Spid Collective – Spid Werkz

The Spid Collective is a group of people dedicated to the spid lifestyle and advancing the Spid Werkz mission. Each has unique skills and experiences that they bring to the organization and athletes, whether is be training, mentoring, networking, or beyond.

Dr. Erin Ayala

With over a decade of clinical and sport psychology experience, Dr. Erin Ayala is a
Licensed Psychologist and Certified Mental Performance Consultant
(CMPC). Erin provides virtual mental health therapy for athletes aged 14 and
older, one-on-one performance coaching, CMPC mentorship, clinical supervision, and group workshops for teams and sport organizations.
Based in Minnesota, she is licensed to work with athletes in 40 states.

Outside of her practice, she is an avid endurance sport athlete and advocate. With nine marathons, seven half-distance triathlons, and one full-distance triathlon under my belt, Erin co-founded a cycling team and non-profit in Minneapolis to promote diversity in cycling. She regularly competes in events in the Midwest as a cat 1 road cyclist and gravel cyclist. During winter, she participates in virtual racing, fat bike
racing, and strength training.

Erin helps Spid Werkz with workshops and athlete access to sports psychology services.

https://www.skadisportpsychology.com/

Dr. Allison Brager

Allison has served on the Board of Directors and have chaired committees for the Sleep Research Society, the Society for Research on Biological Rhythms, and Gordon Research Conferences. In addition to > 40 peer-reviewed publications in flagship society journals, she has written op-ed and column pieces for Science and professional society bulletins, has been on many podcasts, and has a popular science book entitled Meathead: Unraveling the Athletic Brain. The book content ties the fields of exercise physiology and neuroscience with her experiences as an elite athlete in track & field and CrossFit.

Allison helps Spid Werkz and its athletes with maximizing their sleep and recovery for high performance.

Carly Abarbanel

Carly is the Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Duke for their rowing program. Previously, she had a three-year stint at Bates College as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the women’s rowing team. She has also spent time working with the men’s program as well. In 2023, Carly and the Bates coaching staff were named the Intercollegiate Rowing Coaches Association (IRCA) Division III Staff of the Year. Under their leadership, the Bobcats finished third in the team standings at the 2023 IRA National Championships and the Varsity Eight brought home a bronze medal, the first medal in the men’s program history.

Prior to her time at Bates, Abarbanel served as the head coach of the novice girl’s crew team at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in Washington, D.C. She was also a founding member and co-captain of the Potomac Boat Club’s Open Women’s Sweep team in 2018.

Carly helps Spid Werkz and its athletes with rowing mentoring, networking, and coordination.

Peter Schmidt

Peter is a six-time US Rowing national team member and bronze medalist at the 2015 World Rowing Championships in the lightweight 8. He is still a competitive rower, but has started racing bikes and is making his way up the rankings with podiums at races across the country.

Peter provides mentoring to Spid Werkz athletes as well as some incredible baked goods which he describes in detail on his website trophyhusbandbakeshop.com.

Gavin Ross

Gavin is a multiple time Team USA member for sprint canoe. He has multiple national titles in sprint canoe/kayak in addition to international race results representing the United States. Gavin is the head coach at Washington Canoe Club and enjoys developing young paddlers passion for the sport.

Gavin provides a strong understanding of the sprint canoe/kayak world to Spid Werkz along with mentoring for developing athletes.

Kathleen McNamee

Kathleen is a multiple time US national champion in sprint canoe/kayak and represented Team USA at the Junior World Championship. She also has over 15 years of coaching experience across sprint canoe/kayak and rowing.

Kathleen helps Spid Werkz with her athlete and coaching expertise, insights into race operations and logistics, and athlete mentoring.