SxSWeRide Ambassadors

Brian Gagne

Founder of SxSWeRide

Brian Gagne founded SxSWeRide after more than 30 years of off road experience across dirt bikes, three wheelers, ATVs, Jeeps, side by sides, and UTV machines. That long term seat time shaped the way SxSWeRide covers parks, trails, events, machines, products, and rider destinations.

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Brian has spent years riding, maintaining, upgrading, and traveling with a 2021 Polaris RZR Pro XP 4, using it on trails, dunes, tracks, events, product testing trips, and destination discovery runs. His experience includes technical trail rides, group rides, race and event weekends, machine setup, gear evaluation, and helping riders find reliable places to ride.

SxSWeRide was created to give the side by side and UTV community a practical resource for finding riding destinations, planning around events, discovering trusted partners, and learning from first hand content instead of scattered social posts alone. Brian continues to travel to riding destinations and off road events to create useful, real world coverage for the community.

Brian has spent years riding, maintaining, upgrading, and traveling with a 2021 Polaris RZR Pro XP 4, using it on trails, dunes, tracks, events, product testing trips, and destination discovery runs. His experience includes technical trail rides, group rides, race and event weekends, machine setup, gear evaluation, and helping riders find reliable places to ride.

SxSWeRide was created to give the side by side and UTV community a practical resource for finding riding destinations, planning around events, discovering trusted partners, and learning from first hand content instead of scattered social posts alone. Brian continues to travel to riding destinations and off road events to create useful, real world coverage for the community.

Dustin Couch

Dustin Couch is a motorsports enthusiast who has made his mark in the off road racing scene. His passion started at a young age in South Texas, where he was surrounded by dirt track racing and top fuel drag racing. By the age of five, he was already hooked on speed, horsepower, and adrenaline.

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In 2018, Dustin made the move from racing quads to side by sides. His first UTV was a 2017 Can Am Maverick X3, but after a water skipping incident totaled that machine, he came back with another X3 and began upgrading it for safety, performance, and competition.

Dustin uses Evolution Powersports parts to help turn his Can Am Maverick X3 Turbo RR into a serious performer. With EVP performance tuning and aftermarket upgrades, his machine is built to compete on the drag strip, trails, and dunes.

His racing career took off on the 300 foot drag strip at Cross Bar Ranch, where he won his first event. Since then, Dustin has earned podium finishes at events including UTV Invasion, South Texas Showdown, SXSUSA Spring Hoedown, SXSUSA Fall Hootenanny, UTV Takeover, and Sand Outlaw events. Over the past five years, his X3 has earned more than 25 podium finishes, helping establish him as a strong competitor in the SxS stock class.

Dustin does not only race. He lives the off road lifestyle. From sand dunes and rugged trails to rocky terrain, his Maverick X3 is a major part of how he explores, competes, and connects with the off road community.

In 2018, Dustin made the move from racing quads to side by sides. His first UTV was a 2017 Can Am Maverick X3, but after a water skipping incident totaled that machine, he came back with another X3 and began upgrading it for safety, performance, and competition.

Dustin uses Evolution Powersports parts to help turn his Can Am Maverick X3 Turbo RR into a serious performer. With EVP performance tuning and aftermarket upgrades, his machine is built to compete on the drag strip, trails, and dunes.

His racing career took off on the 300 foot drag strip at Cross Bar Ranch, where he won his first event. Since then, Dustin has earned podium finishes at events including UTV Invasion, South Texas Showdown, SXSUSA Spring Hoedown, SXSUSA Fall Hootenanny, UTV Takeover, and Sand Outlaw events. Over the past five years, his X3 has earned more than 25 podium finishes, helping establish him as a strong competitor in the SxS stock class.

Dustin does not only race. He lives the off road lifestyle. From sand dunes and rugged trails to rocky terrain, his Maverick X3 is a major part of how he explores, competes, and connects with the off road community.

