My Resume

Skiing

I began skiing at age eleven, at Garmisch-Partenkirchen ski resort in Germany. I quickly became a relatively advanced skier, capable of handling most slopes on the mountain. Unfortunately, when I was fifteen my family left Germany, and since nobody else in my family skied, I had to give up the sport. Sadly, I even forgot how much I loved the feel of flying through the snow until twelve years later.

At some point I found myself on a ski slope in late season, completely lost. The gear barely resembled the old stuff I used as a kid, and my old skills were rusted away. But after a few hours on the snow, I realized I had lost an important part of myself. I bought a season pass and a complete set of skis, boots, poles, and winter clothes.

Over the next year I took lessons at every opportunity, until I could ski every slope on the mountain with comfort. By the end of the season the resort offered me a job, and I've been teaching ever since. I've taught at Ski Liberty in Pennsylvania, as well as Summit at Snoqualmie in Washington State.

I currently hold a Level II certification with the Professional Ski Instructors Association (PSIA) as well as a Level I certification with the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE). I am also fully CPR qualified.

In addition to on-piste skiing, I am also an accomplished backcountry skier with many years of experience touring the Washington Cascades. I perform my own ski maintenance, and have recently begun designing my own skis.

It is my belief that the most important thing a ski instructor can give a student is a love for skiing. A person who falls in love with the feeling of flying through snow will be open to learning, and will rapidly progress without the pain and hardship that typically accompanies learning.

Other interests

Unfortunately, as much as I love skiing, it is not as profitable as one might expect. I also serve as an active duty officer in the US Navy to provide an income to my family. I'm an engineer by education and trade, with a Bachelors in Material Science and Engineering and a Masters in Information Technology, working on a Juris Doctorate. I'm a geek at heart, and feel equally comfortable discussing the merits of various Linux distributions as the ideal designs for model rocket bodies. I'm also an avid homebrewer, accomplished juggler, and board game fanatic. Although I'm not very good at it, I also greatly enjoy curling and do so regularly.