CURRENT MISSION

Bike trip down through Central and South America

ABOUT ME

Things I love:

Skiing is amazing. It is the one thing I have loved unconditionally since I was 1.

Biking, also something I have loved forever (since I was 3, without training wheels).

Whitewater boating, also something I have loved (since I was 8). And now I do it for a living.

I really enjoy hanging out with people and having a good time, being social and all, but at the same time I am just as content to being solitary (I love solo backpacking trips).

I am very passionate about the music I like.

I love the outdoors, if you couldn't tell.

I love beer and can appreciate all forms of it; good/bad, expensive/cheap, or dark/light. If there is a beer on tap that I have not had, you can bet I will be trying it.

I often like to make life more difficult for myself, just for the sake of the adventure I will end up on.

When I ask people, "If I were an animal, what would I be?" The most common response is an eagle/falcon/hawk or a cheetah.

I love different cultures, which is why I love traveling and hosting people.

I love to cook. I love to make beer. I love being my own handyman. I just enjoy doing things myself.

PHILOSOPHY

Learn by doing.

Take advantage of your environment.

You only have one life, don't waste a second of it.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Surfed many couches, hosted many surfers, and met a few for coffee. Been to several meetings in Boulder, CO as well. Always have a great time meeting all types of new people.

Interests

Downhill and backcountry skiing, mountain biking, whitewater kayaking, spending time outside, photography, gadgets, computers.

I really prefer to host people who have actually read my profile, so just mention that you read my profile in your request, and you will have priority over someone who doesn't.

• animals
• photography
• festivals
• environment
• dining
• cooking
• beer
• coffee
• running
• boating
• traveling
• bouldering
• music
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• backpacking
• kayaking
• skiing
• sports
• rock climbing
• beaches
• rivers

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: The Shawshank Redemption, The Usual Suspects, Seven, The Green Mile, Moulin Rogue, American History X, Reservoir Dogs, L4yer Cake, and more that I can't think of.

I like most of Dean Koontz's books.

For what I am listening to, check out: http://www.last.fm/user/JJRuhle/

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

-Kayaked down huge whitewater, getting my ass handed to me multiple times.
-Gotten pick-pocketed in Serbia, leaving me stranded with almost nothing.
-Survived a 6.9 earthquake <50 miles from the epicenter and dodged the resulting landslide
-Run down avalanche chutes after climbing a mountain
-Narrowly missed avalanches
-Gone too a music festival in Zagreb, Croatia
-Jumped off a 82 foot stone bridge, breaking my tail-bone on impact
-Backpacked alone across Eastern Europe for over a month, spending many nights sleeping under the stars
-Been stranded 40 miles from the nearest town on a remote road with no phone food or cell service
-Skied down a several double-blacks in Colorado after 2 feet of fresh powder
-Gone to Spain for a semester, knowing almost no Spanish upon arrival
-Jumped into a glacial lake and river naked
-Hiked 7 hours into the woods to bath in remote thermal pools
-Forded rivers in an '87 Toyota Starlet
-Done a few tidal crossings
-Seen a lunar eclipse a hundred miles from the nearest city lights along the most beautiful beaches
-Tried to learn to surf when the waves were 5 feet tall

Teach, Learn, Share

I would like to think I can cook pretty well. I know a lot about computers. I know a lot about the outdoors and several adventure sports.

Countries I’ve Visited

Bermuda, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, France, Hungary, Malta, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Serbia

Countries I’ve Lived In

New Zealand, Spain, United States

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