Sports:

Sports is very important for me and I almost love all kind of sports because I think that it is a good way to compensate studying and working.

My favourite sports:

Basketball

Basketball, the sport number one in my life. I am playing basketball now for almost ten years. When I was 15 I went to the responsible of a youth organization asking if he would know someone who is coaching a basketball team. Although there was no team who needed another player he was able to find a basketball player who would start to coach a new team. So our new team MK-Innsbruck was born. After a half year our team grew rapidly and we started to compete in the Tyrolean league. We were very sucessful and defeated teams which were exisiting much longer. We were able to win the Tyrolean Championship of the Youth- as well as the Junior League several times. We also played in the Austrian Championship but because there is much more support for basketball in the Eastern regions of Austria, we weren't able to achieve any victories. Now we are playing in the Tyrolean Senior League, but because of university and working obligations the team effort decreased in the last years. Although I was top-scorer in the year 1999, with an average score of 19,7 points per game. In the year 2000 I was ranked second with 21,3 points per game. I am looking foward to change the team to get new motivation and to compete in a higher League.

I further play Street Ball. My team (Patrick Dierich, Christian Tagwerker and Patrick Walser) was able to reach the Austrian Quarter Finals in the year 1999.

Links:    NBA (National Basketball Association)    ÖBV (Austrian Basketball Association)    TBV (Tyrolean Basketball Association)    MYM (Streetball Tour in Austria)    Nike (my gear)

Snowboarding

After a long time resisting against this sport (I was convinced skiier) I borrowed a friends board some years ago. Snowboarding became a passion. Although I hurt myself three times (sholder-two operations, left hand-one operation, knee) I am still in love with this sport. Today I try to go snowboarding as often as possible and I am really a lucky guy, because close to my home town we have wonderful spots.

There ain't nothing as great as a sunny day with fresh powder!

Links:    Air & Style (snowboard event)    Lizn (Axamer Lizum, a spot close to Innsbruck)    Grubn (the spot in Innsbruck, best powder spot)

Diving - Snorkeling

I am snorkeling since I was a little boy. My family spent most of the summer-holidays at the Mediterrean Sea. In the summer 1998 I decided together with a friend to get a diving licence. We searched the Internet for different schools and spots and finally decided to go to Elba, a little Italian Island. We got the diving licence: PADI Open Water. A year later I was able to dive at the Cote d' Azur, a region of the French Riviera. I am looking foward to dive here in the States, but here close to New Orleans there are only sandy beaches at the Mexican Gulf and this isn't that fun.

Mountainbiking

Great! This is a perfect sport for summer when there are mountains around. In Innsbruck there are plenty of it and so I go biking around my city. Moutain biking is such a great sport becaus it provides to train your condition while biking up the mountain and fun when driving downhill. It doesn't take that long to do so and so one is able o go after university or work. My favourite spot is the Patscher Kofel. On a cleary day it provides a wonderful view over the Inn-valley and has a lot of secret single trails to bike. Another great spot is the Höttinger Alm, a hut very close to  Innsbruck so it is also reachable just in the afternoon.

Links:   MTB-Tyrol (official Moutainbike site of the Tyrolean Governtment)    Innsbruck-Tours (tours around Innsbruck) Kofl-Tour (Patscher Kofel tour)

Cooking - Eating - Drinking:

I love to eat good food and I like to cook it. It is great to go shopping and to cook with fresh ingredients. My favourite cusine is the Mediterrean one. The Spanish, French or Italian, each of them is great and individually special. Althoug I think the Italian one is the most simple to cook. When I travel I always try to eat local food and drink local wine, I try to look for restaurants that usually serve only locals, in most of the times those are the best.

Links:    AAAcousine (Austrian cousine)    le chef (download recipes)    foodlexx (food pics)    Gault Millau (Restaurant guide for Germany, Austria and France)    Wine (Wine Spectator)    Slow Food Society