I grew up in east Tennessee, and I love those mountains with all my heart. That being said, I am afflicted with a terminal case of wanderlust. The doctors say it's incurable, and the symptoms only seem to be worsening with time. I have spent the last two years splitting my time between working in Chile as a whitewater kayak instructor and working in whitewater rafting in Tennessee, and hope to continue chasing beautiful rivers around the world.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

As a host, I enjoy meeting kindred spirits with interesting stories. It can help me bide my time until my next adventure. I like to pay forward the kindnesses that have been extended to me.

As a surfer, I love Couchsurfing as a way to meet new people and get the local scoop on a place. I don't travel in order to lock myself away in a sterile hotel room somewhere. I travel to make connections: with people, with nature, with food...

Interests

My passion is for adventure, wherever I can find it. Sometimes I find it in an engaging conversation. Sometimes I find it in a new challenge. Mostly I find it outdoors: horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, wakeboarding, and riding motorcycles are all pretty high on the list.

• photography
• dancing
• dining
• running
• drinking
• flying
• motorcycles
• boating
• traveling
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• equestrian
• hiking
• kayaking
• skiing
• wakeboarding
• sports
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

I'm a voracious reader, will devour anything I can get my hands on, from classical literature to a tube of toothpaste. The Count of Monte Cristo is probably the best book I have read to date. In general, I tend to read a lot of sci-fi and fantasy. J. R. R. Tolkien is hands-down my favorite author.

I'm a fan of video games, though I play them less frequently as time goes on. I will definitely throw down in any game you choose, though if that choice is Smash Bros, you'd better watch out...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

The most awesome, life-changing moments rarely come as big, discrete events, but instead as appreciation of little bits of wonder. Cliff-jumping in February at night. That incredible rush of power when I run my horse flat-out. A sunset in northern Mongolia that looked like fire raining from the sky. Dancing alone under the stars. Dancing until dawn in a Rio favela. The smell and feel of rich, loamy earth. Watching a volcano glow at night from the middle of a whitewater river. Finding unlooked-for rapport with a stranger. The heat of sun-warmed Yosemite granite. The feeling, somewhere between dancing and flying, when you hit a set of twisties on a motorcycle just right.

This life is one beautiful adventure blended into another.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach: whitewater kayaking, horseback riding, boating sports (wakeboarding, skiing, etc), photography.

I'd like to learn: anything you're willing to teach! If nothing else, teach me a few handy words in your language (drinking salutes, swear words - y'know, the essentials).

What I Can Share with Hosts

Overlong stories and killer guacamole.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Mexico, Mongolia, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Chile, United States