Arc City

Hold onto your biscuits! Dave Ryding, Britain’s pride of the FIS Alpine World Cup, visits Arc City (in person!) to talk about his inspiring World Cup victory, his tuning setup, plastic snow, his team dynamic, his newborn baby, his secret to staying young at age 36, his coach’s wild course set at Wengen, his hobbies outside skiing, some fun questions—from listeners like you—at the end, and much more (2:21). The History Nugget this week is about the development of binding safety (42:22).

Send questions, comments, and grievances to [email protected] or on Instagram @jimmy_who_ !

More info on arccity.org !

This podcast is presented by Stifel (Stifel.com) !

Our third season of Arc City opens with a fun, inspiring story about small-town ski racing. We meet Aaron Loukes and Marcus Corey, the high school and middle school coaches at Lin-Wood Public School in Lincoln, New Hampshire (1:54). They have a fantastic model for how to run an affordable public school race program. We discuss everything from the ski swap system in Marcus' attic that helps recycle ski equipment, to the town-owned Kanc Rope Tow, to the vibrant ski racing culture that has been cultivated in Lincoln. We also talk about the important relationships involved, like that of Loon Mountain Resort and the ski team, or that of second-home owners and locals. Marcus, who is also the chaplain at Loon Mountain, gives us a parting thought about the spirituality of skiing. The Skiing History Nugget this time is about the 1967 Cannon Mountain World Cup--the first race of its kind in North America (45:56).

(I know there are many schools and ski clubs doing similar things--I'd love to hear your stories! Send me a note at [email protected] or on Instagram, @jimmy_who_)

A conversation with President and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard marks Arc City’s return from summer break. Sophie Goldschmidt has a long, impressive resume in international sports and marketing, but ski racing is a brand new world for her. Goldschmidt tells us about her first year getting to know the sport, what her goals are, and what her understanding of the problems facing ski racing are. She also answers several specific questions, including former CEO Tiger Shaw’s role in the transition of power; the switch from Spyder apparel to the Italian brand Kappa; and staff changes—including the removal of longtime coach Forest Carey. After the interview, a little Skiing History nugget is included about Hedda Berntsen, the most versatile skier the snow sports world has seen (40:35).

Questions or comments are encouraged ! Send a note to [email protected] or on Instagram @jimmy_who_

More info on arccity.org

As the season comes to a close, River Radamus—a rising American GS star—and I talked shop (2:06). River is well-spoken and has some fascinating perspectives. First, we discuss the role media plays in Olympic ski racing. River tells a fun story about skiing on the same Olympic team as Mikaela Shiffrin. We also cover River’s source of motivation, his Olympic dreams, his hip-drags, and his theory—based on personal experience—about talent vs. hard work. He basically gives a pep-talk to young aspiring ski racers, and we end by talking about ARCO, the foundation he’s starting to tackle the rising cost problem in ski racing (follow him on Instagram @riverradamus to stay up to date). I end the episode by talking to the three sponsored D-Team racers who wore the Arc City sticker on their helmets this year (52:35).

Questions or comments are always welcome!

([email protected], arccity.org, or Instagram @jimmy_who_)

Luke Winters races tonight at the Olympics, and it is high time you learned his name and his story. He’s leading the charge for the American men’s slalom revival, but his path to the World Cup was a bit different than most. We talk about his upbringing, his ability to lay down fast runs on race day, his skill with heavy machinery, and the little details involved in skiing at a World Cup level. And, of course, we discuss the Olympics. After, I read a piece of mail (44:31), then I share a Skiing History Nugget about the transition away from amateurism in the Olympics, a very timely topic (45:27).

