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

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 Aspen. When Kim’s not on the river in the summer season, she’s likely outside biking or hanging out with her hubby and their dog.

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

Chris Baer

HOME: Van, parked down by the river
FAVORITE RIVER: The one he hasn’t done yet

BIO: Chris Baer (he/him) is a career river professional who started guiding rafts in 2002. His sense of adventure and love for rivers has instigated a migratory lifestyle and river-chasing all over the US and the globe. Baer prefers his steak rare and his beer cold, and while he doesn’t believe in Bigfoot, he knows that the Giant River Squid is real.

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

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.

Meg Dean

HOMETOWN: Darnestown, Maryland
FAVORITE RIVER: Whichever one her friends are paddling with her

BIO: Meg Dean has been guiding with Timberline Tours since 2018, but she started her guiding career on the mighty Potomac River near her hometown of Darnestown, Maryland. During the summers, Meg can be found paddling the Arkansas River solo in her mini raft or kicking back at the Granite boathouse with a cold beer and a whiskey chaser. In the winters, Meg spends her time trying on different careers from hospitality to teaching to mountain ops to private jet parking and everything in between to pass the time. Fun facts about Meg: She grew up in Germany and speaks fluent German; her sourdough starter is named David Doughie; and she has a polydactyl cat named Gigi.

Colyn Josey Smith

HOMETOWN: Puerto Varas, Chile

FAVORITE RIVER: The Petrohué and Futaleufú Rivers in Chile

BIO: Colyn Josey Smith has been guiding and kayaking for 13 years in many parts of the world including Perú, Argentina, Norway, Italy, New Zealand, Slovenia, and the U.S. He loves to go kayaking and explore new rivers. 

Whitewater Trips: 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

Charlie Ebel

HOME: Madison, WI
FAVORITE RIVER: All of ’em!
FAVORITE WATER FLOW: High side of good

BIO: Charlie Ebel began his professional whitewater career in 1989, providing kayak safety support as Timberline pioneered the iconic Gore Canyon and Pine Creek runs. Since then, he has paddled on five continents and notched first descents in Colorado, Idaho, and Ecuador. He has worked as event safety coordinator on several extreme whitewater races and adventure races, both locally and internationally. Look for Charlie rowing on the Upper Colorado River, accompanied by his beloved spaniel, Loon.

Explore More: As a kayaker, Charlie Ebel played an important role in pioneering Vail’s rivers.

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.

Solo Kouchacji

HOME: North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland—or just East Coast
FAVORITE RIVER: Upper Gauley, West Virginia

BIO: Solange “Solo” Kouchacji moved to the Vail Valley in 2018 to achieve her goal of becoming a snowboarder. She came for the winter and then stayed for her love of Colorado summers. Timberline became a home she continues to return back to every year, whether for work or play. Knowledgeable in whitewater and with a hunger for trail adventures, Solo loves to share those experiences with others. Plus, she likes to nerd out on knots.

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 since 2020. During the winter months, he enjoys traveling abroad and searching for the perfect wave. When he is not working, you will find him riding his motorcycle, camping, or surfing.

Whitewater Rafting Trips: Lower Eagle River, Upper Colorado River, Dinosaur Discovery, Shoshone section of the Colorado River

Cassi Kelchner

HOMETOWN: Vail, Colorado
FAVORITE RIVER: Río Fuy, Chile

BIO: A Vail Valley native, Cassi Kelchner grew up running the local rivers with her dad and other Timberline guides who have come and gone over the past 20 years. She has had the pleasure of paddling rivers all over the world, with her favorite being southern Chile’s Río Fuy. She travels year-round searching for new rivers to run and new people to paddle them with.

Quaid Garton

HOMETOWN: Vail, Colorado
FAVORITE JEEP TOUR: Castle Peak

BIO: A rare local born and raised in Vail, Quaid Garton has been guiding for Timberline Tours since 2018. He started out as a raft guide but has been trading in his paddle more recently for the steering wheel, so you’ll likely see him as a jeep guide this season as he recovers from an ACL injury. Quaid hasn’t gotten enough of his hometown and its beautiful surroundings—he loves all that the Colorado outdoors has to offer. He’s always excited to hop in a Timberline jeeps and take a tour up to Castle Peak, which—in his opinion—has the best views of the valley.

