:.
The Riders of Team Thunderstruck
Randy Swenson :: 2009 XTREMEY AWARD WINNER, Best Rider in a snowmobile Film, TS7
 

Age: Just getting started!
Hometown: Summerland, BC (I wish it was called Winterland)

Occupation: The Calculated Canadian! Western British Columbia YAMAHA Sales rep
Favorite riding areas: Revelstoke , Whistler, Cooke City
Favorite food: Pasta or a Good BBQ
Favorite music: Classic Rock, Sirius #15, and all the tunes from Thunderstruck series of course.
His SLEDs: MCXpress Boosted Yamaha Nytro with over 8000 clicks on it, LOVE IT! and MCXpress Boosted Apex, fresh build, both sleds are very custom and have 174" tracks!
Pastimes: Riding and skiing with family, time on the snow with kids, avalanche awareness via avalanche.ca before EVERY RIDE.

QUOTE: "Got boost?" and "My best friends are sledders!"

 

   
     
Ange Dyer
 

Age: 27 ::: Hometown: Rexburg, Idaho

Marital Status: JAN 16th, 2009 all single men will cry!!!

Occupation: Nada Colada! Going to school
Favorite riding areas: TRAILS....j/k no really- Any place with tons of snow, boon docking, and steep mountains
Favorite food: Sugar Cookies
Favorite music: Mormon Tabernacle Choir ....... just kidding........ Nickelback or Rascal Flatts (country)

Her SLEDs: The pinkest M8 you will ever see!

QUOTE: I can't decide who is higher maintanence, me or my sled....


   
     
Brad Story, Utah Turbo Hound
 

 

Occupation: Adrenaline Junky! Turbo guru for M-sleds and Apexes
Favorite riding areas: Revy, Utah
Favorite food: Brad will honestly eat just about anything.
Favorite music: Paging Mr Bronson from TS4 is his favorite song!
His SLEDs: 2008 Cat 1000 with a 1200cc D&D big bore kit and a HUGE 31 series turbo! This sled rocks! Also, a 2008 Propane powered Nitro with 24 pounds of boost! Rocket ships!
Specialty: Chute climbing

Quote: I am giving everyone a nickname... Your job is to learn your nickname!

   
     
Julio Eiguren
 

Age: 38
Hometown: Paramatta, New South Wales, Australia, currently in Boise, Idaho

Occupation: Paint Contractor
Favorite riding areas: McCall, Donnelly, Afton
Favorite food: Elk Steak
Favorite music: Alternative
His SLEDs: 2 Yamaha Apexes, both BOOSTED. One MCXpress pump gas with Timbersled suspensions.

QUOTE: I'm Stumped. Dang, I can't believe I took down Phelan at Marysville!!

   
     
Riley Jensen
 

Age: 18
Hometown: Island Park, ID

Occupation: Waitress and sledder
Favorite riding areas: Mt. Jefferson, Island Park
Favorite food: Any kind of food except way hot food!!
Favorite music: All music
Her SLEDs: 2008 SkiDoo XP and 2005 Polaris 900 RMK
Specialty: This chick flat out rocks! Look for good things from Riley in TS9!!

Quote: You never know 'til you try!

   
     
Joe Bushilla
 


Age:
Old enough to drink, not old enough to know better
Hometown: Helena, MT

Occupation: General Contractor
Favorite riding areas: In the DEEP SNOW
Favorite food: Good steak and seafood
Favorite music: Hip hop, netal, Lady GaGa
His SLED: 2009 Yamaha Nytro with an McXpress Turbo and CR Racing tunnel
Specialty: Getting stuck and powder riding. Also takes pics from the chopper!

Quote: Scuba diving or sledding? How about both in the same week?!?

Quote 2: Why wouldn't ya?!?

 

   
     
Shawn Hastings ***2005 XTREMEY AWARD WINNER***
 

 

Shawn won the 2005 award for BEST SNOWMOBILER IN A SLEDDING FILM for his amazing performance in Thunderstruck 3! Nicely done, Shawn!

Occupation: Machinist
Favorite riding areas: British Columbia
Favorite food: Steak and seafood
Favorite music: Avril, other alternative
His SLED: Cat M8 with a Brad Story design turbo
Specialty: Chute climbing

Quote: "I like to be as stock as possible for quick repairs! Oh, and thanks to everyone!

