From the hockey rink to Aspen.

I grew up in the Czech Republic playing ice hockey. It shaped me as an athlete and was a big part of my life until university. I had been skiing since I was a kid, but university opened up a whole new world for me: outdoor sports.

I fell in love with endurance challenges that combined different disciplines, from triathlon to adventure racing. I was curious about trying new things, pushing my limits, and discovering what was possible beyond the ice rink.

Skiing, however, took a different turn. My first ski instructor course sparked something new, and a bit of a lucky coincidence brought me into the world of professional snowsports. A Christmas trip to the mountains helped me realize that this was more than just a hobby. This was something I wanted to do for a living.

Looking back, hockey gave me my athletic foundation, university broadened my horizons, and skiing eventually became my profession, and a world I'm still curious to explore.

I've never been the kind of person who is happy just knowing that something works. I want to understand why.

Skiing is a perfect example. I'm fascinated by how the body moves, how small changes can affect a turn, and why something that feels right doesn't always look the way you'd expect. The more I learn, the more questions I seem to have.

I like to experiment, observe, question familiar ideas, and connect what I feel on snow with what I can see and understand. Sometimes an experiment confirms what I thought. Sometimes it proves me wrong, and that's often where things get interesting.

For me, the fun is not just in finding answers, but in staying curious enough to keep looking.

For me, the ski season doesn't start with the first snowfall. A big part of it is built during the off-season.

I enjoy staying active throughout the year, whether it's cycling, running, rollerblading, or swimming. It's not just about staying fit for winter. I genuinely enjoy being outdoors, moving, and challenging myself in different ways.

When I'm not training, you'll often find me exploring another passion: coffee. I'm fascinated by specialty coffee and the whole process of making it, from espresso to a carefully brewed pour-over. I enjoy experimenting, trying different beans, and getting the most out of every cup.

Add good food, travelling, discovering new places, and time with my family, and that's a pretty good picture of life beyond the slopes. Music is always somewhere in the background, too.

The more time I spend skiing, the more I realize how much there is still to learn.

I'm always looking for a better understanding of movement and what makes skiing work. For me, learning happens through experimenting, reflecting on experience, sharing ideas, and being willing to question my own assumptions.

I've changed my mind about plenty of things over the years, and I'm sure I'll change it again. Right now, one of the ways I'm exploring these ideas is through a book I'm working on, Contemporary Skiing.

It's a chance to bring together questions, observations, and ideas that have shaped my thinking, while continuing to challenge what I think I know.