JDRF's RAAM Crew
George Pinney
George Pinney, Crew Chief
I’m back to crew chief again for Team JDRF and really looking forward to another experience and adventure for the 6th time. Each crossing has its own challenge and excitement with none of them being the same. Cycling is a true passion for mine and I have personally rode approximately 30 doubles and some triples. In 1997, I received a silver medal during the state champion in the tandem division. I still captain my tandem with a friend and we both enjoy the thrill and excitement of pushing ourselves and the pedals to another level.
I have been married to my lovely wife for 25 years and together we have two daughters and one son. We sincerely enjoy being grandparents to our grandson. One daughter had the opportunity to race mountain bikes and had multiple national champions in the past. I work for Hammond Enterprises and oversee the assembly of the medical instruments.
Matt Skipper
I'm back to help my dad, Tim Skipper and Team JDRF at another crossing of the U.S. and really looking forward to it. My two favorite things are music and cycling. On school days, I start off by playing the trombone in the jazz band, marching band, and symphonic band which I enjoy ever minute of it. At the end the day, I ride my old Trek the short 7 miles back home after school. I'm really looking forward to being a part of Team JDRF, helping everyone and being with my friends.
Alex & Bailey Castillo
Alex Castillo and Bailey Castillo
(Father and Daughter)I would like to thank everyone for allowing Bailey and I to join you on this years Team JDRF. We are very excited about helping on the support crew or in what ever capacity is necessary. We are from the Mid-West, Kansas to be exact and are grounded in Mid-West values and work ethics.
I have lived in Kansas almost my entire life and it is the only home Bailey has known. I was hired by the Southern Pacific railroad as a laborer in 1980. I quickly became a machine operator and then a Lead Operator. In this position I was required to know the operations of every track machine the railroad used. I also trained new operators on equipment. I later transferred into Operations and became a locomotive engineer and operated trains across 8 different states. While on the railroad I also volunteered for positions within our local union. I believe I bring a lot of mechanical experience with me from my years of service on the railroad.
Bailey is a sophomore in high school and is an Honor Roll student. She has been driving since she was old enough to see over the steering wheel out on our farm. At age 6 she started driving our golf cart and playing golf, she has now been on two girl’s state golf teams. She is a very good driver and very conscientious about everything she does and a joy to be around (I might be a little bias).
We both enjoy golfing and traveling and are especially excited about helping with RAAM. We are both in great shape and are loaded with common sense.
Marvin Fisher
I’m very excited to be on the support crew for Team JDRF. I enjoy volunteering for a great cause. I hope to maximize the skills I’ve learned in life as we prepare for RAAM and the other events this season.
I was raised in southern Illinois. At eighteen years old, I was hired on the Missouri Pacific Railroad, later merged into the Union Pacific. I operated trains as a locomotive engineer to destinations in Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. After twenty eight years on the job, I applied for a position as a manager. This position started my career as a field manager, classroom instructor and team leader. My travels took me to Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.
I enjoy backpacking, jogging, photography and cycling. Traveling is in my blood. I’m the Race Director of the Hills and Hollows Half Marathon, 5K Run in a small community in southern Illinois. I married my wife, Angie then accepted a position in San Luis Obispo, CA. I have three daughters and four grand children.
Mike & Suzanne Crago-Schneider
Mike and Suzanne are close friends racer Carl Moler. This is their first RAAM although both have ridden extensively for decades. Mike rode 25 consecutive Davis Doubles and Suzanne was on the tandem with him for 18 of those. After Mike completed “The (25 yr.) Streak” in 2008 he became a rest stop Captain for the Davis Double. Mike and Suzanne are both retired from the Orange County education field and currently live in Davis, California near two of their children and grandchildren. They eldest son, Ben and daughter, KiKi both graduated from UC Davis where they competed on the cycling team. Their youngest child, Max, graduated from Davis High School and currently attends UC Riverside. Cycling continues to be in the Crago-Schneider blood as Mike, Suzanne, and their adult Daughter, KiKi, just completed participation in the Davis Bike Club’s “March Madness” cycling event. Mike completed over 3,000 miles in 25 days and both of the Crago-Schneider ladies were also in the “quadruple mileage digits” when they completed the event. Mike founded “Cycles Infinity” and built bicycles as a business/hobby for a number of years. His experience in this arena should prove advantages and both his and Suzanne’s nurturing skills, “honed” during their years as educators, should also be invaluable.
Welcome to the JDRF TEAM CREW, Mike and Suzanne!
Josh Olson
I am golf ball whacker guy from the mountains of montana that is excited to serve Team JDRF to meet and exceeds the expectations of being the fastest tandem racing team in the world.
My professional bio:
Golf Entertainer, Long Drive Professional and PING-endorsed Trick Shot Artist, Josh Olson is one of the world's premier golf entertainers, with over 600 shows to his credit. Using his long drives, trick shots and humor, he captivates and entertains audiences worldwide, appearing on ESPN, BBC, ABC, CBS, Golf Channel and Fox Sports. Some of his clients include Mercedes, Porsche, Lexus, UBS, HSBC, Citi Bank, Barclays Wealth, United Way and Tulsa Dream Center.
