The Backcountry Podcast

Kayla Lockhart is a professional fly fisherwoman and Backcountry Partner whose journey to the outdoor community certainly took some unexpected turns. Fishing served as a beacon of stability during her childhood in foster care, and adulthood presented her with unique opportunities that ultimately allowed her to chase her fly fishing dream. 

 Follow along to hear about Kayla’s adventures and her dream fish (or, as Nils would say, “white whale”). 

 Check out our Fly Fishing Guide: https://www.backcountry.com/campaign/fly-fishing-gear-guide
Check out The Mayfly Project: https://themayflyproject.com/
Check out the Native Fish Society: https://nativefishsociety.org 

Chapter Timestamps:   

0:00 – Intro 
0:54 – Moving To Colorado 
4:27 – Minnesota Upbringing 
5:36 – Foster Care & Fishing 
9:10 – The Mayfly Project 
14:57 – From The Midwest To Oregon 
21:15 – Steelhead & Salmon 
25:31 – Fly Fishing Content Creation 
28:27 – Medical Career 
34:20 – Transitioning To The Outdoor Industry 
38:49 – Native Fish Society 
41:05 – Dream Fish 
43:58 – Outro 

Check out the featured products here:  

Everything Redington: https://www.backcountry.com/redington
Everything Yakima: https://www.backcountry.com/yakima
Everything Bajio: https://www.backcountry.com/bajio
Everything Leatherman: https://www.backcountry.com/leatherman 

Everything Fly Fishing: https://www.backcountry.com/fly-fishing
Shop The World’s Biggest Gear Closet: https://www.backcountry.com/ 

#venturebeyond 

Connect with a Gearhead: Call 1-800-409-4502 or chat with us online.

What makes Backcountry the best place to gear up? One-on-one Gearhead expertise. The greatest selection of outdoor gear, apparel, and accessories out there. And the tools to elevate your entire outdoor experience, from training smarter and sending harder to toasting at après. Harnessing the insights of our Gearhead® Experts, we also build our own products for ski, camp, MTB, fly fish, and more pursuits, including exclusive collabs with industry leaders. Backcountry is the place to Venture Beyond.

Follow Along for More Content!

• Backcountry Bulletin
• YouTube
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Facebook
• Explore Blog

Kolin Powick knows about as much as anyone when it comes to cams, carabiners, and quickdraws because he’s a crucial part of climbing’s history. As the Director of Product at Black Diamond for over 20 years, he used his engineering experience to develop some of the most impactful climbing equipment of all time.  

 In this episode, Nils probes Kolin about the current state of climbing and the impact of indoor climbing on the greater community. The pair also dive into Black Diamond’s unlikely beginnings as a continuation of brand that stemmed from Patagonia’s founder, Yvon Chouinard. 

 Learn everything about the vertical world in our Climb Guide: https://www.backcountry.com/service/climbing-gear-guide 

Chapter Timestamps:   

0:00 – Intro 
1:14 – Climbing Roots In BC 
5:56 – Relocating To Salt Lake City 
8:52 – Getting Started At Black Diamond 
13:59 – Black Diamond History 
17:06 – QA & Product Development  
22:53 – R+D Influences 
28:28 – QC Lab Reports 
36:37 – Gym Climbing Influence 
41:28 – Trail Running Thoughts 
45:08 – Outro 

Check out the featured products here:  

 Black Diamond Camming Devices: https://www.backcountry.com/black-diamond-camming-devices
Black Diamond Quickdraws: https://www.backcountry.com/black-diamond-quickdraws
Black Diamond Chalk, Bags & Buckets: https://www.backcountry.com/black-diamond-chalk-chalk-bags-chalk-buckets 

Everything Black Diamond: https://www.backcountry.com/black-diamond 

Backcountry Climbing Gear & Apparel: https://www.backcountry.com/backcountry-climb
Everything Climb: https://www.backcountry.com/climb 

 Climbing Shoe Guide: https://www.backcountry.com/service/climb-shoe-guide 

 Shop The World’s Biggest Gear Closet: https://www.backcountry.com/  

#venturebeyond 

Connect with a Gearhead: Call 1-800-409-4502 or chat with us online.