   
     
Dave Schell
 

Age: 42 going on '32' ::: Hometown: Helena, Montana

Occupation: Chain Link Fence builder, Snowmobiler
Favorite riding areas: Somewhere near Ennis, Montana. Shhh! It's a secret!
Favorite food: NOT SUSHI!
Favorite music: AC/DC
His SLEDs: 2009 Ski-Doo. . . Big John 860 kit

QUOTE: If I can't go up it, I'll go down it!

   
     
Mark Mesenbrink
 

Occupation: High Voltage Electrician
Favorite riding areas: British Columbia
Favorite food: Anything that will fit in his mouth. . . And he has a LARGE mouth!
Favorite music: Rob Zombie, Staind, Def Leppard
His SLED: M8 Brad Story turbo
Specialty: Climbing and wreckin'

Quote: "Life is divided into two parts, anticipation and memory and if we remember richly then we must have lived richly."

Mark's amazing reputation follows him everywhere he goes and if you ever want to meet him in person, just come to a snow show and visit the Thunderstruck booth! From Karaoke in Puyallup to eating cheese curds at Haydays, Mark is the ultimate gentleman and funny man! Check out Mark in this hilarious commercial he did in sunny California last fall (now you know why we call him the HAIRY BEAR!). Mark also held the Thunderstruck crashing title for 3 years before Doc Nesbo took over with a whirlwind last year! We love you, Mark!

   
     
Julie Marquart
 

 

Occupation: Costco Wholesale 14yrs
Favorite riding areas: Mccall, Island park
Favorite food: Seafood, Pasta, and wine
Favorite music: Alternative; Nickleback, Fuel, Puddle of Mud.
Her SLED: 2008 Yamaha Apex boosted!
Specialty: Photography,Carving, and boondocking.

Quote: "There's no escaping who we are."

   
     
Scott Marquart
 

Age: 39
Hometown: Meridian/Boise, Idaho

Occupation: Equipment Sales
Favorite riding area: Afton
Favorite food: Mexican
Favorite music: Rock... And Gregorian Chant
His SLEDs: MCXpress Boosted Yamaha Apex
Pastimes: Anything outdoors

QUOTE:

   
     
Doug Anderson, Utah Turbo Hound
 

 

Occupation: Building Controls
Favorite riding areas: The Towers, Mt. Jefferson, SW Wyoming
Favorite food: Mexican
Favorite music: Thunderstruck II Soundtrack!
His SLED: 2009 Nytro MC Xpress 270hp turbo. Ice age Rails, 162 power claw track, OFT steering system, Simmons gen II
Specialty: Powder, hillclimbing

Quote: Reputation is valuable but character is priceless.

Doug (or 'Dougie') as I like to call him, hails from Utah and is one of the pioneers of Farm Sled Racing. Doug rocks the steep and deep with his custom 700cc turbo. If you line up against Doug, he'll either whoop you or out-crazy you. Either way, you're going to get beat! Taking turbos where they've never been before is #1 in Doug's books. Check out his highmarking picture in our gallery! Long ride THE BANANA!!!

   
     
Wes Little, Utah Turbo Hound
 

 

Occupation: Plumber
Favorite riding areas: Island Park, Utah
Favorite food: Mexican
Favorite music: Anything LOUD
His SLED: 2008 Propane Apex boosted and a Farm sled 700cc Turbo in a custom chassis
Specialty: Scaring all the people at the bottom of the hill!

Quote: Don't tell me I can't do that!

Wes jumped head-long into the turbo world this year and oh boy does he mesh with it. You rarely see a beat up old Polaris chassis pull up next to your $30,000.00 sled and lay some smack on it. Wes has pulled some of the craziest lines I've ever seen and he is just excited to do more. His first ascent of Mt. Jefferson's "Threadmaker" put him on the map as one of the premiere chute climbers this world has to offer.

   
     
Dan Bush
 

Occupation: Construction
Favorite riding areas: British Columbia
Favorite food: Steak and seafood
Favorite music: Britney Spears
His SLED: Ummm. . . Still waiting to find out from Dan!
Specialty: Chute climbing, technical climbing

Quote: "I Like to put a little finesse into it!"

