Born in Ahrweiler, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany | 1967 |
Hellgate Highschool, Missoula, Montana, USA, Highschool Certificate | 1983-1984 |
Baccalaureate, Peter-Jörres Gymnasium, Ahrweiler | 1987 |
Civilian service, animal shelter Albert-Schweitzer, Bonn | 1987-1989 |
Carpenter apprenticeship, trade-certificate | 1989-1991 |
3 months carpenter in Zermatt, Switzerland | 1991 |
6 months carpenter in Swakopmund, Namibia | 1993 |
12 months Australia | 1995-1996 |
12 months New Zealand | 1996-1997 |
6 months Africa, South Africa to Kenia | 1997 |
Imigration to New Zealand (work visa) | 1998 |
Permanent Resident in New Zealand | since 2001 |
12 months-course 'outdoor instructor' at Otago polytechnic, Wanaka/NZ Emphasis: rockclimbing, ski touring, mountainskills | Jan. 2000-2001 |
Seasonal work as glacierguide, Fox Glacier, South Island, New Zealand
'Glacier1' certificate at NZMGA (New Zealand Mountain Guides Association) | 2002-2004 |
Foundation of company' aliveNZ', planing and guiding of 2-week adventure-tours South Island, NZ | 2003 |
Glacierguide in Briksdaalbreen, Norway | 2004 |
Tourguide, 2-week mountainbike and 3-week roadbike- and hike-tours for pacificCYCLEtours | since 2005 |
Tourguide, 1-week mountainbike and roadbiketours in croatia for Radurlaub Zeitreisen GmbH | Sep./Oct. 2008/2009 |
Tourguide for incentive tour, Otago, New Zealand, for 'Taniwha guiding services' NZ | Mar 2012 |
Tourguide, roadbike tour french alps and roadbike tour Zurich-Budapest for Global Adventure Guide | Jun/Jul 2013 |
Tourguide, six weeks "Roadbike tour TdF-2000" for Global Adventure Guide / Global Cycling Adventures | Jun/Jul 2014 |
Travel guide for Terra Nova Coach Tours | since 2015 |
Fluent in German and English, Basic French |
International drivers licence, 1986 |
Heavy vehicle licence (class2), NZ standard |
Transport services licence, NZ standard |
Passenger endorsment (P), NZ standard |
Comprehensive 1st aid course, every 2 years |
Glacier 1, NZMGA (New Zealand Mountainguides Association) |
"Avalanche 1", NZMGA |
"Rock 1", NZOIA (New Zealand Outdoor Instructor Association) |
History, flora, fauna, geology, Maori |
Travelling, cycle touring |
Cycling (mountainbike, roadbike) |
Trail running, paragliding, hiking, photography, rock- and ice climbing |
Reading, eating |
Trough many adventures with friends, like paragliding, kayaking, hiking, climbing and mountain biking and many years experience as tour guide, I am intimately familiar with the culture and nature of New Zealand.
I enjoy sharing this knowledge with my guests and introducing them to the New Zealand way of life. Particularly on Hike and bike tours we are exposed to the elements and closer to nature. The experience is more intense and unfiltered.
As a tour guide I like to ask my guests about their expectations and needs and then mould each trip to make it as customised as possible.