Chris
Stanko
Base
Camp Manager
Irvine,
CA, USA
BIOGRAPHY
Chris
brings the passion
and technical skills
of outdoor
adventuring matched
with the discipline
of corporate level
management and
operations.
Though born
and raised in
fast-paced Southern
California, Chris
has always been
drawn to the great
outdoors.
Along with
being an
accomplished scuba
diver and
skier/snowboarder,
Chris has safaried
on the plains of
Africa, hiked the
mountains and
woodlands of
southern Australia,
trekked the jungles
of Belize and
occasionally has
been known to jump
out of perfectly
good airplanes
thirteen thousand
feet in the air just
for fun!
"Whether
I'm a hundred feet
below the surface of
the ocean or
thousands of feet atop a mountain,
being out in the
midst of nature's
majesty is what
brings me peace.
I find my
greatest sense of
self out where few
humans dare tread.
It's a
peace not many
people will ever
know."
Chris
has accompanied
Phill on a number of
adventures and
shares Phill's passion for the
outdoors and for
pushing one's own
abilities.
He and Phill
also share the idea
that, if you are not
living your dreams,
you are not really
living.
Chris' drive for adventure
has grown to
complement the
energy and vision
generated by Phill.
While
working for Oakley,
Inc., Chris was
given the
opportunity to build
Oakley's watch
warranty division on
a world level.
Aside from
managing the watch
warranty operations
in the states, Chris
established repair
facilities and
trained technicians
at world
subsidiaries in nine
different countries.
Unsatisfied
with a corporate
level career, Chris
concluded that
happiness in life
would only come from
following his
passions, wherever
they may lead.
Chris
left Oakley to form
his own company
producing custom and
completely hand made
knives.
He had always
been intrigued with
knives and swords
since childhood and
proceeded to forge a
new path in his life
by making a living
following a passion.
After only a
year and a half of
leaving Oakley, Chris
made his
goal a reality in
the formation of
West Coast
Bladecraft.
"Anything
is possible in life
provided we have a
strong relationship
to our word.Too many
people trivialize
words by not
honoring their words
as themselves.
If I say
something will
happen, it WILL
happen.
Once the goal
is set, then it's
time to create the
path on how to get
there.That path may
twist and turn and
change
from day to
day...but every
moment is created
with that goal in
mind."
With
Chris' passion and
dedication
complementing his
organizational and
management strengths
and his ability to
quickly adapt and
remain focused under
pressure and
ever-changing
conditions, he will
be a great asset to
the base camp
management for the
Everest Freestyle
Expedition.
His
involvement in the
Expedition fulfils
his life-long drive
and passion to push
human ability to its
limits and associate
with like-minded
adventurers driven
to succeed through
feats of physical
achievement.
Chris also
hopes that this
expedition will
demonstrate to a
wide range of people
that living any
dream is within
reach, no matter
your current
situation or
condition.
"Freedom
IS fought for...but
not with guns or
swords or grand
armies.
It is a
battle that rages
within each of us.
To let go of
the fear and doubt
which holds so
many
of us back from
living our dreams
and to see the world
from a different
view...a view of
possibility...that
is true freedom.
If we stop
holding onto the past
and
stop worrying
about the
future...if we live
each moment as our
last...that is the
ultimate freedom a
human being can
achieve.
By creating
your life...creating
your being, moment
by moment, any dream
can be lived."
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