2026 Edina Coaches
Levi Severson, Head Coach
Levi Severson is a MCA certified level 3 coach. Levi has always enjoyed outside adventure and endurance activities. Running was his primary hobby/sport for many years but re-discovered the enjoyment of mountain biking in 2021 with his family. Levi started coaching in 2022 when his oldest son joined the team. Levi has discovered a passion for this team and community. Riding bike with kids is a great joy! It's an amazing group of parent volunteers that pour into the student athletes ensuring an amazing experience for all. Serving the athletes and families is a rewarding privilege.
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Emily Hoppe, Assistant Head Coach
Emily Hoppe is a MCA level 3, BICP level 1 coach, and mother of two middle school riders in 2022. She began Mountain biking in 2020 when searching for a pandemic friendly sport for the family. Starting as a Level 1 assistant, she quickly discovered how awesome mountain biking was with this enthusiastic group of kids and parent coaches. The 2026 season will be her 7th year with the team and third year as Middle School Lead Coach. She loves the opportunity to introduce the sport to new families, teach the basics, and hang out in the woods with her daughters and other fun people! |
Coach Mike Hartmann, parent of Andrew (EHS 2026) and Elin (EHS 2024), is returning for his 9th year with the team, following an 8-year tenure as Head Coach of the Edina MTB team and having been awarded the MCA Head Coach of the Year in 2025. Mike is an MCA-certified level 3 coach who has enjoyed mountain biking since the early 1990s and started coaching when Elin joined the team in 7th grade (the earliest she was eligible for the league at the time). Mike fell more in love with mountain biking after having the opportunity to ride with the amazing MN community, especially the Edina Team. His favorite regional trail system is Cuyuna, and his favorite local trail system is Lebanon Hills. Unicycling is Mike’s favorite mountain bike skill because it requires relaxation and micro-muscle movements, meaning your body learns to react before your mind thinks about it. Both those skills are critical to fast, smooth, efficient mountain biking. Mike shares this favorite sports-related saying: “The best training program is the one you stick with.”
Coach Eric Jensen, parent of William (10th), is an MCA-certified level 1 coach, returning for his 2nd year with the team. Eric enjoys riding with William and began coaching to help support the team, and quickly realized what an awesome group it is. The other coaches were friendly, welcoming, and were really engaged with volunteering their time to support all of the student athletes. Eric was also amazed by the skill, dedication, and grit of all the athletes who come out every week and give it their all. The culture of the team is one that supports every rider, no matter how fast, and at races, sometimes the loudest cheers are for riders that may be finishing towards the back but are giving it their absolute best effort. It doesn't get any better than that. Eric loves riding with athletes who are faster and better than he is in every way because it inspires him to get better. The best thing Eric did this year was to race in his first race, the Lutsen 45er. Eric’s favorite pre-ride snack is sushi, and post-ride, spaghetti and meatballs. His favorite drink is red Gatorade. Eric loves working on improving skills - and for this year, he is focusing on faster cornering. Eric’s race advice: Just keep pedaling! And go out and have FUN!
Coach Andrew Toftey, parent of Beatrice (12th), is an MCA-certified level 3 coach, returning for his 8th year with the team. He readily admits he's not technically good but is just enthusiastic, and he has loved the opportunity to work with the students and watch them grow from new to skilled and seasoned riders. He's also appreciated making so many friends among the parents and coaches of Edina MTB - it's the best community! Andrew’s favorite races are the Birkebeiner and the Race Across Duluth (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!). His favorite trail is the Jackpot/HighClimber (Lutsen-Tofte), and his favorite pre-race meal is toast with jam and peanut butter and two bananas. Andrew’s race advice: Nerves are gone about 30 seconds into the race, just get through them and have an awesome time!
Coach Brandon Trigger, parent of Beckham (9th), is an MCA-certified level 2 coach, returning for his 4th year with the team. Brandon has a passion for all things cycling and has raced MTB, cyclocross, road, and gravel over the last 15 years. These days, Brandon is primarily focusing on long-distance MTB events and will be attempting to finish his 8th Leadville 100 MTB race this year. He loves the cycling community and the varied approaches an individual can take, from chill coffee rides to 24-hour adventures. Brandon’s favorite discipline is Cyclocross, and his favorite MN trail is Cuyuna. His favorite event is the Leadville 100 (the town, race, and people will change your life). Eggs and rice are his favorite pre-race meal. Brandon’s cycling advice is to keep an open mindset, embrace the hard things, enjoy the good times, and learn something from the challenges. Brandon’s favorite cycling movie is the 1986 cult classic, “Rad!” Also, his favorite cycling books (tie) are The Rider by Tim Krabbe and The Rules: The Way of the Cycling Disciple by The Velominati, keepers of the cog.
Coach Eric Jensen, parent of William (10th), is an MCA-certified level 1 coach, returning for his 2nd year with the team. Eric enjoys riding with William and began coaching to help support the team, and quickly realized what an awesome group it is. The other coaches were friendly, welcoming, and were really engaged with volunteering their time to support all of the student athletes. Eric was also amazed by the skill, dedication, and grit of all the athletes who come out every week and give it their all. The culture of the team is one that supports every rider, no matter how fast, and at races, sometimes the loudest cheers are for riders that may be finishing towards the back but are giving it their absolute best effort. It doesn't get any better than that. Eric loves riding with athletes who are faster and better than he is in every way because it inspires him to get better. The best thing Eric did this year was to race in his first race, the Lutsen 45er. Eric’s favorite pre-ride snack is sushi, and post-ride, spaghetti and meatballs. His favorite drink is red Gatorade. Eric loves working on improving skills - and for this year, he is focusing on faster cornering. Eric’s race advice: Just keep pedaling! And go out and have FUN!
Coach Andrew Toftey, parent of Beatrice (12th), is an MCA-certified level 3 coach, returning for his 8th year with the team. He readily admits he's not technically good but is just enthusiastic, and he has loved the opportunity to work with the students and watch them grow from new to skilled and seasoned riders. He's also appreciated making so many friends among the parents and coaches of Edina MTB - it's the best community! Andrew’s favorite races are the Birkebeiner and the Race Across Duluth (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!). His favorite trail is the Jackpot/HighClimber (Lutsen-Tofte), and his favorite pre-race meal is toast with jam and peanut butter and two bananas. Andrew’s race advice: Nerves are gone about 30 seconds into the race, just get through them and have an awesome time!
Coach Brandon Trigger, parent of Beckham (9th), is an MCA-certified level 2 coach, returning for his 4th year with the team. Brandon has a passion for all things cycling and has raced MTB, cyclocross, road, and gravel over the last 15 years. These days, Brandon is primarily focusing on long-distance MTB events and will be attempting to finish his 8th Leadville 100 MTB race this year. He loves the cycling community and the varied approaches an individual can take, from chill coffee rides to 24-hour adventures. Brandon’s favorite discipline is Cyclocross, and his favorite MN trail is Cuyuna. His favorite event is the Leadville 100 (the town, race, and people will change your life). Eggs and rice are his favorite pre-race meal. Brandon’s cycling advice is to keep an open mindset, embrace the hard things, enjoy the good times, and learn something from the challenges. Brandon’s favorite cycling movie is the 1986 cult classic, “Rad!” Also, his favorite cycling books (tie) are The Rider by Tim Krabbe and The Rules: The Way of the Cycling Disciple by The Velominati, keepers of the cog.