CURRENT MISSION

connect with cool people from around the world...

ABOUT ME

I live a sort of dual life...by summer, I work as a forest firefighter, heroically saving furry woodland creatures, while in winter I dont have to work, so I make art, travel, bike, and catch up on the life I missed working 80hrs/week all summer.
In previous phases of life I have been a ski bum, lived in Europe for 2 years while getting a masters degree, rock climbed the biggest cliff in the US, remodeled homes, jumped out of airplanes alot, been a professional frog counter, guided people on wilderness trips.
In my current phase, I spend a lot of time and energy making art out of wood and metal, exploring new places, cultures, and ideas, and breaking rules I didnt even know were rules. The rest about me you can try to infer from this profile, and discover later for yourself!

PHILOSOPHY

get out there and do it.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I host when I can, I travel when i can...

If I host you, i can show you some of the cool places in "The Biggest Little City in the World" (Reno), or maybe some the great outdoor stuff we have nearby (or at least tell you where to go if i'm busy).

If you host me, i can perhaps cook you something delicious, or hopefully bring some interesting conversation and experiences to your day!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Surfed:
2008- Bilyana, Vesi, Georgi, Misha, Milena and friends in Bulgaria.
2009- Corinne in Switzerland, Steffi in Berlin, Sanni in Helsinki.
2012- Marja in Germany. Coordinated CS-Goettingen Operation Apple!
2013- Tom in Spain.
2014- Walter and Madga in Bolzano IT (reciprocal transcontinental surf!!), Max and Debbie in Rovereto IT, Ricky in Garda IT, Anna in Mantova IT, Silvy in Ferrara IT, Georgi in Salzburg AT, Dan in St. Johann AT, Franz in Gerlamoos AT, Tunji in Lienz AT, Paolo in Trento IT, Mantova CS Invasion, Luca in Genova.
2015- Emma in Richmond
2016- Lucio and Mattia in Sicily, Lara, Elisa, Isabella, biking thru the Italian Alps!

Hosted:
2008-Aubin and Patrice from France,
2009-Walter and Magda from Italy, Luka and Sasa from Slovenia.
2010-Melanie and Elizabeth from Deutchland, Elsa from Le Paris.
2012-Molly from USA.
2014-Raul from Spain, Ana and Dana (Danana) from Russia
2015-Mike and Michelle from Australia, Igor from Russia, Allison from Canada
2016-Raphael from Switzerland.

Interests

Traveling, being outdoors, snowboarding, rock climbing, hiking, photography, guitar, learning how to say bad words in foreign languages, and throwing sticks for dogs.
Currently learning to weld.

I am intrigued by the idea of crossing long distances using outdated, substandard, or otherwise uncommon modes of transportation. thus i have longstanding dreams of crossing Central America by mule, traversing Russia by purchased 2nd hand Lada Niva or cheap Soviet motorcycle, galloping across Kazakstan and Mongolia by horse, or floating any of the worlds major rivers by hand built raft. So far, the closest I have come is making 3 one-week bicycle trips across the Alps on an oversized and jury-rigged 29er mtn bike, couchsurfing all the way...

Music, Movies, and Books

music: almost anything original by actual musicians.
i don't like pop, new country, or pretty much anything delivered to our ears by modern radio/tv media outlets. last night i ate at a restaurant showing MTV and i wanted to cry/vomit. i like beck, tool, johnny cash, firewater, pixies, django reinhart, old crow, radiohead. also grimey futurist bass.

movies: movies are not an important part of my life. mostly i prefer documentaries or indy films over brainless hollywood blockbusters.

books: 1984, The Long Walk, Endurance, The Collapsing Universe, You Shall Know Our Velocity. just finished Sometimes a Great Notion. mostly i enjoy non-fiction more than stories.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

My buddy and i quit our jobs, bought surfboards, drove in his tiny car for 4 days into warm southern Mexico to learn to surf. I caught dengue fever in the jungle and almost drowned in some big waves, but we did learn to surf!
Also, Black Rock City is my once a year dose of mind expansion and renewal of faith in humanity! Drop whatever you are doing in late August/early Sept and get out there if you have the chance!

Teach, Learn, Share

i can show you where to go hiking and climbing and where the local secret hot springs are. well, maybe i wont tell you about the secret ones...
im currently learning arduino, blinking leds, and spinning electric motors. never thought i would become interested in circuits or code, but here i am.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Stories, conversations, music, wine, food, fun...
Oh yeah and bikes...the population varies, but you pretty much always need 2 hands to count the bikes in my garage. Guests are generally welcome to borrow a set of wheels...

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Belize, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Chile, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, Italy

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