As far back as I can remember I have always had a dirt bike and I was the mechanic. I have been working on engines of all types for over 30 years. Before opening my shop, I served as the engineer on an Alaskan crab fishing boat, where the demands were intense, and breakdowns simply weren’t an option. Alaskan fishing boats face some of the harshest conditions in the world, with freezing temperatures, rough seas, and relentless schedules during the crab season. I was responsible for keeping the engines and all mechanical systems running smoothly while out at sea, often diagnosing and repairing issues in real time. From fixing hydraulic winches and haulers to troubleshooting fuel system problems and rebuilding engines in unforgiving weather, I handled it all. These boats are the lifeline of the operation, and any downtime means lost income, so there’s no room for error. My experience keeping those boats running in such extreme conditions taught me to think quickly, work efficiently, and get things right the first time—skills I now apply to every repair I perform on dirt bikes, ATVs, and powersport equipment.