If you want to know anything else... with exception of my blood type you can find out more at www.dtdgolf.com
Excited to serve youJosh
Jim Watson
Look up in the sky. It’s a bird, it’s a plane…No, it’s Jim Watson, a mild mannered warehouse manager from Ventura, California, who fights a never ending battle for truth, justice and the janitor’s way. –J. Watson, One of his notorious sayings.
Jim is a born and raised California boy currently residing in Ventura. He has managed the warehouse of a janitorial supply company for over forty years. Due to the influence of Linda and Larry Bott, Jim took up cycling over ten years ago losing a lot of weight in the process. He initially refused to wear cycling shorts, but within a very short time he opted for the luxury of padded spandex while riding double and triple centuries. Jim is responsible for coercing his entire family to get involved with the two wheeled sport. Jim has been married for thirty seven years to his amazing wife, Donna. She is incredibly supportive, kind, loving and is an avid cyclist herself. Jim and Donna have two athletic daughters, Justine and Robin, as well as Justine’s other half, Zeb. Justine and Zeb started out as double century riders earning their CA Triple Crown within the first year of cycling. Justine has continued with doubles along with mixing in triathlons and distance running. Zeb has turned to the faster side of cycling, racing crits and road races. Robin is a sponsored triathlete racing many distances including Ironman, in Arizona. Jim also has one grand puppy, Ellie Mae, who steals his heart everyday.
Jim is one of the most patient, understanding and funny people you will ever meet. This incredible patience will fare well for him in his trek across the country. Jim has sagged a multitude of races and is incredibly knowledgeable about endurance events. He has spent countless hours working, building and fixing a wide range of bikes and brings this knowledge to the team as well. He is always looking forward to a new adventure and is excited to be apart of what may be a record breaking year.
Mike Caldwell
I graduated from North Central HS- Spokane, WA in 1968, joined the Air Force in 1969 and with only a few years off because we were moving, I was in the military, of some kind, active duty AF, guard or active guard, for 33years...till 2004, and I retired.
I have done a lot of different things, both in the service and in civilian life...to include working as an EMT, an LPN, climbed towers, loaded aircraft, and was a loadmaster instructor trainer on a C-130 cargo aircraft for 14 years. My nursing certification is current, as I am involved in medical missions with the congregation where we attend.
Nadine Howard
Nadine Howard: Group Fitness Instructor, Certified Personal Trainer and
Figure Competitor.
Nadine works as the Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Kinesiology &
Exercise Science Association, and in her spare time, trains over 200 clients
full-time! She's also a mother of two children (Ashley - 12 and Braden -
10). Hobbies include anything that involves exercise ~ such as hiking,
canoeing, running (she's competed in several marathons), and hopes to soon
include road racing on her list!!!
Looking forward to being a part of Team JDRF this year!!!!
Mike Roddy
It's my distinct pleasure to join the JDRF team for this year's Race Across America. I was born and raised in San Diego, California but have recently moved to Los Angeles where I live aboard my 28 foot sailboat, a Pearson Triton. Bicycling has been in my blood from the very beginning as my Dad has been riding for the last three decades and counting. My first tour was in fifth grade, followed by getting a legitimate road bike in high school, a trip from San Francisco to San Diego three years ago, and a Transamerican bicycle tour last summer from Virginia home to southern California. I'm especially excited to see a tour that took me a leisurely two months be condensed into a mere six days.
I graduated from San Diego State a year ago with a degree in film production and worked as a bicycle mechanic at REI during my time in college. More recently I've been volunteering my Thursday evenings at a community/not-for-profit bicycle shop called the Bikerowave. I also enjoy photography, abandoned buildings, skateboarding, the guitar, and John Steinbeck. I love a challenge and I'm looking forward to my first RAAM experience providing one. Good to be on the crew.
James Lindgren
My name is James Lindgren, Friends call me Jamie. I was born and raised in Cherry Valley , California. I am very happy and excited to help out in the Race Across America, what a wonderful opportunity and chance to see and drive across America and at the same time help out a team of riders for a wonderful cause. In High school I was a member of our CIF Championship Baseball team, 1999. So I know what winning is about, aAnd how to be a Team player and member. After High school I attended Cal Poly Pomona . In 1998 I hired out and went to work for the Union Pacific Railroad. I am a Railroad Engineer, and love my job. I am looking forward to this wonderful chance to be a member of JDRF and see every rider and member have a safe and successful experience.
Tom LaMay
Tom is 60 years old and a retired mechanic for the city of Bakerfield. Tom is an experienced RAAM and ultra driver and has driven our RV on numerous occasions. Tom also is an avid cyclist, completing many double centuries, and is arguably the fastest 60+ cyclist in town, beating most of the younger riders as well. Tom's winning attitude and knowledge of riding/racing make him an ideal crew member and Team JDRF is happy to welcome him on board.
Marco Hernandez
