Who We Are | Ride In Peace Adventures

CHRIS ROPER

Chief RIPA

Ride in Peace Adventures was set up by local man and mountain biker Christopher Roper to develop and encourage mountain biking in Aberdeenshire and the Cairngorms.

After experiencing the first World Cup at Fort William in 2002, Chris tried the track on a Royal Racing coaching day and has been hooked on mountain biking ever since. Chris has ridden, coached and guided across the world. He holds numerous coaching and guiding qualifications. He’s venerable enough to hold the Scottish Cycling MBLA, British Cycling MTB level 2 coaching award. Combine that with an HND in Sports and Sports Coaching, a degree in Sports Science and an Österreichischer Radführer, his first international qualification. For the cherry on top, he holds a French Carte Professional d’Educateur Sportif, which allowed him to guide in France.

Chris loves riding anywhere from gentle cycle paths to gnarly enduro trails and epic big mountains. He also shares his passion by coaching and seeing everyone enjoy the peace and adventures that biking brings.

That said, Chris is a relaxed and peaceful person who loves to share his experiences with anyone seeking to Ride in Peace through adventure, respect for nature and an understanding of their surroundings.

QUALIFICATIONS

Mountain Biking

Scottish Cycling Mountain Bike Leader Award
British Cycling Level 2 Mountain Bike Coaching Award
British Cycling Level 1 Leader
GO MTB Level 5 Instructor
Mountain Bike Instructor Award Scheme level 2
Österreichischer Radführer
Carte Professionnelle d’Educateur Sportif
Velotech Mechanic Bronze Award
Velotech Mechanic Silver Award

Additional QUALIFICATIONS

Academic

HND Sports Coaching with Development of Sport
BSC Honours Sport and Exercise Science

First Aid and Child Protection

BASP Emergency First Aid
SAMH First Aid
NSPCC Child Protection in Sport
Online Neurodiversity Training (Autism & ADHD)
PVG registered

Winter & Water

Schiffsführerpatent Raft
BCU Foundation Safety and Rescue
Anwarter
PSIA level 1

EXPERIENCE

WITH 15 SEASONS AND COUNTING, HERE A LIST OF SOME THE PLACES AND COMPANIES CHRIS HAS WORKED FOR ALONG THE WAY.

New Zealand, Christchurch Adventure Park – Mountain Bike Instructor
France, BikeVillage – Mountain Bike Guide
Scotland, Nevis Range Skischool – Ski Instructor
India, Red Chilli Adventures – White Water Raft Guide
Austria, Feel Free Outdoor Professionals – White Water Raft Guide
Austria, Rote Teufel – Ski Instructor
England, YMCA Lakeside – Summer Camp Instructor
Scotland, Speyside Trust Badaguish Outdoor Centre – Voluntary work with the less able
Scotland, Active Schools Aberdeenshire – Sports Coach (Football, Basketball, Swimming)

KIRSTEN ELLIS

Kirsten’s love of biking started young, with day trips out and adventures on the bike in County Durham where she was born. She was re-introduced to biking after finishing university through the cycle to work scheme and since then two full suspension bikes and a much loved carbon hardtail have kept the biking adventures going.

Kirsten loves exploring the hills and new trails and is well known among her friends as ‘the route planner’ with a map always tucked into her rucksack. She also enjoys the more organised side of biking and has taken part in several MTB events including the ten under the Ben and her local Aberdeenshire Enduro series.

When the trails are covered in snow she enjoys skiing and adventure racing and has even strayed into gravel biking, taking part in the ‘Grinduro’ on Aaron.

In 2018 Kirsten qualified as a MTB leader with British cycling and started guiding youth groups for the local cycling club. This lead to further qualifications as a Go MTB instructor and night leader, and joining Ride in Peace Adventure!

Biking continues to become a bigger part of her life and seems to be slowly taking over! As a guide she hopes to pass on her love of biking and the outdoors to others. She is especially motivated to promote the sport to female riders who are currently underrepresented in the sport.