Video: The Guiding & Coaching Couple That Are a Cornerstone of the Vermont Riding Scene
The Transition Characters series is about storytelling, whether it's a sponsored rider, trail builder, employee, or community member, the aim is to highlight the influence this person has on the mountain bike community we know and love.
The second video in our TR Characters series brings us to East Burke, VT, where Ella and Alex have built their life around mtb.
Ella and Alex, the proud owners of Vermont Mountain Bike Tours. When you are booking a session with them, you are not getting your average guide or coach, you are hiring two of the nicest people you will meet, that have more skills and experience behind them than they would ever let on.
Alex lofts into some leafy goodness behind Ella. New England riding in the fall is incredible, Ella’s smile says it all.
The Kingdom trails of East Burke bring in riders from all around the east coast.
With a large trail network, Ella and Alex will make sure you ride all the best trails, and even shuttle you in their school bus.
The Village Sport Shop Darling Hill location provides the perfect place to host skills training. Here Ella has her students working on flat turns.
When the guiding and coaching sessions are over, it’s back to shredding for these two.
The grom squad in East Burke is mind blowing. Snapping corners and hitting the biggest jumps, all with style.
Ella is a role model for the many young female riders. Her attitude towards approaching riding has translated into the youth here, creating a space where young girls grow up with the same courage and progression as the boys.
Don’t let the nice fall colors fool you, it was brutally cold for this shoot. Not that a little cold weather would phase someone from Vermont. These shredders did lap after lap with frozen fingers and stiff suspension.
When the cameras are out, you go big.
Does it get anymore Vermont than this?
The Kingdom Trails are an incredible network that span through hundreds of different private landowners property, all with great flow.
Alex is fast, but on his local trails, he is mind-melting fast. Even when the frosty ground is covered with frozen leaves.
This was a first send for Ella and we shot this two days before she was going in for shoulder surgery to repair her labrum. Luckily she landed it perfect, and her shoulder stayed in place.
Alex and Ella live only a few miles from the trails, but they plan to have a pump track and dual slalom in the yard soon...with rumors of a rope tow shuttle system from an old ski hill on the property.
You won’t find any Aunt Jemima’s around here.
Alex and Ella, engaged during this shoot, and married on June 2nd, 2019. Congrats you two!
A massive thank you to Alex and Ella for hosting us at their home for this project!
Video: Skye Schillhammer
Photos: Oliver Parish
Author Info:
Must Read This Week
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup
54 Comments
- 52 1
briceshirbach
(Oct 10, 2019 at 10:08)
Two of the best humans you'll find riding bikes in the woods.
- 5 0
Goldenwalt
(Oct 10, 2019 at 11:38)
I'll second that, I was fortunate enough to meet them a few years back when they were out here in So Cal riding. They are proof that there are some of the nicest people in our sport. Cheers to you Ella & Alex!
- 2 0
Waldon83
(Oct 10, 2019 at 12:07)
Would love to get over there to meet their puppy.... maybe get some riding in too, because it looks shithot!!
- 14 0
ohwell
(Oct 10, 2019 at 10:13)
East Burke is one of he most beautiful places I’ve ever bikes! +1 for Kingdom Trails!
- 15 0
dump
(Oct 10, 2019 at 10:28)
I see they drink maple syrup for breakfast in VT!
- 11 0
mtbmaniatv
FL (Oct 10, 2019 at 13:31)
Ant Jermimer aint invited 
- 8 0
Mhanley7
(Oct 10, 2019 at 12:00)
2nd video/article on PB of Clarkson University Shredders in the past month!!!!!
- 5 0
JediFu
(Oct 10, 2019 at 10:48)
My family did a tour of the Kingdom trails with Ella a year ago. She was a great guide and showed us a great time. Go see her and get a ride on that bus!
- 3 0
RobertGrainier
(Oct 10, 2019 at 19:03)
Totally awesome video, VT is truly beautiful, and glad these two are helping to forge the awesome culture in VT and New England. Helps that Transition is a totally rad company that's also deeply woven into the local culture on the other corner of the country, it seems fitting in that way. Anyone else think Alex reminds you of Kazimer a bit?
- 3 0
DownhillR3
(Oct 10, 2019 at 11:22)
Awesome, love KT the area. If I didn't already know the area, i'd book a tour. Met Andrew on an EWS Qualifier transfer between Burke and the backside of the mountain stages, one of the nicest dudes around.
- 2 0
rip8569
(Oct 10, 2019 at 12:12)
Alex and Ella are great riders and even better people. They have a real passion for what they do, infectious spirits that will give you the stoke, and the knowledge to always bring you to the right trail or improve your technique. If you want the real-deal KT experience, you owe it to yourself to book a trip with them.
- 3 0
milestogo
(Oct 10, 2019 at 17:25)
Watch this video to learn about the heart and soul of Morrisville mountain biking, Hank Glowiak of Chuck's Bikes where Alex used to work! www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YwJcvmri5Y
- 4 0
jebcas
(Oct 11, 2019 at 4:48)
Hank is the soul of Vt MTB
- 1 0
glennder
(Oct 14, 2019 at 10:28)
So RAD to see this published. I bumped into the crew out there last fall while filming the river sequence over on Black Bear. I have met Ella a few times racing and riding and she was always a class act. So happy for them and a little jealous ;-)
- 5 0
Bikerman36
(Oct 10, 2019 at 10:16)
Awesome little vid guys, good luck with the puppy.
- 3 0
Buckeystarbreaker
(Oct 10, 2019 at 10:13)
Great to see this. Peeps doing what they love and making it happen...really miss the North East!
