Water, roads, trail, and snow: The Driscoll family wolf pack

Driscoll Family Photo: Julie Parker Photography.

PARK CITY, Utah — For Jamey and Carly Driscoll, raising their kids to ski and bike together is a way of life

Like many Utah love stories, this one started in the mountains. Fourteen years ago Carly Driscoll, a former competitive water skier who by the age of 25 had earned the title of American All-Star, moved from Taos Ski Valley to Little Cottonwood Canyon. Juggling what would be the start of her marketing career during the day and waiting tables at Alta’s Rustler Lodge at night, her new ski-bum roomie was Jamey Driscoll, a professional American Cyclocross and road-racing cyclist who’d already won the 2008 U.S. Cyclocross National Championship and CrossVegas 2009. 

According to his Twitter account, Jamey is “A skier with a bike racing problem” and the two hit it off immediately. “I’m a mountain biker and he’s a pro road cyclist,” says Carly, “But even after he’d been training eight hours a day, he’d still come riding with me and hang out at the back of the pack.” At that time, he was traveling a lot, racing a lot, racing in the Tour of California, Pro Challenge in Colorado, the Tour of Utah, and on the World Cup circuit for cyclocross. So, it made for a long courtship. The couple dated for nearly five years before they got married. “I went with him to the World Championships in Tabor, Czech Republic and after the race we traveled around Europe to many of the most romantic cities in the world,” says Carly, “I thought for sure he’d propose in one of them. But no.” Jamey proposed on the Summit Park Peak in Park City. “I decided to propose somewhere closer to home so it would be more meaningful,” says Jamey, “Somewhere we could always revisit.”

Jamey went pro at 19 and retired at age 34. During his cycling career, he was featured on the cover of Road Magazine and Cyclocross Magazine. A multi-time Pro CX champion and eight-time US Cyclocross World Championship team member, he won many crits during his road days. Jamey is most known for his horsepower and technical downhill capacities. Because he was the most aggressive rider in the Pro Challenge, he earned the nickname The Wolf of Cyclocross.

Fast forward eight years. The couple have two children: Layla, 7 and Kaden, 5½. Having two kids that close in age was really challenging when they were little, especially when Jamey spent long hours training as an elite athlete. “Jamey has always been a very hands-on Dad,” says Carly, “At his peak, he was gone every weekend from Labor Day to New Year’s Eve for Cyclocross World Cup races and National events.” And even though he was only gone on the weekends, it took a toll. “It was hard to be away from the kids for almost half the time for those seasons,” says Jamey.

In 2020 races slowed down dramatically following pandemic shutdowns. Fortunately Jamey held a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Vermont and had worked in product research and development for his sponsors, receiving engineering offers from the bike industry, all of which, unfortunately, were out of state. “We didn’t want to leave Park City,” says Jamey, who launched his own business, Slopeside Remodels, working as a contractor doing small home remodels and handyman jobs. “Starting my own business has been a very busy and rewarding journey,” says Jamey, “It’s so motivating to work for myself and build the lifestyle I want for my family.”

In February of that same year, Carly also started her own business, Wasatch Back Media, a digital marketing company. “I opened my business during the beginning of COVID because I saw so many women having to quit their jobs,” she says, “I believe in women-owned and operated businesses and wanted to create my own.” 

As the founder of Wasatch Back Media, Carly employs women and chooses clients that align with its thoughtful approach and environmental sensibilities. For example, the company offers discounted services to LGBTQ+ and women-owned businesses who historically have less access to capital and marketing services. “We have a community here and wanted to be an integral part of Park City’s future,” she says, “One reason I wanted to branch out on my own was to feel good about how I was contributing to underserved populations in my community.” 

So how do two entrepreneurial small business owners juggle busy professional lives with the demands of raising young children? They play. “We ski and bike with our kids,” says Carly, “We started them when they were little, it’s the foundation of our family. We’re finally over the hump and now we ski and bike as a four-pack. The most joy we have in our lives is watching our kids enjoy the same things we love, it’s fantastic.” Jamey now races for fun and his kids give him a run for his money. “The fulfillment we get from a good day with the kids is easily as good as the best pow days we remember from our twenties,” says Jamey, “But when we can all ski powder as a family, that will be something else.” It seems the family is always on some kind of skis year-round. They recently purchased a boat, so Carly is coaching the kids. “Now we waterski on open public lakes,” she says. “The kids have a blast.”

Having that much fun is contagious. When Carly’s parents retired, they moved to Heber City to be close to their grandchildren and picked up retirement jobs at Deer Valley. “Now, we primarily ski at Deer Valley,” says Carly, “My parents love skiing and biking with their grandkids. We’re a multi-generational family shredding the slopes.” 

One of the most interesting aspects of living in Park City is that you never know which of your neighbors are elite athletes. “We feel very grateful to be raising our kids in this town,” says Carly. With so many biking trails and places to snow and water ski, Park City is a natural fit for such an active family. “It’s hard to beat this town when it comes to living the best lifestyle we can imagine,” says Jamey.

So, the next time you see a family of four charging down the mountain, be sure to howl, it’s probably a wolf pack.

Wasatch Back Media

Digital marketing and business strategy inspired by the Wasatch Mountains. 

Wasatch Back Media was founded in February 2020 and has already weathered a pandemic and a recession. That’s due in part to its founder, Carly Driscoll. Her unique blend of grit, determination, and vision has launched a successful women-owned and operated business that invests in its clients and the community. “We offer discounts for LGBTQ+ and women-owned businesses who typically don’t have as much access to capital and marketing services,” she says. “I want to feel good about how I contribute to underserved populations in my community.”

With 10 years of experience in digital marketing, Driscoll decided to create a business that contributes to communities in meaningful ways. The company offers a comprehensive suite of digital marketing services that includes strategy, management, execution, and consulting. “We help brands stay up-to-speed and current in an ever-changing, sometimes turbulent digital landscape,” she says. “We also offer high-level business strategy services including brand positioning, content creation, and production.”

She and her team help bring brands to life. They have several global and national clients in the outdoor industry including Nordica® and Rollerblade® (the firm is the global agency on record for digital strategy and execution for both) as well as technical outerwear brands. In addition to the focus on the outdoor arena, they also have experience in other verticals such as insurance companies, law firms, cyber, and medical.

This high-end boutique firm is data-driven in the digital space, responsive, and personable, with a sharp focus on community and the environment. “We form personal relationships with our clients,” says Driscoll. “So, they get the services they expect from a big agency but the one-on-one collaboration they want. We’re a member of their team, we show up.” 

In addition, the firm also provides a sister company – Wasatch Back Events – which dovetails nicely with her company’s digital marketing components. For example, Driscoll has served as North America Women’s Initiatives manager for Nordica for several years. Currently, she is spearheading a national women’s activation event that includes 13 stops in nine states. “I did corporate events years ago before digital was even a thing,” she says, “Now to be able to combine my digital expertise with events is a dream come true.” 

Slopeside Remodels

Finish carpentry, small to midsize remodels, and home repair.

Everyone knows that owning or renting a home comes with surprises. So, whether you’re remodeling a bathroom or need some small home repairs, Slopeside Remodels can help. From exterior siding, fence installation, and deck repairs to interior painting, electric, or plumbing, owner Jamey Driscoll has the skills and attention to detail needed to get your job done right the first time. 

“I specialize in finish carpentry,” says Jamey, “I can manage your home remodel soup-to-nuts. I’ll take care of all the steps in the process to make sure it’s done the way you want.”