Our Staff

Kris SwarthoutCoach/Owner

Kris has been a competitive presence in triathlons since 2001. First as an athlete now as a coach. Kris is currently assisting with the Paratriathlon National Team and is a presenter for the USA Triathlon Coaching Education Department. Between 2010 and 2014 he served as the Official Age Group Coach for Team USA and accompanied them to the ITU World Championships around the globe. Kris is also a co-founder of the Leanda Cave Foundation helping to empower women through triathlon.

Kris has coached athletes ranging from professional to first time amateurs. He strives to help people achieve the ultimate balance of family and sport in their lives. Fun fact: Kris is a retired police officer.

USAT Level 3 Coach
USAT Paratriathlon Coach
USAT Youth and Junior Coach
USATF Level 1 Coach
USAT Level 1 Race Director

Gaby BuntenCoach

Coach Gaby is driven by the passion behind the sport of triathlon. Not only does the sport require blood, sweat and tears at times. The sport inspires individuals to step out of their comfort zone and TRI something new. Her philosophy as a coach is to inspire athletes by helping them reach a goal they never thought they could achieve.

Over the past six years, she has achieved a degree in exercise science with focus on sports performance enhancement, achieved All-American triathlon status and a chance to compete in Division I athletics. She has the experience and knowledge to work with individuals of all abilities, to grow your strengths and diminish limitations. The experience and credentials she has earned has molded her into the athlete and coach she is today. Gaby realizes that every athlete is different, requiring an array of emphasis on cycling, swimming and running. She will push you to enhance performance and skills in all three elements with attention to detail. But what it comes down to, is her inspiration for you to TRI something new.

B.S. in Exercise Science from Iowa State University
Division I Distance swimmer from University of North Dakota
USAT All-American
2013 & 2015 Age Group World Championship Qualifier
2016 70.3 World Championship Qualifier

Diane HankeeCoach

Diane started in the sport of triathlon in 2005. She specializes in long course coaching, with an emphasis on nutrition and climate specific training plans. Through her racing experience she has gained knowledge in short course, ITU racing, long course and duathlon. Diane continually researches nutrition and training techniques, and tests new equipment regularly. In addition to educational programs for coaches through USAT, she explores innovative ideas to teach proper technique; recognizing people have varying abilities to learn, and people accept concepts in different ways.

USAT Level 1 Coach
Youth Volunteer Swim Coach
Group Fitness Instructor

Mike Ladendorf Coach

Mike has been involved in endurance sports for 15 years. Since his first track race in high school he was hooked. His love for running evolved into a love for a healthy active lifestyle through endurance sports. He has been a triathlete since 2006, competing at the elite amateur level. He is an Ironman finisher and is very active in the Minnesota Multi-sport scene. Mike is also a head coach of the MN Junior Elite team, fostering and developing excellence in the next generation of triathletes.

USAT Level 1 Coach
USAT Youth and Junior Coach

Greg Albrecht Coach

Greg has 16 years of professional coaching under his belt. He focuses on triathletes and marathon runners. Greg has been a competitive age group athlete, completing over 200 triathlons and 81 marathons over the past 25 years. Greg has coached over 200 athletes from beginners to Ironman triathletes to successfully reach their goals. His mantras are; for marathons, “Getting faster, getting stronger,” for general fitness and weight loss “Work out more, eat less,” for racing “Stay focused, stay relaxed” and for working out he says “Have a plan for every workout and work the plan.”

