STAFF
our skilled
team leadership
team leadership
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Sharma Phillips LEAD COACH
Sharma Phillips infectious and energetic personality promotes a high level of enthusiasm, inspiration, and strength to her leadership as a lead coach. In addition, her strong athletic background and experience preceded her membership with RFWTT. Prior to joining the team, Sharma has been an accomplished runner and organized an all-woman’s cycling club at her local bike shop. In 2010, Sharma became a member of the RFWTT as well as assistant coach for the team. At the time, the RFWTT swim coaches taught her to swim, and it started her journey with triathlons.
Sharma is a certified Ironman triathlon coach, certified personal fitness instructor and group fitness instructor. She is the owner of TRI Valley Training, which is a club that focuses on long distance races and events. Personal accomplishments are completing five marathons (including Boston), all distances of triathlon. (Sprint, Olympic, 70.3 and a full Ironman). She has completed several notable trail runs (Golden Leaf and Imogene Pass) and many more.
Sharma’s love for athletics comes from a passion to push her own personal boundaries. She receives deep enjoyment from setting goals and working toward them as well as helping others achieve what they think is impossible. This is where her love for the RFWTT stems. Helping others see new potential in themselves and giving them to the tools to succeed. This is what the team means to her and she is grateful to be one of the head coaches.
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Carla Westerman LEAD COACH
The RFWTT is fortunate to have Carla Westerman as a lead coach with her strong athletic background, experience, and history with the team. Her leadership is set apart by the motivating spirit she embodies, helping those around her reach their full potential. Her ‘can do’ attitude rubs off on everyone. She helps her team members believe they are capable of more than they originally thought. For many on the team, she is the voice telling them to run a little faster, swim a little harder, and bike a little farther. Her motto is “KEEP MOVING!”
Carla’s experience includes a USAT Level One Coach certification. She originally started on the RFWTT in 2008 as a beginner triathlete, needing to learn how to swim. With the help of the RFWTT team swim coaches, Carla went on to complete her first sprint triathlon and found a true love for the sport. Carla has since completed many Sprint and Olympic Distance races, as well as two Half Ironman distance races, and in 2016 completed her first Ironman Triathlon at Ironman Louisville Kentucky.
Assistant
Coaches
Coaches
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Jeannette Chiappinelli Assistant Coach
Jeannette Chiappinelli has lived in the valley for 20 years, and participated with RFWTT since 2012. The team inspired her inner athlete and transformed her perspective on life. Not only has the team helped expand her athletic capabilities, but also inspired lasting friendships. The team is more than a group of women, it becomes an extension to ones family. Along with the inspiration of the team, Jeannette’s determination, striving for excellence, and work ethic has led to second place wins in her age group and completion of a half-marathon. Her personable nature, approachability, and commitment as a team player makes her a great contributor to team leadership as a coach.
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Jessie Johnson Assistant Coach
Jessie Johnson started her triathlon training back in 2013 with the RFWTT. With some hesitation and some friendly nudging from others to sign up, she decided it was time to jump in and try something new. She has completed seven triathlons thanks to this wonderful group of coaches and teammates. Not having much experience in swimming and biking prior to joining this group, she has learned so much.
Jessie offers a strong history and experience in running. She was fortunate to have some amazing friends in middle school who inspired her love of running and encouraged her to join the cross-country running team. This childhood experience has followed her to adulthood. She moved to Snowmass Village, CO in 1994, and met her husband, Erik, at the end of the Basalt Half Marathon in August 1996. Jessie, her husband and two daughters have lived in Glenwood Springs for the past 12 years. She has completed many local running races, completed eight marathons, having qualified for Boston Marathon three times, and seven triathlons in both the sprint and olympic distances. The RFWTT is excited to have Jessie’s strong background incorporated in the leadership team.
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Sherrie Setterberg Assistant Coach
Sherrie Setterberg has a life long passion for the sport of triathlon because of the inherent variety and challenge it offers. Her first triathlon was in 1989 at the Glenwood Triathlon. Since then, she has competed in many sprint and olympic distance triathlons and is a 70.3 Half Ironman finisher. She is also a 2-time USAT Age Group National Championship qualifier. Sherrie has been a member of the RFWTT since 2010. The team has been a meaningful and valuable source of comradery, inspiration, education and support. Moreover, she treasures the network of women who are ready to pair up for not only workouts and races but also coffee and fun times.
