The Powell Movement

If you are into the outdoors, you've most likely heard of Poler. Their unique take on camping and adventure made the brand instantly successful. All of it was started by Kharma Vella and his former best friend Benji. Kharma is my guest this week and we talk coming up in the world of snowboarding, starting a brand, building it and watching the same brand destroy both his personal and professional life. The podcast is Kharma's side of a real-life tale that outlines what can happen when you do business with friends.

Kharma Vella Show Notes:

2:00: Portland is weird, growing up in the NW

8:41: Snowboarding in the early 90's, sponsors and Dinner Clothing

16:09: Working at shops and then getting a modeling gig that turns into more at Bonfire

19:30: Founding Poler, bankrolling it, and naming it

26:15: Evo (Use the code TPM10 for 10% off at checkout)

RESQWATER (enter the code resqwatertpm for a 20% discount on a 12 pack)

The 10 Barrel Brewery

28:45: Poler at SIA, other brands jumping in and social media

33:33: The knapsack backstory and his day to day role

37:00: Taking advantage of Chinese labor and pricing

40:10: Collaborations and Nike

44:00: What the hell happened with you and Polar. It's a crazy story

54:30: His new project Muul that is on Kickstarter May 15

56:30: Inappropriate Questions with Sales rep extraordinaire and former Rep of the Year, Dan Sorcinelli

Chris Edwards lived more by the age of 20 than most people do in a lifetime. He was a pro athlete at age 14, dropped out of high school a year later and became the face of the fastest growing sport on the planet. Chris was in the movies, on TV, was the first to go big on ramps, first to grind a rail, and, as far as I know, the first to have 6 biological children and 4 wives. Chris and I talk the rise and fall on the podcast

Chris Edwards Show Notes:

2:00: Where is Chris now, evangelists, problems at home

8:00: Getting his first pair of blades, riding ramps and getting on Team Rollerblade

14:00: The Micky Mouse Club, dropping out, and Prayer of The Rollerboys

23:00: Evo (Use the code TPM10 for 10% off at checkout)

RESQWATER (enter the code resqwatertpm for a 20% discount on a 12 pack)

The 10 Barrel Brewery

25:00: Money, the segments of Chris's skating experience and the launch from Airborne

28:00: Getting married at 18, youth pastor, and a rumor that I heard

34:00: Trying to build a sport (with companies) on his back and bankrupting himself

37: 04: Video parts he liked, pressure, life after the divorce and getting married again, divorced again

43:00: Breaking both his arms, seeing skating progress and injuries

47:00: Things end with Rollerblade, his thoughts on the future of blading

53:00: Inappropriate Questions with Arlo Eisenberg

At first look, there is nothing that stands out about Carson Storch. He looks like an All-American kid fresh out of college figuring out what he is going to do with his life. But that's not the case, in reality, Carson has been on the same career path since he was looked at as a dreamer when he was 16. He's a pro Mountain Biker who finds himself at home on big mountains or riding slopestyle. He's known for having a unique style that can be seen whenever he rides his bike. Hear all about Carson, the Redbull Rampage and more on the podcast.

Carson Storch Show Notes:

2:00: BlackSage event, the support of 10 Barrel, Redbull and comprehensive blood tests

10:00: Growing up in Bend and how it's changed over the years

12:00: His parents splitting up, using sports to channel his anger, snowboarding

17:00: Picking biking as his future a6 years old

20:00: Being the small kid in high school, having no self-confidence and stiches

24:20: Evo (Use the code TPM10 for 10% off at checkout)

RESQWATER (enter the code resqwatertpm for a 20% discount on a 12 pack)

The 10 Barrel Brewery

26:30: Growing up on 5 acres with all kinds of toys, his compound today and learning tricks

34:00: Diamond Back leaving for Rocky Mountain Cycles and other sponsors

44:40: Rampage, getting there and signing with Redbull

51:00: How he deals with pressure of contests, filming

54:00: Jaymo and his worst injury happens due to manufacturer defect

59:00: The superstition of tapping his D*ck before every trick

61:00: Matt and his worst scooter crash

102:00: The difference in money in scootering compared to biking and Carson's take on scootering

1:14:00 Inappropriate Questions with former Diamondback Teammate, Billy Lewis

Like a lot of kids in California, Taylor Knox wanted to be a pro surfer at an early age. Unlike a lot of kids, Taylor had a back condition that would require 7 hours of surgery and 6 months in a full body cast...at age 15. While he lost time, he was still hell bent on becoming a pro surfer and his classmates thought he was crazy. Fast forward to today, Taylor has had a legendary career that spans decades. We talk about life, surfing, the momentum generation and a lot more on the podcast.

