Team Yellow

Garrett Wheeler, 26, Waitsville, Vt.

Land Rover owners take great pride in their vehicles, Land Rover enthusiasts pursue their Land Rover adventures with a loving intensity, Land Rover addicts are another breed all together. Garrett Wheeler, of Waitsville, Vt., will freely admit to his addiction, one he once satisfied by working at a Land Rover dealership, where he participated in “Owners Outings” to hone his off-road driving skills. Though Wheeler left the automobile business to pursue his artistic dreams as a glass blower, his love of all things Land Rover is still matched only by his love of all things outdoor adventure.  He is an avid kayaker, snowboarder and mountain biker, sports he pursues while cross training with long distance running, yoga and the often over-looked training method of break dancing.  The fun-loving Wheeler seeks adventure by traveling the world to “step outside the American comfort zone.” When asked to describe adventure Wheeler quotes English novelist G.K. Chesterton, “Adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered.  An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered.” Wheeler has had his eyes on the Land Rover G4 Challenge since its inception, calling it a true goal in his life.

Marne Smiley, 25, Ann Arbor, Mich.

As the executive director of the Michigan Mountain Biking Association, Marne Smiley advocates for mountain bike trail access and works with over 3,000 members. The 25 year-old from Ann Arbor, Mich., enjoys biking, along with running, swimming and rugby. For Smiley, adventure is an opportunity to open one’s heart to new cultures, people and experiences. Since she was a teenager, her family opened their hearts and home to foster children. Smiley credits her experiences with foster children to fueling her own passion for helping others.

Currently Smiley helps plan events for the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra. The opportunity to help the Red Cross and her country is a major driving force for Smiley’s participation in the Land Rover G4 Challenge Nevada Passage. For Smiley, so far her two most adventurous activities have been participating in a rodeo and purchasing her own home.