Teamwork makes the dream work
MTB Verbier Team 
Everyone involved with MTB Verbier shares a passion for the mountains and biking and we are all here to share our knowledge with you. You can be sure that with the MTB Verbier team by your side you will have a mountain biking experience you will never forget. Allow us to introduce the MTB Verbier team…
MTB Verbier is owned and operated by Erik den Oudendammer and Jess Kroon.
Like many, we were first attracted by Verbier’s reputation for incredible skiing, but unable to drag ourselves away as the snow melted, we were delighted and amazed to discover a world class mountain biking venue under the snow. Since 2003 we have called this region our home. With skiing in the winter and biking in the summer we have found the perfect lifestyle in the mountains and we are passionate to share our experiences and our knowledge of the area with you!
Meet the team, passionate biking personalities with one collective goal, enjoy the rides!
Swiss cycling MTB guide
Jess spends as much time on the bike as possible, with friends, guiding or coaching. Welcoming and hosting guests and managing MTB Verbier.
She is happiest riding her bike and spending time with guests around the campfire, sharing life stories and bike adventures.
Strengths: Positive attitude, switchbacks, making people feel at home, and taking nice pics.
Riding tip: Go slow, look Pro!
Favorite trail: Col de Mille
Bike: Scott Contessa Ransom 910
Host
After graduating from the Hotel Management School, Elise built her career managing hotels in Amsterdam, Costa Rica, and Panama. For many years, she lived season to season. snowboarding in the winter and running a surf & yoga lodge in Portugal during the summer. Now she has turned the tables, bringing her passion and warmth to Verbier’s summer season. She loves the stunning nature and animals. enjoys baking, and spends her free time exploring trails or taking a refreshing plunge into icy mountain waters.
• Favorite dish: Grilled vegetables & summer salads
• Passions: Surfing, hiking, baking, and connecting with nature
• Life motto: life is one great adventure, enjoy every minute
Qualified MTB/Road/Gravel guide
Niels has a varied background in guiding and racing in all disciplines. He has a lot of experience in guiding in the Austrian and Swiss Alps. In the summer he spends as much time riding his bike and guiding our international guests on the best trails in the area. Doing about 400.000 descending meters in a bike season, you would almost forget he also does a fair bit of climbs and tours around the Mont Blanc.
Strengths: Great bike mechanic, fast on the trails, gives guests confidence to improve their skills
Riding tip: Speed is your friend
Favorite trail: Jackass
Bike: RAAW Madonna v3
Swiss cycling MTB guide
The heart and motor of MTB Verbier. He started this ultimate adventure in 2003 when he moved from the Netherlands to the Swiss Alps. Erik is happiest when he is on the bike. Like a local mountain goat, he moves with trust, skill, and fun over the mountains. He loves big mountain adventures and enjoying the local nature and culture.
Strengths: Endless energy and enthusiasm
Riding tip: Look ahead and ENJOY the ride!
Favorite trail: Fenetre de Durand
Bike: Scott Spark/Ransom
Qualified MTB guide and coach
Ben grew up riding an MTB in the UK. Since 2015, he has been guiding and coaching in various places around the world, including Whistler and Queenstown. He loves to ride anything from flowy jump lines to steep, sketchy trails and everything in between. His favourite trail in Verbier is
Strengths: Challenges and coaches riders to improve their skills, Great bike mechanic.
Riding tip: Ride like a gorilla, not like a T. rex (there is a reason they’re extinct)
Favorite trail: Toboggan!
Bike: TREK Slash 9.8
Private Chef & Adventurer
With over 20 years of culinary experience, Bas has cooked everywhere from Amsterdam’s restaurants to luxury chalets in Zermatt, St. Anton, Sölden, and Verbier. His journey continued in Costa Rica’s jungle, creating five‑course menus while surfing, and later in Portugal, where he led a busy surf & yoga lodge before founding his own private chef business.
• Life motto: Cook with heart, live with adventure
• Favorite dish: Seasonal Mediterranean creations
• Passions: Trail running & training for half marathons
Qualified MTB Guide
Mark spends as much time in the mountains as his job in the Netherlands lets him. We are lucky to have him on the team and he is the guide that has worked with us for the longest period. He will ride every free minute, and even after a day of guiding he still has the energy to ride the steepest trail in the area, which ends right at his doorstep.
Strengths: Endo turns, takes great bike pics, and loves socializing with the guests.
Riding tip: Enjoy the moment and look where the trail goes!
Favorite trail: Vertigo/ Vallee Express (his home trail)
Bike: Trek Slash 9.8
Swiss cycling MTB guide
The heart and motor of MTB Verbier. He started this ultimate adventure in 2003 when he moved from the Netherlands to the Swiss Alps. Erik is happiest when he is on the bike. Like a local mountain goat, he moves with trust, skill, and fun over the mountains. He loves big mountain adventures and enjoying the local nature and culture.
Strengths: Endless energy and enthusiasm
Riding tip: Look ahead and ENJOY the ride!
Favorite trail: Fenetre de Durand
Bike: Scott Spark/Ransom
Swiss cycling MTB guide
Jess spends as much time on the bike as possible, with friends, guiding or coaching. Welcoming and hosting guests and managing MTB Verbier.
She is happiest riding her bike and spending time with guests around the campfire, sharing life stories and bike adventures.
Strengths: Positive attitude, switchbacks, making people feel at home, and taking nice pics.
Riding tip: Go slow, look Pro!
Favorite trail: Col de Mille
Bike: Scott Contessa Ransom 910
Qualified MTB/Road/Gravel guide
Niels has a varied background in guiding and racing in all disciplines. He has a lot of experience in guiding in the Austrian and Swiss Alps. In the summer he spends as much time riding his bike and guiding our international guests on the best trails in the area. Doing about 400.000 descending meters in a bike season, you would almost forget he also does a fair bit of climbs and tours around the Mont Blanc.
Strengths: Great bike mechanic, fast on the trails, gives guests confidence to improve their skills
Riding tip: Speed is your friend
Favorite trail: Jackass
Bike: Raaw Madonna v3
Qualified MTB Guide
Mark spends as much time in the mountains as his job in the Netherlands lets him. We are lucky to have him on the team and he is the guide that has worked with us for the longest period. He will ride every free minute, and even after a day of guiding he still has the energy to ride the steepest trail in the area, which ends right at his doorstep.
Strengths: Endo turns, takes great bike pics, and loves socializing with the guests.
Riding tip: Enjoy the moment and look where the trail goes!
Favorite trail: Vertigo/ Vallee Express (his home trail)
Bike: Trek Slash 9.8
Private Chef & Adventurer
With over 20 years of culinary experience, Bas has cooked everywhere from Amsterdam’s restaurants to luxury chalets in Zermatt, St. Anton, Sölden, and Verbier. His journey continued in Costa Rica’s jungle, creating five‑course menus while surfing, and later in Portugal, where he led a busy surf & yoga lodge before founding his own private chef business.
• Life motto: Cook with heart, live with adventure
• Favorite dish: Seasonal Mediterranean creations
• Passions: Trail running & training for half marathons