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Growing up in Lafayette, California, I learned to ride on a Honda S90, a kick-starting, one-cylinder, 89.6 cc, eight-horsepower bike that Cycle World magazine called “a remarkable little machine.” Vroom.

I left home in 1968 to attend the University of Utah, primarily to avoid the Vietnam War, and to ski every day after class. During that time, I had a Draft lottery number of 236, taught skiing at Alta’s Alf Engen Ski School, and rode a Honda CL 305 Scrambler.

At Utah, I earned a bachelor’s degree in 1973, majoring in Broadcast Journalism. Following a two-year stint at the Salt Lake Tribune as the token male in what was then the “Lifestyle” section, I transitioned to TV news, working as a reporter/anchor in Boise, Idaho, where I won the gold medal in the 1978 Idaho news media ski championship. Zoom.

Next TV stop: Bellingham, Washington, where I worked for four years in a gig more about sailing the San Juan Islands than anything remotely career-oriented. Somehow, that experience prepared me for KOMO-TV in Seattle, where I was a news producer in the 1980s, a real-life version of the Holly Hunter character (Jane Craig) in the 1987 film, Broadcast News. At the time, I rode a bright orange 1976 Honda CB 550F.

Eventually, everyone in Seattle with a pulse goes to work at Boeing, so that’s what I did in 1988, seeking fame and fortune (I found neither, but walked away with Sarah Murr, the biggest prize of all). I retired from the big ol’ airplane company 20 years later as a public relations and communications guy on the 747 and C-17 programs. During the height of the Iraq war, I flew into a combat zone on a C-17 as a promotional stunt. Silly idea, in retrospect. Ka-boom.

For my 55th birthday, a shiny new, 2005 Harley-Davidson Low Rider entered my life, staving off whatever midlife crisis I was otherwise entitled to. It was the first of my three Harleys, each one a little bigger and more badass than what it replaced. 

In January 1999, Sarah and I were married in Dragør, Denmark, not far from the Copenhagen airport (Københavns Lufthavn). The somewhat traditional Scandinavian ceremony included pickled herring, Carlsberg beer, and skinny dipping in Øresund, where the water that day was -2° (Celsius, but still!). To warm up, we enjoyed 15 years of desert living at PGA West, a 108-hole golf community in La Quinta, California. Now, to experience all four seasons, we reside in beautiful Carbondale, Colorado, at 6,300 feet in the Rocky Mountains.

In retirement since 2008, I actively give my time to support the communities we live in – whether holding a “Quiet” sign at PGA Tour golf events, serving on boards, or doing pro bono communications work. I recently “retired” after four years on the Master Association Board at River Valley Ranch in Carbondale, the last two as President.

After 11 years out of the work force, a 17-year hiatus from skiing, and a 46-year break from ski instructing, I’m now teaching skiing to 7-17 year-old kids at Aspen/Snowmass, one of North America’s premier ski destinations. It’s just 29 miles from our front door. Very interesting how life comes full circle sometimes.

Today, I ride two bikes: a Specialized Turbo Como 3.0 e-bike (top speed: pedal-assisted 20 mph), and a 2016 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special (top speed: V-twin powered 100+ mph). The shiny red Harley, nicknamed “Ruby,” is my seventh, and more than likely, last bike. She should tide me over till I’m really, really old.

I hit the road every summer. To see where I’ve been, visit the “My Trips” page.

Vroom!

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Gary Lesser Gallery

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