Meet the person behind Skatingcode
Software developer, systems analyst – and then, additionally… an enthusiastic cross-country skier! But oh dear! Hardly any talent, no balance, stepping onto skis for the first time at 35: nothing comes easily, everything has to be learned the hard way!? That was a tough nut to crack. So I approached it the way software engineers do: step by step, systematic, reproducible, testable. With iterations, trial and error, and great attention to detail. And although this journey never truly ends – there is always something new to learn – I want to pass on the knowledge I have gained so far. After many seasons working as an employed ski instructor, I am becoming self-employed as of January 1, 2026, in order to coach my guests in the way I have experienced for years in my lessons to be effective, understandable, and successful in the long term: personal, clear, structured – and above all, always positive. See you out on the trail!
From 2017 to 2025, I completed the various stages of training to become a certified snow sports instructor, initially mainly because I wanted to learn myself and continuously improve. The most important helpers in understanding the underlying patterns of cross-country skiing, however, turned out to be the penguin and his friends: together, we spent years tinkering, puzzling, and experimenting. This is how the Skating Code Method came into being – playful, structured, and surprisingly logical. As a tribute to the penguin’s code-breaking abilities, I chose him as the logo and guiding motif of my work.
In parallel with founding my own ski school, I am working on a book about the Skating Code. It describes five programs and more than sixty exercises, step by step – as a self-study guide and reference for anyone who wants to truly understand cross-country skiing, both skating and classic. The book also tells the complete story behind the development of the Skating Code Method and includes informative chapters on technique, equipment, trails, and competitions. A sample chapter is available by email via the “The Book” page. Expected publication: after the 2025/26 winter season. No magic – pure method.
And then… there is so much more.
How privileged I am to be able to devote myself so deeply to something seemingly “unimportant” like cross-country skiing – and to discover so much that is fascinating within it. But the journey is not over. A pilgrim is someone who is “at home while being away.” Cross-country skiing was once foreign to me – and yet it has become a place I now call home.
One possible next stage might be to walk the Camino de Santiago once again – who knows, perhaps there is something there to be deciphered as well? Or maybe the path leads in a completely different direction. And who knows – perhaps we will meet along the way.
I thank my wife, my daughter, and my mother for their support on my journeys.