ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- 1988 Cross-Country World Champion
- Silver Medalist, 1990 Downhill World Championships
- 5x Adventure Racing World Champion
- 3x Eco-Challenge Champion (1998, 2000, 2001)
- 5x Primal Quest Champion (2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008)
- 2x Iditabike Champion (1988, 1989)
- National Winter Triathlon Champion
- World Long Distance Orienteering Champion (2004)
- Inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame (2002)
- Named one of the top mountain bikers of the 20th century by VeloNews
- Sports Illustrated profiled as "The Intimidator" (2003)
LIVES IN
Vail, Colorado
FOUNDER / ATHLETE
Mike Kloser
he/himBorn in Dubuque, Iowa in 1959, Mike Kloser moved to Vail, Colorado at 19 and quickly made his mark in professional mogul skiing before discovering mountain biking in 1984. Within four years he won the 1988 Cross-Country World Championship in Crans Montana, Switzerland, becoming the first American to achieve regular success on the European World Cup circuit. He added a silver medal in Downhill at the 1990 World Championships in Durango, Colorado, two World Cup Overall runner-up finishes, and two Iditabike victories in Alaska. His contributions to the sport earned him induction into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame in 2002, with VeloNews naming him one of the top mountain bikers of the 20th century.
"Success in endurance sports comes from resilience. It's not just physical strength, but the ability to adapt, navigate challenges, and keep moving forward when things get tough."
In 1997 Mike transitioned to adventure racing, captaining Team Nike to become the world's winningest adventure racing team. He won three Eco-Challenge titles (Morocco 1998, Borneo 2000, New Zealand 2001), five Primal Quest championships, multiple Adventure Racing World Championships, and was named Adventure Racer of the Year by Competitor Magazine. Sports Illustrated profiled him as "The Intimidator" in 2003 and GearJunkie called him "a god in the sport of adventure racing." After retiring from competition in 2010, Mike founded OutThere USA, channeling decades of racing experience into designing backpacks purpose-built for adventure. OutThere packs are official gear of the Adventure Racing World Series and were featured in the 2024 film Arthur the King.
Learn more about OutThere USAMIKE'S PICKS
