WORD Instructor Whānau

WORD Lead Instructor team

The WORD Lead Instructors are the bee’s knees! They are responsible for their own group of kids as well as overseeing the Instructors and Assistant Instructor team on the day of each after school programme or holiday camp. They are highly experienced MTB Instructors and well equipped to handle emergencies. The are creative, adventurous and can wrangle a group of 30 kids any day. We are so happy to have these amazing people! And yep, you saw it here… gender equality among our top team.

*Lead Instructors are PHEC (Pre hospital emergency care) trained and mentor the Instructor and Assistant team.

Person smiling while standing with a mountain bike on a dirt road, wearing a helmet, t-shirt, shorts, and hiking shoes, with grass and trees in the background.

Wellington Based Leads

Liam Bailey - GSMBC L 1

Liam’s an old soul who loves the outdoors, and judging by this grainy black and white shot, his true age is anyone’s guess.

One of WORD's female instructors - we are proud to have gender equity at WORD

Emma Bateup

Our ultra-endurance athlete! When Emma is not working or eating, she’s training!

WORD Instructors

Sarah Bassett

Sarah loves to ride and also pass on her knowledge. We are stoked to welcome her back into the fold after a hiatus in Tauranga.

One of WORD's male instructors

Reuben Smith

Our version of your best friendly giant…You’ll understand when you meet Reuben!

One of WORD's male instructors

Russel Garlick - GSMBC L 1

We all feel lucky to be in the presence of Captain Russel, our trusty leather chair.

One of WORD's male instructors

Richard Capie

When Richard’s not instructing your kids he’s out shredding with his own!

One of WORD's female instructors - we are proud to have gender equity at WORD

Peg Leyland

Peg can often be found competing in endurance events, multisport and locating lost humans via SAR. Vet by day - Peg is one of our new leads for ‘25.

One of WORD's female instructors - we are proud to have gender equity at WORD

Marilyn Northcotte

Put a helmet on a bundle of awesomeness, you got yourself a Marilyn!

One of WORD's female instructors - we are proud to have gender equity at WORD

Abbie Bull

Abbie is the best kind of trouble, but a do-gooder no less! Also Chair of the Board

One of WORD's male instructors

Stu King

You’ll probably never catch Stu off the bike. He breathes it!

One of WORD's male instructors

Mike Evans - GSMBC L 1

Throwing tricks on a BMX, building sick jumps and speaking Swedish are only a few of Mike’s many talents!

One of WORD's male instructors

Ed Haszard

Our favorite pirate beard with a heart of gold!

Nic- National Operations Manger and WORD Instructor

Nic Johnson - GSMBC L 2

Happiness is a coffee, a vegan donut and bikes. Preferably all three at the same time, whilst wrangling emails, admin and running our Jump progression courses.

One of WORD's male instructors

Jason Douglas

Jason loves to ride and also pass on his knowledge. Paramedic trained we are lucky to have Jason as one of our new leads for ‘25.

Ash- Ceo/founder or WORD and Instructor

National Based Leads

Ash Peters - GSMBC L 2

Founder and mastermind behind all things WORD. Ash brings joy and passion.

One of WORD's male instructors

Pete Mitchell

A man of many talents, pilot, musician, athlete, adventurer. Passion by the handful!

One of WORD's female instructors - we are proud to have gender equity at WORD

Cathy Lawless

You’ll most likely find her on big jumps or big adventures. A total spark plug!

One of WORD's male instructors

Rob Barry

Rob is the instructor of fun and adventure. A ski instructor in the winter, and Bikes in summer.

 WORD Instructor Team

WORD instructors are passionate about instructing kids and stoked about riding. These adventurous professionals come from all around the world to ride bikes in Wellington. We are stoked to have a team that reflects our value of equal gender representation.

*All instructors are first aid trained and attend the annual WORD Instructor Spring Training Camp. Want to join the team?

2026 Term 1 Active Instuctors

WORD Instructors

Jesse Cseh - GSMBC L 1

One of WORD's female instructors - we are proud to have gender equity at WORD

Meagan Robertson - GSMBC L 1

A man wearing a black and gray bicycle helmet, a black Patagonia jacket with a red inner lining, standing outdoors in front of green bushes.

David Askew - GSMBC L 1

One of WORD's female instructors - we are proud to have gender equity at WORD

Lara Comeskey

One of WORD's female instructors - we are proud to have gender equity at WORD

Cate Garlick

A young man wearing a black bicycle helmet and a black hoodie with a badge that reads "PlaceMakers Hutt City," smiling outdoors in front of a shrubbery.

