The Powell Movement Action Sports Podcast

Ben Weis has lived a rollercoaster of a life so far and he’s not even 40.  Ben came up in a dysfunction family in Minnesota, didn’t have the money to play hockey and ended up finding rollerblading.  In just three quick years he went pro in a sport where there was no money.  So contest winnings went into backing drug deals, they went bad, and Ben found himself a heroin addict/criminal who was in and out of prison.  He’s been out for a month, he’s clean, and this tale is a must listen.  Ben Weis Show Notes: 2:00:  Austin, MN, no dad, and sports 7:30:  Skating, college, and world championships 12:00:  The Ben Weis Show style of skating, getting on K2, and pain tolerance     22:30:  Stanley:  Get 30% off site wide with the code tpm30 Evo:  The best online experience in action sports with retail to back it up 24:15:  Weed, tour, and covers/video parts 29:00:  The bottom falling out of the sport, Amsterdam, and traveling broke 36:00:  Drugs, getting dropped, and devoting all his time to selling drugs 40:00:  Spy Op

Tricia Byrnes is on the podcast this week…. she’s a wealth of knowledge and a fun interview.  Tricia’s known for her competitive days, she was on the contest circuit for 20 years but these days, she’s organizing the contests and making sure she helps pave the way for the future of the sport.  We talk about her life and times on and off the podium, the future of the sport and some great old stories.     Tricia Byrnes Show Notes: 2:00:  Dick Byrnes, partying, and growing up rich 6:00:  Wanting to be an Olympian, skiing, and snowboarding 12:00:  All disciplines, The US Open, and high school 16:00:  Sims and parents 19:00:  Stanley:  Get 30% off site wide with the code powell30 Evo:  The best online experience in action sports with retail to back it up 21:00:  Winning The Open, College, and Rossi 27:00:  Sponsors, Olympics, and X Games 33:00:  Not making the team, making the team… losing sponsors and her brother 29:00:  Plake, Afterglow and, product design 39:00:  Spy Optic:  Get 20% off on their site Spyoptic.co

Pep Fujas is arguably one of the most influential skiers of our time, I’ve had so many guests bring him up on the show as the person they looked up to.  Known for his style, Pep has always seen terrain differently, which has always shown in his skiing.  On the podcast we talk about growing up in a yurt, contests, Tanner, Plake, Afterglow, K2, and his new venture WNDR Alpine.  It’s a do not miss episode with a legend. Pep Fujas Show Notes: 2:00:  Growing up Pep, getting into skiing and other sports 8:00:  Going to a ski academy, mogul skiing, and freeskiing 12:00:  Pep’s inspirations, sponsors, and his first pro model 17:15:  Nimbus, no poles and X Games 22:00:  Stanley:  Get 30% off site wide with the code powell30 Evo:  The best online experience in action sports with retail to back it up 23:45:  1242, Tanner, and health 29:00: Plake, Afterglow and, product design  39:30:  Spy Optic:  Get 20% off on their site Spyoptic.com using the code TPM20 10 Barrel Brewery:  Buy their beers, they support action sports m

This week’s podcast is based around two mountain bike events in Prineville, Oregon, Black Sage and Proving Grounds.  Some of the best riders in the world converge upon this mecca of jumps and features and destroy them. The podcast is a mix of 15 interviews with athletes and insiders and 10 unforgettable minutes talking to Micah Black at Greg Stump’s house. Black Sage/Proving Grounds Show Notes: 2:30:  Road trip, arrival and Andy Goggins 5:40:  Carson Storch 7:30:  Ryan Runke 8:45:  Andy Parry 10:00: Casey Brown 12:00:  Tyler Bereman 14:00:  Bas van Steenbergen 16:00:  Jordie Lunn  18:30:  Stanley:  Get 30% off site wide with the code powell30 Evo:  The best online experience in action sports with retail to back it up 20:13:  My experience with ski film legend, Greg Stump 23:00:  Micah Black 34:00:  Tyler McCaul, and Dusty Wygle 36:45:  Bienvenido Augado 39:00:  Spy Optic:  Get 20% off on their site Spyoptic.com using the code TPM20 10 Barrel Brewery:  Buy their beers, they support action sports more than anyo

