About

I believe in the unlimited potential of all people.

In my work as an outdoor educator, my mission was always to help young people discover their full potential. My personal journey involved turning my greatest challenge, dyslexia, into a source of strength, cultivating a deep sense of grit, purpose, and perseverance. Today, I channel this same determination into my athletic pursuits using my experiences to craft inspiring stories that encourage others to tackle challenges they once deemed unattainable.

I am deeply passionate about fostering strong partnerships and growing community. I aim to be a positive force within the bike industry. I am motivated foremost by the opportunity to combine purposeful, mission-driven work with my love of endurance cycling.

My passion for bikepacking began with a solo 6,000-mile journey from Vermont to South America at age 19. This transformative experience ignited my love for the sport and led me to pursue competitive racing. Following a 10-year career as an outdoor educator, a turning point came in 2020 when I became a full-time caregiver for my uncle Bruce who was diagnosed with ALS. Watching a loved one face this terminal disease, I saw up close the fragility of life. This experience inspired me to follow my dream of becoming a full-time athlete, leading to the ‘Ride to Endure’ project, attempting to set the record of the Baja Divide to raise awareness and funds for ALS advocacy.

I was drawn to the sport and continue to be excited by the experiment of pushing the envelope of what is humanly possible. Ultra endurance cycling is a beautiful blending of athleticism, logistical planning, technical navigation, adaptability, and of course an ability to push well beyond barriers of comfort. The multifaceted nature of the sport drew me in and continues to electrify me. I love refining my systems, strategies, physical and mental fitness. As the sport of ultra bike racing grows quickly and the pool of competition deepens, I find it thrilling that if you want to win you can’t just be the fastest. You have to be a puzzle master, able to put all the pieces together just right!

Raised in a family of outdoor guides, my sense of adventure was fostered at a young age. Throughout my childhood, my parents would take my brothers and me out of school for extended wilderness expeditions. We became proficient whitewater paddlers, climbers, cyclists, and skiers. Being the firstborn in the US to Jewish refugees from the Soviet Union, my parents created a radically alternative life for us. We grew up on a homestead built from a blank field, growing much of our food, splitting firewood, caring for animals, and learning to live off the land.

In school, learning became a constant challenge as I struggled with dyslexia. I worked tirelessly to achieve academic success despite the obstacles I faced. This instilled within me a fierce tenacity that I carry with me every day. Though I continue to face learning challenges, I channel this same determination into my work as a professional athlete. The grit and skills I developed growing up have become the foundation of my success in ultra endurance cycling.

Earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Peace and Social Justice Studies, I cultivated a deep sense of social responsibility in all I do. The skills learned through my upbringing and the consciousness gained through my education are the foundation on which I approach my work today as a professional athlete.