Lou Dawson is one of the most accomplished ski mountaineers in the US, but he’s so much more than that. While Lou is known for being the first to climb and ski Colorado’s 54 fourteen-thousand-foot peaks, his career included a rock-climbing era, an ice-climbing era, and his mountaineering and ski mountaineering ear. He’s a living legend and is considered to be one of the godfathers of backcountry skiing in the US. On the podcast, we talk about growing up in Texas, moving to Aspen, the counterculture movement, the draft, the mountains, his must-read book, Avalanche Dreams, and much more. Another legendary mountaineer, Andrew McLean, asks the Inappropriate Questions.
Lou Dawson Show Notes:
4:00: Avalanche, growing up in Texas, his dad, Ashcrofters Mountaineering School, NOLS, and challenging home life
21:00: Thermic Heated Socks and Dissent Labs socks (non- heated)
Stanley: The brand that invented the category! Only the best for Powell Movement listeners. Check out Stanley1913.com
Best Day Brewing: All of the flavor of your favorite IPA or Kolsch, without the alcohol, the calories and sugar.
24:00: The draft, Harvey Carter, suffering, and Denali,
45:00: Elan Skis: Over 75 years of innovation that makes you better.
Outdoor Research: The best outerwear on the planet is developed and tested in the Pacific Northwest
45:00: Ski Mountaineering, best trips, Outward Bounds, climbing 30 peaks in 30 days, climbing and skiing Colorado’s 14ers, and Blizzard of Aahhs
72:00: Inappropriate Questions with Andrew McLean
Dana Flahr wasn’t born to be the big mountain slayer he worked so hard to become. Growing up in a single-mom household, things were a struggle, but one thing Dana’s mom figured out was how to get him on the mountain and from there his passion took over. Moving to Whistler at 17, Dana didn’t party; he skied daily, honing his big mountain skills in the winter and building his trick vocabulary in the summer. That combination got him a tryout with TGR, where he sent it harder than almost anyone in their movies then. Over the years, he’s won Powder Awards, earned the respect of the best in the business, and banged out video jaw-dropping TGR segments and more each season. Eventually, burnout got the best of Dana, and he disappeared. We talk about it all and more on the podcast. Ian Macintosh asks the Inappropriate Questions. and that turned into Powder Awards
Dana Flahr Show Notes:
4:00: Not a risktaker early on, Kamloops, not growing up with money, getting into skiing, and an early avalanche,
13:00: Poaching the snowboard park, High School, Whistler inspiration, skiers he looked up to, graduating and moving that day,
21:00: Thermic Heated Socks and Dissent Labs socks (non-heated)
Stanley: The brand that invented the category! Only the best for Powell Movement listeners. Check out Stanley1913.com
Best Day Brewing: All of the flavor of your favorite IPA or Kolsch, without the alcohol, the calories and sugar.
24:00: The 604 House, working, sledding, summer camp, big mountain comps, TGR tryout, and how he made an impact with that crew
41:00: Elan Skis: Over 75 years of innovation that makes you better.
Outdoor Research: The best is designed and tested in the northwest
44:00: Breakthrough Performance, blowing his knee, Tanner Hall, Alaska, unlimited Heli time, Tom Burt and other guides
60:00: Losing people, epic trips, his scariest injury, movie segments, and awards, covers, and burning out and Houdini-ing
72:00: Inappropriate Questions with Ian Macintosh
Gordi Eaton is a legend in the ski industry, and while many people don’t know his name, because he was born in 1939, he’s had a huge impact in the development of modern ski technology. Before he was involved in helping to bring sidecut, shape, top shape, rocker, and so much more tech to the table, Gordi was an Olympian on the first Bob Beattie-created US Ski Teams that featured athletes like Bill Marolt and Buddy Werner. Then, after coaching at the highest level, Gordi became K2’s Race Director, a sales rep, and more. On the podcast, we discuss coming up with no grooming or releasable bindings, putting the Mahre Brothers on K2, and his history with George Torme and Bode Miller. This one’s a history lesson that needs to be told.
Gordi Eaton Show Notes:
4:00: Climate change and snow, skiing in NH, no grooming, gruesome injuries due to gear, college scholarships, and the Olympics
20:30: Thermic Heated Socks and Dissent Labs socks (non-heated)
Stanley: The brand that invented the category! Only the best for Powell Movement listeners. Check out Stanley1913.com
Best Day Brewing: All of the flavor of your favorite IPA or Kolsch, without the alcohol, the calories and sugar.
23:30: University of Colorado and NIL, how Bob Beattie changes things, 1964 Olympic injury, losing Buddy Werner (the best American Ski Racer ever), getting fired from the US Team, K2, and The Performers
42:00: Elan Skis: Over 75 years of innovation that makes you better.
Outdoor Research: Click here for 25% off Outdoor Research products (not valid on sale items or pro products)
44:00: Sleaze, and putting the Mahre Brothers on K2, Goerge Torme, Bode Miller, and rockered skis
81:00: Inappropriate Questions
Alexandra Armstong, better known as Army, has had one of the longest runways to making her pro skier dreams come true of any athlete I’ve had on the show. She has done every job in the industry, from working the shop floor to coaching, patrolling, flow riding to pro, and she’s dirtbagged it most of her way to the top. While she didn’t get paid to ski for cameras until she was 27, Army is making the most of her time in the spotlight filming with outfits like the Blank Collective and Teton Gravity Research. As a special bonus, we get Alex’s sock sponsor and new Powell Movement sponsor, Josh Hall, the founder of Dissent Labs, to talk about Whistler in the early 90s, founding a sock brand. Then Josh asks inappropriate questions provided by Blank’s Alexi Godbout and Emily Childs from The Blondes.
Alex Armstrong Show Notes:
4:00: Her truck nightmare, Cozy or Die, Mont Ste Marie, ski racing, making the regional ski team, Chile changes her life, quitting racing, who was she in HS, coaching, knee injury, tree planting, and moving out west
23:00: Thermic Heated Socks and Dissent Labs socks (non-heated)
Stanley: The brand that invented the category! Only the best for Powell Movement listeners. Check out Stanley1913.com
Best Day Brewing: All of the flavor of your favorite IPA or Kolsch, without the alcohol, the calories and sugar.
26:00: All things Ski patrol, crashing into sponsorship, filming with Lindsey Dyer, her movie Army, and selling herself to TNF
44:00: Elan Skis: Over 75 years of innovation that makes you better.
Outdoor Research: Click here for 25% off Outdoor Research products (not valid on sale items or pro products)
46:00: Proving it in Island Lake, exploding her knee, sponsors, moving to Whistler, and Skier Rich
60:00: Blank Collective, gender in the industry, TGR, Alaska, and best trip ever
69:00: Josh Hall Mini View
85:00: Inappropriate Questions with Josh Hall, Alexi Godbout, and Emily Childs