Nels Glesne isn’t a normal 100-year-old. Born in Aberdeen, South Dakota in 1916, Glense majored in forestry and chemistry in college, then served in the second World War as a navigator in the Army Air Corps, flying a B-29 with a Chicago Cubs logo on it.
In the mid-’70s he found himself in North Carolina, bought a bunch of land, and led a very active lifestyle. Tennis was his pastime of choice, but anything that kept him moving was of interest. Now, more than 40 years later, he’s a Maui resident. And he’s still keeping busy. Living on Maui, of course, means there are countless things to keep him active, many of which include the ocean. That’s why, for his 100th birthday, Glesne harnessed up with his son and a few friends and jumped on a kite-powered catamaran. They even managed to ride a few waves with Nes on the kite. And that’s not all he did… the 100-year-old decided he’d give zip-lining a go, too.