(Questions or comments: [email protected], arccity.org, or Instagram @jimmy_who_)

** This episode is brought to you by: GiveGo (Givego.io). Download GiveGo in the App Store and use the code ARCCITY for 50% your subscription! **

After suffering a brutal crash last year, Tommy Ford is back on skis and making GS arcs. So, to start we have Tommy actually describe what a World Cup arc feels like. Then, we get the official update on his recovery status and his timeline on return-to-racing. We talk about his personal journey from a young, energetic kid to the wiser, more balanced man he is now. Tommy is meticulous with his specific ski set-up, which we discuss. But we also go deeper into the mind and motivation of Tommy, revealing a true thinker—in turn, this episode may give you a lot to think about. After the interview, our Skiing History Nugget is back! The history of the ski base is much more interesting than you’d expect a flat piece of black stuff to be...

(Questions or comments: [email protected], on arccity.org, or Instagram @jimmy_who_)

** This episode is brought to you by: GiveGo (Givego.io). Download the GiveGo app and use the code ARCCITY for 50% off your subscription! **

If basketball fans know about Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, then ski racing fans absolutely need know about Tamara McKinney: the first American woman to win the World Cup Overall title, and the only, before Lindsey and Mikaela. First, we hear the story of McKinney's gold medal at the 1989 World Championships, a gripping, multifaceted tale full of life, and death. Then we talk about her ’84 Olympic performance that was defined by media hype—and McKinney uses her own experience to comment on that of Olympic champion Simone Biles’. McKinney talks briefly of her family’s move from Maryland to Nevada to pursue skiing and ultimately make the National Team at 14 years old. And finally, we discuss how McKinney is helping make skiing more affordable and accessible to anyone and everyone within a two hundred-mile radius of Reno (https://www.skytavern.org/).

(Questions, suggestions, grievances: [email protected], on arccity.org, or on Instagram @jimmy_who_)

**This episode is brought to you by GiveGo (Givego.io). Use code ARCCITY and get 50% off your subscription!**

(Warning: the crash that broke both Sam's legs will be described (at 5:43). Sam DuPratt (2:45) is a member of the US Ski Team's World Cup speed squad. Despite his horrific injury, Sam maintains a great sense of humor. We talk about everything from the psychology of major injuries, how to best tackle recovery, and some controversial ski technique theories (wait, the fast guys lean back?). Briefly, I ask Sam--who has skied on the National Team, in college, and independently--what the best route for developing athletes is. We close by discussing Sam's greatest fear. The Skiing History nugget this week is about the oldest skis ever found (48:19), and at the end, as always we read some mail (49:55).

(Questions, suggestions, and grievances to [email protected], to @jimmy_who_ on Instagram, or visit ArcCity.org for more information)

Well folks, this is a big one. Olympic champion, World Champion, and 69-time World Cup winner Mikaela Shiffrin gives us a chunk of her very-busy, Olympic-prepping schedule to talk over Zoom (2:34). First and importantly, we talk about the Jeff Shiffrin Athlete Resiliency Fund (keeptheflamealive.org), which gives direct aid to National Team athletes. The fund is named after Mikaela’s late father, and I ask her a bit about him. Then we try to figure out who Mikaela would be if she didn’t ski race, what it’s like being the person that’s supposed to win every single race, and how she handles the tightrope of social media. At the end, we have some fun with her boyfriend (and 2020 Overall Champion) Aleksander Kilde (37:35). We also get to ask him a couple serious questions, as he is coming back from his ACL tear and looking ahead to the Olympics. The Skiing History nugget this episode involves the surprisingly early invention of indoor skiing (49:07), and at the end, as always, we read the mail (52:22).

(Visit our website www.arccity.org for more info; send questions, suggestions and grievances to [email protected] or on Instagram to @jimmy_who_)

For this episode, a slight change of pace. Instead of an athlete, we talk to someone inside the ski industry (2:55). Jake Stevens spent six years running the North American Race Department at Rossignol Group, and now works at a higher, more general position in the company. He gives us his inside insights on everything from cutting-edge ski technologies to how a World Cup racer develops skis to the actual budgeting of a race department. After, we give two young racers, Doum Rainville and Cam Smith, a 5-minute call to hear about the company they founded called Thrival Muscle Recovery (45:10). Finally, as always, we read the mail (55:00).

(Check out our BRAND NEW website ArcCity.org !!)