The early days
As a child, Jesse’s parents took him to Austria to go skiing. Jesse, who is completely blind, wore a harness. “My father had direct contact with me through the harness,” Jesse says enthusiastically. That was how he learned the basics of skiing. The nursery slopes were his first real steps into the sport.
As he got older, Jesse took ski lessons to further develop his skills, this time in the Netherlands on an artificial ski slope. “Imagine a conveyor belt that creates a kind of incline. It forces me to find my balance and adopt the right posture.” A ski instructor guided him with instructions throughout.
The real thing
“The lessons give me more confidence, and I’m able to pick up speed.” The red slope is now familiar territory for him. He has long since set aside the harness and now wears a helmet with a headset instead.
“My dad is the one who talks. I only speak when it’s really necessary. He gives commands like left, right and—most importantly—stop.” This ensures safety for everyone involved.
Skis aren’t enough
In addition to skiing in the snow, Jesse is also skilled at water skiing. After trying the sport once as a child, his parents found a youth camp nearby where he could develop his interest further.
Communication on the water doesn’t happen via headset, but through voice and whistle signals. “When I’m behind the boat on my skis, I hold a handle attached to a rope. The other end is fixed to the boat. When the rope is tight and the boat is far enough away, I call out to signal I’m ready.” The boat then accelerates and Jesse enjoys the ride.
When the boat turns, two whistle blasts signal him to pay attention and stay close. Together with his instructor, he developed this communication system so he can fully enjoy the speed and the water.
It can get even wilder
Of course, there isn’t always snow or water available. That’s when mountain biking comes in. On a specially adapted tandem mountain bike, Jesse and his father don’t avoid bumps and tree roots—they actively seek them out. They’ve been doing it for so long that hardly any instructions are needed anymore.
“You naturally feel when you go over something,” he says with a laugh.
So there’s plenty Jesse takes in his stride. Whether he’s racing down a ski slope, gliding across water behind a boat, or bouncing over roots on a mountain trail with his father, it’s always about trust, communication, and letting go.
Those are exactly the same principles he brings into his work as a guide at muZIEum during the Expedition in the Dark. In complete darkness, he leads visitors, reassures them, and challenges them to explore their own limits. Because just like on the slopes, even when you can’t see a thing, the right guidance can take you further than you’d expect.
Intro film
You might recognise Jesse. His story is also featured in the muZIEum introductory film.
Want to discover more about his world and experience what it’s like to rely on your other senses? Visit muZIEum and be guided through the dark by one of our guides.