Jeff Galbraith is a writer stuck in a publisher’s office.   He’s also a dude with more history in snowboarding media than almost anyone and he is one of the last independent publishers in the world of snow focused print.  On the podcast we talk about his long career, the personalities, the magazines he’s worked for, created, and a lot more good stuff.  Jeff Galbraith Show Notes: 1:30:   Nickname the Walrus and growing up in Everett 4:10:  Writing, sports, and music 7:00:  His intro to snowboarding, college, and interning 15:00:  Getting his foot in the door at Snowboarder Magazine and working in WA then CA 21 :45:  Stanley:  Get 30% off site wide with the code powell30 Evo:  The best online experience in action sports with retail to back it up 23:30:  The Olympics, travel, and what work life is like at Snowboarder 32:00:  Jessi Lu, Frequency, and publishing 41:00:  Spy Optic:  Get 20% off on their site Spyoptic.com using the code TPM20 10 Barrel Brewery:  Buy their beers, they support action sports more than

Scotty Bob Morgan is different than most athletes I’ve had on the show.  His focus on Proximity Flying, one of the most high-risk activities on the planet, creates a life that is different than your traditional action sports athlete.  There are no huge paydays, organized ways to get exposure, or even a good way to learn.  You need a heavy dose of sky, BASE, and wingsuit experience combined with huge balls in order to live to tell these tales.  With a background as a combat photographer and dude that jumps off of everything, Scotty Bob has both.  He’s not a household name, but that doesn’t matter, he’s a badass who does crazy shit and is looked at as an innovator in his sport. Scotty Bob Show Notes: 1:30:  Trip report and getting married 5:00:  Growing up  a normal military brat, high school, and the marines 9:00:  Jump School, Iraq, and coming home to skydive 15:00: 2nd tour of duty and Lauterbrunnen 17:45:  Stanley:  Get 30% off site wide with the code powell30 Evo:  The best online experience in action spor

Chris Coté is an Action Sports Personality, a known entity in the world surf, skate, and snow.  He had a short pro career, realized he was never going to be the best, and worked his way into a long career behind the scenes in the surf industry.  Along the way, he’s toured with Blink 182, traveled the world, partied, broadcast some insane events, and cleaned his life up.  It’s an interesting and entertaining story.   Chris Coté Show Notes: 3:00:  Internet hate and childhood 7:00:  Growing up, skating, surfing and team sports 14:00:  Music, getting sponsored, and being a Team Manager 19:30:  Drum teching for Blink 182  22:15:  Stanley:  Get 30% off site wide with the code powell30 Evo:  The best online experience in action sports with retail to back it up 24:00:  Going on tour with Blink 182/Green Day and the “Riding In Vans With Boys” movie 30:00:  Transworld Surf for 13 years, Fuel TV and losing both 41:00  Spy Optic:  Get 20% off on their site Spyoptic.com using the code TPM20 10 Barrel Brewery:  Buy their b

Todd Barber is an events guy.  He's spent his life being the man behind the scenes for more than 100 events.  And, he's known for being the guy who helped concept and deliver the best action sports event of our time, Red Bull Rampage.  On the podcast we talk about coming up on snow, getting into events and of course, a lot of talk about the ins and outs of Rampage.  It’s a business episode and another good one.  Todd Barber Show Notes: 1:15:  Whistler and his Proving Grounds event 9:00:  Rampage site options, coming up in California, and music 13:00:  University of Colorado, early jobs with the Dali Lama and meeting Red Bull 18:15:  Stanley:  Get 30% off site wide with the code powell30 Evo:  The best online experience in action sports with retail to back it up 20:00:  Making his way in freeride, Rampage ideation, and planning for pain. 28:00:  Rampage Hiatus, finding a new spot, and building featured 33:30:  Prize money and H5 Events 38:15:  Spy Optic:  Get 20% off on their site Spyoptic.com using the code T

