Team Spotlight: Wes

Who are you? Give us some highlights from your past

Hi, my name’s Wes. I’m a born and raised Oregonian, where I spent much of my time as a kid playing every sport under the sun and spent most of my time outside. My nickname growing up (and still to this day) is Bubba. During the winter here, I find it best to cope with the gloomy skies and rainy days by heading up to Mt Hood to ski to enjoy some Pacific NW powder … which can also just be rain.

I went to college down in the Bay Area where I was lucky enough to play DII Lacrosse and get an education. At the time, I wanted to be a teacher but soon realized I enjoyed working with small businesses and had a desire to get into the outdoor industry so I could spend more time and less money skiing and being outside. Present day I live in Sherwood with my partner, Brittany, and 2 year old son Wilder.

Tell us about a very memorable trip outdoors from the last few years

For an anniversary trip, my partner Brittany and I wanted to knock another national park off our list and Yellowstone in the springtime was our destination. We flew to Bozeman and rented an RV so we could easily camp, hike, and drive our giant mapped-out loop through the park. We spent 5 nights surrounded by the most incredible views, animals, and climates one could ever imagine. It was spring time so we saw lots of younger animals. Everything from goats, mule deer, buffalo and otters. One evening as the sun was setting, we went for a walk no more than a mile from camp to a narrow part of a nearby river. We stumbled upon two otters playing in the water about 20 yards from us.

We just stood there and watched as the sun started to set. The otters were having such a good time, they didn’t even notice us. The change in climate was extremely noticeable. We even had to take the RV through a little snow. It was my first time driving one so I did my best to stay out of the slush but with the slow thaw of spring it was sometimes tough to avoid. We enjoyed random snowfall, white peaks, and within hours we were back in shorts and T-shirts. We saw “Old Faithful”, and the “Grand Prismatic Spring” all while randomly getting out to stop and for a hike or to enjoy a view. We were in no rush to get through any of it, we just wanted to take it in. Our meals may not have been “fine dining” but to us, there was no better restaurant. It’s still to this day our most talked about trip.

What do you do at Minimal Gear?

I’m the wholesale account manager. I work with our distributors, buyers, and store owners to ensure they are stocked up with Cnoc gear and ready to help their customers get outside. I also hope to get out to a number of events to talk all things Cnoc and spread some stoke!

What is a running project you are working on at the moment that no one knows about yet?

Being new to the team, I’m working on getting to know everyone in the community. I look forward to helping out with events and working with anyone interested in the community. This company always seems to be making new things, so I’m excited for what’s to come!

What is your favorite piece of gear that we make?

With ski season starting up, I plan on going a little less traditional route by utilizing our various Hydriam sizes and quick straw attachments to keep myself hydrated this season. I’ll be using the 500ML Hydriam with a 42MM opening with a QuickConnect cap to stow water in my left chest pocket and in my right pocket, I’ll stash our smaller 350ML Hydriam with 28MM opening with a sports cap to share … apple juice on the lift with friends.

What’s an interesting (or not-so-interesting) non-Minimal Gear factoid about yourself that is important to who you are as a person?

Along with skiing, hiking, camping, and more, for the last 10 years I’ve been a part of running a men’s post collegiate lacrosse club called the PDX Pirates. Outside of playing, I source sponsorships (shout out Loyal Legion in Beaverton!) and help create our custom gear for the season. I hope to one day get back into coaching but for now, I’m still out there acting like a kid.