Part 2 with Ingrid Backstrom is a much heavier episode. Ingrid and others were changing the face of big mountain skiing, and when you take that kind of risk, there’s bound to be consequences. This week, Ingrid and I talk about working in a male-dominated industry, gender differences in the mountains, risk, losing people in the mountains, and a lot more. Elyse Saugstad asks the Inappropriate Questions.
Read MoreIngrid Backstrom ushered in a new era of women’s big mountain skiing when her award-winning segment in Matchstick Productions’ “Yearbook” set the ski world on fire. While she was her high school valediction, Ingrid parlayed her academic scholarship into a life-changing time on the Whitman ski team. Then she graduated, dropped out of the real world, moved to Palisades, and became one of the faces of skiing in the 2000’s. It’s part 1 of an incredible story, and Jessica Sobolowski-Quinn asks the Inappropriate Questions.
Read MoreTodd Jones has defined what action sports looks like to the masses and, more importantly, to the core of these sports in the most authentic way. He’s been doing it for 30 years, and his baby, Teton Gravity Research, continues to reinvent itself with new product categories, a network of retail stores, the community they’ve built online since ’96, and their movies featuring the greatest athletes. In Part 2 of the podcast, we pick up where we left off and talk about the movies, the athletes, and the stories. Greg Stump asks the Inappropriate Questions.
Read MoreTodd Jones and the company he helped found Teton Gravity Research, has had a huge impact on Skiing and Snowboarding. This private school-educated kid from Cape Cod became passionate about sliding on snow at Stowe, then became a certified Deadhead in high school, and college was all about leaving private college life to become a dish dog in Jackson Hole. The rest is history. Part 1 of the podcast we talk about The Dead, the early Jackson days, battles with ski patrol, pioneering Alaska with Coombs, and founding TGR. Ian Macintosh asks the Inappropriate Questions
Read MoreNick Goepper won three Olympic medals in slopestyle, then called it a career and retired. Fast forward a year, and Nick is out of retirement, and he has his goals set: rebranding himself and making the Olympic Halfpipe team. On the podcast, we talk about how hard that will be, all things Goepper, and then I do a mini-podcast with the man behind the scenes of Nick’s rebrand, controversial pro skier Steve Stepp. This one’s a little different; think two guys, one mic.
Read MoreAJ Kitt is a US Ski Team Legend and was the face of US Downhill at a time when the US Skiing’s image desperately needed a re-fresh from the Bill Johnson era. AJ’s a 4X Olympian, which is incredible, but also the most screwed-over athlete ever by FIS, which is unfortunate. On the podcast, we talk about going fast, understanding sponsorship early, Bill Johnson, the World Cup at 18, the Olympics, and so much more. US Ski and Snowboard Hall of Famer Chad Fleischer asks the Inappropriate Questions.
Read MoreDave Moe is the most unique, eclectic guest I’ve had on the podcast, and he and his brother may have had more of an impact on the sport of skiing than anyone else I’ve had on the show. The Moe’s started Powder Magazine, and Dave Moe was the gonzo journalist who traveled the world in the name of Powder. On the podcast, we talk about early Seattle skiing, his “Screw Loose” alter egos, founding Powder Magazine, sales, marketing, travel, and general weirdness. Jake Moe makes a couple of appearances to clear some things up on this history lesson of an episode.
Read MoreTanner Hall is arguably the greatest all-around skier of our time. He’s a rare athlete who’s found success in the moguls, in the streets, in the parks, in the X Games, in the backcountry, in the movies, and on the Freeride World Tour. It doesn’t get more complete than that, and the crazy thing is that now, at 40, he’s skiing better than he ever has. While that’s a bold statement, when the new edit, XL drops this week, you’ll know what I’m talking about. On the podcast, we discuss his relationship, his injury list, XL, what the future holds, and much more. Wiley Miller asks the Inappropriate Questions.
Read MoreWhile Colby Stevenson won’t be remembered for the car accident that broke his skull into over 40 pieces, it sure had an impact in steering his life from a middle-of-the-pack pro athlete to absolute dominance. In part two of Colby’s podcast, we talk Olympic Silver in the Covid year, X Games double gold as a rookie, learning lessons during injuries, sponsors, money, filming with everyone, and more. Olympian Lyman Currier asks the Inappropriate Questions.
Read MoreWhile Colby Stevenson won’t be remembered for the car accident that broke his skull into over 40 pieces, it sure had an impact in steering his life from middle-of-the-pack pro athlete to absolute dominance. In part one of Colby’s podcast, we talk about growing up in the shadows of Wallisch and Hall, forerunning the X Games at 8, the confidence and cockiness that comes with early success, and his life-changing accident. Olympic Gold Medalist Joss Christensen asks the Inappropriate Questions.
