Mike Styskal, aka Styk, has lived his life as a creative force in snowboard design, but Styk is so much more than that. He's one of those people that exudes effortless cool: he always has a different unique look, and his sense of style is always on point. It's a characteristic that helped this Nebraska farm boy go from the small-town USA to the progressive city of Seattle and thrive. On the podcast, we talk about Nebraska, Burning Bush Studios, Ride, China, trouble, Draplin, and so much more. If you like business episodes, don't miss this one.
Mike Styskal Show Notes
3:30: Growing up in Grant, Nebraska, in the '70s, the art influence of automotive boxes, and skiing
8:30: Was he a weird art kid, Dazed and Confused, his only time getting his ass kicked at a bar, and Carnie State College
14:00: Fraternity life, hazing, design by hand in college, commercial art, and his sign-making business
22:00: Stanley: Get 30% off sitewide with the code drinkfast
Peter Glenn Ski and Sports: Over 60 years of getting you out there
Outdoor Research: The best outerwear ever built just got better
24:30: The Seattle designer's dress code, becoming part of the Seattle underground scene, and Frank Zepponi,
33:00: Burning Bush Studios, The Representative in a Box, and landing the K2 skis account
41:45: 10 Barrel Brewery: Buy their beers; they support action sports more than anyone
GoPro: The only action sports camera that matters
Elan Skis: Over 75 years of innovation that makes you better
43:00: The K2 Dog Poster, Ride, the Bob Hall years, the K2 acquisition, and hiring a team
60:00: Muscat, Draplin, China, lawsuits, and trouble
74:00: Inappropriate Questions with Mark Fankhauser
Brant Moles is one of those legends that have zero ego. While he’s a quiet guy, he’s not afraid to share what happened with his career…and in the first part of his career, he was a Wisconsin-based ski racer who went to an east coast academy with the goal of making the US Ski Team…but with all stories like Brant’s, politics play a role. When that happens, it usually doesn’t work out. The good thing is Brant Moles’ career isn’t remembered for racing; it’s remembered for winning extreme contests, filming with the heavy hitters of his time, and helping lobby the industry to make fat skis. Brant Moles helped change the sport of skiing with product and how he used it in Alaska, and his story is one that should have been told long ago….but this is his first podcast.
Brant Moles Show Notes:
3:30: Skiers of the Midwest, Racine, Wisconsin, The Playboy Club, and skiing in Wisco
11:30: Dirt bikes and sleds young, other sports, ski racing, divorce, and rebellion
21:00: Stanley: Get 30% off sitewide with the code drinkfast
Peter Glenn Ski and Sports: Over 60 years of getting you out there
Outdoor Research: The best outerwear ever built just got better
23:00: Green Mountain Valley School, being small, pressure, speed events, and not making the team
33:00: Post Grad years, and doing all he could to make it all over again only to have politics end his career, not caring about skiing
40:30: 10 Barrel Brewery: Buy their beers; they support action sports more than anyone
GoPro: The only action sports camera that matters
Elan Skis: Over 75 years of innovation that makes you better
43:00: Blizzard of Ahhh’s, Snowboarders in Exile, Filming with Rob Bruce, and Spinal Snap
54:00: Getting the Golden Ticket to Hollywood and Europe, access to the mountains that no one else had, and sponsored by Nobis
60:00: Survival skiing, out of his comfort zone, and no tracks anywhere in France
65:00: Inappropriate Questions with Jeremy Nobis and Rob Bruce
Michelle Parker has made a name for herself in the big mountains, but her roots go all over the board when it comes to sports and skiing. An elite soccer player with a big future, Michelle was forced to choose between soccer and ski racing at a young age. She chose ski racing, became a Junior Olympic Champion, and then quit racing in favor of the park and skiing powder. While Michelle competed for a bit, injuries made her realize that contests were not her thing and her focus shifted entirely to filming. She’s arguably one of the most important skiers this century. We talk about real issues in this one, and Michelle has a great perspective. Roy Tuscany asks Inappropriate Questions.
Michelle Parker Show Notes:
3:30: Injuries, what she learns during them, healers all over, and finally, good news
21:00: Stanley: Get 30% off sitewide with the code drinkfast
Peter Glenn Ski and Sports: Over 60 years of getting you out there
Outdoor Research: The best outerwear ever built just got better
23:00: Dad was a professional tennis player, almost quitting skiing and her thoughts on the new Palisades name
29:00: Ski town privilege and diversity, experiencing the uprising in Seattle and Portland, and how do we get other people to the mountains
36:00: Getting into skiing, skiers in Tahoe, her crew, and playing baseball
40:30: 10 Barrel Brewery: Buy their beers; they support action sports more than anyone
Rollerblade: Ski season may be over, but that feeling lasts all year with inline skating
Elan Skis: Over 75 years of innovation that makes you better
42:30: Elite Soccer, having to choose between soccer and skiing, Junior Olympic Champion, and quitting racing
51:00: Does she have girlfriends, women in skiing, her idols at Palisades, and hitting McConkey in the balls
59:00: Park skiing, getting sponsored by Line, X Games, K2, the lack of support, and getting dropped by her sponsors
70:00: Inappropriate Questions with Roy Tuscany and Trevor Kennison
Ethan Stone Fortier is a force in the world of snowboard media. He’s one of the hosts of the wildly successful Bomb Hole Podcast, he’s been a snowboard photographer for over 20 years, and he’s personally responsible for one of the more iconic brands in snowboard history, Technine. On the podcast, we talk all things Bomb Hole, coming up in Vermont, the VTSP, starting brands, working with investors, the business behind the photography, and much more. Chris Grenier asks the Inappropriate Questions
E Stone Show Notes
4:30: Naming the Misty Flip, The beginning of The Bomb Hole in the pandemic, and the initial game plan
9:00: When do you start believing the show is your future, building the empire, the multiple revenue-generating arms of the show, and the workload breakout
20:00: Stanley: Get 30% off sitewide with the code drinkfast
Peter Glenn Ski and Sports: Over 60 years of getting you out there
Outdoor Research: The best outerwear ever built just got better
22:30: YouTube V Podcast traffic, ownership of The Bomb Hole, and money
25:00: Growing up in Vermont, life changes with divorce, rebellion, weed, and dancehall
30:00: Colchester Snowboard Club, VTSP, The Green Mountain Series, moving to Avon with a ton of pros and tinkering with products
41:30: 10 Barrel Brewery: Buy their beers; they support action sports more than anyone
Rollerblade: Ski season may be over, but that feeling lasts all year with inline skating
Elan Skis: Over 75 years of innovation that makes you better
42:30: The Technine evolution, how the industry reacted, getting swindled by his dad, and production in China
54:00: Mistakes, investors, Photography, the business of photos, and the end of Technine for him
66:00: Inappropriate Questions with Chris Grenier