Sponsored: The Stories Behind The Skiers

On this episode of the "Sponsored" podcast, Glen Plake comes on for part two, recorded just after the 2016 presidential election. Plake discusses the election with host Mike Powell. "We've had all these baby boomer presidents for years and years. They were born during the highest times of prosperity. Sex, drugs, and rock n' roll and hippies and women's rights and all this social stuff and all their agends have been played out. And yet, The Gen X's were born with divorce and energy crisis and all these kind of leftover shit. Whatever." The two also discuss his diamond-studded tooth ("It was not a bling tooth, it was a pirate tooth!"), the intracacies of his mohawk, and his grassroots career in the face of a digital world. "I'm old school, hand in hand, and I love that," says Plake. "I meet so many people that say they are my fans and I tell everybody, I might only have 10 to 15,000 followers, but I tell you what, you call one right now, tell them you have a dead battery, and they'll be on their way." P

This week on the "Sponsored" podcast, Mike Douglas tells his story, including the time he first went skiing—on a school trip when he was in the fifth grade, at Vancouver Island's Mount Washington. "We went up there and felt that sensation of sliding on snow and the adventure that came with that, cruising down this forested run, I did this big long turn wondering what was coming up around the corner thinking, 'This is the coolest thing ever.'" Pretty much from that first day, that was the ultimate, and that's all I wanted to do." Show Notes: 1:30: Film Festivals and ‘Guilt Trip’ 3:30 Climate Change 4:40: Growing up and getting into skiing 10:00: The progression of his ski career 14:00: Not going back to school 19:36: The beginning of the New School 22:00: We need new gear 30:08: Technology now matches what snowboarding has 33:45: Product development involvement over the years 36:27: Salomon Freeski TV

On this episode of the "Sponsored" podcast, host Mike Powell interviews top big-mountain skier Hadley Hammer. A Jackson Hole local, Hammer stands out for her intelligence and ability to drop massive cliffs effortlessly. A Jackson Hole local, Hammer stands out for her intelligence and ability to drop massive cliffs effortlessly. The two discuss her background, how she made it as a skier, and the difference in being a female professional skier. "I think it's way easier to be a female in action sports," says Hammer. "When you really think about it, they're aren't that many girls out there. There are maybe 10 that can really crush. My bigger concern is, where are all the girls coming up?" Hadley Hammer Show Notes 1:00: Running Marathons 2:25: Growing up in Jackson Hole 7:30 New Hampshire 11:00: Working as an 8 year old 12:00 Washington DC 14:00: Back to the mountains 16:00: Taking Skiing more seriously and breaking her back, then what happens? 17:30: Competing 26:44: Transitioning to filming

On this episode of the "Sponsored" podcast, presented by Powder Radio, host Mike Powell interviews Greg Stump, who is among the most influential people in skiing ever. The man behind Maltese Flamingo, Blizzard of Aahhh's, and other classics, Stump changed the way ski movies look, feel, and sound. Stump talks about his growth as a skier and then as a filmmaker, shooting Scot Schmidt, Mike Hattrup, and Glen Plake, who was always pushing the boundaries of, well, everything. Show Notes 2:27: Getting into skiing 4:35: Hotdogging and winning competitions 5:44: Sponsors 6:54: Partying during the ski days 7:50: Skiing in for Barrymore and Miller 10:53: Why make your own movies? 13:04: Afraid of Plake 17:30: Blizzard and money 20:30: POV Camera’s 24:34: Lucas Nelson 25:39: Tony Hawk 28:12: What’s next