Steve Buckhantz, or as I like to call him, Uncle Steven, is a legend in the world of Washington DC sports broadcasters.  He’s won Emmy Awards, was the voice of the Washington Wizards for the past 22 years, was inducted into the DC Sports Hall of Fame, the list goes on and on.  His work speaks for itself, but in the world of business, that doesn’t matter.  Weeks ago, the Washington Wizards parted ways with their longtime, hometown, announcer, in the worst way possible.  We talk about his long career, Michael Jordan and more.  It’s an interesting one.  Steve Buckhantz Show Notes: 2:00:  Eagles, Redskins and Football 8:22:  When did he realize he wanted to be a broadcaster, manual labor, and U of M/JMU 13:00:  Getting on the radio, then TV and internships 22:00:  Chattanooga and Nashville 25:45:  Stanley:  Get 30% off site wide with the code powell30 Evo:  The best online experience in action sports with retail to back it up 27:30:  What was life like for a young Buckhantz, Atlanta and coming to DC 31:45:  Locke

Parker White is one of the most creative, stylish skiers out there today.  He’s known for his Level 1 Segments, his friendship with Darkness, and the style he brings to the backcountry.  He’s one of the more likeable people in skiing and while he’s only 28, he grew up fast in the ski world, moving from the East Coast to Mammoth at an age when most people are thinking about getting a driver’s license.  He’s also started brands, developed a line of skis and a whole lot more. Parker White Show Notes: 2:00: Sean Decke, Stunt Man and family of athletes    8:22:  Vermont, Ski racing, and getting twin tips/Wicked 12:00:  Chris Logan, Mt Snow, Vice’s and contests 20:00:  Stanley:  Get 30% off site wide with the code powell30 Evo:  The best online experience in action sports with retail to back it up 21:30:  Style, being found, and Level 1 26:00:  Leaving home, Hood, and Monster 30:00:  After Dark, stepping up his game, and The Big Picture 38:00:  Money, Sponsors, and 40:30  Spy Optic:  Get 20% off on their site Spyop

2005 Transworld Snowboarding ‘Rider of the Year’ Chad Otterstrom is on the podcast.  When you win an award like that in 2005 and you’re a guest on a podcast, it’s usually a 'where are they now'.  That's not the case with Chad.  His pro shred career is still going and now, he’s a brand owner living that desk jockey life, all while remaining a pro rider. Chad Otterstrom Show Notes: 2:00: How long has he been riding and crazy birthdays    5:31: Minnesota, scars, and ski family 7:25: Switching to snowboarding, high school, and ADD 10:00:  Mountains of Midwest and Kingpin Snowboards 17:00:  Stanley:  Get 30% off site wide with the code powell30 Evo:  The best online experience in action sports with retail to back it up 18:30:   Moving to Colorado, early snow safety, and contests 23:00:  High Cascade shaping his career, video parts v contests, and The Hellcats crew 26:00:  The Revival and Technical Difficulties year, and money 31:00:  Getting a lot of days, ADD-boarding, and the Olympics 34:30:  Doping control 37:3

It’s summertime and in the snow world, that means summer camp.  This week I headed down to Windell’s Camp in Oregon to catch up with longtime camp veteran and TGR athlete Tim Durtschi.  On the podcast, we walk through Tim’s life and times.  Tim is one of those dudes that has no media training and is not afraid to answer anything which makes for an entertaining show and the “Inappropriate Questions” with Andy Parry may be the best yet. Tim Durtschi Show Notes: 2:00: Summer Camp, Kai Jones, and big nights 5:41:  Ski family, racing, and finding twin tips 13:00:  moving, divorce, and competing  15:15:  Filming with Rage, Pete Alport, and Poor Boyz 18:30:  Stanley:  Get 30% off site wide with the code powell30 Evo:  The best online experience in action sports with retail to back it up 20:15:  Sponsors, Saga, and money 28:00:  Competing, Chad’s, and learning tricks 34:00:  Phone hack, 2013 Powder Awards, and X Games 38:00  Spy Optic:  Get 20% off on their site Spyoptic.com using the code TPM20 10 Barrel Brewery:  B

