Skip to content

Free standard shipping on all U.S. orders over $49.

  • SHOP
    Endurance Fuel

    ENDURANCE FUEL

    Recovery Mix

    RECOVERY MIX

    Bundles

    BUNDLES

    Gear

    GEAR

    Products

    ALL PRODUCTS

  • EXPLORE
    Our Story
    FAQs
    Science
    Blog
    Store Finder
    Contact
  • REWARDS
  • EVENT PRODUCTS
Log in
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • SHOP
    Endurance Fuel

    ENDURANCE FUEL

    Recovery Mix

    RECOVERY MIX

    Bundles

    BUNDLES

    Gear

    GEAR

    Products

    ALL PRODUCTS

  • EXPLORE
    Our Story
    FAQs
    Science
    Blog
    Store Finder
    Contact
  • REWARDS
  • EVENT PRODUCTS
Log in Cart

Item added to your cart

Access Denied
IMPORTANT! If you’re a store owner, please make sure you have Customer accounts enabled in your Store Admin, as you have customer based locks set up with EasyLockdown app. Enable Customer Accounts

Celebrating 9 Years: Q&A with the Tailwind Founders

by tailwindnutritionMay 26, 2021Tips & Tricks 0 Comments
Celebrating 9 Years: Q&A with the Tailwind Founders

To celebrate our 9th anniversary, we caught up with Tailwind founders Jeff & Jenny Vierling to get their thoughts on the past and future of the company!

We all know the story of how Jeff started Tailwind, so we’ll skip that question. When you first nailed the Endurance Fuel recipe, did you have any sense how far you could go with it?

Jeff: I had this training ride that started with a 2800’ climb from my house to the top of Jones Creek, up Missionary Ridge on a fire road for 3200’, then on to Mitchell Lakes which is hideously steep and loose. 2850’ of granny gear and some hike-a-bike. Sometimes I’d add another Missionary Ridge ascent at the end. I’d do it all with just Endurance Fuel and never run out of energy. I figured that was a good test!

When Jeff first started playing around with the old Kitchen Aid, what were your first thoughts? Be honest! ;) 

Jenny: Every time I walked into the kitchen, I felt like I was entering the Pixie dust factory! It smelled amazing, and our two daughters (2 and 4 at the time) kept asking where the Pixie Stixs were being stashed. At first I had my doubts - so much so that I used my old sports drink during the Leadville Silver Rush, but midway through the ride, my stomach turned south. At the midway point I couldn’t eat/drink anything, and the rest of the way back I was riding on fumes - over mountain passes, through a hailstorm, and the freezing cold. It was horrible! I decided at that point to use it for the Mountains to Desert Ride (a century ride from Telluride to Gateway, CO). I was an absolute convert after that!

If you could go back in time to the beginning, what is one thing you would tell yourself? Any tips? Any words of reassurance?

Jeff: Things have a way of working out, even if you don’t know how. Our awesome customers always come through in unexpected ways!

Jenny: Get the motorized mixer - but that’s a long story! Always know that if you are genuinely trying to help people, you can’t go wrong.

What is your favorite product/flavor? We know this is a hard one, like picking a favorite child… 

Jeff: Mandarin Orange Endurance Fuel - it’s what I made first, and still my go to. Coffee Rebuild - I love the iced latte and slight coffee bitterness after a hard workout!

Jenny: Caffeinated Raspberry + Lemon (Mixed). Yummy!

You both are avid mountain bikers and hikers. Where is your dream hike or ride destination?

Jenny: Right now Portugal is on our radar for mountain biking. For hiking, at some point I’d love to explore South America or do a hut-to-hut trip in Europe. Too many places to choose just one place!

Jeff: Jenny covered it well, though in our backyard we have the CO Trail. I’d like to backpack the whole thing from Durango to Denver (or vice versa).

Looking forward, what’s next for Tailwind Nutrition?

Jeff: I’m excited about new products we’re working on and taking a different approach to packaging to reduce the use of plastic, all while helping more people reach their goals and celebrating their amazing accomplishments!

What’s your advice for anyone who has a dream or idea and wants to start a business of their own?

Jeff: Don’t let perfection get in the way of getting your idea out there. Customers will tell you where to go with it, and it’s often not the direction you thought it would take!

Jenny: Listen to your audience - from their emails to events to what they are posting in forums and on social media. There are always little pearls of wisdom I pick up from just listening.

Back to blog

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.

Shop

COMPLETE ENERGY + ELECTROLYTES + HYDRATION
SHOP ENDURANCE FUEL
COMPLETE PROTEIN + CARBS + ELECTROLYTES
SHOP RECOVER MIX

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER

FIND US

Store Finder
Event Inquiries

CATEGORIES

athlete
science
Tips & Tricks

RELATED ARTICLES

The Best Endurance Fuel Combos

The Best Endurance Fuel Combos

How to Choose a Hydration System

How to Choose a Hydration System

The Best Way to Rehydrate After Exercise

The Best Way to Rehydrate After Exercise

Kyle's Top Tips and Essentials for Fat Biking

Kyle's Top Tips and Essentials for Fat Biking

TAKE THE TAILWIND CHALLENGE

TRY US AT YOUR NEXT RACE.

Choose 4 bags and start training. If you aren’t satisfied, we’ll pay your entry fee.*

“I took the TW challenge and nailed my race…”
YES, I’M IN!
Invalid password
Enter
Cart

Loading...

Subtotal

$0.00 USD

Taxes and shipping calculated at checkout

View cart

No products in the cart.

Return To Shop

SHOP

  • Starter Kit
  • Endurance Fuel
  • Recovery Mix
  • Bundles
  • Tailwind Challenge
  • Gear
  • Gift Cards
  • Events
  • Last Chance

EXPLORE

  • Science
  • Blog
  • Event Inquiries
  • Trailblazers

ABOUT

  • Our Story
  • FAQs
  • Contact
  • Jobs

JOIN OUR FAMILY

Be the first to know about new products, promotions, and more!

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
MADE BY ATHLETES IN DURANGO, COLORADO
COPYRIGHT © 2022 Tailwind Nutrition
  • Accessibility
  • Shipping
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Refund Policy
  • Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.