On this episode of the "Sponsored" podcast, presented by Powder Radio, host Mike Powell interviews Cody Townsend, who was fresh off a "jungle skiing" shoot as the stunt double for Vin Diesel. Townsend talks about how, as a kid, he followed the stars of Squaw, like Shane McConkey, JT Holmes, and Kent Kreitler, until they let them ski with him. "I literally would tail them, two or three chairs behind them, and follow them around," says Townsend. "I remember I had a pair of GS skis, and I bent up the tails with irons so that i had my first pair of twin-tips, and those guys are on fat skis on a pow day, ripping turns, and skiing lines and I would just straightline everything because I had such skinny skis on, to try to keep up with them. Eventually, that day, JT came up to me and was like, 'Dude, you got to get some fat skis.' The rest is history. JT and Kreitler took me under their wing." Townsend is also candid about his setbacks and doubt of fulfilling his dream. "I remember going to Shane McConkey'

Glen Plake, the most recognizable skier ever, is still punk. Despite the fame and his perspective on skiing is still humble, interesting, refreshing, and honest. On this episode of Powder Radio's "Sponsored" podcast, the first in a three-part series with Plake, he tells host Mike Powell talks about the influence of the hot-dogging era, and the loss it represented to skiing, when an over-litigious society destroyed it. "All the innocence and freewheeling spirit of skiing was basically ripped out from it it and basically goes into this stagnant, awful world or interpretation, unfortunately, we're still in," says Plake. "We chipped at the foundation but haven't made a big difference." Plake also recognizes the influence of that era, especially Bobbie Burns. He thinks nothing happening today is as original. "I have a hard time thinking that I started anything. I was just another link in the chain," says Plake. "I really don't think anything Tanner did was revolutionary, I don't think anything going on today

Sammy Carlson's start began with a fateful powder day in which he missed a ski training on Mount Hood. On this episode of the "Sponsored" podcast, presented by Powder Radio, Carlson tells host Mike Powell that after he missed the training, his coaches wouldn't let him ski in a big race. So he and a buddy hiked over the backside of the hill where the park was. "We were sitting in the trees, watching, and we saw [Eric] Pollard roll through with a couple buddies and it was slow motion the way he made it look. We were blown away," says Carlson. "We followed him down and shadowed him for a couple laps and we both just decided, alright, we’re done racing. That’s when it started." Carlson also talks about how, after his sponsorship with APO skis dissolved, he cold-called Armada simply looking for a pair of new skis. “I didn’t think I would make it this far as a pro skier. I’m just going to call Armada and hope that I have the relationship in the ski industry where I can at least get some free skis from th

On this episode of the "Sponsored" podcast, presented by Powder Radio, host Mike Powell interviews Kent Kreitler, one of the pioneers of skiing in the 1990s. The two discuss his college roommate, Shane McConkey, the challenges of making it in skiing, and moving on from being a professional skier. "When I was younger I was very unafraid and very passion driven and really I loved all the middle and early parts of my career because they were so explorative. One of the biggest thrills for me was being a pioneer," says Kreitler. "Everything you did, going to Alaska, New Zealand, going to mountain ranges that people had never skied before. So I absolutely loved that. Doug [Coombs] had a weird accident where he slipped on some ice... I had been through a major injury, and I was like, 'What are my goals at this point? What have I achieved? And where do I take it from here? And there wasn't that much left for me at that time." Kent Kreitler Show Notes 2:30 From KC to NJ to SV 5:43: Race talent in SV 9:00:

On this episode of the "Sponsored" podcast, presented by Powder Radio, host Mike Powell interviews Michelle Parker, one of the most well-rounded skiers in the sport and an eternal optimist. "Skiing is the most fun thing in my life. It is my biggest passion. I love it so much," says Parker. "The second that it starts to become not fun, I'm doing something wrong and I need to reevaluate. My whole thing was no pressure, have fun with it, always smile." Parker retains her positivity despite the number of difficult injuries and tragedies she has experienced among her Lake Tahoe community. "I don't think it's normal for someone my age to have lost more people than I can count on both hands that I consider to be close to me," says Parker. "Every death I personally deal with it differently, and the most recent one that affected me super deeply was Timy Dutton, and he was my best friend since day one and we were like babies together and our moms were super close... I haven't had the nerve to delete his name

