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.

Wellington Based Leads

Close-up of a smiling woman with blonde wavy hair, blue eyes, and a black top against a beige background.

Nic Johnson - GSMBC L 2

For Nic - Our CE - 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. Nic is the highest qualified MTB instructor in Wellington.

A smiling man wearing a bike helmet and a checked button-up shirt, standing against a light wood textured background.

Liam Bailey - GSMBC L 1

Liam loves the outdoors, and is a trick master on the bike. This mastery he takes to his lessons with the teens - he has an amazing knack of telling stories and teaching lessons at the same time. His vision and compass helps guide WORD day to day in his part time role as special projects.

A smiling man wearing a gray T-shirt and a black helmet, standing in front of a beige wooden wall.

Brad Howland

Brad is our New Youth Programme Lead - fit as a fiddle and super handy on a bike. keep an eye out for him on the trails - if you can keep up!

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!

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.

Reuben Smith

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

Russel Garlick - GSMBC L 1

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

Richard Capie

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

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.

Marilyn Northcotte

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

Abbie Bull

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

Stu King

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

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!

Ed Haszard

Our favorite pirate beard with a heart of gold!

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.

National Based Leads

Ash Peters - GSMBC L 2

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

Pete Mitchell

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

Cathy Lawless

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

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 Active Instructors

Jesse Cseh - GSMBC L 1

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

Lawrence Ball - GSMBC L 1

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

Iley Nunns - GSMBC L 1

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

Isa Mills - GSMBC L 1

James Ollivier - GSMBC L 1

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

Frank Monastra-Woods

Calum Napier

John Scanlon

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

Elliot Bell

Lyndsay Murray

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

Katie Bramley

Callum Baker

2026 Current Instructors

Liam Cattermole

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

Sam Hunter

Cilla Bennett

Andrew Connochie

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

Caleb Rosamond

Bella Manning

Lara Comeskey

Cate Garlick

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?

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

Isobel Capie

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.

Harald Lin

Francis King

Greta Bond

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

James Bowler

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.