Griffin Post was born into the ski industry. His dad was an executive with some big brands, ultimately running Smith, and wanting a young Griff to be anything but, a pro skier. That said, there was no special treatment for Griffin and he almost didn’t make it. A chance trip and win at the US Extremes took Griffin away from utilizing his MBA and working his way into the world of TGR. Hear Griffin’s unique path to pro skiing on the podcast.
Griffin Post Show Notes:
6:00: X-Games Gold Medalist, growing up in Austria, and settling in Sun Valley
11:00: Ski racing, the new school, powder days, kind of straight edge as a youth, and his first avalanche at 16
20:00: Stanley: Get 30% off sitewide with the code drinkfast
Dragon: Their glasses FLOAT, use the code Powell15 to save 15 %
10 Barrel Brewery: Buy their beers, they support action sports more than anyone
22:00: Challenges at Bowdoin, transferring to Denver, skier cross, and getting his MBA
31:00: The life changing US Extremes, does his dad help, and what would the real world have looked like?
39:00: Subaru events, and meeting me while he was dirtbagging it in Chile
41:30: Peter Glenn Ski and Sports:
Alpine Vans: Upgrade your adventure, Upgrade your life
Rollerblade: Find out all about the award-winning Skate to Ski program
44:00: The cost of The Freeride World Tour, his role with Kastle, sponsors, and becoming financially stable in life through skiing
51:00: It’s all work ethic, not marketability, panic at the Verbier event, and being lucky to walk away from it
58:00: Moving to Jackson to hopefully film with TGR, getting some help from Smith (not his Dad though), and his first day filming with TGR
63:00: Inappropriate Questions with Todd Ligare
Dan Egan is a Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame Member and living legend with a ton of stories to tell. In round two of his podcast, he tells the story that almost killed him, what it took to survive and how it changed his life forever. There were 15 people that didn’t make it out and Dan tells the tale. We finish things off with my complaints about the Ski and Snowboard HOF that Dan is currently the face of.
Dan Egan Show Notes:
6:00: OR Show, Dan’s summer, and his book
9:00: What is Degree7, Patrick Vallecant, why the trip to Mount Elbrus
14:00: Arriving in Paris and realizing this is a crazy idea, a massive group, and being watched in Russia
17:00: The creepy phone call, why so many die on Elbrus, vacation mentality, Allah doesn’t like May Day, the differences between Dan and John, and forgetting gear
24:30: Stanley: Get 30% off site wide with the code drinkfast
Dragon: Their glasses FLOAT, use the code Powell15 to save 15 %
10 Barrel Brewery: Buy their beers, they support action sports more than anyone
27:00: Why a short acclimatization process, John and Tom aren’t going to push for the summit, losing his climbing partner, and turnaround time
31:00: Taking his pack off for the summit push, making it in a blizzard, decision making in altitude, and meeting Sasha
35:00: Joining the Russians, spending the night on the mountain, his white light moment, Sasha saves the day again, and fighting for rope, and leaving the group
45:30: Peter Glenn Ski and Sports:
Alpine Vans: Upgrade your adventure, Upgrade your life
Rollerblade: Find out all about the award-winning Skate to Ski program
48:00: Who was Sasha, how many people die on the mountain that day, getting out of Russia, medical issues and fights in France, and the trip that never ends
56:00: My problems with the Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and our discussion about it. (I know Terje is not from the US and should not be in the conversation)
68:00: Inappropriate Questions with Roy Tuscany
While a lot of people know Skogen Sprang as the US Freeski Slopestyle Coach, before he held that title, he was one of the sport's true innovators, bringing new tricks and a snowboard style to the table. On the podcast we talk about doing every action sport as a kid, turning his pro snowboard dreams into a pro ski career, innovation, his prolific 2000 year, the injury, and what it took to come back. Don’t miss this one.