Dan made all Union Bay fans stand up and take note this year as he climbed his way into the deepest realms of chute climbing with his "Snatch" first ascent and some awesome "chopper courage" antics! Finesse all the way!

   
     
Doc Shawn Nesbo
 

Age: Forty-something!
Hometown: Conrad, Montana

Occupation: Team Physician, MD
Favorite riding areas: Skyland, Revy, Golden, Copper Creek
Favorite food: Steak and Lobster Tail
Favorite music: Rock n Roll, "Another One Bites the Dust"
His SLED: Boosted Apex, M7 when Apex is broke
Specialty: Leaping scientific boundaries, saving lives, and stamping out disease!

Quote: "You Want Proof?" and "Laughter is the Best Medicine!"

Shawn is the most dynamic member of Team Thunderstruck and with the TURBO Apex he may well be the fastest, too! Look for Shawn at all the snow shows promoting Team TS and safety while riding! Also, watch for him to dominate in the deep stuff this year!

   
     
Trennis Baer
 

Age: Not sure, but man am I BALD!
Hometown: Great Falls, Montana

Occupation: Owns concrete/excavating business
Favorite riding areas: Copper Creek, Cooke City, Mt. Jefferson
Favorite food: Steak and Shrimp
Favorite music: Eagles, some country and rock
His SLED: Yamaha APEX with Propane powered boost!
Specialty: Hillclimbing

   
     
Cam Hicks
 

Age: 29
Hometown: Slocan City, BC

Occupation: Trained Sled Basher, no sled left unharmed.
Favorite riding areas: Anywhere in the West Kootenays
Favorite food: The kind that I can reach
Favorite music: Depends what HER favorite music is
His SLEDs: 2008 Rev XP

QUOTE: Good thing someone invented the snowmobile or I wouldn't have anything to spend my money on.

   
     
Taylor Dyess :: #69x
 

Age: 14
Hometown: Pinedale, WY

Favorite Snocross Venue: Leavenworth, WA; Washington Cup Northwest Snocross

Occupation: Student
Favorite riding areas: Horse Creek in the Wyoming Range
Favorite food: Steak and Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Favorite music: NickelBack
His SLED: What exactly is Taylor riding this season?????

QUOTE: Git-R-Done; A snocross race is two races-the race to the first corner and the rest of the race.

Taylor is the only racer Team Thunderstruck sponsors during the racing season and he does us proud. He already had a huge write-up with pictures in his local paper and he has been riding snowmobiles for 10 of his 14 years! Although racing is his passion now, we're going to be getting him on the snow with Cody and Carl soon to have some FUN!

 

   
     
Jim Phelan
 

 

Occupation: Optometrist
Favorite riding areas: Copper Creek, Tony Grove, Mt. Jefferson, Lion’s Head
Favorite food: Steak from CRAFTSTEAK in MGM Grand, Las Vegas
Favorite music: Metallica, Linkin Park
His SLED: MCXpress Boosted Yamaha Nytro, LOVE IT! CR Racing tunnel, Timbersled rear suspension
Specialty: Filming, hillclimbing, powder riding

Quote: "Let's all sit around and talk about how awesome our sleds are. . . Then we'll go home."

I'm just sitting here updating everyone's little "file".

   
     
Travis Hyde, Utah Turbo Hound
 

 

Occupation: Fire Alarm Technician
Favorite riding areas:
Favorite food:
Favorite music:
His SLED: MCXpress Boosted 2009 Yamaha Nytro! Yeah BABY!
Specialty:

Quote:

Travis is the epitome of the strong, silent type. Riding the nasty chutes in IP this year, he took his 700cc turbo over a few rocks and bumps to get to the tops of those hills. Watch for Travis' awesome 4 sled "Fireworks" show with the other 3 Turbo Hounds in TSIII!