What makes Backcountry the best place to gear up? One-on-one Gearhead expertise. The greatest selection of outdoor gear, apparel, and accessories out there. And the tools to elevate your entire outdoor experience, from training smarter and sending harder to toasting at après. Harnessing the insights of our Gearhead® Experts, we also build our own products for ski, camp, MTB, fly fish, and more pursuits, including exclusive collabs with industry leaders. Backcountry is the place to Venture Beyond.

Follow Along for More Content!

• Backcountry Bulletin
• YouTube
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Facebook
• Explore Blog

As a climbing athlete and a guide for She Moves Mountains, Maiza Lima is an established member of the climbing community whose story resonates with everyone she crosses paths with. Rock climbing became her ideal escape when navigating the hardships that come along with moving from Brazil to the US at seventeen years old.  

Nils and Maiza navigate challenging topics ranging from the expectations of the outdoor identity to the importance of investing in others. Maiza carries an authentic, determined spirit that she exemplifies in her passion for cultivating new beginnings—even if that means building a cabin from scratch on a Kentucky hillside.  

Learn everything about the vertical world in our Climb Guide

Chapter Timestamps:   

0:00 – Intro 
1:26 – Kentucky Cabin Project 
6:22 – Growing Up In Brazil 
9:29 – First Exposure To Climbing 
14:30 – The Outdoor Identity 
19:07 – Keys To Progression 
23:59 – Projects & Bouldering 
27:22 – Balance & Community 
33:47 – Climbing Magazine Cover 
39:48 – Importance Of Training 
44:15 – Longevity & Guiding 
49:26 – She Moves Mountains  
53:59 – Firefighting  
58:47 – What's Next 

Check out the featured products here:  

 Backcountry Climbing Gear & Apparel
Everything Climb
Climbing Shoe Guide
Shop The World’s Biggest Gear Closet

 #venturebeyond 

Connect with a Gearhead: Call 1-800-409-4502 or chat with us online.

What makes Backcountry the best place to gear up? One-on-one Gearhead expertise. The greatest selection of outdoor gear, apparel, and accessories out there. And the tools to elevate your entire outdoor experience, from training smarter and sending harder to toasting at après. Harnessing the insights of our Gearhead® Experts, we also build our own products for ski, camp, MTB, fly fish, and more pursuits, including exclusive collabs with industry leaders. Backcountry is the place to Venture Beyond.

Follow Along for More Content!

• Backcountry Bulletin
• YouTube
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Facebook
• Explore Blog

As the Executive Director of the American Avalanche Association, Jayne Nolan is a core community member in the backcountry skiing space. We’re honored to have Jayne on the podcast to discuss the Resilience Project, which is one of their initiatives that we’re proud to offer support for as a partner.  

Nils and Jayne discuss the current state of snow science and avalanche awareness, and the latest initiatives from the American Avalanche Association. Listen along for endless learning opportunities about avalanche safety and for a killer restaurant recommendation in rural Wyoming.  

Listen to Ep. 18 | Craig Gordon Of The Utah Avalanche Center 

Read our Avalanche Safety article

Chapter Timestamps:   

0:00 – Intro 
1:42 – American Avalanche Association 
6:02 – The Evolving Nature Of Snow Science 
10:40 – Wyoming Roots 
18:09 – Finding Avalanche Education 
24:32 – A3 Resilience Project 
34:24 – Mental Health Data Tracking 
39:14 – Latest A3 Initiatives  
41:39 – Where Is A3 Heading? 
44:41 – How To Learn About Avy Safety 
50:23 – What's Next 

Check out the featured products here:  

 Everything Avalanche Safety
Shop Our Ski Guide
Shop Our Snowboard Guide

Shop The World’s Biggest Gear Closet

 #venturebeyond 

Connect with a Gearhead: Call 1-800-409-4502 or chat with us online.

What makes Backcountry the best place to gear up? One-on-one Gearhead expertise. The greatest selection of outdoor gear, apparel, and accessories out there. And the tools to elevate your entire outdoor experience, from training smarter and sending harder to toasting at après. Harnessing the insights of our Gearhead® Experts, we also build our own products for ski, camp, MTB, fly fish, and more pursuits, including exclusive collabs with industry leaders. Backcountry is the place to Venture Beyond.

