Back again...

If I had one wish, It would be to have a normal back. I cannot honestly think of a single day since I broke my back 5 years ago that I have not thought about my back. When something like that happens to you, it changes you. Hopefully for the better. It has without a doubt changed me, luckily I have learned many valuable lessons from my time in recovery years ago. Lots of little things can trigger my back. Fortunately I am conscious of most of them. Unfortunately the past few weeks have been extremely painful. I have an appointment with a specialist Friday to hopefully help me out.

One thing is for sure. My MRI from 5 years ago still haunts me, it will always haunt me. I cant really describe the fear/unrest/sadness that this photo brings.

Basically my sacrum is slipping under my L5 vertebrae. Maybe it's this photo that has helped give me drive to push myself so much more in my day to day life. If the little disc between my two vertebrae pops (it is damn near exploding in this photo) all I know is things will never be the same. Knowing that you have 3 disks ready to burst isn't exactly reassuring.

Everyone is fighting battles. THIS is my battle.

Don't Stop Breaking Down the Doors

Kam

Skiing

Every year I return to work at Solitude Mountain Resort, I am always reminded of how much I love skiing. I have had the chance to teach a handful of private lessons already this year. I really enjoy feeling like I am giving people the tools they need to go out and be active in the outdoors and have a lot of fun. The ski bug is getting the best of me this season. I had the chance to go out and ski Snowbird with a couple of close friends, and hucked my first backflip. It was so sweet! I have neglected downhill skiing the past few years to really focus on my cross country skiing, so it feels great to come back into another sport that I love so much and still feel like I can ski most of the people I know under the table.

Dropped a pretty penny getting outfitted with some new gear that will allow me to take my downhill and backcountry skiing to the next level. So stoked about it!

Picked up some 2013 Blizzard Gunsmokes for a killer deal and I will be mounting some Tyrolia Adrenaline 16's on them which will allow me to go skinning to reach some awesome lines that I have always wanted to ski. Finally I purchased myself a super sweet pair of boots the Dalbello Panterra 100's, I have been skiing on an ancient pair of used Rossignols that were way to big. I was able to accomplish a hell of a lot on those boots but is exciting to finally invest in some boots that will hopefully allow me to shred even harder. Cannot wait to get all of my orders shipped in and mounted so I can hit the slopes again soon on some awesome new equipment.

It seems like every year or so I find a reason to spend most of my savings on something big. Windsurfer, Mountain Bike, BMX bike, Skim board, Skis, Boots Bindings, Car.... I can definitely say I do not regret any of my purchases, except for the car at time... but that is another story. STOKED!

To all my readers, keep being awesome and do epic shit!

Don't Stop Breaking Down the Doors

Kam

Bright Days

Well by some stroke of luck this blog got discovered and will likely be published (not sure to what extent) in the near future. I just accepted another position as a Community Manager with FreshmanSupport.com. They are a growing company out of Austin, TX. They offer service and advice for high school seniors and juniors who are trying to decide which college to go to. They found my blog and asked if I would be the ambassador more or less for the Utah. Should be a fun adventure, and they seem eager to help with any entrepreneurial questions I may have. They also offer their top Community Managers a chance to intern in Austin this upcoming summer. Who knows what could happen there!?

Hopefully it will not drain too much of my time, seeing as I work 2 jobs and will be a student again at the University of Utah this spring.


I finally dragged my sorry ass up to the I-street dirt jumps today. I was pretty nervous heading up, because I have trail run up there in the past and seen how many local riders are at the jumps trying to throw down. I decided to take my BMX bike to work on some whips,flares and rhythm sections. I got up there and was pretty nervous, but quickly found a little kicker where I could practice by myself and get in the zone. Made some real progress. Some other dudes even came over to say my riding was looking really good. STOKED!

I decided to up my game after about an hour of working out some kinks on a few jumps. The run starts off with a 5-6 inch wide ladder drop off. Nobody was hitting it, and I had practiced riding curbs around my neighborhood, so I figured I would give it a shot. Made it about half way down a few times, and on my third go round I lined up and hit a larger ladder jump with a 15-20 foot gap. Came up a little bit short on the landing, clipping my back tire on the lip of the landing. I was pretty stoked I was still able to stomp it without going over the bars. I ran back up to the top to get ready to have another go at the ladder jumps, sat on my bike and instantly realized it was riding like a chopper. Looked down.....

