What accomplishment are you most proud of:
I guess the accomplishment I am most proud of is the balance I try to maintain in my life. Most, if not all my accomplishments have been team efforts. I am more thankful that I can live the life I do with the support of my wife, family, friends and co-workers.
When you're not racing, you like to:
Sspend time with my family. It's always an adventure. I also like to skin dive and spear fish, windsurf, ski (down hill and cross country) hike, skate (roller blade or ice), teach kids new activities
What's the craziest experience you've ever had with XTERRA (traveling, racing or training)?
First of all the kids race was great and the race was great also it was just everything else….Last year at Sky High, we camped at one of our first Non-State park campgrounds with a lot of seasonal campers. They didn't make us feel very welcome….right from the start. The day before the XTERRA race was the kids race..which was the highlight of the whole weekend for me watching Aiden finish. Then we spent the day at the State park…..Deliverance comes to mind….my kids were playing at the park and there were other little kids there…. I think their parents were on something because they were encouraging their kids to attack my kids….so we got out of there…and wanted to talk to a somewhat sane person…there were horse back riders, come to find out the hard way, my son is allergic to horses, so we go to the grocery store to get diner and benedryl. My wife goes in to the store and I wait in the car with the kids. So I am people watching in the parking lot….There are two types of people I see in the parking lot. Extremely young people who look like they severely abuse them selves and elderly that suffer from lack of a support system. I am parked next to a handicapped spot. An elderly man is trying to get out of his car and get one of the driving shopping carts but there is none around, so I help him out of his car and get him one. The next morning is the race. I have a great swim and am doing great on the bike. I am actually passing people on the bike for a change. Then pow, I blow out my side wall. Normally this wouldn't be a problem, accept the tires I have on there are the hardest I have ever had to change, there is no way I am going to be able to change these during the race. Of course I am at the furthest point from the start line and have to run back to the start in my bike shoes which are giving me a blister. Chalk it all up to experience….We did get to meet some great people and families during the kids race and XTERRA.
What's the best thing about racing?
Training…..I never have to work out ….Just play.
What is the coolest piece of gear you own?
Our pop-up camper. It allows us to travel to the Regional XTERRA races and make a great family long camping weekend. The kids race in the kids races and usually help out at a water stop. Anyone want to join us??? We have a great time. Must love kids!!!
What is your favorite quote or words of wisdom?
"The wheel is turning and you can't slow down, can't let go and can't hold on, can't go back and can't stand still if the thunder don't get you then the lightning will…..little bit harder, just a little bit more, little bit further than you gone before" The Grateful Dead
Role model/Inspiration/Favorite athlete:
Leonardo DaVincci….artist, scientist, engineer.
What do you do when you aren't training/racing?
I have 4 kids…..I coach Lacrosse, I help coach soccer, basketball.
Which 2007 XTERRA races do you plan to attend?
XTERRA Patanella's King of the Hill
XTERRA East Championship
XTERRA Garnet Hill
XTERRA Thompson Lake
XTERRA Sky High
Long Trail XTERRA Stoaked
XTERRA Schiff Scout
XTERRA Onteora
Favorite XTERRA venue:
EX2 in Flintstone,MD. Fantastic race director, venue, camping at the site…..yeh!!!
Dreaded XTERRA venue: Stoaked Off-Road Triathlon, Hanover, NH Fantastic race director, venue, camping at the site…..yeh!!! but the bike leg is up, up, up, up, up, up, down, down, down, down, down, I am not a climber, a little to heavy for that or not enough strength in my legs.
Top 3-8 racing accomplishments:
1st 30-34 Schiff Scout Off-Road Tri 05
3rd 30-34 Mooseman Off –road triathlon 04
4th 30-34 EX2 ORT 06
2nd 30-34 Thompson Lake Off Road Challenge 06
8th 30-34, 38th overall Capital City Dirt Triathlon 2002---my first Triathlon
What's your favorite aspect of XTERRA?
I am lucky to have stumbled across this fantastic sport. It was made for me…..I am not an awesome swimmer, Mt. Biker or runner, but I am good at each of them. I love to swim and I swam competitively from 3rd grade to senior year in high school. I love to Mt. Bike and run off road. It's like being a kid again. One of the things I liked to do as a kid was ride on the trails and hit jumps with my bike and just running over the jumps and trails. It's an awesome feeling to ride up a section that you couldn't make it up before, or ride a little higher than before. Not to mention the fantastic people that do this sport.
Define / describe XTERRA:
XTERRA lets me play year round without getting bored. I can do anything active and call it training.
