Coach George Ganoung

Coach George has 35+ years of competitive cycling, running and multi-sport experience.  As an athlete, he has competed in hundreds of events regionally, nationally and internationally, scoring numerous top finishes including winning 4 National Championships and competing on 11 National Teams in World Championship competitions.  In addition, he has served as a team captain and cycling director, and has been a coach and training consultant for over 100 athletes.

In 2013, upon retiring from the Coast Guard after 20 years of service, he founded Otterhaus Coaching. His goal is to share the knowledge he has gained from working with different athletes, coaches and personal training approaches over the years with endurance athletes of all ages and levels who love endurance sports and aspire to improve.

Having successfully completed a demanding military career, George knows firsthand the challenges of managing a busy job and family life with athletic aspirations. Regardless of whether an athlete is just starting, aspires to become a professional, or wants to improve their fitness and skills at any level, he recognizes the value of maintaining a larger life perspective and keeping it as straight forward and fun as possible. Click here for more on George!

Coach Averi Firari

​​Averi's journey in endurance sports began at the age of 12 as part of the South Middle School Cross Country team in Wisconsin. After gaining recognition in running, she ventured into the challenging world of cross country mountain biking and swiftly ascended the ranks to Category 1 in the Wisconsin Off Road Series prior to her enlistment in Air Force Basic Training in 2010.

Throughout her rigorous Air Force career, Averi managed to balance her professional obligations with her dedication to racing. In 2013, she landed a place on the US Armed Forces Cycling team and achieved a top 10 finish in her debut international race at the Military World Cycling Championships in Leopoldsburg, Belgium. The subsequent years, Averi was inducted into the Air Force World Class Program, which led to her representing the US National Team in UCI Mountain Bike World Cups and international races between 2014 and 2016.

Making the decision to leave the Air Force after seven years of Active Duty, Averi embarked on an academic journey, pursuing a B.S. in Kinesiology and Exercise Science at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. In 2021, she proudly graduated and went on to earn her Master’s in Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Physiology in 2023. Her thesis, focused on the impact of dietary nitrate supplementation on cycling performance in simulated altitude for highly trained and recreationally trained cyclists, showcased her profound understanding and commitment to the physiological aspect of sports performance. She continues to delve into various research areas, including athlete burnout and the physiological/anatomical susceptibilities to chronic training.

Averi's extensive track record includes numerous victories and podium finishes in Mountain Bike XC and Marathon disciplines, cyclocross, and road racing. Driven by an unwavering commitment to the sports she loves, her boundless enthusiasm for cycling is matched only by her dedication to helping others achieve their best. Averi brings creativity, fun, and challenge to her workouts, always aiming to make every session an enjoyable and productive experience. With her deep understanding of exercise physiology, she stands ready to coach you towards your goals and beyond.  Click here for more on Averi!