosaur Discovery Vail Wine Tasting and Rafting Lower Eagle River Browns Canyon

Kate Kirkman

HOMETOWN: Wayne, Pennsylvania
FAVORITE RIVER: Piedra River

BIO: Kate Kirkman began raft guiding in 2005 and has experience guiding rivers across Colorado including the Arkansas River’s famed Royal Gorge section and the Taylor, Gunnison, and North Platte Rivers. With Timberline Tours, she guides whitewater on the Colorado, Arkansas, and Eagle Rivers, and she also likes getting out on multi-day river trips as well as exploring new stretches of river. Kate was born in Wisconsin but grew up in Pennsylvania. She followed her love of the mountains to Colorado, where she met a cute boy and stayed. When she’s not on the river, you’ll find Kate outside camping, rock climbing, mountain biking, skiing, or hiking around with her dog.

Kim Lindsay

HOMETOWN: Zionsville, Indiana
FAVORITE RIVER: Upper Eagle section of Colorado’s Eagle River

BIO: Kim Lindsay began raft guiding in 2012 and has experience guiding rivers in both California and Colorado. When guiding, Kim is all about finding her flow—mentally and literally—and on providing a safe and fun experience for guests. Kim is an adventurous athlete who has worked as a backcountry bike trip guide, and she has been a ski instructor since 2006. Kim currently teaches skiing in the winter months at Beaver Creek, where she is also on the synchro ski team. When Kim’s not on the river in the summer season, she’s likely outside biking or hanging out with her hubby and their two dogs.

Dakota Becker

HOMETOWN: Evergreen, Colorado
FAVORITE RIVER: Colorado River in Granite Gorge, Grand Canyon

BIO: Dakota has been raft guiding since 2016 on the Colorado and Roaring Fork Rivers. He is First Aid/CPR and Swiftwater Rescue Certified. During the winter, Dakota teaches skiing at Beaver Creek Resort and enjoys exploring rivers in the American West, building food forests, and climbing rocks in his free time.

Meg Dean

HOMETOWN: Darnestown, Maryland
FAVORITE RIVER: Meg’s favorite river used to be the Potomac right in her backyard in Maryland, but she’s learning to love all of Colorado’s rivers more and more with every passing day.

BIO: Meg got her first taste of whitewater in 2012 while working at Calleva, an outdoor summer camp in Maryland. Since then, she has been honing her river and guide skills on a variety of river sections and in various whitewater pursuits including rafting, kayaking, and stand up paddle boarding. Meg now enjoys leading exciting and educational river trips for families where she can introduce a new generation of whitewater enthusiasts to the thrills of Vail’s local waterways.

Colyn Josey Smith

HOMETOWN: Puerto Varas, Chile

FAVORITE RIVER: The Petrohué and Futaleufú Rivers in Chile

BIO: I been guiding and kayaking for 13 years in many parts of the world (Perú, argentina, norway, italy, New Zealand, Slovenia and the U.S. I love to go kayaking and explore new rivers. 

Whitewater Trips: All Upper Colorado and Arkansas River trips

Peter Lindsay

HOMETOWN: Orono, Minnesota
FAVORITE RIVER: Peter’s favorite rivers and trails are the ones he’s usually on!

BIO: Peter has lived and worked in the Vail area since 2001. In that time, he has worked as a guide in many capacities including hiking, mountain biking, skiing, and whitewater rafting. In the winter, you’ll find Peter working as a manager for Beaver Creek Ski School.

Greg Davidson

HOMETOWN: North Park, Colorado
FAVORITE RIVER: Colorado’s Arkansas River

BIO: Greg Davidson has been guiding rafts and instructing kayakers on rivers since 1992. Over the years, Greg has worked on rivers in Colorado, Utah, Oregon, California, and West Virginia. His passion for the outdoors led him to earn a master’s degree in wildlife biology in 2007. When he’s not on the river, Greg works as a wildlife biologist, and as the owner of Find It Detection Dogs, his wildlife detection dog business, Greg manages and trains a canine staff of six. He’s been known to sneak off in February to solo kayak the Grand Canyon.

Whitewater Rafting Trips The Numbers Pine Creek and The Numbers

Ben Hilley

HOMETOWN: Burleson, TX
FAVORITE ROAD: McCallister Gulch – Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area – Camp Hale, CO

BIO: Ben Hilley moved to Colorado from Texas in 2008 after completing his mechanical engineering degree at SMU and has been guiding snowmobiling, ski, ATV, and jeep tours throughout the Rocky Mountains ever since. Ben’s interest in high alpine ecosystems and mechanical know-how make him the perfect backcountry jeep guide, and his ability to fix anything often helps out on the trail. He can talk for hours–literally–about backcountry plants and animals, and he may even quiz you after the tour…so be ready! When not guiding jeeps in the summer, Ben spends his time in the mountains, designing and testing ski and snowboard gear for Weston Backcountry.