Follow Along for More Content!

• Backcountry Bulletin
• YouTube
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Facebook
• Explore Blog

Rio Lakeshore is a Backcountry partner who's known for his trail running achievements—but he’s accomplished so much more than that. Rio is a deeply introspective individual and he’s also very intentional about his actions both within his sport and outside of it.  

 Nils speaks with Rio about being a father, and developing the tools to take on the adversity that life consistently dishes out. The pair also dive into the topic of fashion, and certain parallels between the running and snowboarding spaces when it comes to technical apparel that crosses over with streetwear. Follow along to learn what it means to “Run On It” when an idea comes to mind.  

Watch Venture Beyond | Ep. 4 | Pacing The Pacific

Chapter Timestamps:   

 0:00 – Intro 
1:50 – What Running Means  
7:04 – Hybrid West Coast Upbringing  
14:02 – Getting Into Distance Running 
22:36 – The Long-Distance Mentality 
27:57 – Persistence & Mindfulness 
35:00 – Meditation & Visualization 
39:40 – Fashion & Self-Expression 
45:29 – Music, Writing & Film 
49:18 – Run On It 
54:59 – Outro 

Check out the featured products here:  

Backcountry Men’s Tahoe Sun Hoodie
Backcountry Women’s Tahoe Sun Hoodie  

Backcountry Running Gear & Apparel

District Vision Eyewear & Apparel
All Running Apparel & Footwear

 Shop The World’s Biggest Gear Closet

 #venturebeyond 

Connect with a Gearhead: Call 1-800-409-4502 or chat with us online.

What makes Backcountry the best place to gear up? One-on-one Gearhead expertise. The greatest selection of outdoor gear, apparel, and accessories out there. And the tools to elevate your entire outdoor experience, from training smarter and sending harder to toasting at après. Harnessing the insights of our Gearhead® Experts, we also build our own products for ski, camp, MTB, fly fish, and more pursuits, including exclusive collabs with industry leaders. Backcountry is the place to Venture Beyond.

Follow Along for More Content!

• Backcountry Bulletin
• YouTube
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Facebook
• Explore Blog

Remy Metailler is a mountain biking phenom known for his viral POV videos that capture seemingly impossible lines in the Squamish wilderness. We're proud to have him as a Backcountry ambassador and have him on the podcast to chat with Nils about his prestigious career. 

In this episode, Remy shares how his pro mountain bike career actually stemmed from the need for gainful employment. It served as the perfect opportunity for the Frenchman to extend his stay while spending a year in Squamish, British Columbia with a work visa. Follow along to hear the rest of Remy’s story, including his invitation to Red Bull Rampage.  

Watch our Remy Metailler Teaches How To Ride Slabs Like A Pro video

Chapter Timestamps:   

 0:00 – Intro 
1:11 – From France To Squamish 
5:52 – Gaining Canadian Employment 
10:18 – Breakout Moment In Whistler 
16:35 – Becoming A Pro Mountain Biker 
21:18 – How To Keep Living In Canada 
24:17 – How To Play The Long Game 
28:37 – Legacy Bike Park Trip 
30:18 – Red Bull Rampage Invitation 
35:52 – Filming Logistics In Squamish 
41:37 – Risk Assessment  
51:47 – The Value Of Bike Setup 
57:30 – Mountain Bike Innovation 
1:02:21 – What's Next 

Check out the featured products here:  

 Norrona Mountain Bike Apparel 

 E*thirteen Mountain Bike Components 

OneUp Bike Components

Topeak Bike Essentials 

Maxxis Tires

Julbo Eyewear

Shop The World’s Biggest Gear Closet

#venturebeyond 

Connect with a Gearhead: Call 1-800-409-4502 or chat with us online.

What makes Backcountry the best place to gear up? One-on-one Gearhead expertise. The greatest selection of outdoor gear, apparel, and accessories out there. And the tools to elevate your entire outdoor experience, from training smarter and sending harder to toasting at après. Harnessing the insights of our Gearhead® Experts, we also build our own products for ski, camp, MTB, fly fish, and more pursuits, including exclusive collabs with industry leaders. Backcountry is the place to Venture Beyond.

Follow Along for More Content!