Read MoreWhen Ashley Battersby came on the ski scene, a new era of style was unleashed upon the women’s slopestyle and big air. Growing up in Chicago gave Ash the confidence to develop one of the top rail games in the streets, and then she transferred her skate tricks to the ski world. Her move to Park City was her education in air awareness- which led to her being the first woman to land a Switch 10 in competition. On the podcast, we talk about her meteoric rise, sponsors, money, her battle at the X Games, and the injuries that ultimately ended her career. Ashley doesn’t do many interviews, and it was almost like she disappeared from the scene when she retired, so catching up with this pioneer was cool. Her brother Ty asks the Inappropriate Questions.
Read MoreChad Fleischer is a badass American Downhiller known for his leopard print hair, his huge crash at the Hahnenkamm, and living a life being 100% in control of being 100% out of control. Born and raised in the flatlands of Nebraska, Chad moved to Vail at 12 and didn’t join Ski Club Vail until he was 14. That late start didn’t slow him down. On the podcast, we talk about Nebraska, getting on the team, AJ, Kyle, Bode, Tommy, and so much more. Chad doesn’t hold back, and it’s an awesome one. AJ Kitt asks the Inappropriate Questions.
Read MoreBob Legasa is not only a former US Freestyle Team Member, he’s also the only athlete I’ve ever had on the podcast who’s survived a Grizzly Bear attack. Those two things alone can make a podcast good, throw in that Dan is known as the most legendary prankster in skiing and this one is great. On the podcast, we talk about filming for Hot Dog, jumping at the Rose Bowl, Greg Stump, and a lot more.
Read MoreDarian Boyle is one of the pioneering athletes who helped usher the free ski movement to the forefront of the sport, but Darian is so much more than just a champion skier. She’s a model, a lifeguard, a paddleboarder, a boat builder, a marina owner, a bartender, a surfer, a Hobie cat racer, a moto rider, and a mom. She hasn’t slowed down since she started chasing her brothers when she was little. On the podcast, we talk about her incredible ski career, modeling career, television career, her injuries, and so much more. Roy Tuscany is on point in asking the Inappropriate Questions.
Read MoreJoe Johnson has mastered the desk jokey hustle as he's gone from dream job to dream job. While he spends a lot of time at his Salomon desk, he's not chained to it. He's an industry dark man, a behind-the-scenes ideator of some innovative marketing campaigns by some of the biggest resorts and brands out there. On the podcast, we talk about his first passion, basketball, his incredible list of jobs: tourism, resort, agency, and brand gigs, his near-death fall, and a lot more. It's the first business episode in a while, and Digi Dave Amirault asks the Inappropriate Questions.
Read MorePhil Sifferman is back and chock full of stories from the past that we won’t get anywhere else. On the podcast, Phil and I jump back in time, talking about the drama behind the IOC and FIS, the party powder days of skiing, the gruesome accidents he’s witnessed on a royal level, and so much more. It’s a different kind of episode, and the stories are true gems.
Read MoreJulian Carr is arguably the most interesting person in skiing. Between his gigantic airs that defy what is humanly possible, to his first of its kind in the US trail running events, The Cirque Series, to his Blake’s Bronco project, which landed him a deal with Ford, Julian has made a habit of turning his passions into his life’s work…both personally and professionally. In part 2 of the podcast, we discuss the details behind big air; the 210-footer in Engelberg, Parker Cook, asks the Inappropriate Questions.
Read MoreJulian Carr is one of those people with that calm, cool, and collected demeanor, seemingly all the time. And that’s exactly how Julian wants himself to be when he’s sending the world record cliff drops that he’s made a career out of. But Julian’s story isn’t what you would expect. On the podcast, we talk about his roof jumping club as a 7-year-old, getting into skiing in 8th grade, sports, fraternities, picking the brains of skiing legends, gigantic cliffs, and so much more. It’s another do not miss episode, and Rachael Burks asks the Inappropriate Questions
Read MoreTed Ligety is one of the greatest US ski racers in history. He’s won two Olympic gold medals and is a five-time world champion who’s won 25 World Cup events. He’s a legend, and in part 2 with Ted, we talk about Gold Medals, Tom Brady, FIS rule changes, Bode Miller, his Park City Parade, and a whole lot more. It’s another do not miss episode.
Read MoreTed Ligety is one of the greatest US ski racers in history. He’s won two Olympic gold medals and is a five-time world champion who’s won 25 World Cup events. He’s a legend… but it wasn’t always easy for the late-blooming Ted. In part 1 of the podcast, we talk about finding skiing, being bullied, growing into his body, Tanner Hall, The Winter School, making the US Ski Team, and much more. World Champion Felix Neureuther asks the Inappropriate Questions
Read MoreWELCOME TO THE POWELL MOVEMENT! Every week I take a deep dive into the careers, history and psyche of the greatest athletes and behind the scenes players from the world of action sports. From humble beginnings to becoming supernovas, these talents have shaped the sports that we love and continue to PUSH IT- which is to say - if they PUSH IT they’re on THE POWELL MOVEMENT.
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