EPISODE 389: SUMMER X GAMES 2024

EPISODE 389: SUMMER X GAMES 2024

The X Games is the pinnacle event in action sports, and while it’s not what it once was, the new ownership group, MSP Sports Capital, plans to not only turn that around but make the X Games property bigger than ever. There’s a lot of excitement around the new regime and its plans, and the X Games media team invited me down to get my unbiased take on what X Games has turned into. As I do with all my events, I make sure to talk to athletes, legends, behind-the-scenes players, and more to uncover the future of X and give you insight into what X was like this year. Think everyone from X Games ownership to P-Rod, RWilly, Selema, and many more.

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EPISODE 388: ACE KVALE

EPISODE 388: ACE KVALE

Ace Kvale has lived the ultimate ski bum life, but he’s no bum; Ace is a legend. A Midwest kid who hitchhiked his way west at 18 for bigger mountains and a better lifestyle. After a few years of resort hopping, Ace made his way to Europe, connected with Marko Shapiro, and became part of the original Clambin Crew. He started out living in a chalet in Verbier, traveling the world skiing for the camera, and he climbed in the summertime. Eventually, Ace’s life transitioned to working behind the lens, and he is an award-winning photographer who focuses his talents on shooting adventure. This podcast is one of those must-listen history lessons from one of the original stoked ski bums. Stanley Larsen asks the Inappropriate Questions.

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EPISODE 387: BOBBY BROWN

EPISODE 387: BOBBY BROWN

Bobby Brown was a dominant force at contests starting in 2010, and by 2017, it looked like he was on his way to his second Olympic Games, until that dream was taken away by injury. Knowing that traditional contests weren’t in his future, Bobby pivoted and took his tricks to the backcountry.  Now, his pro ski life is totally different than when we talked in 2017, and this time around, we discuss his latest project, sponsor changes, breaking his back, Dynamic Medium, and a whole lot more. Peter Olenick asks a couple of Inappropriate Questions.

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EPISODE 386: LUCAS FOSTER

EPISODE 386: LUCAS FOSTER

While Lucas Foster is not a one-trick pony, when he landed his Alley Oop Double McTwist in the pipe,  his career and his life totally changed forever.  What’s crazy is that Lucas grew up in Telluride, a place without a halfpipe, meaning Lucas came up learning his tricks at contests with barely any practice.  Nowadays, Lucas has all the resources available to up the ante even more as he’s a member of the US Snowboard Team, and at just 24, who knows what he’ll add to his bag of tricks. On the podcast, we talk about his goal of being the GOAT, mentoring from Jason Cannon, contests, coaching, and more. Louie Vito asks “Inappropriate Questions”

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EPISODE 385: OUTSIDE FESTIVAL

EPISODE 385: OUTSIDE FESTIVAL

Outside Festival is a first-year event in Denver aimed at bringing the outdoor industry, the consumers, the brands and the athletes together. I’m hearing this called the intersection of SBSW and CES for the outdoor industry. Outside has swung for the fences a lot over the years, and I travel to Colorado to see if the event lives up to the massive expectations. Along the way, I connect with Pat Milbery, Colter Hinchliffe, Shaun White, Robin Thurston, Jess Kimura, Julian Carr, Luis Benitez, Conrad Anker, and many more. It’s behind the scenes look at the first great Outside Festival.

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EPISODE 384: PETER OLENICK

EPISODE 384: PETER OLENICK

Peter Olenick changed halfpipe skiing when he landed the first double in competition. His “Whiskey Flip” defined Peter’s life on and off snow; he went big, took chances, and partied his face off during his legendary career. He was on top of the contest world during one of the most run eras. On the podcast, we talk about not being cool growing up, Aspen, finding confidence at High North Ski Camp, success, partying, and a lot more. Colby James West asks the ‘Inappropriate Questions.’

