Bolton, CT
UX Designer
2022
September 2022. A funny story about this was that my wedding happened to be smack in the middle of my paramotor course. So I skipped two days of the course to get married and was back the next day!
I began skydiving at 16, which sparked a love of flight that has never left me. After years of jumping, I started exploring other airsports, which eventually led me to paramotoring!
One of my most memorable flights was in Washington state, when I flew out to a mountaintop glacier during a fiery red sunset with another pilot I met on the trip. As we approached, we saw waterfalls cascading down from the ice, glowing in the evening light. We took turns carving around the mountain spires and even foot-dragged across the glacier itself—it felt absolutely surreal. To top it off, there were mountain goats on the cliffs below us. It was the kind of flight that made me feel like I was living inside a dream.
Can I really only pick one?? I’m so excited to eventually try an international location. Having done some hiking in South America, I can only imagine how incredible it would be to fly there. Iceland is also right at the top of my list for obvious reasons! I’m itching to try fly camping as well. Honestly, give me all the adventures.
Over the past few years, I’ve chased some pretty big adventures. I’ve taken two cross-country trips, each around 11,000 miles, flying in some of the most stunning places the U.S. has to offer (Utah, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming to name a few!). The first trip was such a turning point that it inspired me to build out a campervan – which I managed to finish in just two months – so I could travel longer and farther, always with flying in mind. I’ve also completed an all-women SIV course in Oludeniz, Turkey, which was an incredible learning experience.
Before paramotoring, I competed in skydiving for years, both in college and afterward. That part of my journey gave me some unforgettable experiences, including placing first in Wingsuit Acrobatics at an FAI World Championship and earning several gold medals at the national level. Competing in skydiving holds some of my fondest memories in the sport, and I’m eager to eventually step into paramotor competitions too.
What I love most about paramotoring is how it transforms ordinary days into adventures. It’s the easiest (and arguably the best) way to make every day feel like the weekend. I’ve never been one to spend my workweek just preparing for more work. There’s something magical about starting the day at sunrise, 1,000 feet up, carving the sky with friends. It’s hard to have a bad day when your first view is the world glowing below you.
Paramotoring has completely opened up a new world of adventures for me. I used to set goals around hiking in new places, but now those goals have evolved into flying ones. Hiking is amazing, but seeing those same places from the sky is a whole new level of awesomeness. The perspective, the freedom, and the sheer beauty is really unlike anything else. Paramotoring even inspired me to build a campervan, which makes it easy for my husband to meet me out for highlights of the trip and lets me bring along my trusty sidekick/van security system, our German Shepherd named Piper. It also allows me to work on the road (which, depending on the day, is sometimes appreciated more than others). Now I can travel farther and longer, chasing good weather, breathtaking landscapes, and time with friends who share the same passion. It’s reshaped the way I experience the world.
Anything worth doing is worth sucking at! Don’t be intimidated by the training—it’s there to guide you through the learning process, step by step. Don’t rush; focus on building your skills gradually, and find a supportive community. Fellow pilots are invaluable for advice, encouragement, and safety tips. The activity itself might be what gets you to start, but it’s the community that will keep you coming back, helping you grow and push your limits safely.
Embrace the adventure: flying opens up incredible opportunities to explore new places, so plan trips and don’t be afraid to try new things once you’re confident. And most importantly, enjoy the view. There’s nothing like seeing the world from above, and every flight is a reminder of why you started.
While flying just off shore on the Oregon coast, a whale breached RIGHT underneath me. Definitely a moment to remember!
