Meet Zeke – Mechanic, Sea Kayak & Mountain Bike Guide and Shop Representative

Zeke was born and raised just south of Green Bay, in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. He picked up mountain biking when he was eleven years old and has been hooked ever since. Growing up in the flat part of Wisconsin, he took advantage of family vacations to the UP, exploring the mountain bike trails in Marquette and Munising. He made it up to Copper Harbor for the first time at the age of thirteen. He remembers renting a kid’s bike from the Keweenaw Adventure Company and getting shuttled up Brockway Mountain to ride “The Flow” over and over again. The riding in Copper Harbor has kept him coming back every summer since. 

After spending some time working as a bike mechanic in Wisconsin, the appeal of having daily access to world-class mountain bike trails led to him applying for a job with the Adventure Company at the end of his senior year in high school. The day after he graduated, he drove up to the Harbor to start working. He was introduced to sea kayaking there and was trained to become a sea kayak guide, in addition to a bike mechanic and mountain bike guide. 

Zeke spent his off seasons attending college at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, Colorado, earning his bachelor’s degree in Outdoor Recreation Industry Studies, and Emergency Medical Technician Certificate in May of 2024. While at college, he spent his time working at the school’s Outdoor Program, taking fellow students out to do all sorts of outdoor activities including rock climbing, paddle boarding, ice climbing, and mountain biking. He also worked as a youth mountain bike coach, teaching K-8 students how to ride. He earned his Level 1 coaching certification, with an additional Kid’s Coaching module through the Professional Mountain Bike Instructor Association. 

After graduating, Zeke began guiding full-time. He now splits his time between guiding sea kayak and bike tours in the Northwoods of Copper Harbor, and leading multi-day mountain bike tours in the West, spending lots of time in the desert landscapes of Canyonlands National Park.  

This last winter, his travels took him to the Big Island of Hawai’i, where he worked as a bike mechanic in Kona.  

Zeke has returned for his fifth season to Copper Harbor, trading the desert’s heat and technical rocky riding for the cool lake breeze and flowy forest trails. 

TRAININGS/CERTIFICATIONS:
Wilderness First Aid/CPR
ACA Level 3 Trip Leader & Instructor Development