CURRENT MISSION

To embrace my new home Portland Oregon with open arms and share with as many CSers as possible!

ABOUT ME

I am Canadian / and American, born and raised in Windsor, Ontario but have been living in the USA since I was 23. I am currently working at Nike as an engineer, developing new manufacturing equipment. I have worked abroad in 2007-2009, I have spent time in Austria, Spain, Denmark and Brazil. I love meeting new people, learning about different cultures and really understanding how a country and it's people work.

In 2011 I took a 9 month road trip around North America, 35,000 miles driving, visiting 27 states including Alaska. I visited 24 National Parks, spent 109 nights couch surfing, 82 camping and met so many new friends. It was truly a life changing trip. afterwards I decided to settle down in Portland, OR starting in January 2012.

PHILOSOPHY

Work to Live, don't Live to Work

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

. I have made a number of close friends throuh CS, in many different parts of the world. I have couch surfed all over the world.

Of course I couch surf just about evry time I travel, and I use when travelling for business to meet locals. CS has been such a positive impat on my life I can only hope to give back what it has given me.

Most recently I have surfed in a few different cities when visiting them for a marathon. I am trying to complete a marathon in all 50 states and 10 provinces, I have only 18 states complete so I have a lot more to visit.

Now I live in downtown Portland, OR and I am starting to host, I am very excited out this new stage in my life as a CSer!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

So far it has been awesome I have been meeting new people and I love it! I have met great people throughout my travels for pleasure and business. It has been a great way to meet new people and get to really know a new destination

States I visited:
visited 39 states (78%)Create your own visited map of The United States or Free android travel guide

I love to tell others about my experiences with couchsurfing too, I've talked at least 6 people into joining the website and will continue to pormote it.

Interests

Triathlon, Cyclocross, Running, Kayaking, MTB, Road Cycling, Skiing (touring and alpine), Hiking, Mountaineering, Salsa, American Football, Rock Climbing, woodworking (yes making my own furniture), history.

• photography
• marathon
• running
• traveling
• blogging
• woodworking
• cycling
• hiking
• kayaking
• camping
• adventure races
• mountaineering
• surfing
• skiing
• rock climbing
• american football
• soccer
• business
• engineering
• history
• tourism
• parks

Music, Movies, and Books

Primer, Star Wars - Empire Strikes Back (I know uber nerd), Amelie, many foreign films are a great way to better understand a local culture.

Books: Anything by Bill Bryson, How to be a Canadian, Take the Blue Pill, Born to Run, Into the Wild, Vagabond by Ralph Potts

Music: U2, REM, The Killers, The Tragically Hip, The Shins, INXS, Tool, Vampire Weekend, Polarkreis 18, Nephew, DAD, Our Lady Peace, The Sam Roberts band, Edwarde Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Snow Patrol, Keane, David Gray, Remy Zero, the Smashing Pumpkins, Man of the Year, Shiny Toy Guns.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Skydived, puenting, ski mountaineering, ran 31 marathons in 13 years (and counting) two ironman races. oh I'm only supposed to list one? Too bad: Climbed Mount Rainier twice unguided, Ran with the Bulls in Cave Creek Arizona, slept under the stars in the Grand Canyon, Halloween in NYC.

Teach, Learn, Share

Running (I am a bit of a running nerd and know way too much about such a basic thing) but hey if you are mildly intersted I can make you a custom training plan to get you ready for any distance and I would love to go out for a run. Don't worry if you think you're too slow, running can be a pleasant social experience too!

I am very handy around the house, I can fix just about anything. In the past I have fixed hosts bikes, stoves, lightbulbs etc. Challenge me with some odd, or nagging problem in your place. Most recently I did all the electrical wiring for an 800 sq ft cabin while WWOOFing in Utah. I have also repaired a sprinkler system for a couch surfing host, and rebuilt the subfloor and kitchen counter in a dry cabin in Alaska. I love building things!

I love to speak French too and would gladly welcome a conversation for my own practice and yours. I grew up going to French school in Canada for 15 years.

Countries I’ve Visited

Andorra, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Costa Rica, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Netherlands, North Korea, Peru, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Austria, Canada, Denmark, Spain, United States

• 

•