Malcolm McCandless

Home Town: Memphis, TN

Favorite River: Desolation Canyon section on the Green River

Bio: Malcolm became passionate about rivers after a trip with friends through Labyrinth Canyon in 2014.  Since then he has been leading private trips down many different sections on the Green and Colorado Rivers.  Malcolm has been guiding commercially for two years and is Wilderness First Responder certified.  During the winter months he enjoys travelling abroad and skiing his local mountains.  When he is not working you will find him riding his motorcycle, camping, or enjoying a hockey game with friends.

Whitewater Rafting Trips: The Upper Colorado, Shoshone Section

Miranda Hicks

Hometown: Eagle, Colorado
Favorite River: The one she’s currently on!

Bio: Raft guide Miranda Hicks was born in Vail and grew up in Eagle, Colorado, not too far away from the Timberline boathouse, and you’ll love the local knowledge she brings to the Timberline crew. Miranda began raft guiding for Timberline in 2007 and has also guided in Wyoming and California. She is a certified Wilderness EMT and had a degree in Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism (a.k.a. Outdoor Fun) from Colorado State University. Miranda has outdoor experience leading rock climbing, surfing, SUP, mountain biking, and backpacking trips in Oregon, Puerto Rico, Grand Teton National Park, and California. In the winter months, she works for the Vail Resorts Ski and Snowboard School at locations that have ranged from Vail and Beaver Creek in Colorado to Northstar, California.

Whitewater Rafting Trips Upper Colorado River Dinosaur Discovery Vail Wine Tasting and Rafting Shoshone Gore Creek

Nate Dumais

HOMETOWN: Turner, Maine
FAVORITE RIVER: The Numbers section of the Arkansas River
FAVORITE TRAIL: McAllister Gulch

BIO: Nate Dumais has been guiding whitewater and wilderness jeep tours in Colorado since 2013. In the winter months, he works as a chef at a restaurant in Vail, and he enjoys backcountry skiing and snowmobiling. When Nate’s not guiding a boat or driving a jeep, he spends time improving his whitewater kayaking skills and hanging out with his two dogs.

Whitewater Rafting Trips Dowd Chute Upper Eagle

Luke Matthews

Hometown: Auburn, California

Favorite River: Futaleufu River, Chile

Bio: The Foothills of the Sierra Nevadas, Is a prime breeding ground for adventure seekers. I developed my love of the outdoors right outside my back door! Studies always came first, but since graduating UC Berkeley, my mission has been to find adventures on rock and water anywhere the wind blows me. I’ve rafted rivers, climbed mountains and blazed trail all over the world and there’s no end in sight!

Whitewater Trips: You want to run any Timberline trips from Class II-IV Im your guy!

Theo Raun

HOMETOWN: Lyons, Iowa
FAVORITE ROAD: Muddy Pass Road

BIO: Jeep tour guide Theo Raun was born in eastern Iowa, near the Mississippi River. He moved to Vail in 1977 and has since enjoyed many adventures in the surrounding mountains, including twice cross-country skiing from Aspen to Vail. Theo began guiding jeep tours in 2004, and he takes pride in still being able to keep at least 3 tires on the road at all times.

Kate Kalamon

HOMETOWN: Oley, Pennsylvania

FAVORITE RIVER: Colorado River

BIO: Kate has been with Timberline since 2019. She started her guiding career with National Geographic in 2017 but switched from being an overland guide to a raft guide in 2019 after spending a month on a Grand Canyon trip. In the winters she is the Activities Director for the Beaver Creek Club. Kate grew up in PA but has spent the summers in California and the winters traveling abroad since college until landing full-time here in Colorado 4 years ago.

Whitewater Rafting Trips:

Shane Cruikshank

HOMETOWN: Auckland, New Zealand
FAVORITE RIVER: Loves any wild ride on big whitewater!

BIO: New Zealand-born guide Shane Cruikshank learned to love the outdoors while growing up in Queensland, Australia, where he camped, fished, and surfed. Shane’s love for water continued into whitewater rafting, and he began raft guiding in 1996 after moving to Austria. Since then, Shane has also guided in New Zealand and Colorado. During the winter months, Shane works for Beaver Creek and the Ritz Carlton as a private snowboard and ski instructor. In his time off, he surfs around the world while practicing his fluent German, his pretty-fluent Indonesian, and some dodgy Swedish.

