Camp Directors:

 James Bauman

James Bauman is a USAT Level 1 Coach with a Youth & Junior Certification. He launched the Strive Youth and Junior Triathlon Team in Portland, ORE in 2014. He has spent time learning from many coaches around the country and has had the opportunity to train and coach at one of the USAT Performance Centers. He continues to compete at the 70.3 and IM distances. His athletic background began in High School with Team sports before he found his passion in cycling, running and swimming! James is passionate about introducing young athletes to the sport of triathlon, coaching to perfect their skillets and assisting them to meet their competitive goals. This is his second year coaching at the USAT Junior Skills Camp.

Alan Abeyta

Alan is a USAT level 1 coach with a youth and junior certification.  His full time job is Custom Picture framing where he has won numerous regional and international competitions.  When Alan is not framing he is the head coach and co-founder of TriProject in Tempe, AZ.  Alan was born in Washington DC and has lived all over the world.  As a child while his father was a Foreign Service officer it resulted in him speaking 5 languages.  While living in Barcelona he discovered his love of running.  This passion for sport, lead him to participate in everything from volleyball to track to white water kayaking to rock climbing.  Alan discovered my love of mountain bike and triathlon racing while living in Durango, Co. It was as they say, over.  He knew which sports he would do for the rest of his life.  Alan has: run marathons, half marathon trail races, participated in Xterra triathlons, raced the Durango Silverton train, 104 mile mountain bike races, Triple-By- Pass in Co to name a few.  His passion for sport is clearly seen when coaching his kids and is committed to making this sport FUN!

Head Coaches: 

Jason Smith

A native of Indiana and graduate of Indiana University, Jason Smith took his degree in Exercise Science and Business to Santa Barbara, California in 2010. His athletic accomplishments started at a young age as Jason was inspired for a life full of competition by his father, Kip Smith, Indiana University's Head Sports Medicine Director and a Hall of Fame Athletic Trainer.  Jason never turns down an opportunity to compete.  During college he played football, ran the 800 meter in track and field, and ran cross-country as well as competed on IU’s Cutters Little 500 cycling team.  He was All-Conference in the 800 meter run while on also receiving Rookie of the Year honors on the cycling team. In 2002 he continued his endeavors as an elite cyclist competing professionally in 2009, earning top ranks in the USA as an adventure racer, All-American honors in triathlon for the 2009, 2010, and 2011 seasons, and most recently competing as a professional triathlete.  He is dedicated to his own professional career as a triathlete as well as the health and wellness of all those he trains and coaches young and/or “experienced”.  Jason is a cancer survivor and uses his wealth of experience to inspire athletes and non-athletes to reach their full potential in life.

Kaori Peters

Kaori is a USAT Level 1 Certified Coach, who helps triathletes of all skill levels to achieve their athletic goals. Whether you are training for your first triathlon or looking to make consistent podium appearances, Kaori will work with you to put a training plan together that meets your goals, and provide valuable coaching while executing that plan. Kaori began coaching as a member of California Polytechnic State University, SLO's triathlon team where she earned a BFA degree in Art & Design with concentration in Photography. She held various coaching roles and leadership positions while a member of the Cal Poly Triathlon Team, all while consistently ranking in the top 1-10% of races and attaining All-American Status. When Kaori's not coaching E^3 athletes, she stays busy as a Triathlon Race Director, Professional Commercial/Adventure Sports Photographer running her own business, graphic/web designer, Japanese Interpreter, Brand Consultant, and International Business woman. Kaori's goals for 2019 are to get her pro-card in triathlon, and continue to give back to the sport of triathlon by directing Morro Bay Triathlon and coaching athletes of all levels. 

Katie Gorczyca

Katie was raised in Las Vegas, Nevada competing in track/cross country during high school as well as swimming competitively for her club team. She went on to be crowned the Nevada State Cross Country Champion twice and contributed to her track team’s success with four state titles. Gorczyca found her passion for triathlon when she was thirteen years old competing as a youth, junior, and U23 athlete. She has attended multiple USAT skills and select camps as a young athlete and then earned her elite license in 2015. Gorczyca attended the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs to train as a member of the Elite Triathlon Academy at the Olympic Training Center while earning her degree. She has experience in competing at multiple Continental Cups and World Championship events. She was voted USAT U23 athlete of the year in 2016. That same year she transferred to Arizona State University to compete for the Sun Devils on the first D1 NCAA Triathlon Team. She was runner up at the first NCAA National Championship and led the sun devils to their first of three national championship wins. This allowed her to be named a CTCA Scholar All-American. Gorczyca completed her degree in Kinesiology in December of 2018 and is currently training for more professional racing. She also holds a personal trainer certification. Outside of training, Gorczyca enjoys healthy eating, yoga/meditation, traveling, and inspiring others. She will be attending Dental School this fall.