Zone Products Used in Training:
Zone Bars usually during competitions and used as a snack before or after cross training.
Benefits Seen With Zone:
I have noticed a significant improvement in my energy levels when I take the Zone Ribose, especially during difficult training days. The Zone Ribose powder allows me to stay strong and finish my toughest workouts.
Best Athletic Accomplishment To Date:
3x consecutive United Skim Tour World Champion.
Favorite Thing About Training:
I enjoy pushing the limits of my sport. Through training, I am able to perform at a higher level than others and for a longer time. As a result, I have enjoyed putting the time into training in order to achieve the result.
Least Favorite Thing About Training:
The amount of time it takes. I wish I could do my cross trainings in less time so that I had more time to do other things.
Biggest Challenge Overcome:
In 2005, I sprained my back at the beginning of the contest season. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to compete at the first event. Fortunately, through rest and rehab, I was able to perform well at the first event finishing 2nd. Later that year, I reinjured my back at the biggest event of the season. I had to take time off to let it heal and starting doing Pilates to rehab my back. The Pilates was a big reason for my successful recovery. I ended up being stronger after the injury because of it and ultimately finished 1st overall for the year on the United Skim Tour (unitedskimtour.org).
Competition Rituals:
Good night sleep, light breakfast (usually fruit and/or energy bar), listen to music on my iPod, do yoga stretches before each heat, and a light warm up on my skimboard about 20 minutes before my heat.
Favorite Event:
Cabo San Lucas Contest. The waves are very powerful and challenging there, and more fitting to my style of riding.
Hobbies:
Snowboarding, Surfing, skateboarding, hiking, yoga, running, swimming.
One Fact No One Knows About You:
I love fresh vegetable juice.
If You Weren’t An Athlete, You would Be:
A teacher, or working in a family real estate business. I got my degree in elementary school teaching, so I could easily be a substitute or teach youngsters their ABC’s. If not a teacher, I think I would be doing more work with my brother and father in our family real estate business in which I already work part time in.
Average Day Consists Of:
I travel a lot, so a normal day is somewhat unpredictable. In general, I wake up and check the waves online. If they look good then I go skim. If not, then I go to the gym. I enjoy yoga, so I try to catch one of the classes at the gym. Sometimes I workout with my fiancée, who is training for a sprint triathlon at the moment. Afterwards, I get a snack and go skim for a couple hours unless the waves are really good. If the waves are good, then I skim for up to 6 consecutive hours. Later, I get food and work on my computer. I have a skimboarding school where I teach lessons, camps, and birthday parties, so I have emails to respond to. I also keep my sponsors up to date with my happenings during this time. I also do some accounting work for my family’s real estate business. Sometimes I catch an evening session skimming or surfing. At night, I’m home making dinner with my fiancée and relaxing.
Favorite Charity:
Nativity Prep Academy
Favorite Zone Food / Flavor:
Oatmeal Rasin, Roasted Peanut bars.
I wish Zone made:
Electrolyte enhanced water and yogurt.