I was born in 1986 in Prague, but I grew up in a small village near Nové Město na Moravě. I competed in endurance sports at the national level as a young athlete, primarily in athletics but also in triathlon and cross-country skiing.
I started snowboarding full-time at the age of 18. For a while, I participated in freestyle competitions, but my main motivation for snowboarding has always been hanging out with nice people on the mountain. Later, I found purpose in teaching and passing on my experiences to others. After two years of only teaching snowboarding, I started teaching skiing as well. Since graduating from the Faculty of Forestry with my bachelor's degree, I have been a full-time snowsport instructor.
As an instructor, I am involved in many winter sports. In addition to being the head trainer of APUL snowboard education, I also have a telemark license, competitive experience with cross-country skiing, and an APUL Skiing A and Avalanche 2 license. The possibility to travel and the laid-back atmosphere of the community are the main reasons I like the world of instructors.
I work seasonally for the Austrian State Forest Enterprise and currently reside in Pinzgau, Austria. I am interested in sustainable development, especially in mountainous areas.
Though a little different from before, it's still enjoyable. It was initially primarily about spending time in the mountains with friends. With time, I turned into a professional. I enjoy the fact that you teach other things besides sports - respect for nature and mountains, how to work with your own body, and above all, you teach children that the world is beyond the screen of a tablet or playstation. At the moment, I think my favorite thing to do is definitely share my experience with other instructors.
I believe we have put together an exceptionally strong team, and collectively we have improved education to the standard of the top associations in the world. The Kaprun Project and the associated support of young talents are key.
I completed my A license back in 2018. It's only now that I feel like I can be of value. The outstanding dynamics of the present ski team are another important aspect. Additionally, I believe that APUL can benefit from a stronger link between the snowboard and ski divisions.
All the courses were interesting. All fields are represented by professionals and personalities. Personally, I would like to highlight the Avalanche section guides and their courses. Everyone who lives in the mountains should take an avalanche course.
Primarily for my own benefit, I would like to increase my knowledge on avalanche issues and mountain safety. I'm heading into the backcountry and away from the busier slopes more and more. In addition, I would like to concentrate on soft skills, where I definitely have something to improve.
In terms of sports, it's cycling, surfing, and rock climbing. The covid era forced me to re-evaluate a few things. I went back to studying. I am preparing for my master's degree exam, where I will defend my diploma, which I am writing about projections of the development and sustainability of the ski industry at the Faculty of Environment in Prague. I tried a year in a chancellery in Prague, where I computed greenhouse gas emissions, but it seems that I found my peace in the forests of the Austrian Alps. It's difficult to pinpoint my objectives, but I would like to keep learning about forestry and the mountain environment.
Go for it! It is not important if one day you will have the highest license and your own snowsports school. The people you meet and the time you spend in the mountains are what really count. You will never lose the friendships and memories you will make through this wonderful work.
