Meet The Team

Austin is a washed-up thru-hiker with a background in business who spent several years living out of a backpack on long trails like the PCT, AZT, and Te Araroa. These days, he calls Salida home and spends as much time as possible trail running, mountain biking, and splitboarding in the Rockies with his wife Keely and their dog Murphy. Owning Salida Mountain Sports is a dream come true — it keeps him connected to the mountain community and lets him help others gear up for whatever adventure comes next.

"You can do hard things!"
Keely grew up in Southern California, where her love for the outdoors started on family trips to Yosemite and long weekends exploring the coast. She summited Half Dome before she turned thirteen, hiked the John Muir Trail, and has stood on top of Mount Whitney more than once—all before discovering her true obsession: backcountry splitboarding and mountain biking in the Rockies. After moving to Colorado, she found her groove in Steamboat Springs before settling in Salida—where she and her husband Austin took over Salida Mountain Sports. For Keely, owning the shop is about more than gear; it’s about community, stewardship, and helping people feel welcome in the outdoors. Her perfect day? A dawn patrol splitboard mission, a mid-morning coffee, and an afternoon ride on some hero dirt singletrack—followed by a beer and some french fries. Fun fact: Keely was a Division 1 volleyball player at UCSB and was once ranked the top libero in California.

Amy didn’t grow up in an outdoorsy family—in fact, she never went camping until she moved to Colorado in her twenties. But once she got here, it was game on. Introduced to Salida by college friends in the late ‘90s, she and her husband quickly fell in love with the Arkansas River, the Crest Trail, and skiing at Monarch—and they’ve never looked back. These days, Amy starts most mornings with a run up S Mountain and feels most grounded when she’s out in nature. A perfect day? Bagging a 14er under sunny skies and flipping through 14er guidebooks back at the shop while planning the next one. She’s constantly inspired by the people she works with—and the customers who remind her that it’s never too late to start something new outside.

"Pura Vida"
Oscar grew up in Florida and found his way into the outdoor world through rock climbing, starting at a local gym back in 2018. After a few summers road-tripping and climbing in the Southwest with his brother Issac, he packed up his Ford Transit Connect and headed west. He landed in Cañon City guiding the via ferrata at the Royal Gorge, but everything changed in 2022 when he discovered skiing—and that’s what ultimately brought him to Salida. Oscar’s perfect day outside? Start with a morning ski, float or surf a river in the afternoon, and finish things off on the wall with an evening climb. It’s all about balance—and chasing the good life.

"Smile big, life is good."
Hannah grew up near Lake Michigan, where beach days were the norm—but it wasn’t until college at Michigan State that the outdoors really clicked. Thanks to the campus outdoors club, she got into camping and backpacking, and things snowballed from there: hiking, trail running, gravel riding, mountain biking, and skiing quickly followed. She moved to Salida on a whim, chasing something new and wide open—and hasn’t looked back since. Her perfect day? Coffee (lots of it), a long mountain run or hike, a cool-off float in the river, and beers with friends in the afternoon sun. Her trail MVP is the Black Diamond Distance 15 pack—it’s her go-to for long mountain days and backcountry ski laps. And when it comes to her favorite part of SMS? It’s all about the people: the crew, the locals, and the customers passing through with big plans and good energy. Fun fact—Hannah’s also a writer. Her daily “object writing” habit turns random objects into 10-minute creative bursts. Some gold, some chaos, always worth it. Whether it’s on the trail or in life, she carries a few favorite mottos: “Slow is smooth, smooth is fast,” “Smile big,” and “Never look down on someone unless you’re helping them up.”

"We live on a floating rock—see what you can and do what makes your heart full."
Harper was born into a family of outdoor enthusiasts and has been chasing sunrises, summits, and ski laps for as long as she can remember. Originally from Durango, she moved to Salida at age nine for her dad’s job—and has called the mountains home ever since. Her ideal day depends on the season: first chair or a sunrise skin in the winter, long mountain bike rides or early morning 14er summits in the summer. Either way, she’s up early and outside. Harper’s a gear junkie—especially when it comes to ski setups—but don’t sleep on her love for hats (her collection is legit). She loves working at SMS because it gives her the chance to connect with people who share her stoke for the outdoors and help spark that passion in others. Fun facts? She may destroy you at chess. And as a kid, she’d roam around in a pioneer dress pretending to cross the Great Plains. Her mindset on the mountain or in life: the only person stopping you is you—so go live it up on this wild, floating rock.

"Hydrate or diedrate."
Keagen was literally born into the outdoors—during a thunderstorm, no less. Raised by a legendary mom and brought to Salida thanks to her sense of adventure, Keagen’s been racking up full-send days ever since. A dream day includes sunrise backcountry laps, an afternoon float, golden-hour bike ride, and crashing in a hammock under the stars. Their go-to piece of gear? The Katadyn BeFree water filter. Because hydration is life. At SMS, Keagen thrives on the community—both inside the shop and out. The shared stoke for wild places is what keeps them inspired. Oh, and if you’re into music, look up King in Gray wherever you stream. Mottos to live by? No half sends. Hydrate or die dry. Can I have a bight?

Molly’s been adventuring outside since before she could walk—literally. Raised with a love for the outdoors, she can’t imagine life without exploring wild places. Her family moved to Salida when she was six, and now she’s raising her own kids in the same beautiful valley she grew up in. For Molly, a perfect day outside comes in many forms: floating the river with family, cruising mellow blues with her kids, or charging through Class V whitewater and deep powder on expert terrain. She embraces every season and every phase of life as a woman in the outdoor industry—always with gratitude and joy for where she’s been and where she’s headed.

Safety Suzi
Suzi’s love for the outdoors kicked off in high school with a four-day rafting trip through Golden High School’s program—and she’s been chasing rivers ever since. At CU Boulder, she dove deeper into outdoor pursuits with rafting and scuba diving, and later spent summers guiding on both the Animas and Arkansas Rivers. Drawn to the water and a love for teaching, Suzi eventually made her way to Salida, where both passions collide. Her idea of a perfect day? A crisp fall float trip with family and friends, camping under cottonwoods, and drifting off to sleep with the sound of the river nearby. At the shop, you’ll usually find her repping Kuhl pants (they fit just right) and Patagonia layers. She loves catching up with her coworkers and meeting the wide range of folks who wander into SMS. True to her nickname, Suzi never hits the trail without a first aid kit—and a solid sense of caution. After all, adventure’s more fun when you’re prepared.