On their first of three destinations, friends Kyler Battleson and Josh Konkol explore the desert on dirt bikes. Photo provided by Kyler Battleson.Twenty-four-year-old Kyler Battleson was a freshman at Temescal Canyon High School when he made a goal with his best friend, Josh Konkol, to dirt bike in the desert, snowboard in the mountains, and surf in the ocean all in one day.
Battleson celebrated Earth Day 2023 by completing that goal and marking it off his bucket list.
Leaving Canyon Lake at 6:30 a.m., the longtime friends arrived in Johnson Valley at 8:30 a.m., where they explored the desert on their dirt bikes for two hours. Located in San Bernardino County, Johnson Valley is located between the Victor Valley and Morongo Basin areas of the High Desert region.
Josh Konkol is pictured at Bear Mountain. Photo provided by Kyler Battleson.Leaving Johnson Valley at 10:30 a.m., Battleson and Konkol arrived in Big Bear around 11:30 a.m., where they snowboarded at Bear Mountain.
After a couple of hours of fun on the mountain, the duo set out for their final destination — the ocean.
Arriving in Huntington Beach around 5:30 p.m., Battleson and Konkol surfed the waves near the pier for about two hours. “Being in the ocean during sunset and having completed all three destinations gave me an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment,” Battleson said.
Battleson arrived home by 9 p.m. to end the day with dinner with his wife.
Kyler Battleson and Josh Konkol pose for a photo in Huntington Beach, where they surfed on their third and final destination. Photo provided by Kyler Battleson.Raised in Canyon Lake, Battleson is a sports enthusiast who enjoys wakeboarding, snowboarding, jet skiing, and dirt bike riding. “I enjoy anything with a board or a motor,” he said.
As a Realtor, Battleson is often asked why Temecula Valley is a great place to live. “Now, I can tell my clients that they can enjoy the desert, snow, and ocean all in one day,” Battleson said. “Having done just that, I can speak from experience.”
Battleson recorded his experience and posted the video on YouTube. He said he is already planning the same trip for Earth Day 2024, but in reverse order.