Wayland Tubbs

Wayland Tubbs is a SxSWeRide ambassador known for his aggressive riding style, competitive mindset, and deep roots in the side by side community. Whether he is lining up on a short course, competing on the drag strip, or showing up at major riding events, Wayland brings the kind of energy that represents what SxSWeRide is all about.

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Wayland has earned numerous podium finishes across short course racing and drag racing, proving himself in more than one style of off road competition. His ability to adapt from technical short course racing to straight line speed has made him a strong competitor and a respected name among riders who follow the racing side of the sport.

At America’s Oasis, Wayland holds the record for the fastest lap time on the sand short course. He continues to defend that record on a regular basis, stacking up more wins and keeping his name at the front of the competition.

Away from the starting line, Wayland represents the rider lifestyle that SxSWeRide was built around. He connects with the community through events, racing, riding, and real world off road experience, helping bring authentic side by side content and credibility to the SxSWeRide brand.

Wayland has earned numerous podium finishes across short course racing and drag racing, proving himself in more than one style of off road competition. His ability to adapt from technical short course racing to straight line speed has made him a strong competitor and a respected name among riders who follow the racing side of the sport.

At America’s Oasis, Wayland holds the record for the fastest lap time on the sand short course. He continues to defend that record on a regular basis, stacking up more wins and keeping his name at the front of the competition.

Away from the starting line, Wayland represents the rider lifestyle that SxSWeRide was built around. He connects with the community through events, racing, riding, and real world off road experience, helping bring authentic side by side content and credibility to the SxSWeRide brand.

Kendell Gaston

Kendell grew up in the North Texas Hill Country, developing his off road skills on ATVs. Since the 1990s, he has admired and learned from some of the best hard core rock crawlers in the nation. After returning to North Texas nearly 15 years ago, Kendell expanded into Jeeps and SxS machines.

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Following the influence of family and friends, he purchased a 2015 Polaris RZR 900 4 because of its ability to handle technical terrain. Later, Kendell added a Polaris RZR Turbo S to continue exploring more challenging trails. He enjoys finding new places to ride and taking on terrain that allows him to use the rock crawling skills he has built over the years.

Following the influence of family and friends, he purchased a 2015 Polaris RZR 900 4 because of its ability to handle technical terrain. Later, Kendell added a Polaris RZR Turbo S to continue exploring more challenging trails. He enjoys finding new places to ride and taking on terrain that allows him to use the rock crawling skills he has built over the years.

The Michel Family

Sergio and Ashlee Michel

Family oriented ambassador profile

Sergio grew up in Southern Arizona and has always been drawn to anything with wheels, especially off road machines. He started with ATVs and eventually moved into UTVs after purchasing a 2017 Can Am Maverick X3 X RS Max. Over the years, the machine has received several upgrades, with more planned as the family continues to build and ride.

Family riding focus: Sergio and Ashlee Michel remain represented together as a family profile centered on shared riding, travel, outdoor recreation, community, and time together.

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Ashlee began riding dirt bikes and ATVs and has always enjoyed the off road lifestyle. After riding along with Sergio in his first UTV, she quickly realized she belonged in the driver seat as well. For her birthday in 2021, she was surprised with her own 2018 Can Am Maverick X3 Turbo R, and she has been pushing the limits of both herself and her machine ever since.

Their passion for off roading has also been passed down to their daughter Addison, who pilots her own RZR 170. For the Michel family, riding is more than a hobby. It is a family experience built around adventure, confidence, and time together outdoors.

Ashlee began riding dirt bikes and ATVs and has always enjoyed the off road lifestyle. After riding along with Sergio in his first UTV, she quickly realized she belonged in the driver seat as well. For her birthday in 2021, she was surprised with her own 2018 Can Am Maverick X3 Turbo R, and she has been pushing the limits of both herself and her machine ever since.

Their passion for off roading has also been passed down to their daughter Addison, who pilots her own RZR 170. For the Michel family, riding is more than a hobby. It is a family experience built around adventure, confidence, and time together outdoors.