Last Chair: The Ski Utah Podcast

We’ve all fantasized about our trips to the mountain by poring over detailed trail maps, plotting out each run of our ski vacation. The man behind those maps, James Niehues, has become somewhat of a cult hero in the sport after three decades documenting hundreds of resorts worldwide, painting each and every tree and showcasing perspective to make mountains bigger than life. Last Chair caught up with him at his art studio to learn more about his fascinating career and new book, Man Behind the Maps.

VP of food and beverage at The Stein Eriksen Lodge, Zane Holmquist, grew up in Utah and enjoys serving guests in his dining room just as much as the mountains.

Big mountain snowboarder Jeremy Jones was saddened by the shortening of the season and receding glaciers. So he took action, starting Protect Our Winters in 2007. Jeremy joins Last Chair to talk about his life on snow and how POW has become a voice for systemic change in climate action.

Over the past two decades, Utah native Ted Ligety has hopscotched across five continents every year, collecting World Cup crystal globes and Olympic gold medals. This winter, he’s back home in Utah! Last Chair kicks off season three with an in-depth interview with Utah’s own Olympic champion.

As skiers, we all have a responsibility to be good stewards of the mountains we ride. Sustainability is vital for our future. David Perry, one the ski industry’s most knowledgeable advocates for preservation of our mountain resources, sees a true sustainable future - if we can all work together! Ski Utah’s Last Chair takes a look into our future and the vital steps we must take now.

A century ago Ogden was the crossroads of the west as a vital rail junction. Today, it’s revitalized as a ski town with 25th street downtown teeming with restaurants and bars, and the outdoor industry calling Ogden home. At the core of Ogden’s energization is Kym Buttschardt of Rooster’s Brewing Company, who lives and breathes her community.

A century and a half ago, Utah’s mountains were the home of boomtowns as silver mining flourished. Today, the same slopes that harbored valuable ore are the home of some of the worlds greatest ski resorts. In this episode of Last Chair, skier and mining historian Sandy Melville takes us on a virtual tour of the amazing mining structures that still exist at Park City Mountain.

The outdoor adventure clothing brand Stio has been showing up more and more at Utah ski resorts. Founder Steve ‘Sulli’ Sullivan grew up in neighboring Colorado but spent a lot of time in Utah’s red rock desert and snow-covered mountains. Today, he puts his passion for the mountain west into the fast-rising Stio brand. He spoke to Last Chair about his love for the outdoors and how it’s embodied in his brand.

Founded as a gymnastics camp in the hills of Pennsylvania a half century ago, today the Woodward brand is bringing progression in sport for kids of all ages to snow-covered mountains across America. Last Chair visited the new Woodward Park City to catch up with freestyle skate and snowboard legend Jeremy Jones, whose persona and sport background is a magnet for young athletes at the new action sports park.

Chris McCandless grew up in Little Cottonwood Canyon, dropping powder lines as a kid and hiking Mt. Superior in the summertime. It’s a place near and dear to his heart. Amidst a discussion on mountain transportation today, he has a vision - for a high speed gondola to whisk skiers up the canyon and help alleviate traffic on the dangerous canyon road below. Last Chair talks to Chris about his passion for Little Cottonwood and his concept for the future.