• Backcountry Bulletin
• YouTube
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Facebook
• Explore Blog

This week on the podcast, we have Victor Daviet who recently made his Natural Selection Tour debut in Durango, CO alongside NST vet and podcast host Nils. The pair discuss Victor’s recent projects and some wild stories ranging from volcanic lakes to unorthodox avalanche control methods.  

Victor lets his passion guide his snowboarding career. In a project to document the ski and snowboard culture in Afghanistan, he helped the Afghani Federation officials promote the message of equality between men and women despite a looming presence from the Taliban. Listen along to find out more! 

Watch Venture Beyond | Ep. 5 | Mind The Gap

Chapter Timestamps:   

0:00 – Intro 
1:30 – NST Durango & Utah Trip 
4:49 – Victor's Snowboarding Lane 
8:05 – French Snowboarding Roots 
14:41 – Swimming In A Volcano 
18:09 – Kazakhstan Avalanche Control 
23:31 – Safety Shred Days  
28:57 – Pakistan & Afghanistan Project 
34:55 – Threats From The Taliban 
41:02 – Relocating Pakistani Colleagues To France 
45:40 – Balancing Snowboarding & Events 
48:25 – Trip Roulette Overview 
51:06 – Victor's Gear Overview 
55:49 – What's Next 

Check out the featured products here:  

Spy Optics Helmets & Goggles
Mammut Avalanche Safety Gear
Salomon Snowboarding Gear

Backcountry Snowboard Apparel
Backcountry Ski Apparel

 Shop The World’s Biggest Gear Closet

 #venturebeyond 

Connect with a Gearhead: Call 1-800-409-4502 or chat with us online.

What makes Backcountry the best place to gear up? One-on-one Gearhead expertise. The greatest selection of outdoor gear, apparel, and accessories out there. And the tools to elevate your entire outdoor experience, from training smarter and sending harder to toasting at après. Harnessing the insights of our Gearhead® Experts, we also build our own products for ski, camp, MTB, fly fish, and more pursuits, including exclusive collabs with industry leaders. Backcountry is the place to Venture Beyond.

Follow Along for More Content!

• Backcountry Bulletin
• YouTube
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Facebook
• Explore Blog

Toby Miller is a Backcountry athlete who also rides for WHITESPACE snowboards, so he’s the perfect fit to sit down with Nils on the Backcountry Podcast. Toby carved his path through the ranks of professional halfpipe riding under the wing of none other than Shaun White himself. With Shaun as his mentor, Toby has achieved an incredible snowboard career that began when he was only seven years old.  

Nils and Toby talk their way through the path of becoming a pro snowboarder, and the insane level of riding that the modern contest scene demands from the riders. Nils peels back the layers on Toby’s career and reveals the secrets behind Toby’s endless progression as a rider—listen along to see how a professional halfpipe rider takes on new challenges.  

Watch Venture Beyond | Ep. 5 | Mind The Gap

Chapter Timestamps:   

0:00 – Intro 
1:13 – SoCal Roots 
6:44 – Halfpipe Emphasis 
12:00 – Stepping Up To The Pro Circuit 
17:45 – Dedication To Training 
23:06 – Setting The Bar  
29:44 – Toby’s Mentor—Shaun White 
34:02 – Progression Tactics 
43:26 – Off-Season Training 
51:19 – What's Next 

Check out the featured products here:  

 Backcountry Snowboard Apparel
Backcountry Ski Apparel
WHITESPACE Snowboards
WHITESPACE Apparel
Everything WHITESPACE
Shop The World’s Biggest Gear Closet

#venturebeyond 

Connect with a Gearhead: Call 1-800-409-4502 or chat with us online.

What makes Backcountry the best place to gear up? One-on-one Gearhead expertise. The greatest selection of outdoor gear, apparel, and accessories out there. And the tools to elevate your entire outdoor experience, from training smarter and sending harder to toasting at après. Harnessing the insights of our Gearhead® Experts, we also build our own products for ski, camp, MTB, fly fish, and more pursuits, including exclusive collabs with industry leaders. Backcountry is the place to Venture Beyond.

Follow Along for More Content!