Taylor Knox Show Notes:

2:00: Going to Australia for Mick's last event

5:44: Growing up, car accident, being reclusive and sports

10:20: Moving to Carlsbad, surfing, and skateboarding

13:00: Back surgery, full body cast and the dream of being a pro surfer

16:50:

Evo (Use the code TPM10 for 10% off at checkout)

RESQWATER (enter the code resqwatertpm for a 20% discount on a 12 pack)

The 10 Barrel Brewery They support everything snow

21:00: Getting into the gym, supplements and coming back to surfing

27:00: Being the top American at Worlds and getting his first contract with OP

30:00: The influence of the momentum generation and making the tour

36:00: Comparing the world of snow to the world of surf, The K2 Big Wave Challenge and the fame that came with it

44:00: The differences between surf and snow: danger, downtime, sharks

51:00: Dating Tara Dakides, snowboarding, and being a kook on the mountain

55:00: Surfing in nasty water and a huge 2001 that ends with 9/11

61:00: Experimenting with different kinds of boards , what he's riding now and fitness DVD's

67:00: His last year on tour, Saint Archer, Villager Goods

72:00: Inappropriate Questions with Adam Rode of Product Of The North

Scot Chrisman grew up with the dream of a pro skier and it never happened. He was close as a racer, then competed for a few years and nothing really materialized. Along the way there was drugs, alcohol, legal issues but things worked themselves out and today, Scot is an aspiring entrepreneur with his hands in just about everything. He's of interest to me for one reason in particular, he has a podcast that went from zero to number 1 on itunes and I wanted to find out who he is and how he did it.

Scot Chrisman Show Notes

2:00: His recent injury

5:00: Growing up, getting kicked out of school and ski racing

12:45: Experiencing death for the first two times at 13

23:50 Evo (Use the code TPM10 for 10% off at checkout)

RESQWATER (enter the code resqwatertpm for a 20% discount on a 12 pack)

The 10 Barrel Brewery

26:15: Realizing he wasn't going to make the US Team, was he a punk kid, realizing what kind of skiing he was all about though watching ski movies and peeing on public transportation

36:00: Drugs and Après

48:23: Anger, arrest, and a bad year

55:31: Scot and his business ventures and his podcast The Athletic Stance

66:00: Inappropriate Questions with Alex Kaufman, The Wintery Mix Podcast

Mike Wilson is an athlete with elite ability and you can say he "made it" in the world of action sports. You can also say that Mike didn't achieve his full potential. Mike has always marched to the beat of his own drummer and while some athletes choose to be team players, Mike was more of a lone wolf. People thought he was a loose cannon and maybe he is. On the podcast Mike tells his story and he has no filter.

Mike Wilson Show Notes

2:00: What has Mike been up to lately

6:30: Growing up in Vermont and School

13:00: Sponsorship at 11 years old

17:00: Evo (Use the code TPM10 for 10% off at checkout) and RESQWATER (enter the code resqwatertpm for a 20% discount on a 12 pack)

18:30: Trampoline's and Mike Nick

24:00: Superpark, getting 13 sponsors at 13 and who he was as a teen pro skier

33:24: The Switch 10 and inventing the double 10, The Wilson Flip and why he stopped competing

44:00: 10 Barrel Brewery

45:00: Rory Bushfield, Riley Poor and Kris Ostness

52:00: Having a lot of different sponsors and why he didn't get bigger

60:00: Creating viral videos

64:00: BASE jumping after 1 tandem skydive and getting kicked off Squaw

69:00: Three close calls in BASE

82:00: Inappropriate Questions with Sean Decker

Mike Wilson Undershoot

Mike Wilson Double Back

Mike Wilson Chad's Gap

Mike Wilson Quad Backflips

Mike Wilson Stept Close Call

Josh Brown's life has been an open book to the public from the time he moved to Foyil, OK (Pop 236) when he was a tween. The publicity used to be a good thing that brought women, fortune and fame to a small-town kid who achieved a dream that alludes 99.5 percent of all kids, playing in an NFL Game. Eventually, the publicity turned bad, domestic violence, divorce, and a virtual blackball by NFL teams. Hear what Josh has to say about his meteoric rise, crash and burn and putting the pieces back together

Josh Brown Show Notes:

2:00: The NFL Kicking Combine

9:00: Growing up in Tulsa

13:00: Getting into sports and then moving to Foyil, OK ( pop 234)

17:50: 8-Man football and Dexter Manley

21:00: What is the recruiting process like? Anything crazy?

24:00: Evo (Use the code TPM10 for 10% off at checkout) and RESQWATER (enter the code resqwatertpm for a 20% discount on a 12 pack)

25:50: Nebraska Football

33:12: The most memorable game of his college career and preparing for the pros

38:51: The trouble he got into in college

44:00: Getting drafted, the Seattle Seahawks, investments, loaning money, special treatment.

