Who Woke Me Up?

Retired World Cup skier-turned-coach Andy Newell represented the U.S. at a staggering nine world championships, four Olympics, and 200-plus World Cups in his career; if it happened in international skiing between 2000 and 2020, Newell was probably there. Join him as he brings this experience to bear while discussing the challenges and successes of the U.S. Ski Team, the barriers to American ski development, how he's used all this experience while leading the resurgent BSF Pro Team, and more. See the website for full subject-matter timestamps for this episode.

You had questions: about ski choice, about differences between ski brands, about what really distinguishes World Cup stock, about listed weight ranges and flex, about how to find the best skis for you, about release angles (!), about testing skis, and so much more. We have some answers for you! Tune in for a Q&A episode with Zach Caldwell, a man for whom no question is too esoteric, no distinction too minute. You will learn something.

Julian Robert and Jeff Courter of Rossignol are back for the second of two sponsored episodes. Would you like to know a ski manufacturer’s philosophy on factory grinds? What structure testing looks like at the World Cup level? Which is more important at the citizen-racer level, hand structure vs. ski choice? Two men who have more knowledge about factory grinds than you do bring that perspective to bear here; if you listen, you will learn something.

This is the second of two episodes sponsored by Rossignol. We sincerely appreciate their support of this podcast. Rossignol reps answered the questions put to them regarding their products, but have not otherwise controlled the substantive content heard here.

Julian Robert and Jeff Courter head up research and development at Rossignol, the longtime ski brand of podcast host Fast Big Dog. Join them to learn how ski designers work with athletes to develop skis, how to make the best use of demo days to find new skis that work for you, and their biggest tip for someone looking to buy a new pair of skis. You’ve probably also seen some recent buzz about the new SX skate ski; hear about this ski’s capabilities and its place in the larger Rossi lineup. From, literally, the men who designed it.

This episode is sponsored by Rossignol. We sincerely appreciate their support of this podcast. They answered the questions put to them regarding Rossignol skis and new products, but have not otherwise controlled the substantive content heard here.

Find out everything you need to know about ski waxing, plus many things that you didn’t know you needed to know but will benefit from now knowing, in this masterclass on waxing and ski preparation from wax tech to the stars Zach Caldwell. Kick, glide, fluoros, non-fluoros, paraffins, tools, race waxing, everyday waxing – you name it, he talks about it here. Whether you're a novice or a maestro, you will learn something from this.

Wax tech to the stars Zach Caldwell holds forth on everything citizen racers need to know about ski selection and fleet management. Don’t have a dozen pairs of race skis? No problem. He’ll tell you what you need to prioritize. Plus a healthy dose of banter and anecdotes that will both educate and entertain.

Last weekend JC Schoonmaker was at the top of the ski world, going stride for stride with Klæbo en route to the first American men’s World Cup podium since Simi Hamilton. But just six weeks ago he was suffering through a low-grade virus that wouldn’t go away, and already thinking that maybe this just wasn’t his year. Join us for real talk on what’s happened since, and what’s next for this team.

Sophia Laukli is the American who lives and trains in Norway, the nordic skiing Olympian who is also the reigning champion in international trail running, the late bloomer who didn’t start rollerskiing till age 17. She’s forged her own path in both skiing and running, finding balance along the way. Hear her speak about how she’s done it, and what others can learn from it.

Ben Ogden speaks. We listened. The brightest star in American men’s skiing is also its most interesting and its most unassuming. Want to know what advice Ogden has for young skiers? How he recalibrated his mental prep when moving from college to the World Cup? The one thing he really wants to ask Klæbo? Find all that, and more, only here. Now ft. good audio quality!

The third and final guest in our opening series of skiers-turned-mountain-bike-racers, Carter Hall discusses getting in his cycling training while working long hours on the road as a wax tech for BSF Pro Team. Plus the advantages and disadvantages of starting high-level bike racing late in life, what you learn from nordic skiing that you don’t from bike racing, and more.