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EPISODE 383: JEFF THOMAS

EPISODE 383: JEFF THOMAS

Jeff Thomas is an award-winning filmmaker, a once-sponsored skier, and a guy who was born to be a baseball player. While he can still throw the ball at 85 mph, the day Jeffy’s dad showed him the brochure to high North Ski Camp in the late ’90s, Jeff’s life went from boring baseball to the epicenter of the new school of skiing. At camp, he met his heroes, athletes, and his biggest inspiration, filmmaker Johnny Decesare —all of whom would become the forefathers of the sport and the lifestyle the twin tip movement bred. On the podcast, we chat about his Hall of Fame pedigree, Theory 3 media, Poor Boyz Productions, Teddy Knape, Switchback Entertainment, and more. Nerdy About Nature’s Ross Reid asks the Inappropriate Questions

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EPISODE 382: ZACH MILLER

EPISODE 382: ZACH MILLER

Zach Miller is different than any World Champion I’ve had on the podcast. While he appears to be able-bodied, Zach has Cerebral Palsy, a neurological disorder that affects his mobility, posture, and balance. Zach found snowboarding through a hospital program, and that changed his life. Today, Zach is a Paralympian who travels the world to snowboard. On the podcast, we talk about CP and everything that goes along with it, including fatigue, challenges, and bullying. We also talk about competing against adaptive athletes while he looks able-bodied and the challenges that created. And, of course, we discuss money or complete lack thereof it, the Paralympics, and a whole lot more. It’s a different and important episode that everyone should hear.

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EPISODE 381: SCOTTY LAGO

EPISODE 381: SCOTTY LAGO

Scotty Lago has a path to pro snowboarding that’s different than almost anyone I’ve interviewed. Most high school dropouts don’t have Olympic Medals to go along with a grip of X Games and Dew Tour hardware, but that’s what Scotty Lago did. Along the way, he was part of the legendary Frends Crew, he filmed with Grenade, he filmed with Travis Rice for the biggest movies in snowboard history, and he did it all while riding for Flow Snowboards. When all was said and done, Scotty didn’t retire into the sunset; he’s now following his other passion of hunting, and just like in his snowboard career, he’s already a sponsored hunter, and who knows how bug that world can get for Scotty. This is a fun podcast with an unfiltered legend and former Flow TM, Andrew Mutty asks the Inappropriate Questions.

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EPISODE 380: DANE TUDOR

EPISODE 380: DANE TUDOR

Dane Tudor has had an incredible pro ski career that’s been going on for 15+ years, and while he’s getting older, Dane shows no sign of slowing down ski-wise, and no brands seem to care for some reason. When I say no signs of slowing down, in 2009, when Dane was 19, he won “Male Performance of the Year,” a huge award in skiing. Then, in 2023, 15 years later, Dane won that same coveted award again. While that’s so rare, so is the fact that while he’s always found success in both Moto and skiing, nothing has ever been easy for him on the sponsor end. Maybe it’s because he didn’t grow up with a dad or because he was always traveling between Canada and Alaska and was isolated with homeschooling…I try and find out the answers on the show, and Colston VB asks the Inappropriate Questions.

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EPISODE 379: JAKE HOPFINGER

EPISODE 379: JAKE HOPFINGER

Jake Hopfinger created a name for himself in skiing at the Kings and Queens of Corbet’s in Jackson Hole. The double backflip he threw there for a 3rd instantly made his name known worldwide. While the dollars and travel budgets are now coming in, Jake was once an aspiring D1 East Coast ski racer who could never finish a race. Then he quit racing, moved to Montana, and learned to ski powder. The rest is history in the making. Parkin Costain and Jonnie Merrill ask the Inappropriate Questions.

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EPISODE 378: JESSICA SOBOLOWSKI-QUINN

EPISODE 378: JESSICA SOBOLOWSKI-QUINN

Jessica Sobolowski-Quinn is a lifer in the ski industry. She’s skied more powder than almost anyone on the planet over the past 20 years, which is what you’d expect from the owner of one of Alaska’s premiere heli operations, Points North. But Jess didn’t grow up chasing powder in helicopters; she was a D1 ski racer who made her way to Palisades after college. From there, she met famous friends, started skiing rowdy lines, lined up sponsors, and traveled the world to film for a decade and eventually reeled it all in to manage the family business she runs with her husband, Kevin Quinn. Ingrid Backstrom asks the Inappropriate Questions.

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EPISODE 377: COLTER HINCHLIFFE

EPISODE 377: COLTER HINCHLIFFE

owing up near Aspen, dropping out of college to shred, moving to Alta, and returning to Aspen, he made the right contacts to make the dream come true. He was tending bar in Aspen, making handfuls of cash, allowing him to travel anywhere in the world at a minute's notice...That lifestyle put him in AK and eventually in a helicopter with the TGR crew when he was 25 years old, and that, combined with an unexpected Powder Magazine cover, helped Colter graduate from ski bum to pro skier pretty late in the game. It's a real-life Aspen Extreme Ski Bum Story.