52:00: 10 Barrel Brewery

53:30: The Super Bowl Year and the end of his time in Seattle

61:00: Contracts in the NFL and meeting Molly and getting married

66:00: Moving to St Louis and trouble with his marriage

71:00: Being molested as a child

74:00: Time in St Louis, getting cut, trying out for the Jets, more trouble at home and getting the call from the Bengals

85:00: How does he get into the zone to kick and life as a giant

91:00: More relationship issues

105:00: The aftermath of domestic violence

110:00: Inappropriate Questions with former Seahawk David Vobora

Matt Gerdes is not your typical adrenaline junkie. This BASE Jumper founded Squirrel Wingsuits, an innovative and disruptive brand in the world of human flight and has jumped all over the world. Like most professionals I speak with, Matt cut corners on his way to BASE Jumping and has not paid the price. Hear the whole story on the podcast.

Matt Gerdes Show Notes

2:00: Living in France and Squirrel Wingsuits

11:00: Growing up in LA, sports, school and skiing

13:00: Getting into skydiving and BASE jumping

19:00: Evo (Use the code TPM10 for 10% off at checkout) and RESQWATER (enter the code resqwatertpm for a 20% discount on a 12 pack)

23:00: The difference between ski and BASE and Wingsuits

31:00: Starting a company

36:00: Close calls

40:00: 10Barrel Brewery

41:00: Competition

44:00: Squirrel buys Asylum and product development

50: Inappropriate Questions - Matthias Giraud

Matthias Giraud aka Super Frenchie, is one of those passionate people who has way too much energy. He's also pro skier/BASE jumper who travels the world creating insane videos for a living. We talk getting into BASE jumping without proper experience, a lifetime of gnarly things, how his perspective on risk has changed over time and how he's still alive after hitting a cliff at 70 MPH. Hear the whole, crazy story on the podcast.

SHOW NOTES

2:00: Skiing this year

4:00: Growing up in France, liking Americans and boarding school.

6:00: Losing his sister, a moment of clarity and skiing

18:00 Evo (Use the code TPM10 for 10% off at checkout) and RESQWATER (enter the code resqwatertpm for a 20% discount on a 12 pack)

20:00: Who is he in his teen years, euro ski heroes , drinking at 16, and too much energy

27:00: College, moving to America to continue education and sponsorship: These are his sponsors

31:00 Starting skydiving and getting into BASE jumping after 30 skydives, the viral Mount Hood jump and McConkey

41:00: 10Barrel Brewery

42:00: Our meeting and knowing he was going to make a career out of this. Money and sponsors: Thule, Roxa, Superdry, Gopro, Humm, Leki, Bern, Black Crows, Dynafit

45:00: Ski BASE off the Eiger and the Matterhorn

56:00: Viral videos, social media and the influence it has and wingsuits Avalanche Video

60:00: Getting pregnant and then having his Ski BASE accident and recovery

70:00: Getting back into BASE Jumping and skiing

74:00: Death

77:00: Inappropriate Questions

Mikey LeBlanc is a legend in snowboarding . He's known for teeth breaking ollies, high consequence rails and riding just about everything during his 25+ year snowboard career. His story starts in Maine and takes him on a tour of mountain towns as he navigates his way through the snowboard industry coming to find himself at the helm of one of the most stylish outerwear brands in the game. Mikey's story is one of heart, he worked his ass off to create some lucky breaks and then took full advantage of the opportunities he was provided. He's a cool dude and it's a great story!

Mikey LeBlanc Show Notes

1:30: What Mikey is up to now and is it Mike or Mikey

3:00: Holden selling direct

9:35: Growing up in Maine, skateboarding, snowboarding, sports, punk rock, metal and friends.

22:36: The ski and snowboard rivalry

24:30: Evo (Use the code TPM10 for 10% off at checkout) and RESQWATER (enter the code resqwatertpm for a 20% discount on a 12 pack)

26:30: Moving to Colorado for CSU and snowboarding, community service and then leaving and moving to Breckenridge to live out of his car.

34:19: The solid snowboard days, the best times of his life, getting sponsored by Ride, Whitey, Mack Dawg and the formative things that happened for him

40:00: Moving to Utah with Whitey, getting JP Walker on Forum and bringing back handrails

43:43: Riding everything and specialization and contests in snowboarding

48:54: 10Barrel Brewery

50:00: Money in snowboarding

54:00: Breaking his neck and injuries

58:00: Holden, Love/Hate, KidsKnow , Chris Miller, Jarden

70:00: VideoGrass and the Ollie/celebration

77:00: Inappropriate Questions