The two biggest things that I have enjoyed in life are my shared passion for sports and technology. From the age of 2 I began skiing, and at the age of 5 I remember having my first computer and playing flight simulator. Today both of those passions have led me into the direction of pursuing a career in technology while still being able to escape on the weekends into the remote wilderness to enjoy activities such as skiing, hiking, mountain biking and camping.
In 2009, I started studying at the University of Denver, and was a member of the men's club ice hockey team. It was all good until a road trip to Utah. There was a faceoff in our offensive zone, we won the draw and I got a slap shot off and the goalie covered the puck up for another faceoff. On the second faceoff, our center won it again, but my defensive partner mishandled the puck and it ended up going into the corner of the rink in our defensive zone. I was skating as hard as I could to make sure I had time to make a play with the puck. I looked over my left shoulder and saw a Utah State player about 20 feet behind me chasing me down. Once I got to the puck I passed it around the boards, behind the net, in hopes that a teammate will come back and pick it up. Then as I began to turn up ice, I felt one of the worst feelings I have ever felt in my life.
My father was a former ski instructor, which meant that by the time I was 2, he strapped a pair of skis to my feet and I started sliding down the mountain. I remember the early morning waking up to go up to the mountains, as I was half asleep as my father got my dressed, it would be dark outside still so that we could catch the first chair. By the time we arrived at Copper Mountain, the snow cats would be coming down the mountain.
Today, I am very happy to be skiing again. For about 10 years of my life, hockey came in to my life and took all of my focus, which left very little time for skiing. Now I am happier then ever to be pushing my own limits further and further each year. Being reunited with the Rocky Mountains in Denver, I was lucky to have one of the most amazing playgrounds in my backyard.