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EPISODE 376: MCCONKEY PMS 2024 RECAP

EPISODE 376: MCCONKEY PMS 2024 RECAP

The Pain McShlonkey Classic is arguably the most important event in all of skiing. The coveted Golden Saucer is up for grabs, and this year, 60 ski bladers had KT early ups on a Saturday pow day. The weekend's goal is to raise money in the name of our time's most important skiers and personalities. While Shane McConkey didn't look like an elite level athlete, he was way more than that: the funniest guy everyone knew, the most inclusive, the most awesome, and McShlonkey weekend is a way to celebrate his life and times with his friends at his home of Palisades. I put out a yearly podcast recapping the event and digging up old McConkey stories for your entertainment. This year, while you don't know all the names, the McConkey stories do not disappoint.

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EPISOE 375: ELYSE SAUGSTAD

EPISOE 375: ELYSE SAUGSTAD

Elyse Saugstad is not only a Powder Award-winning skier known for her impressive movie segments over the years, but she’s also a woman who’s put her career on the line to better the treatment of women in big mountain ski competitions. Throughout Elyse’s career, people have said no to her, but she’s never taken no as the final answer. On the podcast, we talk about growing up in Alaska, ski racing, college in New Mexico, ski bumming turning into a pro career, and a whole lot about gender and equality. It’s a good one, and Jackie Paaso asks the Inappropriate Questions

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EPISODE 374: JESS KIMURA

EPISODE 374: JESS KIMURA

Jess Kimura’s life has never been easy. Yeah, she’s a pro snowboarder who travels the world to ride, which sounds like a dream - But, hearing about the path that led Jess to snowboard superstardom, I doubt many people would trade places with her. What she has achieved is incredible. On the podcast, we talk about life lessons of the skatepark, leaving home at 16, being broke, snowboarding, mental health issues, losing snowboarding, love, losing love; oh, there is so much in this must-listen episode. Marie-France Roy asks the Inappropriate Questions

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EPISODE 373: MAGGIE VOISIN

EPISODE 373: MAGGIE VOISIN

Maggie Voisin’s life has been defined by skiing, family, and the highs and lows that come with both. A three-time Olympian and 7-time X Games medalist, Maggie knows what it’s like to achieve her goals and experience the highest of highs. But, between losing a brother to suicide, untimely injuries, and countless knee surgeries, she’s also experienced the lowest of lows. Throughout it all, Maggie innovated, inspired, and spent a lot of time on podiums. Inappropriate Questions asked by Ashley Battersby and Parkin Costain

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EPISODE 372: KAITLYN FARRINGTON

EPISODE 372: KAITLYN FARRINGTON

Kaitlyn Farrington grew up on a cattle ranch in Bellevue, Idaho. Life growing up was all about hard work, rodeoing, and, if there was fresh snow, skipping school to head to her home mountain of Sun Valley.  Eventually, she switched from skiing to snowboarding, earned a scholarship for the Sun Valley Team, and things happened quickly. She went from being nobody to the World Cup to being named to the stacked US Team in a matter of years- she was always the underdog. But, in her biggest moment, she rode away with Olympic gold…and an injury took it all away. On the podcast, we talk about ranch life, making the US Team at 14, becoming a privateer, winning, a new reality, becoming an astronaut, and more.

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EPISODE 371: MARK MACKAY

EPISODE 371: MARK MACKAY

Mark Mackay is a country music star in the making, but his background as a ski rep makes him the perfect new business episode. His road to Nashville included stints with Rossignol, Dynastar, and Atomic, all by the time he was 20. He was the head sales rep in California when Atomic started exploding, he had a dream job, he was young, and he left it all for the lucrative world of medical sales. Soon after, he had a life-changing epiphany on a paddleboard and, within an hour, quit his job, broke his lease, and went all in on being a country music star, and so far, it’s been working.

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EPISODE 370: ANDY HETZEL

EPISODE  370: ANDY HETZEL

Andy Hetzel is the Rick Kane of snowboarding. Hailing from Arizona, Andy’s first love was skateboarding, then punk rock. This eventually led to Andy finding snowboarding and moving his life to Breckenridge. He competed early and often and achieved pro status, but Hetzel won’t be remembered for contests, well maybe as the reigning World Mogul Champion. But, outside of that bump title, Andy and the skate-influenced crew he rode with, you know, the Palmer and Ranquet types, helped create the derelict culture of the sport when it wasn’t considered a sport, it was a lifestyle. It’s a fun history lesson, and Utah legend Benny Pelligrino asks the Inappropriate Questions. 

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