Hobbies & Interests

There's something magical about stepping out of a perfectly good airplane at 13,000 feet. Since 2020, I've completed over 550 jumps, earned my D-license, and became a certified BOSS instructor at Skydive Flanders. The rush of freefall at 200 km/h while the world spins below is absolutely incredible.

When Mother Nature grounds my skydiving adventures, I channel that energy into drumming. It's the ultimate full-body workout disguised as music - your arms, legs, and brain all working in perfect sync. The journey from awkward beginner to creating rhythms that make people move has taught me that patience and persistence can transform chaos into harmony (though my neighbors might disagree about the 'harmony' part).

My love affair with mountain sports began at 14 in Russia, carving my first turns on a snowboard. At 25, I discovered the precision and speed of skiing, and now I'm hooked on both. There's nothing like the feeling of floating through fresh powder or carving perfect turns on groomed runs. And yes, I'm that person who will lecture you about helmets - because the mountain doesn't care about your hairstyle.

When the mountains are green and the lakes are calling, I trade my skis for a wakeboard. There's something incredibly satisfying about being pulled across the water at high speed, catching air off the wake, and landing tricks that make you feel like a superhero. It's the perfect summer complement to my winter mountain adventures.

When the world shut down during COVID, I discovered the meditative art of ship modeling. There's something deeply satisfying about transforming tiny pieces of wood into majestic vessels that once ruled the seas. Each model is a journey through history, requiring the patience of a monk and the precision of a surgeon. Plus, they make excellent conversation starters in my home.

Behind every great adventure is a story waiting to be told. I love transforming raw footage into compelling narratives that capture the essence of experiences - whether it's documenting academic conferences, creating content for my research lab, or sharing my adrenaline-fueled adventures. It's like being a digital storyteller, weaving together moments to create something that resonates with others.