Phil Porter

Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Favorite River: Colorado River

Bio: Phil Porter raft guided with Timberline Tours from 1998-2002 and rejoined the guiding staff in 2016. Phil has also guided in Costa Rica and is an accomplished kayaker who often safety kayaks on Timberline trips. Phil has completed his firefighter training, and he is a certified EMT and swiftwater rescuer. His favorite stretch of river is the Colorado River: “From Gore Canyon to Westwater to the Grand Canyon, the Colorado River’s got it all,” he says. When Phil is not on the river, he loves to ski, mountain bike, kayak, and go camping with his wife and dogs.

Whitewater Rafting Trips Dowd Chute Upper Eagle The Numbers Pine Creek and The Numbers

Esteban Badilla

HOMETOWN: Turrialba, Costa Rica
FAVORITE RIVER: Costa Rica’s Río Chirripó Pacífico

BIO: It’s all pura vida when Esteban Badilla’s guiding your raft with his calming Costa Rican style and big sense of adventure. Esteban has been raft guiding since 2010, and when he’s back in Costa Rica, he organizes adventure races and guides canopy, canyoneering, and rappelling trips. Esteban grew up on a farm with cows, chickens, and dogs, and now he’s trying to keep pace with his two young sons.

Florence Linet

Home Country: France

Favorite Jeep Trail: Camp Hale

Favorite River: The Cetina, Croatia

Bio: Florence has been guiding for 10 years, prior to joining our team she was leading biking groups all over the US, Europe and Cuba.

She is a skiing/snowboarding instructor at Beaver Creek/Vail.

She is passionate about languages and enjoys mountain biking kitesurfing and latin dancing.

Jeeping Trips: Camp Hale (Resolution and East Fork), Piney (red and white and muddy pass), Coffee Pot, Homestake, Fullford, Castle Peak/Blue Lake, Independence pass

Rocky Spencer Schifani

HOMETOWN: Katy, TX
FAVORITE RIVER: The Mighty Colorado (or the Edwards Mile section on the Eagle River)

BIO: After graduating from Texas A&M University and playing three years of professional softball, Raquel “Rocky” Spencer moved to Colorado and made her home in the Vail Valley. A raft guide since 2011, Rocky paddles all summer and works as a ski patroller at Vail in the winter. In the off-season, she’s been known to frequent Alaska, where she once caught a 35-pound silver salmon on a fly rod.

Whitewater Rafting Trips Upper Colorado River Dinosaur Discovery Vail Wine Tasting and Rafting Shoshone Gore Creek

Josh Stoneking

Hometown: Highlands Ranch, CO
Favorite Jeep Trail: Resolution- Camp Hale, CO & Chimney Rock Road- Kremmling, CO

Bio: As a Colorado native, Josh loves learning and sharing Colorado history. In 2010, he left Colorado for a few years to earn a degree in history at the University of Idaho (go Vandals!). He made the move back to Colorado in 2019 to teach history at Eagle Valley High School and in the summertime, trades his classroom in for a jeep to teach anyone and everyone about the rich history of the great state of Colorado and Eagle County! When Josh isn’t teaching or jeeping, he loves spending time with his wife and two dogs, hiking, backpacking, rafting, rock climbing, and of course reading and watching documentaries!

Jeeping Trips Camp Hale, Resolution & East Fork,  Castle Peak, Homestake Reservoir

Verny Chavarría

Home Country: Costa Rica
Favorite River: Costa Rica’s Pacuare River

Bio: Verny Chavarría began his raft guiding career in 2002 in his home country of Costa Rica and has also guided in the US states of California, Tennessee, Colorado, and North Carolina. He is a certified Wilderness First Responder and a swiftwater rescuer. Verny grew up in an athletic family that organizes sporting events in Costa Rica, including triathlons and adventure races. A man of many talents, Verny also guides outdoor adventures in Costa Rica including trekking, nature hikes, kayaking, zip-lining, rappelling, horseback riding, and canyoneering.

Whitewater Rafting Trips Dowd Chute Upper Eagle

Bill Johnson

HOMETOWN: Eagle, Colorado
FAVORITE ROAD: Fulford Jeep Tour

BIO: Bill spent 40 years working with the White River National Forest on the Eagle Ranger District before joining Timberline Tours as a jeep guide in 2017. On each jeep tour he guides, Bill brings enthusiasm for the outdoors and an extensive local knowledge of this area’s wilderness and backcountry trails. When he’s not guiding backcountry jeep tours, Bill enjoys traveling, hunting, golfing, playing handball, and spending time with his granddaughter.

Greg Kelchner

HOMETOWN: Vail, CO

BIO: Timberline Tours owner Greg Kelchner founded Timberline Tours in 1971 under the name Timberline Ski and Mountaineering as a guide service for the town of Vail, Colorado. His other exciting accomplishments include directing the outdoor education program at Colorado Mountain College from its beginnings and opening the first mountaineering and backpacking store in Vail in 1973. Greg was also the first permitted guide to lead overnight cross-country ski tours in Yellowstone National Park. As Vail has grown over the years, so has Timberline Tours and Greg’s impact as a commercial rafting expert and an industry spokesman.

