# Hobbies & Interests Activities that keep me balanced and teach valuable life lessons > **Dmitry Bagaev, PhD** — Senior Software Engineer & Scientist, based in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. > [bvdmitri@gmail.com](mailto:bvdmitri@gmail.com) · [GitHub](https://github.com/bvdmitri) · [LinkedIn](https://linkedin.com/in/bvdmitri) · [Google Scholar](https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=zjfAwAEAAAAJ&hl=en) > > This page is one section of my auto-generated personal site. See the [overview](/index.md) for a full summary and links to the other sections. ## Skydiving There's something magical about stepping out of a perfectly good airplane at 13,000 feet. Since 2020, I've completed about 600 jumps, earned my D-license, and became a certified BOSS instructor at Skydive Flanders. The rush of freefall at 200 km/h while the world spins below is absolutely incredible and beginning it was perhaps one of the best decisions I've made in my life. - Modern skydiving is a safe sport with long history of safety records - Ignoring strict rules and safety regulations can and will have legal consequences (in contrast to many other sports) - Not many people are aware of this, but we have two parachutes in case if the first doesn't open and we also have a computer inside of our parachutes that opens the parachute if we are unable - I didn't have any injuries with the only exception being my scratched finger when I opened the door of an airplane - I'm a certified BOSS (Basis Opleiding Samen Springen) instructor, so I can teach you how to jump safely in a group of 2-3 people - You can find me at Skydive Flanders or follow my journey on my Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/bvdmitri/ **Life lessons:** Fast decision making, Risk assessment, Proper equipment maintenance, Mental focus under pressure **Videos:** - [Jump 500 milestone / Zwartberg & Schaffen / Skydive Flanders](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO27MaHwciE) - [Skydiving: 200 jumps](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W36M8YFxeOU&pp=0gcJCa0JAYcqIYzv) --- ## Drumming When Mother Nature grounds my skydiving adventures, I channel that energy into drumming. It's the ultimate full-body workout disguised as music - your arms, legs, and brain all working in perfect sync. The journey from awkward beginner to creating rhythms that make people move has taught me that patience and persistence can transform chaos into harmony (though my neighbors might disagree about the 'harmony' part). - Requires physical endurance and coordination - Teaches patience through long learning process - Develops rhythm and timing skills - Builds muscle memory and technique **Life lessons:** Patience and persistence, Physical coordination, Rhythm and timing, Dedication to practice --- ## Snowboarding/Skiing My love affair with mountain sports began at 14 in Russia, carving my first turns on a snowboard. At 25, I discovered the precision and speed of skiing, and now I'm hooked on both. There's nothing like the feeling of floating through fresh powder or carving perfect turns on groomed runs. And yes, I'm that person who will lecture you about helmets - because the mountain doesn't care about your hairstyle. - Always wear a helmet - safety first! - Love both snowboarding and skiing - Enjoy mountain sports and outdoor activities **Life lessons:** Safety awareness, Adapting to different conditions, Physical fitness, Mountain sports skills **Videos:** - [Switzerland April 2023](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmUHNwBe6q8) - [Sochi 2019](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZCdIr2LmTU) --- ## Wakeboarding When the mountains are green and the lakes are calling, I trade my skis for a wakeboard. There's something incredibly satisfying about being pulled across the water at high speed, catching air off the wake, and landing tricks that make you feel like a superhero. It's the perfect summer complement to my winter mountain adventures. - Water sports and lake activities - Balance and coordination - Summer sport complement to winter activities - Great for core strength and fitness **Life lessons:** Balance and coordination, Water sports skills, Summer fitness, Outdoor recreation --- ## Ship Modelling When the world shut down during COVID, I discovered the meditative art of ship modeling. There's something deeply satisfying about transforming tiny pieces of wood into majestic vessels that once ruled the seas. Each model is a journey through history, requiring the patience of a monk and the precision of a surgeon. Plus, they make excellent conversation starters in my home. - Working with wood and small details - Patience and precision - Hobby with nice decorations for my home - Historical and technical interest **Life lessons:** Patience and precision, Working with small details, Creative problem solving --- ## Video Editing Behind every great adventure is a story waiting to be told. I love transforming raw footage into compelling narratives that capture the essence of experiences - whether it's documenting academic conferences, creating content for my research lab, or sharing my adrenaline-fueled adventures. It's like being a digital storyteller, weaving together moments to create something that resonates with others. - Content creation for social media - Technical video editing skills - Storytelling through visual media - Both personal and professional projects **Life lessons:** Creative storytelling, Technical video skills, Content creation, Visual communication **Videos:** - [BIASlab](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Th3_0NvThcw) - [Eindhoven](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8wa50Be148) - [Day 1 JuliaCon Eindhoven](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k23pQq8HUes) - [Day 2 Highlights - JuliaCon & PyData Eindhoven](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8kEFjGhos4) - [Day 3 JuliaCon Eindhoven](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RLQNpHbq7o) --- --- ## Other pages - **Overview:** / — or /index.md for markdown format - **Experience:** /experience — or /experience.md for markdown format - **Education:** /education — or /education.md for markdown format - **Software:** /software — or /software.md for markdown format - **Publications:** /publications — or /publications.md for markdown format - **Presentations:** /presentations — or /presentations.md for markdown format