Gilles Champagne

HOMETOWN: Hull, Quebec
FAVORITE RIVER: Methow River, Washington

BIO: Gilles Champagne started his whitewater journey as a teenager canoeing the rivers in Tennessee, where The Little Tennessee River was his favorite. He enjoyed paddling rivers in the Northwest, including the Methow River and the Skykomish River, before moving to Colorado. Gilles loves sharing the joy of whitewater rafting with others and seeing the smiles at the end of a trip.

Whitewater Rafting Trips: Upper Colorado River, Lower Eagle River, Shoshone

Logen Cassidy

HOMETOWN: Madison, IN
FAVORITE RIVER: Gauley River, WV

BIO: Logen Cassidy started raft guiding for Timberline Tours in 2021. After his first season guiding, he went on an epic cross-country road trip from Colorado to the Gauley River in West Virginia with a crew of Timberline guides. Since then, he’s been hooked. Logen is continuously expanding his guiding skills by training on any river he gets the chance to run. In the winter season, he works at a ski shop in Vail.

Whitewater Rafting Trips: Upper Colorado River, Dinosaur Discovery, Shoshone section of the Colorado River

Erin Andreasen

HOMETOWN: Kaysville, Utah
FAVORITE RIVER: Colorado River

BIO: Erin has been working for Timberline Tours since 2022. She grew up in Kaysville, Utah, but found her passion for guiding outdoor adventures while living in Hawaii and working as a zipline guide. While expanding her raft guiding experience, Erin is driving epic jeep trails and working with Timberline’s superstar office team. In the winter, she works as a certified snowboard instructor, and when she’s not working you’ll find her riding her motorcycle, hiking, camping, climbing, swimming, razor scootering, line dancing, singing karaoke to herself, playing with her dog Rio, and basically anything she can do outdoors. She lives in her trailer and is always getting stoked for her next adventure!

Timberline Trips: Jeep tours

Max McCormick

HOMETOWN: Minneapolis, Minnesota
FAVORITE RIVER: Eagle River, Colorado

BIO: Max McCormick found his love for being on the water in his early years during canoe trips to the Boundary Waters of Northern Minnesota. He has been guiding on Colorado rivers since 2021, and in the winter, he works as a ski instructor at Beaver Creek. When he’s not guiding, Max enjoys camping, traveling, and cooking for family and friends.

Whitewater Rafting Trips Upper Colorado River Dinosaur Discovery Lower Eagle River Browns Canyon

Mason Hastedt

HOMETOWN: Colorado Springs, CO
FAVORITE RIVER: Browns Canyon section of the Arkansas River
FAVORITE JEEP TRAIL: Resolution Peak

BIO: Mason Hastedt is an outdoor enthusiast and has been a raft and jeep guide since 2023. He’s a certified Wilderness First Responder and is working toward an EMT certification as well as a degree in outdoor education leadership at Colorado Mountain College. When he’s not on the river, Mason likes to snowboard, climb, fish, and grill.

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.

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

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

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.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT GREG KELCHNER AND TIMBERLINE’S RICH HISTORY:
Timberline Tours: A History of Vail Adventures
Vail Rafting History

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.

Kristy Madill

HOMETOWN: Potato Point, Australia
FAVORITE RIVER: Upper Dalaman in Turkey

BIO: Rafting guide Kristy Madill has been guiding year-round since 1995 in locations across the globe including Bhutan, New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland, Chile, Turkey, Mexico, California, Arizona, and Colorado. Kristy likes to keep “in shape,” and she considers “round” a shape.

Whitewater Rafting Trips Shoshone Gore Creek Lower Eagle River Browns Canyon The Numbers

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.

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

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.