Wintry Mix

42 - Pod Pow Mission: Boston to SLC After 7 Feet

It's not easy to book flights 3 weeks out and still nail a storm cycle. In this episode AK and Adam spend day 1 of the #podpowmission stuck in the lodge at Snowbird waiting for the storm to clear prior to hammering the tail end of a seven foot cycle for three days in a row. Best. Pow. Ever. Season 3 of Wintry Mix is supported by www.Snowbird.com, www.Worldcupsupply.com and www.Liftopia.com. Subscribe to Wintry Mix on iTunes. Follow the show on facebook, twitter and IG.

41 - Chris Diamond: Four Decades of Ski Biz in One New Book

Since entering the ski business in 1972 at Killington, Chris Diamond led Mount Snow and Steamboat through multiple ownership changes and countless upgrades. Upon retiring in 2015, Diamond set out to document his decades in skiing and has recently released a new book entitled "Ski Inc. My journey through four decades in the ski resort business, from the founding entrepreneurs to mega companies." In episode 41 AK and Chris delve into some anecdotes from the book, his years working with and for Les Otten and what he thinks about the future of skiing. You can purchase the book here: https://skidiamondconsulting.com Season 3 of Wintry Mix is supported by www.Snowbird.com, www.Worldcupsupply.com and www.Liftopia.com. Subscribe to Wintry Mix on iTunes. Follow the show on facebook, twitter and IG.

40 - Since 1997: Denver Post Reporter Jason Blevins

Discussing I-70, Vail Resorts, marijuana, affordable housing, new ski areas and other mountain stuff with veteran Denver Post reporter Jason Blevins. Season 3 of Wintry Mix is supported by www.Snowbird.com, www.Worldcupsupply.com and www.Liftopia.com. Subscribe to Wintry Mix on iTunes. Follow the show on facebook, twitter and IG.

Storm Track: Eric Fisher on Holiday Week Nor'easter

The season's first bonafide coastal storm is primed to deliver snow and wind to a large chunk of the northeast to bring 2016 to a close. This Storm Track episode grabs Eric Fisher from CBS Boston to chat possibilities and get some takes on naming storms, hoax weather and other hot topics. Storm Track episodes are special episodes that catch up with weather pros when a big snowfall is imminent. Episode 39 is a more traditional episode. Catch that one too. Season 3 of Wintry Mix is supported by www.Snowbird.com, www.Worldcupsupply.com and www.Liftopia.com. Subscribe to Wintry Mix on iTunes and follow on FB, IG or TW for somewhat useful updates.

39 - Wheels of Winter: Fat Biking Shifts Into High Gear

Fat bikes. Every year there's more. Episode 39 catches up with Dave Ochs, organizer of the Fat Bike World Championships in Crested Butte, Colorado, and Vermonter Brooke Scatchard who has been perfecting his Fat Bike Ski design since high school. Caroline the intern is back too in this wide ranging fat bikes discussion. Season 3 of Wintry Mix is supported by www.Snowbird.com, www.Worldcupsupply.com and www.Liftopia.com. Subscribe to Wintry Mix on iTunes. Follow the show on facebook, twitter and IG.

38 - Got Supplies? 25 Years of Serving Racing and Resorts

I don't know enough about ski racing. I came up in moguls and pipe. Thankfully Brad Williams and Bob Kimball from World Cup Supply are down to help. Chatted with them at their Bradford, Vermont office and got a tour of the warehouse to learn more about their resort and event supplies business model as well as the state of ski racing from a newbs perspective. Season 3 of Wintry Mix is supported by www.Snowbird.com, www.Worldcupsupply.com and www.Liftopia.com. Subscribe to Wintry Mix on iTunes. Follow the show on facebook, twitter and IG.

37 - World Cup Afterglow: The Beast Deserved A Beer

There hasn't been a more deserved "beer thirty" than the one enjoyed by Killington staffers on the Sunday afternoon after the massive World Cup crowds departed. They earned it. AK hung out in the VIP zone chatting up the key resort players / former colleagues while consuming a few frosty beverages. This was a euphoric moment in time worth capturing. Enjoy. Season 3 of Wintry Mix is supported by www.Snowbird.com, www.Worldcupsupply.com and www.Liftopia.com. Subscribe to Wintry Mix on iTunes. Follow the show on facebook, twitter and IG.

Storm Track: Josh Fox on Thanksgiving Week Snow

Our second 'Storm Track' of the season catches up with Josh Fox of the popular Single Chair Weather Blog. A weather pattern change is afoot so meet Josh and get the chilly details for the next few days and weeks. Season 3 of Wintry Mix is supported by www.Snowbird.com, www.Worldcupsupply.com and www.Liftopia.com. And here's a link to his blog. http://madriverglenweather.blogspot.com Subscribe to Wintry Mix on iTunes or follow the show @wintrymixcast.

36 - Showing Love: Boston Ski Expo 2016

We've got some healing to do. The recent Boston Ski and Snow Expo had a weird vibe, sort of like America, in the days immediately following the election. Episode 36 serves as a reminder that we'll all do better if we lay off the cruelty and division. Be hopeful. Be kind. Be vigilant. And let's get some snow soon please. Season 3 of Wintry Mix is supported by www.Snowbird.com, www.Worldcupsupply.com and www.Liftopia.com. Subscribe to Wintry Mix on iTunes. Follow the show on facebook, twitter and IG. Closing music by Tony Lee Thomas Band.