Thomas Vanderham is a living legend in the world of freeride mountain biking and he’s a guy that doesn’t do many interviews.  Over the past 20 years, he’s let his riding do the talking and his riding has said a lot.  I was lucky to get an hour with Thomas to walk through his career, that started when he was just 15 years old.  We talk about how things came into place for Thomas, sponsor changes, filming and a lot more.  It’s another do not miss episode. Thomas Vanderham Show Notes: 2:00: Return to Earth Movie (comes out this week on itunes) and change in movies and social 9:00:  Growing up in Edmonton, finding biking, and team sports 12:30:  Moving to Vancouver, meeting people, and getting sponsored 18:30:  Stanley:  Get 30% off site wide with the code powell30 Evo:  The best online experience in action sports with retail to back it up 20:00:  Starting to film, high school, and travel 26:30:  Rampage, leaving Rocky Mountain, and going to Evil 36:30:  Product development, and the science of building lines 38:4

Todd Richards has done everything.  He’s a two-time X Games Gold Medalist in the halfpipe, he has hardware from slopestyle competition as well, and he’s pretty much the voice of board sports.  The funny thing is, he never really achieved the dream of being a pro skater and he had to settle for snowboarding.  The history, insight, and stories that Todd brings to the table are awesome and it’s another entertaining show.  Todd Richards Show Notes: 2:00: Todd and Chris Coté’s Podcast and Paxton, MA as an only child 6:00:  Getting the nickname Toddler and being shoved in a locker 11:30:  Finding punk rock, skateboarding and dropping in on the Putnam Ramp 19:00:  Stanley:  Get 30% off site wide with the code powell30 Evo:  The best online experience in action sports with retail to back it up 20:30:  Finding snowboarding through Thrasher, his college scholarship, and getting metal edges 25:00:  Funky snowboards, Brushie, and getting on Sims 36:00:  The trip when he became a name, traveling and the US Open. 40:00:  S

Saying Fabiola da Silva is the best, and most underappreciated female athlete of our time is a bold statement…but it’s one that I fully believe.  I can’t think of another case in sport where a woman was so dominant in her field,  that the sport’s organizing body decided to cancel the woman’s event and have the women (Fabiola) compete against the men...And Fabiola did not disappoint, standing on the podium with her peers at some of the biggest events in the world.  Fabiola da Silva Show Notes: 1:30:  Life at Cedar Point Amusement Park and Cross Fit 8:00:  Sao Paolo, kickboxing, and meeting Chris Edwards and Arlo 14:00:  Coming to America at 16, the other girls and X-Games 18:30:  Stanley: Get 30% off site wide with the code powell30 Evo:  The best online experience in action sports with retail to back it up 20:15: Winning X and travel 25:00:  Getting second at X, sponsors, and financial advisers 28:00:  Gender, the Fabiola rule, and a bad year in 2003 36:00:  Winning Silver at Latin X Games (against the men) a

Casey Brown has one hell of a story.  This bad ass mountain biker’s life has been filled with twists and turns that I will not spoil in this intro.  I will say that Casey had an upbringing different than anyone’s that I have met in my life.  Based on all that Casey shares, you would think that she would have a totally different, maybe even strange personality.  I found none of that, what I did find was an amazing athlete who knows all about highs and lows.  It’s another incredible story. Casey Brown Show Notes: 1:30:  Traveling and growing up in Barn Bay, NZ 13:00:  Moving inland, learning to bike, divorce, and losing everything in a fire 21:15:  Stanley:  Get 30% off site wide with the code powell30 Evo:  The best online experience in action sports with retail to back it up 22:45: Leaving her mom, Revelstoke, and her first real bike 28:00:  The myth of her brother, skiing, and biking 32:40:  Crankworx at 16 38:15:  Spy Optic:  Get 20% off on their site Spyoptic.com using the code powell20 10 Barrel Brewery: 

