You know I like a good ski story. Today's guest has one of the best.

Jake Brown never made it to junior nationals and assumed he wouldn't pursue sports in college. Instead, he wound up being a DI, DII and DIII athlete, leading St. Olaf to a national title in cross-country and emerging as an All-American as a super-senior at Northern Michigan. Along the way, he discovered biathlon — a sport which brought him around the world over the course of successful decade-plus pro career. Brown represented Team USA at 5 world championships and an Olympics. He retired after this season, but stumbled upon the Seder-Skier Podcast before it started.

Nordic Insights writer Peter Minde joins to chat about:

- Gonzo ski journalism

- the Lake Placid Loppet

- The World Cup Finals

- Music and more!

Keep on striving!

Keep on skiing!

Fasterskier article:

https://fasterskier.com/2026/04/if-we-know-better-why-dont-we-do-better/

Did you miss our special podcast for GripWax Nation members? It's here at Seder-Skier.com

There is nothing I could write here to convince you to listen to this entire show, but I promise at some point, you will laugh at something.

Another MEGA show!

- Our A.I. notes

- Listener emails - Lake Placid stories

- Ski Classics news

- Book corner - Walk Across America

- Article analysis - Fasterskier's Jim Galanes wrote on op-ed on Long Term Development

- Have a great ski story from the season? Memory from watching a World Cup? Hot take? Send us an email at [email protected] and we'll read it on the air next time!

We reflect on our convo with Sam Holt from last week, listen to Zach Caldwell explain the Bill Koch Rossignol ski/grind project, assign positions for our Ski Classics team (and provide a name and sponsors) and respond to several Youth Inc. podcast episodes featuring Greg Olsen, Matt Leinart, David Epstein and Chris Long.

Keep on striving. Keep on skiing.

We sit down with 26-year-old Sam Holt — who decided to DP everything this year (and found tremendous success in doing so) — to talk about double-poling, training, the Birkie, ski fleets & Ski Classics and more.

After this conversation, GripWax Nation is living vicariously through the Mainer as he strives towards competing alongside the best loppet racers in the world.

Have an idea for a future guest? How about a comment/thought/compliment/hot take? Send us an email at [email protected].

Thanks for stopping by!

Keep on striving.

Keep on skiing!

Another long rambling dissertation for GripWax Nation!

INSTANT reaction after The 2026 Gear Test event for Cross-Country Skier Mag ....live from the 2006 Toyota Highlander

Where they need to put period 1 and a new TDS that will blow your mind...

...don't miss tomorrow's debrief on the ski testing extravaganza!