She hopes to bring insight to other athletes in achieving sustainability in multisport training and competitions. She focuses on strength and fitness derived from physical and mental preparation. Most importantly, she cherishes meeting new fellow athletes and offers hearty encouragement on their journey to navigating this enriching sport of triathlon.
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Nancy Zeigel Assistant Coach
Nancy Zeigel joined the RFWTT in 2012 when her daughter wanted to find something to do together to honor her aunt whom had passed away from breast cancer. Saying “yes” was one of the best decisions of my life. Nancy grew up as an athlete playing volleyball, basketball, tennis, softball…anything with a ball involved. She had never swam a lap, ridden a bike up a hill or even run a mile for exercise. This team has reignited Nancy’s inner athlete, renewed her passion for fitness and health, inspired her to be a better person every day and most importantly has given her friendships and a family of sisters who mean the world to her.
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Margo Fishman Assistant Coach
As a child, I was called a “tomboy” with my many athletic strengths. Throughout high school, I played volleyball, basketball, tennis, and gymnastics. Also, I participated as a junior varsity and varsity cheerleader for the boy’s football and basketball teams. In my first year of college, I played volleyball as a setter and continued playing mixed doubles beach volleyball for many years. Later I developed my love of running, which led to my completion of 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons, and two full marathons. Last year, I ran the Avenue of the Giants Marathon, in the California redwoods, at the age of 70.
Before moving to Carbondale in 1997, my husband and I traveled many exotic adventures, including Nepal, Switzerland, Alaska, Chile, Costa Rica, Canada, and Italy. During this time period, we ran together and added hiking, biking, and river rafting to our athletic interests.
In 2011, I joined the Roaring Fork Women’s Triathlon Team. Since joining the team, I have completed and placed in numerous Sprint and Olympic triathlons and have qualified several times for Nationals. Nothing has compared to the joys of being part of this team. The support, care, instruction, and professionalism shown by the coaches have been outstanding. The teamwork between team members and among coaches is astounding. My best friends and closest relationships have developed while participating with the many women who have been on the team. I hope to be an inspiration to new members, demonstrating one can continue enjoying competitive sports far into the golden years.
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Lindy Clarke Assistant Coach
Lindy Clarke completed her first triathlon with the RFWTT in 2019 after some timely encouragement from a friend who later becomes a Tri Sister. Before joining the team, Lindy had emphatically said that she would never do a triathlon! Spoiler alert, she was wrong. She excelled through the supportive coaching, structured training, and camaraderie of the team, surpassing the initial race goals she set for herself. Fitness and health have always been important to her, but this was the first time she truly considered herself an athlete. She is excited to serve as a coach and help other women unleash their inner athletes and surpass their own goals and expectations.
Lindy moved to the valley in 2016 to be with her husband Chris. She has lived in a handful of states throughout her life, but none have felt as much like home as beautiful Colorado. The beauty of the place is matched only by the authenticity of the people. The Clarkes recently welcomed their daughter, Chloe, and are excited to raise her in such a wonderful town.
Swim
Coaches
Coaches
For most people, the swim is the hardest challenge. Our team’s success would not be possible without the below swim coaches. We have many success stories of team members who did not know how to swim and with the help of our swim coaches, were transformed and able to complete the sprint distance open water swim by the end of the season.
- Judy Haynes
- Howard and Mary Jay
- Sydney Pena
- Kathy Westley
- Tesia Zuba
For most people, the swim is the hardest challenge. Our team’s success would not be possible without the below swim coaches. We have many success stories of team members who did not know how to swim and with the help of our swim coaches, were transformed and able to complete the sprint distance open water swim by the end of the season.
- Judy Haynes
- Howard and Mary Jay
- Sydney Pena
- Kathy Westley
- Tesia Zuba
Administrative
Staff
Staff
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Gloria Farmer Web Designer
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Jill Wilson Administrator
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Taylor Smith Photographer
Contact Us
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what
experts say
experts say