Hockey is probably my favorite sport. I've been
playing it since I began to skate, which I think was when I was seven years old.
For my first few years I played any position and then, when I was about 9, I became
a goaltender. I've stuck with it ever since. I find that no other position in hockey thrills as much as that of goaltender. Psychologically demanding it's the only position where I really fit in, whether because of the the stress or because of the fact that its segragated from the rest of the team.
I really enjoy playing Badminton but I only played
competitively when I was much younger. Now I just play for enjoyment with my friends.
It's a sport where you can control the speed, so you can either play easy or play
hard. And there's no better feeling than when you manage to make a great return
on a smash, or of course, manage to drive the shuttle down someone's throat. (Secondly, I feel that returning a smash is the same as making a great save!)
Innebandy is a completely Swedish sport. It's
basically floor hockey, except that all physical contact is illegal. For the developing hockey player this is a must. Stick control is the most ingredient part of this fast paced game. But the lack
of body contact makes it not as exciting as hockey.
Football is hard. I have no skill at it. I've never
really played other than for the mandatory two weeks every year in school. But
I really would like to become better, so I shaped a team for the Uppsala business students association. Before that I played as goalkeeper for a student team, Flogsta United .
Lastly, I trained a little extra with weights for about
3 years. Nothing exciting, just lifting wieghts so that I became stronger and obtained a better condition for playing sports.
In total, Iput on about 30 pounds in muscle, approximately 13 kg. Additionally, I am proud to say that at my best I managed to bench press
more than 95 kgs.
Occasional Activities
Skiing is a great sport, I just wish I could do it more.
I used to cross-country ski all the time with my dad, and that has left me with
many great memories. I even raced once, under my dad's supervision. I placed 3rd in the 18 year old class for 15 km when I was 14 years old.
As for downhill, I just started doing this about 5 years ago now, I guess. It's
great, nothing like smashing over a jump and landing on your head, or your buddy's,
who has just bit it in front of you. This year I managed to try out skiing at
Åre in northern Sweden for five days. It was okay, but they didn't have enough
snow and all the runs weren't open. That and I slept every night instead of hitting
the after parties. DAMN! Next year will be better though.
Running, running, running. Not much to say other
than I run a little ways and then I'm tired. I raced when I was young and then
I quit. Running's good for conditioning for hockey though, so I keep it up. And
it's good to do if you're going to play any sports or go hiking for a weekend.
Best to be in shape and keep the lungs and heart built up.
Nothing is as enjoyable as making a successful jump while on my
Rollerblades. Whistling down a hill, grunting back up, hopping stairs,
and yes, scraping knees. All part a of days work while blading. And again, an
excellent way to keep up those hockey skills.
I'm not racing or doing any competitive cycling
but I did enjoy roaming the trails and forest on my mountain bike. I wish that
I could do more tricks, but I just don't have the time to learn. In fact I haven't had any time for this in several years.
I only occasionally go out and play Canadian
Football with my friends in Canada. It's a great sport though. Nothing like playing
with 7-9 friends on a small field and crushing one of them into the dirt.
Table tennis is loads of fun. I used to play with
my friends (Ulf and Michael) on a regular basis, and well it's a fast paced sport
that keeps you on your toes. I'm definitely not even close to being a pro, but
I can usually get the ball back across the table with some spin on it.
I play billiards mostly in the bars to kill time while
talking with friends. Usually I play 8-ball or something easy. On a good night,
my eyes work, on a bad night it's all lady luck.
Basketball, a sport invented in Canada that has
become American, to say the very least. I'm not really interested in the game,
but if others are playing, I'm willing. Sometimes I can dribble, sometimes I can't.
But over all, I'll almost go play golf before I play this.
Golf I've never really been into, but I do like taking
a few whacks at a basket of balls every once and a while. Maybe one day I'll have
the patience to walk around 18 holes chasing after a little white ball, but for
now I'll stay with something that has a little more action.
