When did you learn to skate?

-Age 4 – Played ice hockey for about a year and after that I didn’t touch ice skates for nearly 10 years. Most of my skating skills were developed on inline skates. I didn’t start Ice skating again until I was 15.

 

Did you play hockey growing up?

-Yes – I played 2 seasons of Ice hockey starting at age 4. Then resorted to street hockey in front of the house until I was 15. At age 15 I joined my high school hockey team and have been playing since.

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What other sports did you play growing up?

-I played quite a few, mostly traditional sports. I tried my hand at water polo, lacrosse, basketball, soccer, however swimming and baseball were my main two.

 

If you could do anything non-athletic in your spare time, what is it?

-Tinkering and fabrication as well as car stuff. I love to create, build, and modify almost anything. Especially if it has an engine.

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Describe going down an IceCross track for the first time:

-“AHHHHHHHH!! Brake brake brake! Shit! Ouch!” I picked myself out of the snow and made my way back to the track. “Alright, keep your knees bent.” I kept trying to tell myself. “Skate, skate, skate. Jump. Jump. Turn. Jump and reaaaach! Whew, I made it.” Here is where the biggest part of the downhill comes with “The Sender” jump taking you into the finish.  “Holllllyyyyy mollllyyyyy I’m going fast! Don’t brake, don’t brake, don’t brake.” Somehow my body instinctively turned my skate sideways and made myself brake. “Ready. Set. Send it! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh, oouffff. OUCH!” I finished out the course sliding across the end line on my extremely bruised tailbone. I felt like I had just got a swift kick in the pants and oddly enough I couldn’t wait to get back to the top.

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What first got you interested in the sport?
-I saw an ad to try out for Crashed Ice way back in 2013 on the door of the Redbull case at a gas station, which spurred me to look up a video. I was instantly intrigued by the craziness factor.

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If there is one piece of advice that you could offer new riders, what would it be?
-Stay low and keep your knees bent. More than you think.

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Who is your favorite sports athlete?

-The late, great, Shane McConkey. Hands down the baddest dude to ever walk the face of the earth. He was always pushing the limits for anything he was involved in and I try to keep that mindset with everything I do. Not that I compare even in the slightest to him, but I loved his ambition and his love for always keeping life fun!