• Backcountry Bulletin
• YouTube
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Facebook
• Explore Blog

Spencer Whiting is better known by his viral Instagram handle, Gimbal God, a staple account for video content across the ski and snowboard scene. Known for buttery smooth follow-cam clips in the terrain park with the biggest names in the sport, Spencer (or Spenny) is a reputable videographer with his eyes set on large-scale film projects.  

 Backcountry Podcast host Nils reflects on the pair’s recent trip to Bald Face Lodge with Spencer, who also gives his introspective take on risk assessment and work ethic. This episode shares how Spencer optimizes his creativity to pump out content—it’s a must-listen! 

Watch Venture Beyond | Ep. 5 | Mind The Gap

Chapter Timestamps:   

0:00 – Intro 
1:03 – Backcountry Riding  
6:11 – Getting Started With Snow Safety 
10:17 – Becoming Proficient In The Backcountry 
13:49 – The State Of Snowboarding 
19:16 – Value Of Film Projects 
26:00 – Snowboarding's Cultural Challenge 
31:12 – Risk Assessment & Mental Health 
35:00 – Putting In The Hours 
39:25 – Becoming Gimbal God 
52:08 – What's Next 

Check out the featured products here:  

Bataleon Party Wave+ Snowboard
Bataleon Camel Two Snowboard
Bataeleon Goliath Snowboard

GoPro Hero12 Specialty Bundle

Everything Oakley

Backcountry Ski Apparel

Backcountry Snowboard Apparel

Shop The World’s Biggest Gear Closet

#venturebeyond 

Connect with a Gearhead: Call 1-800-409-4502 or chat with us online.

What makes Backcountry the best place to gear up? One-on-one Gearhead expertise. The greatest selection of outdoor gear, apparel, and accessories out there. And the tools to elevate your entire outdoor experience, from training smarter and sending harder to toasting at après. Harnessing the insights of our Gearhead® Experts, we also build our own products for ski, camp, MTB, fly fish, and more pursuits, including exclusive collabs with industry leaders. Backcountry is the place to Venture Beyond.

Follow Along for More Content!

• Backcountry Bulletin
• YouTube
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Facebook
• Explore Blog

Max Valverde is the man behind the “Dad Bod Goes Pro” Instagram account, which came to be after he put his business career on the sideline. These days, he pursues content creation and competitive ski mountaineering full-time, plus he’s a Backcountry ambassador.  

Max’s journey is truly unique in every sense—he started in business before getting into competitive mountain sports, and he seemingly generated a successful following with near overnight success. This episode covers the ins and outs of endurance training and the relevancy of business knowledge to outdoor recreation, listen along to find out more! 

Check out what Max is up to on Instagram
Watch our Venture Beyond | Ep. 1 | Taming the Wolverine ski mountaineering video

Chapter Timestamps:   

0:00 – Intro 
1:29 – Park City Livin’ 
5:41 – Mountain Biking Passion 
8:24 – Diving Into Ski Mountaineering 
14:28 – Evolution Of Ski Mountaineering Sport 
21:25 – Benefits Of Zone 2 Training 
26:16 – Motivation vs. Reps 
30:06 – Business Influence 
33:57 – Dad Bod Goes Pro 
42:15 – What’s Next 

Check out the featured products here:  

 Backcountry Men’s GORE-TEX WINDSTOPPER Hybrid Touring Jacket
Backcountry Men’s GORE-TEX WINDSTOPPER Hybrid Touring Bib Pants
All Backcountry Gear & Apparel

 Backcountry Ski Apparel
Backcountry Snowboard Apparel

 Shop The World’s Biggest Gear Closet

#venturebeyond 

Connect with a Gearhead: Call 1-800-409-4502 or chat with us online.

What makes Backcountry the best place to gear up? One-on-one Gearhead expertise. The greatest selection of outdoor gear, apparel, and accessories out there. And the tools to elevate your entire outdoor experience, from training smarter and sending harder to toasting at après. Harnessing the insights of our Gearhead® Experts, we also build our own products for ski, camp, MTB, fly fish, and more pursuits, including exclusive collabs with industry leaders. Backcountry is the place to Venture Beyond.

Follow Along for More Content!

• Backcountry Bulletin
• YouTube
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Facebook
• Explore Blog