For the love of ASP.NET and the Polish greyhound

Wojciech Skubisz works at Scalo as a front-end developer. In this interview, he tells us about his accidental path to a career in IT, the professional challenges he faces daily, as well as his sports activities and his love for the Polish greyhound. Find out what makes Wojciech so passionate about his work and what his goals are for the future.

What made you choose a career as a front-end developer?

Honestly, it was a bit of a coincidence and a short episode in my youth. Going to university, I figured right from the start that I didn’t want to go into software development. I was more interested in project management, gathering functional requirements, analyzing problem complexity, and testing the final product. In the second year of my Master’s degree, we had a class with a very matter-of-fact and interesting Doctor, who introduced me to the world of ASP.NET. Between this situation and memories from my childhood, when as a teenager after school, I found myself as a “webmaster”, creating static websites for friends, “clients”, I felt a boyish nostalgia; something clicked, and I realized – yes, this is what I want to do.

What are the most common challenges you face in your work and how do you deal with them?

It definitely depends on the project I’m working on. In virtually no project have I come across the same problems. Sometimes, they were intra-team problems that negatively affected the quality of the work, or clearing the backlog of tasks that nobody wanted to take on.

What kind of physical activity do you prefer after work? Between swimming, walking and squash, what do you enjoy most?

Walking, with the dog of course. It’s the best moment after work, when you can take your eyes off the computer and straighten your bones after sitting all day. A moment to myself, a moment to collect my thoughts, to think about mundane things.

Squash, an activity I recently gave up due to a knee injury. I have always enjoyed the dynamics of the sport and the competitive aspect. Short, full-speed sessions against an opponent for whom you had to find the right tactics in a short space of time to win. And the opportunity to spend active time with friends.

The swimming pool, the chance to switch off all your thoughts and concentrate on perfecting your movements and body work.

Which science podcasts would you recommend to our readers? Do you have any favorite episodes or topics that particularly grabbed your attention?

I can confidently recommend the Huberman Lab podcasts – from an American neurobiologist Andrew Huberman. Topics include biohacking, optimizing health, implementing changes that can contribute to wellbeing in some way. I particularly recommend the series on carbohydrates and sleep hygiene.

J.B. Peterson, Canadian clinical psychologist, an unprecedented person who is not afraid to talk about topics that provoke extreme emotions. Recently a rather controversial figure in the USA and Canada. Very complex topics, depending on the guest, that shed light on the problems facing the world.

Tell us about your Polish greyhound, Róża. How long has she been with you?

Róża has been with us for seven years. She is a hunting dog with a very strong hunting instinct. She needs a lot of exercise every day, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t like relaxing on the sofa. At home she is a quiet dog, loves to sleep and does not bark. She is a dog with a strong character, but also very attentive to people. Róża is very sociable, she spends a lot of time with us and loves to travel, especially to competitions.

Why did you choose this breed? Did you already have a dog of this breed?

The decision to choose the Polish greyhound breed was inspired by our friends, whose parents have been breeding Polish greyhounds for 25 years. During a meeting with friends, we’ve had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with Polish greyhounds, which made us fall in love with this breed. Polish greyhounds are majestic dogs with noble origins.

How did your adventure with track and lure coursing contests begin?

After 15 months, Róża passed her track exam and got her track and lure coursing licence. The dog’s natural inclination and her pursuit of a lure made us aware of her decision to take part in greyhound racing. It is worth noting that not every dog is born with a strong enough hunting instinct to want to chase an ‘artificial’ hare. In the kennel, Róża and her siblings were encouraged to hunt since they were puppies.

What are Róża sporting achievements so far?

Róża has several sporting achievements to her credit, such as becoming the Greater Poland Champion at the 2022 International Championships in Greyhound Field Racing, and repeatedly taking first place at the Polish Championships in Greyhound Track Racing. In addition, Rosa came in third twice in the Polish Competition Cup. This qualified her for the World Championships.

How did you prepare for the competition and what was the key to your success?

First and foremost, proper nutrition – BARF, with supplements for muscle development, joint protection and the skeletal system. Keeping the dog in a training regime through running, following the bicycle and training sessions organised by our Kennel Clubs across the country.

Do you have any special moments or anecdotes from the competitions that stick in your mind?

For us, the best moments are meeting friends from all over Poland whom we have met through our shared passion. The competitions themselves can be divided into an official running part and a picnic part, where we can talk about dogs, renew contacts and have a good time together. Our trips with Rose are usually combined with sightseeing in our beautiful country, as national training and competitions take place in picturesque places.