PRESIDENTMatthew Voisin
Matt Voisin runs the day-to-day operation of FasterSkier, focusing on marketing and advertising. Matt started nordic skiing at the age of two and since then has made it a central focus of his life. Matt graduated from the University of New Hampshire, where he was a four-year member and co-captain of the nordic ski team.
After graduation he spent 11 years coaching at Mount Greylock Regional High School in Williamstown, Mass., one of the largest public high school teams in the country and ran a training group for junior skiers in the summers.
Matt spends his time at home trying to keep up with his two boys.
MANAGING EDITORRachel Perkins
Carbondale, Colorado based and East Coast born, Rachel brings to FasterSkier the energy and insights of an all-season outdoor athlete. Trail running epics before her young daughter rises? No problem. Stoking young skiers on the loveliness of cross-country skiing? She does that too as a coach. Rachel reports on racing, nutrition, and emerging trends in the outdoor sports space. We’re lucky to have her on board.
WORLD CUP ANALYSTDevon KERSHAW
The air guitar. The gritty Canadian roots in Sudbury, Ontario. The opinions. Lots of opinions. Kershaw remains a storied Candian National Team member with gold in the team sprint at the 2011 World Championships. He placed second overall in the 2011/2012 World Cup standings. He now resides in Lillehammer, Norway with his wife and two daughters. Kershaw is for real when it comes to his takes on The Devon Kershaw Show podcast and his tolerance for Type II bordering on Type III fun. It is a dream for some at FasterSkier to be led on a Norwegian based ski-mountaineering trip with Kershaw setting the skin track.
ASSISTANT EDITORElla HALL
Growing up in Washington’s Methow Valley, Ella was immersed in skiing and the ski community from a young age. From early days bundled in the pulk, to learning to ski as soon as she could walk, to junior racing, a few seasons of collegiate racing, and then to coaching, she has experienced the ski world in many forms. Now, as a recent graduate from Dartmouth College, she finds herself living in France splitting her time between teaching English at a university in Lyon, avidly following ski racing (and now writing about it!) and adventuring in the outdoors as often as possible.
STAFF REPORTERGavin KENTCH
Gavin is a lifelong Alaskan immersed in the 49th state’s cross-country scene. Trained lawyer, wordsmith, and keen observer of the elite racing world, Gavin’s work sings. He skis with the Alaska Pacific University Masters team in Anchorage, plays with his two adorable daughters, and occasionally works as a solo attorney. He has a cat named Marit. His profile of Erik Flora won the 'Best Sports Feature' award in the 2018 Alaska Press Club contest. As he states in his old bio, “He was probably on snow this year before you were.” He does live way way north, so this is most likely accurate.
STAFF REPORTERBen THEYERL
Ben Theyerl was born into a family now three-generations into nordic ski racing in the US. He grew up skiing for Chippewa Valley Nordic in his native Eau Claire, Wisconsin, before spending four years racing for Colby College in Maine. He currently mixes writing, politics, and skiing (not necessarily all related) while based out of Crested Butte, CO, where he coaches the best group of high schoolers one could hope to find.
STAFF REPORTERIan TOVELL
Growing up in New England, Ian found his love for cross country skiing and running at a young age. As a lifelong lover of the sport, he fostered his connection to skiing as a coach for a local high school in Maine and a board member for the New England Nordic Ski Association. He's also a regular at the Birkie. In his free time you can find him on the running trails, ski trails, or just enjoying the New England outdoors with his son, Bear.
Staff ReporterGerry FURSETH
Gerry is our longtime Canada based reporter. Based in Vernon, British Columbia, he is FasterSkier’s Canadian eyes and ears. Gerry’s perspective is grounded in a lifelong love for training and racing. Most winter days you can find him on an early AM ski logging kilometers at Sovereign Lake. When there’s no snow, he can be found running and biking at Kal Park. Simply put: Gerry prefers the outdoors to his day job.
STAFF REPORTERPeter MINDE
Based in the wild of New Jersey, Peter is our link to the broader world of skiing in the East. He’s a welcome presence popping up here and there at nordic centers from Western Massachusetts to almost-in-Canada, including Craftsbury and Mount Van Hoevenberg. Peter brings a passion for the sport and a willingness to explore issues relating to juniors through the master’s rank. And yes, you’ll likely see him throw on an early-season bib at some of New England’s most iconic rollerski races.
He first began contributing to FasterSkier during a period when he stayed home with his daughter, because he wanted to give back to the ski community.
He first began contributing to FasterSkier during a period when he stayed home with his daughter, because he wanted to give back to the ski community.