Ryders Eyewear has hired former pro mountain biker Joe Schwartz as brand specialist, where his duties will include event promotions, trade show management, online content development, athlete management, assisting with product development, and general brand management.


Schwartz brings over 10 years of industry experience as a professional mountain biker and a sponsored athlete and a brand ambassador for companies like Kona, Smith Optics and Bell. His in-depth knowledge of the bike industry and experience in product line development and web content development aligns well with the initiatives of the marketing team and will boost credibility of the Ryders brand.


Joe has made a career out of his love for adventure and he has had a truly tangible impact on the mountain bike industry, said Ryders Director of Marketing Tara Wilkinson. His appetite for creativity and his success with prior marketing campaigns makes him an incredible addition to our team.

In addition to riding professionally, Schwartz also guided throughout Europe and British Columbia, and coached with various bike camps. As an ACMG-certified backcountry ski guide, Schwartz has worked for heli, snowcat and ski touring operations all over BC, both as a guide and as a marketing consultant.


This brand is alive with potential and energy, said Schwartz, In its 25th year, Ryders seems to prove that it is just gets better with age. Im eager to contribute to this momentum.


Schwartz holds a marketing management diploma from the BCIT School of Business, where his focus was in communications. Originally hailing from Nelson BC, he now calls the Vancouver Coast home base.