When I was 21 years old, I went on my first motorcycle trip. My Dad and I headed to Colorado to ride a section of the Trans America Trail across the Rockies. I was inexperienced and nervous. I was riding a stock CRF250L with a huge duffle bag strapped to the back and was wearing borrowed riding gear. Looking back at that trip, What sticks out to me is the pure adventurous nature of it all. I had no idea what to expect going into it, but after riding down the steps of Blackbear Pass down to Telluride, I knew that this would have to be a part of my life somehow. Little did I know what a huge part of my life, this motorcycle thing would turn out to be.

I went to university to double major in Industrial Design and German Studies, and during this time, I sort of forgot about motorcycles but stayed active with other outdoor activities. These activities included rock climbing, bikepacking, snowboarding, backpacking, and so on. These activities taught me a lot about myself and what I wanted out of my life. They also taught me valuable lessons about design. I believe that an outdoor product should inspire people to get outside and that once they’re outside using that product, it should fade away into the background so they can focus on the experience. 

After graduation, I was invited to ride the Wyoming Backcountry Discovery Route. This experience helped me get back into the realm of motorcycle travel and reignited the flame for me. Riding next to wild horses on the windswept Wyoming Steppe is something I will never forget. I became so excited about motorcycles, that I moved to Idaho to work for Klim. While there, I designed lots of exciting products and I sharpened my design skills and understanding of the moto world.

While living in Idaho, I embarked on an adventure to complete the Oregon and Washington Backcountry Discovery Routes. I bought myself a 2009 CRF450X and financed my first set of Mosko bags. A 3,000 mile, long story short, I fell in love with the Pacific Northwest and vowed to someday return. One year later, I moved to Hood River Oregon to design bags and luggage at Mosko Moto. 

I’ve always visualized outdoor experiences as adding little moments to a piggy bank of happiness. Every once in a while, the piggybank breaks open, and I am flooded with cherished memories from the outdoors. Riding a motorcycle in the backcountry provides me with this experience more than anything else.