Discussion with pro skier and X Games gold medalist, Troy Podmilsak

Troy is a pro skier, X Games big air gold medalist and part of a new generation that is pushing the boundaries of big air skiing. He blew up onto the scene as a grom showcasing great promise through his online videos. As a teen, Troy climbed the competition ladder and eventually made it on to world cups as part of the US team. Ever since he made in the big leagues, Troy has been progressing and cementing his spot as one of the best big air skiers in the world. His accolades include winning both slopestyle and big air at the 2022 FIS Jr world championships, Winning the 2023 FIS world championships big air and winning the 2024 X Games big air.

In this episode we talked about troy's upbringing and how he got into park skiing. His rise in the competitive scene of freeskiing and the challenges of making it in such a dominant country. We went deep into the big air scene with the new tricks, the trends, the airbags, the training, the strategies, the different comps, jumps and formats. We talked about his relationship with his coach being freeski legend TJ Schiller. We talked about last years x games where the level was insane and where troy placed 4th with a perfect trip 21 mute and almost landed a trip 23 mute.

this was a great talk with one of freeskiing's most dominant big air skier

side note this episode was recorded before the first 2 big air comps of the season, which troy ended up winning. Troy ended up winning the secret garden and steamboat big air world cups and is now qualified for the olympics.

thanks to the sponsors APIK fest, Axis boutique and Dic Anns restaurants

Discussion with ex pro skier, freeski legend and industry professional, Khai Krepela

Khai is one of the Greatests of street skiing. He blew up onto the scene in 2012 with his standout segment in Toy Soldier productions' Act natural. Khai then went on a legendary 10 year roll where he filmed with Poor Boyz in 2013 and then joined Level 1 for their films Less, small world, pleasure, habit and romance. His contribution also includes shots in 4bi9 and good company projects, competing in X Games real ski, multiple appearances in LINE's traveling circus and numerous Good enough edits. After his ski career, Khai hustled and managed to get a job at K2 as a senior Marketing manager. After a few years there, khai moved on and is now in a new role as the CEO at Hinterland skis.

In this episode we talked about Khai's upbringing and what lead him to pursue the goal of becoming a pro skier. We talked about filming with toy soldier productions,
Linking up with Poor Boyz for the detroit segment in Tracing Skylines, one of freeskiing's most unique segment ever. Joining Level 1 and filming with them for many years, always taking time to film with his crew at Good Enough, filming with Line Traveling Circus, the transition from a pro skier career to working in the industry, how it was working at K2 skis, his new job as CEO at Hinterland skis and much much more.

Thanks to the sponsors Axis boutique and Dics Anns restaurants

Episode presented by Surface skis

Discussion with skier, Freeski judge and marketing director, Jason Arens.

Jason is heavily involved in freeskiing, both as a marketing director and co-owner at surface skis / joystick / causwell and as a freeski judge.

He's been involved as a judge for over 10 years now and has become the worldwide reference for freeski judging. The events he's been a part of include the Olympics, X Games, Dew tour, world championships, world cups and much more.

In this episode, we followed up on our last talk from episodes 30 & 31, that were the inception that led me into judging 3 years ago now. We went deep into judging, talked about the 2025 X Games, the current state of pipe skiing, the intricaties of freeski judging and his upcoming role as head judge of next winter's Olympics in Italy. Plus, we also touched on the business side he's involved in with Surface skis and how the industry is shaken with USA tariffs and last season's rebirth of the outerwear brand Causwell.

Thanks to the sponsors surface skis, axis boutique and dic anns restaurants