If you’re here, you’re probably interested in who I am, where I’m from, what I’m like, how I got here and what type of dog I have. I’ll do my best to give you the low-down on the Pedro (as I’ve been named by my in-laws since my father-in-law is named Peter as well).
I was born in Ketchikan, Alaska and moved to Juneau when I was five (there aren’t a ton of memories about the first 5 years other than that I loved bright green and had a cool green suit that I used to wear to church). If you’ve never visited Alaska, it rains a lot (at least in Southeast AK). This leads to a thick skin when it comes to rain and lots of indoor activities. In second grade I witnessed a jump rope assembly at my elementary school and I was hooked. I started jumping that very day and was probably one of the worst candidates for the professional jumping school. I stunk. I was determined to learn though so I spent that entire year practicing so I could make it on the GV Jumpers (Glacier Valley Elementary). Third grade came around and I made it on the team, they changed the name to the Juneau Jumpers and I spent 9 years practicing, performing, competing and traveling around the world. During our years of competition, my team won 7 World Championships along with numerous local, state and national tournaments. We had a rockin’ awesome team and I couldn’t have had a better group to spend those years with.
During this whole period I dealt with numerous character issues. I was extremely shy (a fact that most people find hard to believe considering that I talk to people for a living) and spent most of my time hiding who I was and what I felt from everybody. For some reason it was determined that I would be the one that everyone would pick on. I ended up with a very strong dislike of who I was and really didn’t think that I was good for anything. This lead to many years that I wished I didn’t exist and was in deep need of a way out.
I mention this here because one thing that helped me through these tough years was finding something that I was passionate about. Too many people today float through life and never experience that. I want to introduce students to the idea that anything can be your passion, not just the standard sports, but anything can be that life changing activity for them. Mine happens to be rather odd, but because of how I approach it, people think I’m awesome. That sure wasn’t the case when I was growing up, boy how things change.
In 1997, 2 months after I graduated High School, I moved to Chicago and worked for an established professional there for 6 months. After finishing up, I moved to Florida and started my own business, Rope Masters. I’m always asked, why is there an ‘s’. The reason is that my best friend and I started it together and we wanted it to be open enough to offer other jumpers an opportunity at some point in the future. He took off after 6 months and decided to go the standard career path and left me to figure out a way to make the jump rope lifestyle work on my own.
I spent 4 years working room service and waiting tables at a hotel while trying to get my business off the ground. I learned a lot about customer service and that practically everyone thought I was joking when I said I was going to be a professional rope skipper. In 2002 I ended up getting sick of Florida so I moved to Oklahoma. Which leads me to today.
I’ve been doing jump rope shows as my sole living since I moved to Tulsa (2002). I got married in 2007 and then immediately went on a 3 year intense school tour (about 350 schools per year) where I would go in and encourage students to become a champion in life by working hard and studying. I have recently taken this to the next stage with füsed. It’s much more than just what I do, but it’s a lifestyle that each and every student can live by fusing their talents with work, education and determination.
I started breaking Guinness World Records in 2013. I decided to give myself some challenges and it turns out I’m pretty good at breaking records! I’ve broken 12 officially and I’ve still got a few more that I’m currently training toward, but I’ve been quite happy with what I’ve been able to accomplish. For more information check out the page I have dedicated toward my records.
I’ve had the opportunity to perform all over the world in countries such as: Australia, British Virgin Islands, Cambodia, Canada, China, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Palau, Peru, South Korea, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand and Vietnam. I’ve also performed in all 50 states in the U.S. as well as special performances at such venues as: Tivoli Gardens in Denmark, Sea World, Disney Land, Disney World and a Seattle Supersonics vs. Boston Celtics halftime show. I also recently doubled Adam Sandler in the movie Jack & Jill which came out in 2011. My scene was the Double Dutch routine on the cruise ship. It looks like he knows how to jump, but it was actually me 🙂
Quick random info: I got married in 2007 to Alicia. I love smoothies and bread (good thing I jump rope for a living so I can stay thin). I love cave diving (yes, scuba diving into underwater cave systems…I’m a little dangerous like that). I also happen to have a professional photography business as well since I get to travel to awesome places and I thought I should document them and such.That’s about it.