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Our Rider Coaches
CARLY SCHRECK
Director of Education / Rider Coach
Carly has been a certified MSF Rider Coach since 2019, after growing up on the Anchorage training range where she slung cones for college tuition money. She was introduced to motorcycling as a teenager through her father who has been a coach for over 20 years. She promotes a laid back learning environment that's positive and fun, but isn't afraid to be fair and firm to maintain safety on the range. In 2021, she moved from Anchorage to Palmer before becoming the Director of Education for Valley ABATE in 2023.
Her relationship with motorcycles wasn't exactly love at first sight, after her dad dragged her to the range at 16 years old and put her on an old dirt bike nicknamed "Shaky Jake". After dumping the bike several times, she grew frustrated to the point of quitting. That's when her dad calmly knelt to pick the motorcycle up for a third time and said "Dropping it means you're riding it." She still ended up quitting that day, but soon after took the Basic Rider Course and passed.
Carly's first motorcycle was a 2005 BMW F650gs -the bike that got her hooked on long-distance adventure riding, and the bike that will always have her heart. But as her father always told her, one motorcycle is a good start and you can usually now find her on her 2023 BMW 750gs.
BILL SCHRECK
Senior Rider Coach
It's safe to say there is no one on this planet more in love with motorcycles than Bill Schreck. Certified as a Rider Coach through MSF in 2000, he brings his over five decades of riding experience to every class he teaches. Even when a student is struggling, he is nothing but patient and light-hearted - which helps melt away any nerves.
Bill will be the first to tell you that he's learning right alongside his students in every class he teaches. His favorite coaching moment was when a switch flipped for one of his students - an ER Doctor, he says, went from being a shaky rider on day one to the strongest rider in the class on day two. When he asked what changed, the student told him "I stopped being scared."
When on the road, he'll tell anyone who will listen: "I have two boys and two girls. The girls ride. The boys were a huge disappointment." (This is a joke... we think).
Bill has too many motorcycles to count, but heavily favors his 1993 BMW R100 PD.
NATE AKERS
Range Maintenance Manager / Rider Coach
Nate's been teaching students how not to drop a bike since 2023, advice he seems to struggle to take for himself. While he's a firm believer that kickstands are optional (or just forgets they exist occassionaly) he's an incredibly strong adventure rider who grew up around dirt bikes as a kid in Washington.
He got road legal in 2018 after moving to Alaska through the Basic Rider Course, where he went on to purchase a 2018 KLR 650 that he's taken all the way up to Deadhorse - and beyond. No telling where he'll go next now that he's in possession of a 2024 Honda Africa Twin.
He's a tall, goofy, and incredibly fun-loving coach whose golden retriever energy is contagious among his students. He became a rider coach to give back to the experience he had in his own BRC, and enjoys seeing his students' skills develop through the curriculum.
MATT LAPINSKAS
Rider Coach
He may look gruff, but Matt is a big ol' softy on the inside, especially with his students on the range. Certified in 2023, he's been riding all his life - calling it an addiction he doesn't dare try to kick. He'll ride anything with two wheels but typically commutes on his 2017 Yamaha Super Tenere.
After teaching his wife how to ride Matt wanted to continue to share his passion with others, saying that teaching new riders and seeing their "smiles per mile" are some of the most satisfying parts of the job.
Whether it's guiding first-timers or refining techniques for seasoned motorcyclists, Matt is known for his patience, enthusiasm, and uncanny ability to deliver his dry sense of humor with the straightest face. He fosters a calm and laid-back environment that makes his students feel comfortable to make mistakes under the safety of his supervision.
KAT SOWA-LAPINSKAS
Rider Coach
Kat - the wife Matt taught how to ride and inspired him to be a coach - became a coach herself in 2024. She's a vibrant instructor with boundless energy and a passion for motorcycle education. She sparks the perfect balance of being tough as nails and sweet as can be when teaching on the training range.
She's relentless in her advocacy for a female presence in the motorcycle community and works tirelessly to ensure everyone feels at home in her presence.
Beyond the classroom, Kat is deeply involved in the Alaska motorcycle community, offering unwavering support and encouragement to fellow riders. Her enthusiasm and commitment to fostering a strong, inclusive motorcycling culture make her an inspiring role model and an incredibly valued member of Valley ABATE.
She's also perfectly demonstrated the importance of finding the right bike for you, having owned Harleys, Hondas, and a pair of KLRs before settling down with her Yamaha Super Tenere.
ANASTASIA ANISIMOVA
Rider Coach
Anastasia became an MSF Rider Coach in 2023, but has made a career out of teaching with the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. She's been riding motorcycles since 2011 and when she's not teaching you can usually find her running exercises on her own Harley Davidson Heritage Softail - a true testament to her belief in professional development.
She's a self-taught rider who picked up bad habits along the way, turning to coaching so her students can be better set up for a successful career on two wheels. She's a huge advocate for continued education and constantly pushes herself, and her students, to be better riders.
Her favorite part of coaching is watching her students gain confidence throughout the weekend, which in turn makes their smiles bigger.
JOHN "COWBOY" FREY
Rider Coach
We don't really know where John came from, he just showed up at the range one day - on his Electro Glide Ultra Classic Harley Davidson - and never left. Our students aren't with us for a long time, but this cowboy will make sure they have a good time!
Here's what we do know... John has the thickest southern accent and 50 years of riding experience, including police academy-level training, but we're 87% positive he's not a cop.
He became a coach to help students become safer riders, and stays a coach because he loves and needs the attention (but also because he finds sharing his passion for riding with others is extremely fulfilling work). His favorite moments are when experienced riders - who think they already know everything - start applying his tricks and tips to thrive.
He's a firm believer that we're all here to learn, but you can't learn unless you're also having fun. They say you should never feed a stray cat hanging out in your backyard, but Valley ABATE has no regrets about feeding this one.
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