Cat Austell

Catherine “Cat” Austell [she/her] is an educator, mom, and lover of all things outdoors. She holds degrees in Outdoor Recreation & Leadership and History and spent 15 years working as a public school teacher. These days, she works part-time as a substitute teacher at her kids’ school, where she also helps coach the mountain bike team. Having spent much of her 20s and early 30s whitewater rafting and kayaking, Cat discovered mountain biking after becoming a parent and quickly fell in love with the sport’s supportive, empowering community. She’s passionate about helping more women feel strong and confident in what they can do—both on and off the bike—and to experience the connection and encouragement of this amazing community. While she still often feels intimidated by how much there is to learn about bike maintenance and mechanics (it’s like learning a new language!), her enthusiasm for adventure, connection, and growth is what keeps her pedaling.

Erin Barrett

Erin Barrett [she/her] is a mom, business owner and lover of all things outdoors. When she is not creating beautiful landscaped environments for people, you can find her riding her bike, gardening, camping, paddling, or just enjoying nature. As she created more time for herself, she found the joy of riding with other women through a weekly group ride she started attending and then leading. Through this fellowship she felt encouraged and empowered and wants to share that opportunity with other women in Western North Carolina and beyond. Erin is a Level 3 NICA coach, CPR/First-aid certified, weekly group ride leader, and Liv Brand USA Ambassador. She hopes you will join our rides and feel the power of riding with other women. Her favorite local trail is any and all of them.

Sydney Bevirt

Sydney Bivert [she/her] is a mechanical engineer who loves mountain biking. She moved to the Asheville area seven years ago immediately after college and has loved every second of it! In the last couple of years, she has completed two half Ironmans. You can often find Sydney checking out the latest mountain bike tech or news on the internet. Sydney is always eager to go mountain biking on the trails, but she also enjoys trail working and spending time with her pets, husband, family, and friends.

Kristy Carter

Kristy Carter was motivated to join the board because she knows, first hand, the life changing power of riding bikes in the woods with a bunch of women. She wants to amplify Dirt Skrrts’ ability to empower more women through two wheels, community building, and a whole lot of fun. When she’s not riding bikes, she can be found at work where she builds better communities through bicycle and pedestrian projects, or pursuing her goal of biking in all 50 states—she’s completed 40 and has 10 more to go.  Kristy lives in Asheville with her partner, two cats,  and lots of bikes.

Becca Hoke

Board Treasurer Becca Hoke [she/her] is a former accountant who now spends her days homeschooling her 3 young kids while spending as much of her time outside as possible. After years of attempts by her husband to get her to join him mountain biking, she finally decided to give it a try a couple years ago and has been hooked ever since. She was delighted to find a welcoming community, new friendships and confidence through the Motion Makers women’s rides and Dirt Skrrts events she attended.  She's enjoyed challenging herself with new trails and skills while meeting new friends along the way. She is excited to help other women find community, confidence and friendships through her involvement with Dirt Skrrts. When she isn't biking you can find her reading, baking sourdough and spending time with her family.

Whitney Houck

Board President Whitney Houck [she/her] is an outdoor adventurer, avid mountain biker, and PMBIA mountain bike skills instructor and coach. She started mountain biking in 2006, and since then, it has been one of the central themes that helped her find community and friendships wherever she lived. She moved to Brevard in 2021 for the outdoors and biking culture after retiring from the Coast Guard where she worked in the training field and served 8 years on ships throughout the Atlantic and Pacific. She and her husband Steve, an avid nature photographer, can be found out in the woods most days. She is a Cognative MTB Ambassador. Whitney’s mission is to help others build confidence in life, a reason to yell “Woohoo” and a love of nature through riding.

Bernadette Peters

Bernadette Peters (Bern) [she/her] first fell in love with the trails of Western North Carolina while vacationing here, and in 2010, she made the move permanent to be closer to the mountains she loves.

A passionate community builder, Bernadette serves as the Economic Development Director for the Town of Sylva. In this role, she leads the Main Street non-profit, working closely with its board of directors, three active committees, and the Town Board of Commissioners. Her work supports small business owners, connects property owners with tenants, and promotes tourism to help Sylva thrive.

While she serves on several boards through her professional work, Bernadette is excited to join the Dirt Skrrts board to combine her love of the outdoors with her commitment to community engagement. She’s especially passionate about helping others get plugged into what they love—whether that’s gathering with friends to explore the outdoors or helping them discover mountain biking for the first time.

Beth Salman

Beth Salman [she/her] chose to move to Asheville to ride and hike more. Originally from Chicago and a lifelong cyclist, she started mountain biking in college in Montana. She first experienced the power of cycling to build community and create positive change when she joined the Chicago Cycling Club, serving on its board and helping to launch, and grow, the organization’s neighborhood-spanning invitational ride. Beth is Wilderness First Aid/CPR certified, a ride leader for Motion Makers’ weekly women’s rides, and a PMBIA certified Ride Guide. Now the owner of a private Pilates studio, she schedules clients around rides. She and her husband spend their non-working time exploring WNC with their two dogs.

Laurie Tewksbury

Laurie Tewksbury [she/her] recently traded Boulder’s mountains for Pisgah’s roots and rocks, ready for a new adventure and year-round mountain biking. A brand and marketing nerd by day, she’s spent her career helping brands find their voice. Off the clock, she’s usually on her bike, deep in a jigsaw puzzle, or seeking out Asheville’s best food. Laurie has found strength and empowerment through time outside and volunteering with Outdoor Women’s Alliance. She’s excited to bring that energy to Dirt Skrrts to help more women build community, confidence, and joy on bikes.