On this episode of the "Sponsored" podcast, presented by Powder Radio, host Mike Powell interviews Chris Benchetler, one of the most successful athletes in skiing, who is known for his style. The two discuss food, marriage, and tragedy. When Benchetler was 15, his dad died of cancer. "He was from Hungary and he never taught us Hungarian because he escaped during the revolution. He would be in crazy pain, and scared and sick and start talking to me in Hungarian and there was just a lot to deal with that I didn't quite know how," says Benchetler. "He was scared of dying and [Mom] was scared that she wasn't going to be able to take care of us financially. I had to grow up very quick. I dealt with a lot." Powell also discusses the keys to Benchetlers long and productive career. "It's a lot of who you know and the opportunities you can create for yourself and success comes from—you don't get what you don't ask for," says Benchetler. "If you put yourself out there a lot of times you'll surprise yourself.

On this episode of the "Sponsored" podcast, presented by Powder Radio, host Mike Powell interviews Colby James West. West and Powell discuss West's career arc. Now out of skiing, West is looking for acting and voice work in Los Angeles, while experimenting with drift car racing. "I’m going to figure out my own way to do it," says West, "and I want to show how I can be unique and separate from that crowd.” Show Notes 1:25—East Coast skiing 3:00—High North Ski Camp 9:10—Getting his first sponsor 12:15—Leaving school to chase the dream 14:20—Rory Silva 16:00—Leaving for Volkl and arriving at a career 18:17—Competitions 23:56—CoreUPT 26:35—Kastle, the Olympics and 3 pro models 30:30—The end of a ski career 32:45—The talent of Colby West 34:45—How does he “make it” in Hollywood? For additional conversation with Colby West, the Inappropriate Questions Podcast is now available on thepowellmovement.com and android. Each week the guest on Sponsored will be asked three inappropriate questions from

On this special episode of the "Sponsored" podcast, presented by Powder Radio, host Mike Powell interviews Andy Mahre—who, alongside Seth Morrison, was recently let go from longtime sponsor K2. This summer, Mahre also had a baby with his new wife, Shannon, and he speaks openly about the context of K2's decision for both himself and the company. "The timing right now is not ideal," says Mahre, "but it is what it is." K2 has a history of letting go of legendary skiers, including Glen Plake, not to mention Andy's father and uncle, Steve and Phil Mahre, two of the best American ski racers of all time. Still, Andy Mahre handles the situation with grace and an understanding that, even if the brand felt like family, it's still just business Mahre also talks about skiing the national parks with POWDER's Monumental project. He is also candid about fatherhood. "It makes you feel like a real man... you're a real man doing cool stuff in the mountains, but create this new life and watch it grow and learn, it's pretty

On episode two of the "Sponsored" podcast, host Mike Powell interviews Wayne Wong—a legend of the hot dog skiing era. The two discuss skiing in the '70s, the Wongbanger, and skiing's role in creating the wet T-shirt contest. “The lifestyle, the energy in skiing… I think that the wet t-shirt contest became really synonymous with hot-dog skiing and skiing,” says Wong. Wayne Wong Show Notes 1:28 Wayne explains the history of the Wongbanger 2:10 Wayne’s inspiration 4:20 What was the vibe of the scene in the 70’s? 7:23 Did Wayne think he could turn skiing into a career? 9:36 1972 Freestyle Skier of the Year 10:32 The image of Wayne Wong 12:15 Wayne is squeaky clean 12:40 Tell us some crazy stories from that time 14:05 Stanley Larsen, 1970’s K2 Demonstration Team with Wayne, a guy who just said yes and lives to tell us a little about it. 20:05 More crazy stories from Wayne 22:40 Summer ski camps and Wayne’s real claim to fame 25:07 Yellowstone Club Experience, yellowstoneclub.com 27:31 How does Wayne feel abou

On episode one of Sponsored, host Mike Powell interviews Sean Pettit—a professional skier since age 12. The two discuss the sacrifices his mother made to ensure he and brother Callum could ski, their path as professional skiers, and the finer details of having an agent and sponsors.