- 3 0
rallyimprezive
(Oct 10, 2019 at 11:22)
This makes me want to fly out from Colorado with my wife to spend a week touring with them.
- 2 0
Supergo
(Oct 10, 2019 at 12:15)
Alex was working at Chucks Bikes when I bought my Transition Scout! Good people up there in VT. Best of luck to you. Can’t wait to get back to Kingdom Trails.
- 2 0
Coldspringer
(Oct 10, 2019 at 14:56)
What do you mean start a family? They already have kids!! Those kids rip, must be proud to see them develop with your coaching.
- 1 0
JWadd
(Oct 11, 2019 at 11:30)
Late 70's early 80's E250 - THE mandatory low budget workhorse: left pedal stop, right pedal go, steering wheel, and enough heat to keep the windows clear if you're lucky. Everything else irrelevant.
- 1 0
Jordansemailaddress
(Oct 12, 2019 at 19:15)
Heaven’s Bench! I rode that trail last summer! Beauty of a place to ride and as always it’s WAY better than it looks on screen. Awesome trails! Awesome town! Awesome ice cream shop in the awesome town!
- 3 0
adamprice
(Oct 10, 2019 at 13:14)
That's awesome! Good people and vibes.
- 2 0
AnthonyWanderedAway
(Oct 11, 2019 at 6:48)
Another piece on the Burke area. Everyone go check it out! Nothing to see in the rest of the state
- 2 0
schofell84
(Oct 10, 2019 at 13:31)
Congratulations guys, and thanks for all you do! But the flannel picture is too much!! haha
- 3 0
rossi45
(Oct 10, 2019 at 14:28)
So good! Awesome couple. MTBing is infectious!
- 3 0
jebcas
(Oct 10, 2019 at 15:28)
Great stuff! You guys are the best!
- 3 0
sab11
(Oct 10, 2019 at 17:25)
New England: Where the same trail is never the same trail.
- 1 0
teacherman
(Oct 11, 2019 at 4:56)
I met Alex years ago when he was a college student in Norther NY. what an awesome guy. I'm glad to see him spreading his passion for mountain biking!
- 2 0
Ironchefjon
FL (Oct 11, 2019 at 6:18)
Where is that stepdown? I've ridden all over east burke and I haven't come across this one
- 2 0
Mlacerte
(Oct 11, 2019 at 6:31)
Looks like the drop in ADHD trail in now closed victory hill sector
- 1 0
gally-nh
(Oct 11, 2019 at 8:28)
At first I thought it was the one at the top of Moose Deuce, but I think this one is bigger than MD.
- 1 0
ridgelinetrails
(Oct 12, 2019 at 11:45)
Reading about VT makes me wanna go back. All those colors in fall!! Lucky enough to try out some other smaller trail centers around the state, some amazing stuff..
- 3 1
kennedymaia
(Oct 10, 2019 at 10:42)
A perfect couple...the amazing place ....
- 5 3
terrythemessenger
(Oct 10, 2019 at 12:56)
Mmmm yeahhh great, my wife sucks!!! Thanks PB.
- 4 0
robaq
(Oct 11, 2019 at 5:24)
Yeah, we all know that..
- 1 0
BigLips93
(Oct 10, 2019 at 15:37)
Awesome video! Does anyone know what flannel Alex is wearing....asking for a friend!
- 2 0
pinnityafairy
(Oct 10, 2019 at 16:02)
Those who shred together Stay Together
- 2 0
raceface
(Oct 10, 2019 at 21:56)
An awesome video that highlights two even more awesome people!!
- 1 0
CentralVTMTB
(Oct 11, 2019 at 10:04)
That was a lot of syrup in that coffee Alex, lol. Congrat! Great film and awesome pair good role models for our youth.
- 1 0
Golden-G
(Oct 11, 2019 at 16:47)
Transition Bikes always seem to bring the nicest and friendliest people into the fold! Nicely done!
- 1 0
rh00p
(Oct 11, 2019 at 18:11)
"our economy is primarily based on mountain biking." In other words, trails equals sales. You hear that, town folk?
- 1 0
cirkusboy
(Oct 10, 2019 at 16:53)
ILoVermont! Makes me miss home.
- 2 0
allycat9
(Oct 15, 2019 at 7:51)
GOALS.
- 1 0
hardtailparty
(Oct 10, 2019 at 11:27)
Awesome piece. All the feels. I'd love to ride with them someday.
- 1 0
Uncled
(Oct 10, 2019 at 14:27)
bless them, what a couple.
- 1 0
friendlyfoe
(Oct 10, 2019 at 20:57)
Trails look like so much fun. Might have to visit.
- 2 1
odbrider
(Oct 11, 2019 at 5:34)
Nice couple...good luck in your ventures!
- 1 0
voltagerider
(Oct 11, 2019 at 8:19)
Wow I will have to visit kingdom trails next year!
- 1 1
CrashFab
(Oct 10, 2019 at 11:16)
Awesome people and an amazing place! Will be up there this weekend!
- 1 1
fuledya
(Oct 10, 2019 at 12:06)
Nice job on the big ADHD jump at Victory Hill!!
- 1 1
lacykemp
(Oct 10, 2019 at 13:07)
Yah Alex and Ella! You two are the best! This put a smile on my face!
- 1 0
dlb082101
(Oct 10, 2019 at 19:43)
awesome !!!!
- 1 1
terreros
(Oct 10, 2019 at 12:24)
Beatyful video.
Login or Sign Up