Meet the Gang
Riders:
Jared Wood (Team Manager)
Men Expert 19-29 (Cat1)
As the founder of Chaingang, Jared Wood keeps everyone in line. When he’s not being the boss, he’s out racing in the Ex 19-29 class showing the kids how it’s done. His mindset is making sure that every rider on the team not only grows as a racer, but as individuals in their own lives. He strongly believes that these riders are the backbone of the team and as they get stronger, so does the gang. If you want to find him, just stop and listen....you’ll hear him heckling someone in the distance, or just look for the orange beard!
Nels DeAlmeida III
Jr. Expert
Nels is an all around riding machine, at only 16, he is continuing to grow every race. Living in Hampstead, NH, he calls Highland Mountain his second home. This is where he's spent his time freeriding and learning valuable bike skills. They’ve paid off by placing him 2nd Overall in the Men’s 15-18 class in 2021! For his fourth year of racing in ‘22, he will be moving up to the Jr. Ex class to lay it down.
Kevin Wilson
Pro Men
Swinging in from way up north in Kanta, Ontario, Kevin still manages to come down to the east and get to work. After 6 years of racing he took a quick break, now he is back and ready to race in the Pro Men’s class. Camp fortune is his go to mountain at home, getting him ready to be on some more podiums in 2022!
Justin Norton (Norton)
40+ Amateur
Justin (also known as Norton) hail’s from Rochester, NY. In 2021 he dove head first into racing the Men’s 40+ class, and took home 3rd overall! Now equipped with a team, he plans on staying consistently top 5 in his class. When he’s not laying it down at the mountain, he’s at home with his 3 kids and girlfriend. In order to give back, he helps dig & build at his local trails. Norton says: “Do the math, take the risk, reap the rewards, and GO FAST!”
Adam Hoffarth
15u
Adam Hoffarth is the newest grom to the team. So fresh we don't even have a nickname for him ...yet. Adam is from Ravena, NY, with his home mountain being the glorious Plattekill Mtn. With that, he’s been on the bike for 9 years shredding up his favorite park, Blue mtn. You’ll see him this year in the 15u class, working his way to 15-18. We will see what he can do this season, and what nickname he gets pulled!
Cooper Pleva
Pro Men
Cooper, (aka turnpike), is an all-round athlete. For 10 years he competed in gymnastics, with 5 years of wrestling on the side. Based out of Vernon, NJ, which is home to Mountain Creek, he has been freeriding his whole life. Climbing through the ranks rapidly, he just wrapped up his 6th year racing as a champion in the Ex. 19-29 class! He plans on moving to Pro next year for the ‘22 season. “You can catch flies with honey, but you can catch more honeys bein’ fly”
Justin Hushon
Men Expert 19-29 (Cat1)
Although only racing DH for 2 years, Justin is a former Pro Motocross racer who refuses to stay still. After breaking his back in 2016, doctors told him he wouldn’t be able to race anymore. Determined as ever, he started racing DH. In 2021, he took home 4th in the Expert 19-29 class! His goals for ‘22 are to win the Ex. 19-29 class @ ESC, and win the Cat 1 title in the DHSE series! He will continue to follow his saying: “Just send it and see what happens!”
Megan Darrow
Cat 2/3 Women
Megan Darrow, the real boss, is 28 years young and wingman to Jared. She has made quite a name for herself though with only 3 years under the belt and many accomplishments. She’ll be in the Am. Womens class this season working towards more podiums, and doing some freeriding at creek. In the off season she’s on a snowboard or running around with her three pups.
Aaron Perry
Veteran Expert
Aaron Perry is a seasoned rider with Chaingang. Coming from Dudley, MA, he’s been riding since forever and has no plans on stopping. You'll see him in the Veteran Ex class this year with only one goal in mind: Beating Jared. But hey, I think that’s one goal we all have right! Good Luck Aaron in 2022!
Sage Weiss
Cat 2/3 Women
Sage (aka Half-Pint) is a 17 y/o, up-and-coming, female racer located in Northern, NJ. With her home base being Mountain Creek Bike Park, she has grown a passion for freeride along with racing. In only her second year racing, and half a season with the gang, she took home the series overall in Cat 2 Womens class! With a new team and focus, she is ready to go bigger & better.
Scott Johnson
30-39 Expert
Being one of the newest members, 2022 is going to be a new page for the 3 year racer, Scott (aka the mailman). Taking home 6th Overall in the 30-39 Ex. class in the ‘21 ESC DH series, he is ready to get on that podium. With Mountain Creek being his home mountain, he is well versed in both summer & winter sports. When he’s not racing in the summer, he is teaching & snowboarding at Creek. His goals for next year are to shoot for bigger races and even bigger podiums!
Dustin Geis
19-29 (Cat 1)
Dustin hails from Easton, PA, and his go-to mountain is Mountain Creek. In 2021, he landed 5th overall in the Men’s 19-29 class for his first year racing! Dustin brings all the cheers and good vibes to the pit every race. With the nickname, Ricky Carmichael, you already know he will be going full swing in 2022!
Scott Huntley
30-39 Ex.
Scott Huntley may be new to the team, but not to the scene. With only racing two years, he’s already made an impression on those in the circuit with an outgoing, friendly personality. Running out of the city every weekend to Thunder Mtn, he calls Richmond, RI, home base. Get ready to see him work some magic in the 30-39 Ex class this season!
Staff:
Anthony Ferradino
Team Mechanic
Anthony, aka Tony, is one of the most vital players in our team. Always sure to keep our bikes running in top order, he is keeping us on the podium. With 30+ years in the bike industry, he's been a racer, mechanic, shop owner, and event promoter. 15+ of those years were spent as a race mechanic, suspension tech, and wheel builder. When he isn't head first into bikes, you'll probably find him getting some dough ready for his master pizza, or illustrating some art!
Sam Kinney
Team Support
Sam, "The Captain", Kinney is your go-to-guy for just about anything. King of motivational speeches, jokes, and a big smile, he keeps the morale up in the pits all day. Lobster fisherman by day, and into the Chaingang pits by the weekend. As a former (and soon returning) racer, he knows what its like to "ride the razors edge", and how to keep everyone on it!
Nelphison Dealmeida Jr.
Team Support
Nelphison, also going as Nels, is the dad of the team. Keeping all the kids in check but still giving that extra support everyone needs. Making sure to get to as many races as he can, he is greatly appreciated. You'll see him at the bottom helping out with timing needs and throwing out a good job as racers pass!
Scott Surdyke
Team Rep.
Scotty, aka Pickles, is just as it sounds, a big pickle. Making sure everything is staying on track and setting up deals for the future, he gets things done. You'll see him around the pit's or cheering on in whatever gnarly rock garden is there that weekend. Making sure all of our sponsors & supporters stay in the loop, he is a big part of the team!