Chester Bishop-Brown

One of WORD's male instructors

Frank Monastra-Woods

One of WORD's male instructors

Calum Napier

One of WORD's male instructors

Lawrence Ball - GSMBC L 1

One of WORD's female instructors - we are proud to have gender equity at WORD

Sarah Reading - GSMBC L 1

A young man wearing a helmet and a black jacket, standing outdoors in front of a shrubbery background, smiling at the camera.

Lachie Ross - GSMBC L 1

One of WORD's female instructors - we are proud to have gender equity at WORD

Iley Nunns - GSMBC L 1

A man wearing a bike helmet and a black Arc'teryx jacket smiling outdoors in front of bushes.

Sam Hunter

One of WORD's female instructors - we are proud to have gender equity at WORD

Cilla Bennett

A man with a beard smiling, wearing a black bicycle helmet and a yellow-green jacket, standing outdoors in front of a bushy background.

Frank Hoffman - GSMBC L 1

One of WORD's female instructors - we are proud to have gender equity at WORD

Isa Mills - GSMBC L 1

One of WORD's male instructors

John Scanlon

One of WORD's female instructors - we are proud to have gender equity at WORD

Bella Manning

Person wearing a light green bicycle helmet and a dark gray jacket outdoors in front of greenery.

Phoebe O’Neill

A woman wearing a teal bicycle helmet and black sports jacket standing outdoors near bushes, smiling at the camera.

Anna Harden-Taylor

A smiling person wearing a helmet and a dark hoodie outdoors with a blurred background of bushes.

Sophie Nicolas

One of WORD's male instructors

Elliot Bell

One of WORD's female instructors - we are proud to have gender equity at WORD

Lyndsay Murray

One of WORD's male instructors

Liam Cattermole

A smiling young man wearing glasses, a white bike helmet, and a navy blue jacket with a dark fleece lining stands outdoors in front of a leafy shrub.

James Barker

A smiling girl with long hair wearing a bicycle helmet and a navy sports shirt, standing outdoors with green fields and hills in the background.

Isla Day

One of WORD's male instructors

Caleb Rosamond

One of WORD's female instructors - we are proud to have gender equity at WORD

Katie Bramley

One of WORD's male instructors

Callum Baker

Current Instuctor Whānau

 WORD Assistant Instructor Team

WORD Assistant Instructors help out the Instructors during the after school programmes. They are passionate 14-16 year olds who have been part of WORD as a participant and are now keen to share their love of riding with the younger ones. Keen to join the team?

One of WORD's male instructors

James Ollivier - GSMBC L 1

One of WORD's male instructors

Andrew Connochie

Teacher by day, WORD Lead Instructor by night at Porirua!

A young person wearing a helmet is standing outdoors on a sports field, holding a small yellow candy bar, and smiling at the camera with trees and a cloudy sky in the background.

Tim Smith

A young man wearing a bicycle helmet and black hoodie holding a small purple candy, standing outdoors on a grassy field with trees and a track in the background.

Daniel Lash

A young boy wearing a black jacket and a helmet, holding a small green and blue candy, standing outdoors at a sports field with trees and sunlight in the background.

Cameron Trotter

Silhouette of a person with a question mark on the face and the text 'This could be you' below.

Ed Capie

A WORD female assistant instructor

Isobel Capie

James Bowler

A smiling young man wearing a white bike helmet and a gray sweatshirt, holding a small green toy car, outdoors at a sports field with trees and the sun setting in the background.

Sam McKissock - GSMBC L 1

A young person wearing a green bicycle helmet and a black jacket, smiling with braces and a fruit-flavored bubble gum, outdoors on a grassy field with trees and a hill in the background.
A WORD male assistant instructor

Francis King

A young boy with light skin, brown hair, and freckles, wearing a black bicycle helmet and a black jacket with

Oscar Bull

A WORD female assistant instructor

Greta Bond

Youth wearing a bike helmet outdoors, holding a small wrapped candy, on a field with trees in the background.

Harald Lin

A young woman with a braid, wearing a helmet and black sweatshirt, holding a small snack wrapper, standing outdoors on a deck with a grassy field and trees in the background.

Taylor Crump

A young person wearing a pink bike helmet and a black hoodie with white text, holding a small colorful candy and smiling outdoors on a wooden deck near a sports field with a forested hillside in the background.

Lucas Bell