Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordan Porter.
Hi Jordan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin. It was here that my passion for the outdoors was sparked. I spent hours in the woods, on the lake, and at the local ski hill. I even water-skied on a competitive level for the majority of my childhood. As I grew older, I was fortunate enough to be able to make alpine ski trips out west to the Rocky Mountains.
These mountains ignited a passion in me that could never be squashed. I spent years dreaming of living in a place with mountains! Eventually, this dream became a reality… I moved to Salt Lake City to attend the University of Utah in 2017. I was able to maintain a respectable GPA while spending the vast majority of my time mountain biking, alpine skiing, paragliding, and exploring the mountains.
Alpine skiing was my first burning sports passion. I spent 3-5 days per week up at the Utah ski resorts, riding the Bus for 2 hours each way from my apartment near the U. I could never get enough, no matter how good or bad the snow quality. I enjoyed hours on hours of linking turns with friends, solo, and occasionally with my family when they visited.
I learned to paraglide in my Junior year of undergrad. My journey into the paragliding realm was not so smooth. In my fourth lesson, I had a tragic crash where I broke 10 bones and collapsed my left lung. I was helicopter flown to the nearest hospital, where I spent the next week before returning home to fully recover. I eventually took back to the skies as well as my other mountain sports.
I graduated with my Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. I later went on to pursue my Master’s Degree in Accounting while also earning a Graduate Certificate in Data Analytics. This enabled me to land a job at one of the “Big Four” Accounting firms.
After two years of paragliding, I began to learn to Speedfly. Speedflying is a special type of paragliding with smaller gliders, allowing faster speeds and lower proximity-type flying. My start in speed flying wasn’t so perfect either!
While I did not suffer any tragic crashes, I was commonly regarded as “sketchy” and unsafe. After years of frequent flying and mentorship from wiser pilots, I was able to establish myself as a sustainable and well-respected pilot in the flying community.
I also spent time flying full-size paragliders long distances, a practice we call “Cross Country”. My longest flight on a paraglider is 180 km. In 2022, I obtained my tandem rating which allows me to take other people flying with me! I serve on the Utah Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association Board of Directors as the Speedflying Safety Officer. In this role, I can help mentor newer pilots while encouraging safety and sustainability.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The biggest, most life-altering struggle along the way was certainly my paragliding accident in 2018. I unintentionally collapsed and stalled my glider, leading to a 300′ fall to the ground. I surely thought I was going to die at this moment. After impact, I was amazed to open my eyes, breathe in air, and move my hands and feet.
Of course, I was not all fine. I had suffered 6 broken ribs, 4 fractured vertebrae, and a punctured and collapsed lung. Fortunately, the EMS response was extremely quick. I took my first-ever helicopter ride to the Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah where I spent a week recovering in the hospital. I then returned to my home just a short drive from that hospital to complete my healing journey.
This event was life-altering for me. Scratching the surface of death was an incredibly eye-opening experience.
Through pain, suffering, excitement, and hope I was able to begin to truly grasp how beautiful and fragile life is. We only get to live one time, so we might as well make the very best of it!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
While I do have a “day job” serving in the Assurance Practice at one of the “Big Four” Accounting firms, my true passion lies in mentoring alpine skiing, speed flying, and paragliding athletes.
With my rocky start to both paragliding and speed flying, I learned a great deal about what NOT to do. This struck a great passion in me to help others avoid the same mistakes that I have made along the way. It ignites me to see others progress safely and sustainably. This is exactly how I earned my spot on the Utah Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association Board of Directors as the Speedflying Safety Officer.
I enjoy taking athletes on Backcountry ski missions, flying missions in the mountains, and other ‘extreme’ type adventures. It truly gets me out of bed in the morning to answer questions, give advice, and help bring up the next generation of mountain athletes.
I am most proud of my patience and ability to empathize with my mentees. This is also exactly what sets me apart from others in the sports I partake in.
What makes you happy?
Combining my passions makes me the absolute happiest. I love bringing together flying, skiing, and friends all in the same place at the same time. Combining speed flying and skiing is a sport we regard as “speed riding.” Imagine, paragliding down the mountain with an ultra-small glider, with skis on!
We get to shred the snow, then lift off and fly off cliffs, before setting down and skiing again. This activity is best done with my best friends and mentees. There is no feeling quite like combining all of my passions while watching my friends excel while grinning ear to ear.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @stillwate.r
Image Credits
Ethan Knorr, Bri Clark, and Arash Farhang