 

The front forks used to come down completely straight from the head tube......

 200 dollars later a new stem and front fork installed, I am ready to roll again.

Today I am thankful for the condition my body is in to be able to hold up strong so I can continue to ride hard both on dirt and snow.

Totally stoked and sending the good vibes 

Don't Stop Breaking Down the Doors

Kam

PS Thanksgiving was awesome, the food, friends and family were great. So grateful.

Big Decisions, Subtle Surprises

So after stressing about whether or no I should go to Puerto Rico next semester I finally found my answer in what I would consider a pretty unlikely place.....

Back story-

Freshman year of College, I  took a yoga class up at the University of Utah. What a great class. Mid semester I threw my back out and had a hard time walking. I contemplated going to school for weeks because of the pain (I had broken my lower back 2 years before, and was still struggling with getting my lower back pain free). Going to school that day was the last thing I wanted to do. I finally talked myself into going, and by some small miracle the teacher had decided spur of the moment to change our practice that day to a breathing, mind, body, soul kind of day (we usually were all sweating bullets by the end of class, but not this day).

I was so relieved. The Kundalini (excuse my spelling if it is wrong) exercise that day left me rejuvenated and I walked out of class pain free for the first time in months. You can imagine the feeling of having absolutely no pain after losing sleep for weeks over the discomfort in my lower back.

I met a beautiful lady in that class named Camille, I used to love talking to here after class, hearing all of her crazy party stories she was a real funny girl. I got her number, and have since lost touch with her. One of the benefits of living in this day and age is social media. She and I follow each other on Instagram and here is where the story comes full circle.

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I was working on my car today fixing some things and after a few bumps in the road got it all sorted out a few hours off schedule. I treated myself to my favorite meal at a local Vietnamese spot. While waiting for my meal I hopped on Instagram, and saw a photo she had posted that said "Create the things you wish existed".

Not even kidding, right then and there I knew I would not be going to Puerto Rico in January. I had been putting things off by not fixing my car and the feeling of having it all run smooth again is something that I needed. It helped me realize how many small loose ends I have in my life here in Salt Lake. It is time to start stitching them all together to literally make my dreams a reality.

I am so lucky to be surrounded by so many great people, both family and friends.
I have two great jobs and am able to attend school full time in the meantime. Working at a paragliding outfitter and a ski resort is such an awesome gig. I don't think anything is really ever perfect but right now my life seems pretty damn close.

Social media is a wondrous thing it can pull our attention from where we currently are, but it can also help us hone in on what we want by showing us the success of others we care about.

It is time for me to start stringing together the loose ends in my life in order to make my dreams a reality

-Surgery-

-Paragliding-

-Skiing-

-Biking-

-Friendships-

-School-

Don't Stop Breaking Down the Doors

-Kam-

create the things you wish existed

Surf or Snow?

Well, just when you think you have your game plan figured out, you don't. During work today I got an email from a co-worker at a former job..... they offered for me to go down to Puerto Rico for another internship. They haven't had interns there for a long time and extended the offer out to me to go down and help out. CRAZY. I have school lined up for next spring, but can I put it all on hold for another few months to go live out dreams of traveling the world and being immersed in new cultures? Only time will tell.

Living in Puerto Rico would mean being just 45 minutes from here. Sandy Beach, St. Thomas USVI, my home away from home.

Don't Stop Breaking Down the Doors

Kam

Ski season

It's been a little while since my last post. this one won't be much. Went to Solitude today to do our knee and strength tests for the upcoming season. I LOVE seeing all the familiar faces season after season. When the time comes that I move on from Solitude I will definitely miss the people, and atmosphere there. Nothing beats the mom and pop feel of certain ski resorts. I have already been skiing twice. It has been almost 3 years since I was on a pair of downhills (I work at the Nordic center, so I have done only that for the past 3 seasons). It felt really good to hop on the old skis and feel like I took off right where I left off, if not better.

Be a warrior, Not a worrier.

Don't Stop Breaking Down the Doors

Kam

Wanderings

Started and finished another repair at work on Friday. I am actually getting pretty good with a sewing machine. It is cool to see how much I have progressed in the last few months at this new skill. I had a dinner date lined up with a friend later that night and little did I know it would turn into one of the funnest/funniest nights in a long, long time.

