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.

Ingrid 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.

Nick 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.

AJ 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.

Tanner 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. 

While 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.

While 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.

When 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.

Chad 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.