   
     
Carl Christianson
 

Age: 19 ::: Hometown: Helena, MT

Occupation: Construction
Favorite riding areas:
Favorite food:
Favorite music:
His SLED: 2007 M8 Cat

QUOTE:

   
     
Cody Bahny
 

Age: 19 ::: Hometown: Helena, MT

Occupation:
Favorite riding areas:
Favorite food:
Favorite music:
His SLED:

QUOTE:

   
     
Lyle Sinden
 

<-Click picture to enlarge

Occupation: Concrete
Favorite riding areas: Revy
Favorite food: Breakfast burritos minus the eggs!
Favorite music: TS soundtracks
His SLED: 2008 Yamaha Nitro boosted!
Specialty: Chute Climbing, carving, boondocking

Quote:

   
     
Dan Davidoff the CRAZY CANADIAN
 

 

Occupation: CRAZY CANADIAN, of course!
Favorite riding areas: Steep chutes , Huge cliffs and Big Mountains
Favorite food: Here Kitty,kitty,kitty, Cats taste great...
Favorite music: Anything with a great beat, nice and hard and soft and sweet
His SLEDs:


Specialty: Lover, Chute slayer, hillclimber

Quote: Arctic Cat, BABY!!!

   
     
Shain Stanger
 

Occupation: Brick Layer
Favorite riding areas: All of them!
Favorite food: Steak and seafood
Favorite music: Back Street Boys
His SLED: M1000 TURBO!
Specialty: Chute climbing, technical climbing

Quote:

   
     
"Disco" Dan Richter
 

 

Occupation: Building contractor (www.grandgarages.com)
Favorite riding areas: Island Park, Western Wyoming, Revelstoke
Favorite food: His custom 2" ribeye (it's good, I vouch for that!!)
Favorite music: 13th Step, System of a down
His SLED: Dan isn't even sure what kind of sled he rides!!
Specialty: A little of this, a little of that. . . Does awesome in the helicopter with me taking still photos!

Quote: (from his daughter): "When are you coming home, daddy?"

 

   
     
Wade Durbin
 

 

Occupation:
Favorite riding areas: McCall, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, Togwotee, Afton
Favorite food: Vingladoise (Portuguese pork and potatoes)
Favorite music: Alternative rock and hip-hop
His SLED:
Specialty: Hillclimbing and boondocking. . . Big powder and water crossing.

Quote: Bring it!

Wade is one of those 90 mph-everywhere-he-goes-type riders! The photo above was taken on a day with Jimmy Blaze at Turnagain Pass, Alaska!

   
     
Shane Hedden
 

Occupation: Indoor Sprinklers
Favorite riding areas: Buck Creek, Canada
Favorite food: Bud Light
Favorite music: Linkin Park
His SLED: Propane Apex
Specialty: Freestyle jumping

 

 

   
     
Dan Pate
 

Age: Old enough to know better
Hometown: East Helena, MT

Occupation: Auctioneer
Favorite riding areas: Island Park, Afton
Favorite food: Steak and sushi
Favorite music: Thrash Alternative
His SLEDs: 1200 Arctic Cat turbo built by Brad Story

QUOTE: "Live life the way YOU want to, not the everyone else wants you to."

   
     
Tony Sabol
 

Occupation: ICU Nurse
Favorite riding areas: Copper Creek, Tony Grove, Mt. Jefferson, Lion’s Head
Favorite food: Lasagna or grilled steak
Favorite music: All of it
His SLED:
Specialty: Filming, hillclimbing, powder riding, FUN!

 

   
     
Gerald Walter
 

Occupation: Custom Combiner
Favorite riding areas: Copper Creek, Cooke City, Lion’s Head
Favorite food: Bud Light
Favorite music: Songs about Bud Light
His SLED:
Specialty: Bud Light, hillclimbing

Quote: "Beer!"

 

   
     
Paul Fisher
 

Occupation: Concrete and excavating
Favorite riding areas: Copper Creek, Mt. Jefferson
Favorite food: Shrimp
Favorite music: Death Metal
His SLED: 900 Cat with CPI twins, custom HOOVER paint.
Specialty: Hillclimbing and anything you tell him to do in front of a camera

 

   
     
Brandy Floyd
 

<-Click picture to enlarge

Occupation: Legalized Extortionist
Favorite riding areas:
Favorite food: Grilled Salmon
Favorite music: Anything with a beat AND attitude.
Her SLED:
Specialty: Wearing myself out in the POW

Quote: "I'm a contender!"