630 Time to pick her up- My original plan was to take her to get some good Italian pizza, (I had been craving it all day).

On our way to the pizza place, somehow the conversation turns towards Jackson Hole..... 4 and a half hours later we pull up to a hotel in Alpine, Wyoming just outside Jackson. We get the last room in town, after canceling a prior reservation just minutes before at another hotel in Driggs, Idaho.

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Woke up spent the morning in Jackson and headed to the Grand Tetons. When we arrived the ranger at the entrance told us it was National Public Lands day.... THE ONE DAY A YEAR IT IS FREE TO GET INTO NATIONAL PARKS...... Took her on my favorite little walk there, where I had seen 2 bears just months before.

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Call it what you will, but somehow I cant help but feel that I was in the right place at the right time yesterday. Amazing. absolutely amazing. What a day.

I can't help but think about a few things since yesterday.

- Take a disposable camera along every once and a while -

-Get lost in the moment-

Every time you check your phone, you check out from your surroundings.

Leave your charger at home, it lets you enjoy the journey so much more.

- Money is just an object -

Don't Stop Breaking Down the Doors

- Kam -

Stoked

Soooo.... turns out we can't chose the topic of our speech. LAME. Oh well. Today I am stoked!
A close friend got her interview to hopefully get the internship and her foot in the door of her career after months of waiting. So stoked for her. Sometimes I wonder if it is normal to be as stoked as I am all the time! Life is so great, even when it sucks, put your head down and work through it finding happiness in the little things along the way.

 

Don't Stop Breaking Down the Doors

Kam

Words from a not so wise.

So for my writing class I am going to have to write a speech. Undoubtedly it will end up on my blog in the next few weeks. I am not the best writer, I'll be the first to admit. However reading over my cell phone journal, there is some pretty profound shit in there. Could I have a way with words? Who knows. Here are a few things I have learned/felt within the past year.

Do Epic Shit

Shoot with a camera, not a gun.

The less we ask for, the more we have to give.

So many people travel the world, yet see nothing.

Be ambitious damnit.

You don't stop living when you get old, you get old when you stop living.   

So many of us stand still watching life pass us by, watching dreams fade away. Why do we need others to be our motivational speaker? You are your best advocate. Nobody knows you better than yourself!

Don't let the things you consume end up consuming you.

These are just a few of the things I have taken away from life this past year. I encourage everyone who reads this to start keeping a short journal on your phone, notebook, computer. Remember the last time you had a great idea and you knew you would NEVER forget it. Well, you did. Start writing the good little tid bits down. They make for a good read later.

Don't Stop Breaking Down the Doors

 Kam  

 

Up in the air

What a crazy past few weeks. Starting school is intense. Forgot what it feels like to stretch my brain so much. I am enjoying learning a lot, few big tests coming up and I am trying to be as proactive as I can about them. School and a higher education is such an amazing gift to receive. So many people don't have my same opportunities. I am truly blessed.

Oh and I jumped Corona Arch again this past weekend :P WOOOO STILL STOKED!

We only get one shot at life. We may as well have a hell of a lot of fun, safely and responsibly!

Don't Stop Breaking Down the Doors

Kam

 

Peak-ock

Just bagged Twin Peaks and a few other smaller summits last weekend.... but not before a peacock decided to steal the show.... In case you aren't aware, it is debatable if a peacock can even fly.... seeing one on top of an 11,000 ft mountain is INSANE. Its about as probable as seeing a great white shark in Yellowstone.

 

-Don't Stop Breaking Down the Doors-

Kam

1 year later.

Well I started this blog a little over a year ago and I can honestly say that 54 posts, 1800 views later I have changed a whole hell of a lot. I have some grand plans of a few more blogs I want to start within this next calendar year and they won't disappoint. It is incredible to see how far I have come just in the past year. St. Thomas, Colorado, Paragliding, Skydiving, just to name a few. Thank you to everyone who follows my blog/life and gives me such kind words. You guys/gals are the bomb. Here's to hoping that this next year will leave me just as speechless as the last.

Don't Stop Breaking Down the Doors :*

Kam