Living First at the Maah Daah Hey 100
Congratulations Gina Huck and Jordan Hatzenbuhler
Live First isn’t just something we use as a tagline, it’s a way of life that we encourage for each member of our First International Bank & Trust (FIBT) family. We’re proud of the different ways our employees follow their passions, so when brother and sister Gina Huck and Jordan Hatzenbuhler decided to race in this year’s Maah Daah Hey 100, the bank was in full support.
Not only did FIBT sponsor the 107-mile mountain bike race, but we also outfitted Gina and Jordan head-to-toe in FIBT biking gear. The annual race takes place on the Maah Daah Hey Trail in Western North Dakota and boasts an elevation gain of more than 13,000 feet. Due to the distance, terrain, and summer temperature, it’s not a race for the faint of heart.
“I’ve always mountain biked,” Gina said. “I grew up in Medora, so I’ve been biking for 18 years. I’ve done the 50-mile race with my dad the last few summers. I did the 25 a few years ago, and my brother Jordan did the 100 last year. It’s a bucket list thing for me, so he said, ‘Let’s do it together. I’ll ride with you.’ So, we took the plunge and signed up.”
The two spent many months training and had to balance time with their families as well as their careers. “Most of my training has been after my kids’ bed time,” Jordan said. “Or on the weekends, I’d get up at 5:00 or 5:30 and ride before everyone else settled in for the day.”
By the time race day came on Saturday, August 7, the two were ready to go. Gina finished the race in 16 hours and Jordan made the difficult decision to stop for health reasons at the 75-mile marker. “To me, Living First is what the race was all about,” Jordan said. “It’s living life to the fullest and doing challenging and rewarding things both at work and outside of work.”
Please join us in congratulating Gina and Jordan for their participation in the Maah Daah Hey 100!