Skogen Sprang Show Notes:
3:00: Olympics, growing up in the bay, soccer, and skateboarding
11:00: Skiing, snowboarding gear, inline skating, and mountain biking
17:00: The culture of sport, switching to snowboarding, and quitting soccer
22:00: Stanley: Get 30% off site wide with the code drinkfast
Dragon: Their glasses FLOAT, use the code Powell15 to save 15 %
10 Barrel Brewery: Buy their beers, they support action sports more than anyone
24:45: Wanting to be a sponsored snowboarder, his parent’s reaction, and his crew
28:00: The influence of Troy, switching to skiing, instant progression, Constantine and his Chapter 3 Part
35:00: Vision of being a pro in both, Line Skis, and Poor Boyz Productions
42:00: Peter Glenn Ski and Sports:
Alpine Vans: Upgrade your adventure, Upgrade your life
Rollerblade: Find out all about the award-winning Skate to Ski program
44:00: MSP, McConkey and the crazy year that 2000 was: Covers, tricks, contests, and the injury that threatens to end it all
64:00: Inappropriate Questions with Shane Anderson
Chris Engelsman, aka ETree, is one of the tallest snowboarders of his generation and a master of riding switch. He was one of those snowboarder entrepreneurs who was always starting brands and projects like Elevation Snowboards and Robot Food. On the podcast, we talk about his career, QI, Clicker, and inventing the backside Rodeo. It’s another good one.
Chris Engelsman Show Notes:
3:00: Photo shoot mishaps, Michigan, Snurfers, and ski family
8:00: Sports, snowboarding, contests, Hood, and Windell’s,
15:00: Western State, Crested Butte, evolution of big mountain riding, and his crew
21:00: Stanley: Get 30% off site wide with the code drinkfast
Alpine Vans: Upgrade your adventure, Upgrade your life
10 Barrel Brewery: Buy their beers, they support action sports more than anyone
24:00: QI Snowboards, Alaska in 94, K2 Clicker, and Standard Films
31:00: Old video parts, money, dropping out of school, and switch riding
38:00: Contests, X Games, and the backside rodeo
42:00: Peter Glenn Ski and Sports
Rollerblade: Find out all about the award-winning Skate to Ski program
44:00: Leaving K2, starting Elevation Snowboards, and Robot Food
53:00: The end of being pro, selling printer cartridges, Snowboarder Magazine, TGR, and where is he now
61:00: Inappropriate Questions
Growing up in Park City, Todd Ligare’s life was based around ski racing and making the US Ski Team. As a teenager, he started traveling the world and after a decade of racing and travel, Todd got slower and while he still earned a scholarship to ski race in college, his race dream had now turned into the Tangerine Dream, he wanted to ski for the biggest cameras of all over at TGR. This podcast is another lesson in making things happen for you through hard work and hustle.
Todd Ligare Show Notes:
3:00: Last name, having older brothers, growing up in Park City, and a family of skiers
8:00: Ski programs, other sports, when does skiing get serious, and how much did he ski
12:00: "I Ride Park City", who is his crew, race sponsorship, The Winter Sports School
21:00: Stanley: Get 30% off sitewide with the code drinkfast
Alpine Vans: Upgrade your adventure, Upgrade your life
10 Barrel Brewery: Buy their beers, they support action sports more than anyone
24:00: Tanner Hall, weed, his look, music, Michael Jordan, and The US Team
30:00: Subsidized by the US Team, traveling the world solo, and dirtbagging it
35:00: Partying on planes, racing hurt, frustration, and college scholarship
42:00: Peter Glenn Ski and Sports
Alpine Vans: Upgrade your adventure, Upgrade your life
Rollerblade: Find out all about the award-winning Skate to Ski program
44:15: Dynastar, networking, strategies to get noticed, and first shoot with TGR
53:00: Atomic, Armada, and Amer buys Armada
56:30: Sponsorship, money, and what’s the future look like
68:00: Inappropriate Questions with Griffin Post