Not so long ago, I was a bit of a big deal in the off-road rockcrawling Jeeping industry. Most notably, my ability to take a Jeep up over and through stupid rock terrain. One day I was explaining to some rockcrawlers of varying skills when one of the other drivers who knew me walked over when I had stepped out and told everyone, "You want to listen to him, he's that damn good. He's the Moab Man."
I heard this from another room and cracked up. When my buddy Mike walked in, the one who said this to everyone, I asked him if that wasn't a little bit of an overkill buildup for me to live up to. He told me nope, there is only one "Moab Man" etching in Moab and there is only one of me.
Over time the nickname grew and stuck. Eventually this led to business's wanting me to test and review their products because of the following the "Moab Man" had. Finally, I started writing professionally and started my own publication.
Today, my rockcrawling days are much less. Those that know me beg for stories around the campfires during Easter Jeep Safari telling of the glory days when I ran the trails leading Jeepers from around the country and world. For me, the funniest story is the fact my daughter grew up with Jeeping in her blood that for the longest time she though Easter was a Jeeping event. She understood the religious aspect, but also knew that Easter week is when Jeepers from around the world converge on Moab, UT.
The name has just stuck ever since. However, who knows, I may earn a new nickname as I have come out of mountain biking retirement to race another 24 hour solo mountain bike race. Although I think that new nickname may be "stupid" based on the fact everyone that knows me keeps asking, "are you stupid?"
Keep the stories coming. Love reading everyones' story.