We sat down in Los Angeles with REI members Yolanda and her daughter Stacey to find out what drives their passion for the outdoors.
Why is “outside” important?
Stacey: Los Angeles is a very busy city and sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of what’s surrounding us. I think it’s important to step away and reconnect with what is natural and organic.
How did your love for the outdoors blossom?
Yolanda: I was brought up in the traditional Hispanic culture of the ´50s, learning cooking and cleaning. I didnʼt get introduced to the outdoors until college when I was discovered tennis.
When my first child was just two years old, a friend introduced me to personal watercraft racing. Thatʼs when I discovered that really anybody can do anything, and I entered my first race ever. It was so memorable. After I took off from the shore, I saw a single dolphin following one female racer, jumping in and out of her wake. Suddenly, the fog came in and I was alone in the middle of the ocean. And thatʼs when I saw it: a huge whale, barnacles on the skin and all. I looked it in the eye and we had a moment. Then I freaked and gassed it around that huge beast.
Who inspires you to get outside?
Yolanda: Itʼs within me. Itʼs a love of life. Because I wasnʼt introduced to outdoor recreation until I was older and had a family, I didnʼt get burned out. Everything is still very exciting for me.
Stacey: My inspiration is my mom. I see her riding her bike or going for a run at 6am, for fun. As a child, I could never understand it. But at age 25, I do.
What do you get out of being outside together?
Yolanda: I love that I know my daughter is staying healthy. Sheʼs getting the medicine that the doctor canʼt prescribe. Life is busy; I donʼt always get the chance to hug and kiss my kids because one of us is always rushing out the door. When…