Once labeled a ski model, Caroline Gleich’s path to becoming a respected ski mountaineer has been quite the climb.  From the billboards of Utah to the monsters of the Himalaya, there is no fear in this 5’1” ball of energy.  The podcast gives a little of Caroline’s backstory and then a lot about Everest.  It was a heavy year on the mountain and Caroline shares what she experienced.  It’s a real look into a world that most of us only read about and it’s a great listen.   Caroline Gleich Show Notes: 1:30:  Knee surgery (last week) recovery  5:00:  Her backstory (2017):  MN, Skiing, Utah, Kristin Ulmer, loss, photos, 2013, and challenges 20:15:  Stanley: Get 30% off site wide with the code powell30 Evo:  The best online experience in action sports with retail to back it up 21:30:  Her insane 2018 (72 peaks), peaks she is proud of and proposing 28:00:  Deciding to go to Everest, the reason, the cost 38:00:  Spy Optic:  Get 20% off on their site Spyoptic.com using the code TPM20 10 Barrel Brewery:  Buy their beers,

Rusty Malinoski, aka The Bone Crusher, is a World Champion Wakeboarder living the Canadian/American dream.  He’s got the house, the truck, the family, the CrossFit business and life is in a good place.  But it hasn’t always been that way.  On the podcast, we talk about being forced to enter the working world earlier than expected, moving to Florida with nothing more than talent, work ethic and a belief that he would make it, his long pro career, and a crazy road rage incident.  Rusty Malinoski Show Notes: 1:30:  Being intimidating and road rage 10:00:  Humboldt Canada, wakeboarding, and snow 18:45:  Stanley:  Get 30% off site wide with the code powell30 Evo:  Seattle, Portland, Denver, Whistler, and the interwebs 20:00:  Getting kicked out of HS, working, and confidence 23:30:  Going to Florida to make the dream happen 27:00:  Getting paid, the best in the sport and Spence Bangaway:15:  The younger wilder days, 22:30:  The bikes in the 80’s, and Craig Kelly 34:00:  Getting on the Burton Team, filming with Chr

Brett Tippie is a living legend.  He’s one of the influential pioneers of freeride mountain biking, he was the first to absolutely send it on a bike, ride insane lines, and became the face of a sport.  On the podcast we talk about being a pro snowboarder on Burton’s pro team, some amazing Craig Kelly stories, bikes, partying too hard, and coming back from that to sponsors and emcee gigs.  This is a funny history lesson that you do not want to miss.   Brett Tippie Show Notes: 1:30:  Traveling family man, meeting at Rampage 5:00:  Growing up moving, settling in Kamloops, and First Nation 11:00:  Football, School, and snowboarding 17:00:  Warren Miller and biking 21:00:  Stanley:  Get 30% off site wide with the code powell30 Evo:  The best online experience in action sports with retail to back it up 22:30:  The bikes in the 80’s, and Craig Kelly 34:00:  Getting on the Burton Team, filming with Christian Begin, and Pulp Traction 45:00  Spy Optic:  Get 20% off on their site Spyoptic.com using the code TPM20 10 Bar

Cesar Mora was born to become a professional soccer player and he was on track to make that happen.  He moved from Australia to Spain and began training with Rayo Vallencano before visa issues forced him out of Spain. When he returned to Australia, he worked at a skateboard shop, found rollerblading, and within two years, was on top of the sport.  He dominated vert from 95 to 99 and then he broke his arm.  While Cesar continued to compete, he was never the same.  It’s an interesting story with one of the best. Cesar Mora Show Notes: 1:30:  Meeting each other and growing up in Australia 5:00:  Finding soccer, soccer gets serious, and training with Roye Vaccanno in Spain 12:00:  Moving back to Australia, school, and working at a skate shop 16:00:  Skating and being strong    19:00:  Stanley:  Get 30% off site wide with the code powell30 Evo:  The best online experience in action sports with retail to back it up RESQWATER (enter the code resqwatertpm for a 20% discount on a 12 pack) 21:30:  The Extreme Games, th