Billy Mattison

HOME: Vail, CO
FAVORITE RIVER: The Gore Canyon section of the Colorado River

BIO: Co-owner, head boatman Billy Mattison’s river skills and leadership have become legendary in paddling circles. As well as pioneering many of Colorado’s most demanding river runs, Billy is an accomplished mountaineer and assistant director of the Vail Ski Patrol. Whether it’s a Class VI kayak run in Corsica, guiding a group in Gore Canyon, or on a Gore Extreme adventure, sound judgment and an unquenchable enthusiasm have been the hallmarks of Billy’s whitewater career that spans almost thirty years.

Mongo

HOME: Vail, CO
FAVORITE RIVER: The Gore Canyon section of the Colorado River

BIO: Guiding rivers throughout the United States for more than 15 years, Chris “Mongo”  Reeder has a number of first descents under his belt. Most often found on Class IV and V rivers, Mongo is truly at home on the technically challenging rivers of Colorado. During his free time from rafting and working with Vail Ski Patrol during the winter, Mongo began his own business, Mongo Products.
www.mongoproducts.com.

Lisa Reeder

BIO: Lisa Reeder spent a lot of time near the water growing up in California. She arrived in Colorado in the early 1980s and acquired an immediate interest in the state’s many rivers. After embarking on several raft trips, she moved to Vail, learned to kayak, and went through the Timberline Tours Raft Guide training program. Lisa was also previously a member of the U.S. Women’s Raft Team, which took her around the world to race rivers in Africa and the Czech Republic. Lisa and her husband Mongo are part owners of Timberline Tours.

Philani Moyo

HOMETOWN: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
FAVORITE RIVER: Africa’s Zambezi River

BIO: Philani Moyo began guiding in 1995 on the Mighty Zambezi in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. His guiding skills have taken him around the world to places including Italy, Switzerland, France, Spain, Austria, Slovenia, and Colorado. Philani owns and operates Shockwave Rafting and Safari in Victoria Falls. When he’s not in Colorado, Philani would love to take you out on a great adventure in Africa with his company, www.shockwavevictoriafalls.com.

Christian Labrana

HOMETOWN: Choshuenco, Chile
FAVORITE RIVER: Rio Fuy, Chile

BIO: A native of Chile, Christian grew up beside the river that he would eventually pioneer as a raft guide, the Rio Fuy. His love and skill on the river brings him around the world to guide. If you find Christian on the back of your raft, he will surely have a big smile on his face. To learn more about his Chilean rafting company, Rucapillan Expediciones, click here.

Thabani Masuku

HOMETOWN: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
FAVORITE RIVER: The Edwards Mile section of Colorado’s Eagle River

BIO: Thabani has more than 22 years of rafting experience, and he guides year-round, following the sun. Thabani has guided in some stunning locations across the globe including South Africa, Zimbabwe, the Nile River in Uganda, and in Colorado. Making a clean and splashy run through the rapids really gets his heart going, but beware: Thabani loves to look at the pictures after a whitewater trip to see how much he splashed his guests.

Johnny Haraki

HOMETOWN: Queenstown, New Zealand
FAVORITE RIVER: Upper Eagle section of Colorado’s Eagle River

BIO: A true river professional, Johnny Haraki has been raft guiding around the world since 1998 on rivers in Japan, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, the United States, and in his home country of New Zealand. Johnny is certified in First Aid/CPR and swiftwater rescue; he has also taught guide courses in Australia. When he’s not on the river, you’ll find Johnny outside downhill mountain biking, surfing, skiing, and snowboarding.

Oscar Colorado

HOMETOWN: Veracruz, Mexico

BIO: A raft guide since 1995, Oscar Colorado has deep river experience and has raft guided around the world on rivers including the Ottawa River (Canada), Trancura River (Chile), Mendoza River (Argentina), Pacuare River (Costa Rica), and on the Pescados River in his home country of Mexico. Oscar is certified in advanced first aid and swiftwater rescue. He’s a leader on the river who loves to meet new people and have a safe and memorable time rafting. When he’s not guiding, Oscar likes to kayak, travel, and explore new cultures.

Joe Dunne

HOMETOWN: Blue Mountains, Australia
FAVORITE RIVER: North Carolina’s Green River

BIO: Raft guide and kayaker Joe Dunne has been guiding, paddling, and instructing around the world since 2012 in locations including Nepal, Canada, the United States, and in his home country of Australia. Joe is a certified Wilderness First Responder and a Swiftwater Rescue Technician. You might catch sight of Joe cruising by on a skateboard, but since he began kayaking in 2006, he paddles in his spare time every chance he gets.