*Pictured above - [Left] Me doing an interview for Fox News on 6-11-08. [Right] Me on a fly fishing trip 10-13-09*
Born
and raised in Chicago on Sept 11th 1982, the city is where I live but definitely not where I belong. Growing up wasn't easy. I will
spare you the childhood drama and get to what matters most and the
answer to one of the more common questions I get. How does one become
obsessed with storm chasing? Especially from this area.
Well,
my deep interest in the weather started at a very young age. I can't
tell you exactly when it was born. Severe weather wasn't a big part of
my life living here in Chicago. There was no childhood encounter with a
tornado to spark my interest. I didn't even get to see one till I was
24 years old. It did start young though. For Christmas as a kid I would
get weather science kits instead of Nintendo games, tornado videos
instead of ninja turtles videos...but thats what I wanted. When I would
come home I would sit in front of the weather channel...for
hours...watching the same repeat broadcasts over and over. I remember
the first time I saw them highlight my area in red for "strong storms" I got so excited I took out my crayons and drew a similar image on a piece of paper.
I
had a fascination with the power of the storms. My earliest memory of
being caught in the storm was at Great America with my family. I
thought I was king awesome because I had concurred the American Eagle
roller coaster. Later that evening the sky turned black, a strange siren
went off Ive never heard before, and people started running. I looked
up at the sky in terror and clung to my moms leg. She told me to put my
head down but I couldn't, as scared as I was I just HAD to look up. I
have a vivid memory from that day of a sky filled with bright orange
mammatus clouds. I survived. I looked fear in the eye and concurred
it...again.
From
there it never stopped, leaning out my bedroom window to catch hail while my
mom yelled at me. Taking pictures of the clouds while on fishing
trips...instead of the fish. I actually got in trouble for that once. I
started to watch storm chasing shows on TV, as well as the tornado
videos in my small collection. I was ever so jealous of these guys. How
amazing for them to be able to do that...and be famous [at the time I
thought so] for doing it. It was my dream, but I thought it was out of
reach.
Well...as
I got older I struggled allot through teenage years. It was tough times
for me. The interest in the weather took a back seat to all of lifes
problems. I made some bad decisions, and never felt confident in myself
to think I could do what I want. I believed my fate was to be decided
by the world and I was powerless against it.
After
many years of enduring this struggle I slowly began to snap out of it.
Perhaps it came with maturing as I grew older. Around the age of 20 I
had an epiphany. I could do what I want, when I want and how I want.
I attended my first spotter class in 2002. From there I spent my years
doing light research and "chasing"
local storms, which were few and far between. If I could get myself
some pea size hail and see some good lightning I would smile for days.
On
April 20th 2004, an infamous day here in Illinois. I was running errands
with a friend. We stopped at a hotel which had a tv in the lobby
flashing warnings and showing a radar. Looking at the TV I thought to
myself "I can do this"
and ended up intercepting my first storm by planning a route in my head
only off a TV radar. Confidence in myself grew at this point. Soon
after to my amazement, I discovered I was one of MANY people who share
the same interest in the subject. After so many years of thinking I
was a loner, this was a big step that helped feed my motivation.
After
that it took off, and fast. I started teaching myself everything I know
about forecasting. I started driving longer distances to go after
storms. I got more involved with the community, I started video taping,
taking pictures and documenting. I started submitting reports to the
NWS. Before I knew it, I was starting to live my dream. The only thing
left was to get that first tornado. It finally happened on May 5th 2007 in
the great state of Kansas. I was living my dream, and reached a goal I
never thought I could do.
So
this is where I stand today. Dozens of chases, and each year getting
more and more involved. I want to go all the way with this. Its been my
dream as a child, and still is an adult. Ive got much to learn still
and much to experience yet. The chaser community is wonderful, and I
now share my love for the chase with many around the country with a
similar passion and drive. The feeling is absolutely incredible. I'm
here to stay.
One
day I do plan to move to the plains to be closer to more action. For
now though, my home base will likely remain in Chicago for a couple
years, as I work harder and harder to reach my next goal.
