principal

Dan Dixson

Born in Truckee, California and raised in Squaw Valley, skiing, running, mountaineering and backcountry adventure is ingrained in his DNA. Dan went to The University of Nevada, Reno where he was a member of the ski team while earning a degree in Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, and minor in English Literature. Dan spent one year skiing in Japan where he happily absorbed and embraced their mountain culture, but ultimately returned home as he is a Sierra man through and through.

As the driving force of Level 8 Outdoor, Dan Dixson inspires his team with a smile, and lets his progressive actions and deep friendships throughout the outdoor industry speak for him. With over 21 years experience as a rep and with multiple sales awards accredited to Level8, Dan hasn't let off at all, he continually pushes his genuine sales approach to the next level.

Today, fatherhood is Dan's dedicated adventure. Nothing motivates Dan to succeed more than seeing the smile of his son, at the end of a big day in the mountains. Dan's success means more days in the mountains and more smiles.

partner/Sales rep

Derek Dimitri

Derek eats and breathes the outdoor lifestyle. There are not enough hours in the day or days in the week to get out on the snow, dirt, or rock.

Born and raised in the small town of Genoa, NV with the Eastern Sierras as his backyard playground. A passionate skier since the age of 3 he could almost always be found exploring Kirkwood and the surrounding backcountry during the winter and climbing or mountain biking his way throughout the basin all summer.

While pursuing a marketing degree at the University of Nevada, Reno, Derek found himself working at a small specialty outdoor shop selling climbing, kayaking, and skiing equipment. A "jack of all trades" Derek mastered everything at the retail level. As a buyer, manager, ski tech, kayak/surfboard repairman, electrician, or janitor there was no job he wasn’t willing to do.

After 10 years in retail, Derek jumped into the rep biz working for a few small ski brands during the winter months and wrenching at bike shops all summer. Joining the Level 8 team is a dream come true and he can’t wait to share his passion and knowledge for gear with everyone he encounters along the way.

Sales rep

Brian Long

Brian was born and raised in the beautiful coastal town of San Luis Obispo, California and has always had a deep connection with the outdoors. His journey into the world of outdoor adventure began in his boy scout days, where he learned the ropes of camping, hiking, and the importance of environmental stewardship.

During summers, he found himself guiding kayak tours through breathtaking sea caves, sharing the wonders of the ocean with others. When winter came around, he embraced the cold by snow camping and snowboarding. His passion for adventure led him to discover rock climbing at the young age of 13 in a small local climbing gym. The feeling of freedom was unforgettable, and he quickly developed a love for exploring the mountains and seeking new challenges and adventures in the high alpine terrain. A winter working at Mammoth Mountain marked a turning point in his outdoor journey. It was there that he delved into backcountry skiing, an experience that opened the door to ski mountaineering and the world of ultra running, and he yearned to share this passion with others. Upon returning to San Luis Obispo, he decided that I couldn't leave the mountain life behind and immersed himself in the outdoor industry by working at a specialty retail shop, honing his skills as a ski tech and boot fitter. He thrived on helping fellow outdoor enthusiasts find the perfect gear to pursue their own adventures whether it was for skiing, climbing, or any other outdoor pursuit.

Now, as a proud member of the Level 8 and Sierra Outdoor Collective teams, he is beyond excited to continue this journey. His goal is to help people achieve their next mission, whether it's summiting a peak, conquering a challenging climb, or embarking on an unforgettable backcountry adventure. He’s here to share his expertise, passion, and unwavering commitment to the outdoor lifestyle with everyone he meets. 

Sales rep

Jack Smith

Growing up in Oakland California, Jack first found his love for the outdoors through organized sports. Whether the activity was the baseball team his dad coached or after-school pick-up basketball, he was always yearning to get outside and move. When he was entering his teenage years, his family was fortunate enough to get a cabin in the foothills of the Sierra just an hour away from the Yosemite gates. Now instead of spending summers running around the urban sidewalks of the Bay Area, he had the opportunity to spend days swimming in mountain rivers, turning over rocks, and building forts in the forest! He was always a very quiet kid but found that being outdoors helped him break out of his shell and find that feeling of freedom and comfort.

Moving to coastal Southern California to attend CSU Channel Islands, the ocean and coastline became Jack’s new playground. When he was not in the classroom or playing lacrosse for his college club team, he would be found on the beach wading through tide pools looking for starfish and sea anemones or practicing his newfound favorite hobby—surfing. Also in his early days of university, he went on his first backpacking trip and was hooked. The feeling of being self-reliant, long conversations with close friends, natural serenity, and lessons you take away after every trip were extremely appealing. That passion for nights under the stars manifested itself into a 30-day trip on the JMT in the early days of COVID-19 which was the ideal way to practice social isolation!

While his list of hobbies grew, so did his self-confidence, and he wanted to share his experience of personal growth through the outdoors with his community. He stayed put in his college town of Ventura after graduating with a degree in Business Marketing and a minor in Environmental Science and began coaching youth lacrosse while also working at his local REI. He wanted to help those without prior experience to get outside, find their preferred activity, and find the benefits that lay in nature! Now as a member of the Sierra Outdoor Collective and Level 8 teams, his goals remain mainly the same—welcome all to the outdoor community. I am thankful to be working in this collective of wonderful people to help spread the passion and gear needed to get outside and play!