SAFETY STORY

Chasing their dreams

Couple loading skiing gear into the back of their GM vehicle

Chasing their dreams

April 11, 2024

Chasing their dreams

April 11, 2024

OnStar helps kayaking champion and family stay connected on the road and the river

Nick T. is leading the life you wish you could. You know, that life where you pursue your passion, traveling the country, family in tow — each week a new adventure in a new place.

Nick, a world champion whitewater kayaker, discovered the sport when he was 13 and was hooked. As he grew up, it was only natural that he would build his life around something he loved. Which is how he and wife, Emily (also a world champion athlete), wound up living on the road 6 to 10 months during the year with their two kids in a 30-foot travel trailer while they enter national and world cup whitewater competitions.

“It's what I've always done, which is really just chase my dreams in one aspect or another,” Nick says. “And for me and our family, having that somewhat nomadic lifestyle, the ability to pick up and drive and go anywhere, is a huge part of that for sure.”

“Having OnStar there for the full security of my family ... it’s a lot of peace of mind.”

And, yes, he knows what you’re thinking: 10 months on the road each year with two young children, work responsibilities and kayaking competitions does have its share of complications, such as laundry (2 adults + 2 kids + no washing machine = yikes!) or helping his son with sixth-grade math, but it’s worth it.

“Some of that stuff can be a challenge,” he acknowledges, “but it doesn't mean that the juice isn't worth the squeeze.”

A big part of their lifestyle is being able to connect to the internet from the many highly remote places they find themselves, which they’re able to do by using the Wi-Fi^® Hotspot* in their GMC Sierra AT4X.

A typical day might have Nick handling video calls or interviews, his wife making a presentation for work (she’s a marketing manager for a kayak company), and the kids studying online school sessions. That’s a lot of connectivity, all while they’re hunkered down, say, in a river corridor in Idaho for an upcoming competition.

“I mean 1000 percent technology plays a huge aspect in our lifestyle and our ability to live on the road,” Nick says. “It would be near impossible without it.”

Even better, having connectivity in the vehicle helps ensure they have time to enjoy the places they visit. While Nick’s driving to their next destination, the kids can be online finishing their school lessons, so when they arrive, the family can drop off the devices and drop into the moment.

“I mean 1000 percent technology plays a huge aspect in our lifestyle and our ability to live on the road,” Nick says. “It would be near impossible without it.”

“To me it's that balance of being very connected, but also then wanting to disconnect from technology and connect to nature,” he adds.

Tech plays a role in other ways too.

“We definitely use the myGMC mobile app*, and it's got some really cool features on it,” he says. “I would say we almost use it more for the 30-foot trailer we’re traveling with. It'll essentially connect to our trailer so we can monitor the trailer while we're driving.”

Having the app to keep an eye on the trailer’s tire pressure, make sure the lights are working correctly, or check the combined weight of trailer and truck, naturally makes him feel more secure.

So does having OnStar* in the vehicle and via the OnStar Guardian^®* app. The ability to reach a human being, even when you’re in a remote river valley, gives his family the freedom to really explore.

“Having OnStar there for the full security of my family, knowing that OnStar is there with the touch of a button if there is ever a situation, it's a lot of peace of mind,” Nick says.

While Nick feels blessed by the life he and Emily have been able to structure, he doesn’t necessarily think it’s a blueprint for everyone.

“I would say the best advice I have for anyone is this: No matter what your version of dream life is, there's gonna be obstacles along the way but it doesn't mean that they can't be overcome,” he says.

“I've really tried my best to not feel like I'm preaching. I just encourage everybody to figure out what their version of dream life is and do that. Don't try to duplicate exactly what I'm doing because maybe my dream life isn't your dream life. But it doesn't mean that you don't have your own dream life to pursue.”

“To me it's that balance of being very connected, but also then wanting to disconnect from technology and connect to nature,” he adds.

Tech plays a role in other ways too.

Having the app to keep an eye on the trailer’s tire pressure, make sure the lights are working correctly, or check the combined weight of trailer and truck, naturally makes him feel more secure.

“Having OnStar there for the full security of my family, knowing that OnStar is there with the touch of a button if there is ever a situation, it's a lot of peace of mind,” Nick says.

While Nick feels blessed by the life he and Emily have been able to structure, he doesn’t necessarily think it’s a blueprint for everyone.