USAT Level 1 Coach

Teresa BriestCoach

While playing youth sports at the age of 12, Teresa was told her knees weren’t built for intense exercise. Swimming was suggested instead of basketball along with physical therapy and adaptive physical education. That one suggestion, although very difficult to grasp, lead to a whole new path for Teresa and athletics. She grew strong in high school and college swimming and developed a love for the sport. While pursuing her education degree, Teresa decided to continue her swimming as a coach at the high school level. Coaching and teaching techniques became second nature for Teresa.
In 2007, a good friend, Darcy Franklin, suggested triathlons. She was hooked after winning her age group in her very first race. But in 2010, Teresa had a season ending foot injury. With determination and the guidance of Darcy, Teresa started her CrossFit training journey and has never looked back. She sees the benefits of high intensity training along with Olympic weight lifting when swimming in masters swim meets. She has never been stronger and holds MN age group records in swimming to prove it! Along with being head coach and owner of Tangletown CrossFit, Teresa is the owner and coach of I Swim Masters Team in Eden Prairie.
Teresa had progressed in her CrossFit training to now include competitions. She has many successes with team competitions and has accomplished a personal goal of finishing the masters qualifier every year since 40 years old. Teresa views CrossFit as an excellent workout for all fitness levels and is an encouraging coach who wants to help others meet their personal goals!
Outside of the gym, Teresa enjoys spending time with her husband and children, eating cheese, cheering on any Badger team, and playing with her dog.

US Swimming Coach
United States Masters Swimming Level II
Crossfit Level 2 Trainer
BS in Education UW- Eau Claire
MA in Education St. Mary’s University

Will SurbaughCoach

Will has been involved in endurance sports for a decade, beginning with cross-country in middle school and currently as a professional marathon mountain biker. Finding his love of endurance sports early in life, he has chosen to pursue an education in exercise physiology and pre-medicine. He has used his experience and education to achieve top results at the biggest off-road endurance races in the U.S.
Will typically focuses on cyclists, runners, and xc skiers. His coaching philosophy is to create a sustainable approach to training that allows athletes to continually improve, year after year. He believes the most important aspect of training is consistency. Fun Fact: Will also worked as a sled dog guide and Wilderness EMT.

Junior pursuing B.S. in Exercise Physiology at Fort Lewis College
Professional Endurance Cyclist

Kris has helped me take my racing to a new level. He has taught me that racing is strategic as well as putting your best performance out there. Coaching me to my A game for age group nationals and worlds. Coach Kris provided me with great guidance writing a training plan which ensures I don’t over train and make each workout meaningful. He is also great at taking in to account my crazy ever changing schedule as I balance training with responsibilities as wife and mom of three busy kids. He also adapted the plan as needed like after I broke my wrist at Chisago and still needed to train for nationals and worlds.

Laura

Karen, I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the ski class this winter. I picked up skating as an adult. I could slug along, but I never really learned “how” to do it. I really learned techniques in your class that have helped me improve. The class size was ideal (contrast with the gigantic club-style classes) allowing plenty of opportunity for me to get personal help and feedback on what I was doing–wrong and right. I think I was at about at the midpoint skill-wise; and the class was perfect for me. It also seemed like there were good opportunities for advanced skiers and beginners too. I’d heartily recommend the class to others.

Lisa

Coach Greg,
Thanks again for all you have done for me! Amazing I could have come this far – and I could not have done it without you!

Lyle

With Coach Greg’s guidance I reached my goal of qualifying for triathlon Worlds.
He made the difference I needed to qualify for the Triathlon World Championship. Of all the changes I’ve made to seek improvement in triathlon, the best value has been in finding a great coach.

Thomas

I’d like to take a brief moment to compliment you on Coach Gaby. She is very good and you are very lucky to have her. She goes above and beyond and makes herself very available for help & questions. Something that goes a very long way with me given I sometimes work 70 to 80 hour weeks! Plus I ask a lot of questions and it requires patience I’m sure.

Chris

I would highly recommend Final K’s Performance Coaching package for anyone looking to get into triathlons or for anyone looking to improve where they currently are. As a new triathlete, working with Coach Phil allowed me to take the guesswork out of the workouts and focus solely on my performance. I was extremely pleased with what this service had to offer including weekly phone calls, unlimited texts and calls, and a Training Peaks account which made analyzing and understanding my personal workouts very easy. Never thought I’d be able to do a Half-Ironman but Final K and Coach Phil made it possible! Big thank you!

Sean