35 - Skis on Wheels: Utah Company Reinvents Equipment Rentals

Bryn Carey is CEO and founder of Park City based Ski Butlers, which offers delivery of ski and snowboard equipment rentals in ski regions across the western US and Canada. In Episode 35 AK and Bryn discuss launching a new business based on an idea of how to improve on this very common transaction (renting skis). We also touch on what it's like to roll into everyone's condos at all hours of the night. Season 3 of Wintry Mix is supported by www.Snowbird.com, www.Worldcupsupply.com and www.Liftopia.com. Subscribe to Wintry Mix on iTunes. Follow the show on facebook, twitter and IG.

34 - Mount Ascutney: Locals Lead Community Ski Hill Revival

There are plenty of well equipped New England ski areas including Saddleback, The Balsams and Tenney that haven't stayed open consistently. Ascutney had been dormant since 2010, but thanks to land grants and community spirit there's a new future of recreation on this historic ski mountain. Episode 34 catches up with Laura Farrell of Ascutney Outdoors, the non-profit leading the effort, on a recent community volunteer day. Season 3 of Wintry Mix is supported by www.Snowbird.com, www.Worldcupsupply.com and www.Liftopia.com. Subscribe to Wintry Mix on iTunes. Follow the show on facebook, twitter and IG.

Storm Track: AK and Tim Kelley on First Widespread Eastern Snow

Incoming! New as part of season 3 are "Storm Tracks" where I catch up with regional meteorologists when incoming winter weather warrants. In our first attempt I grabbed Tim Kelley of NECN and Ski The East fame to discuss the first useful dump of the year. Season 3 of Wintry Mix is supported by www.Snowbird.com, www.Worldcupsupply.com and www.Liftopia.com. Subscribe to Wintry Mix on iTunes or follow the show @wintrymixcast.

33 - Voting Outdoors: Vermont Governor's Race Mimics National Trend

Raising awareness is so 2010. Climate, public lands, and attracting outdoorsy businesses seem to be the three key pillars of the recent surge in outdoor activism aiming to influence the state and national political landscape. Non-profits like Protect Our Winters and the Outdoor Industry Association head to Washington while individual states navigate their own local priorities influenced by their increasingly engaged outdoor industry citizenry. Episode 33 is an evening behind the scenes at a Sue Minter For Governor fundraiser with an outdoor industry focus. Candidate seeks donors and support. Donors seek policies that can help grow their industry. It's not always so scary, and it's happening nationwide on a variety of issues. And yes I tried to get both Vermont campaigns to talk outdoor biz for episodes, but Minter's was only one to respond. Creative Commons photo by https://www.flickr.com/photos/jonathan_king/ Season 3 of Wintry Mix is supported by www.Snowbird.com, www.Worldcupsupply.com and www.Liftopia.com. Subscribe to Wintry Mix on iTunes or follow the show @wintrymixcast.

32 - Winter Preview: Killington, Sunday River, Vail and Mount Snow Q&A

In the final episode of Season 2, Alex catches up with reps from resorts in Vermont, Maine and Colorado to get a glimpse of winter operations as October and November approach. There's also a bit of a tease as to what is to come in Season 3, which will see a bit of tweak in the format of the podcast as it enters the second year. Expect some more timely storm/weekend content as well as the occasional long form interviews. Does your brand want to partner in season 3? Hit me up asap. Season 2 of Wintry Mix is made possible by www.Inntopia.com. Additional support from www.snowbird.com, www.skivermont.com, www.peakresorts.com and www.llbean.com. Photo by http://www.shelleybcreative.com

31 - The Snurfer: Vermont Company Revisits Roots of Snowboarding

Brew Moscarello and Dave Schmidt are some OGs. These dudes were part of the group behind Burton in the 80's. Fast forward 30 years and they're the guys behind Balance Designs which sells the popular Vew-Do Balance Boards and more recently, The Snurfer, from their headquarters in Manchester, Vermont. In this episode we'll talk old school Burton, running a small business, the early days of snowboarding and how to ride a Snurfer. FMI: https://www.snurferboards.com Season 2 of Wintry Mix is made possible by www.Inntopia.com. Additional support from www.snowbird.com, www.skivermont.com, www.peakresorts.com and www.llbean.com.

30 - Foursome Fodder: High Fives Foundation

Golf is hard if you take it serious. The High Fives Foundation, which supports injured mountain action sports athletes and injury awareness, keeps it light. As part of their national fundraising activities, they host an annual east coast charity golf tournament which attracts a cross section of mountain sports industry participants. Episode 30 is a camp out on the 7th tee, chatting with passing groups and dodging raindrops. Might be fun. Season 2 of Wintry Mix is made possible by www.Inntopia.com. Additional support from www.snowbird.com, www.skivermont.com, www.peakresorts.com and www.llbean.com.

29 - XC Meets BC: Vermont's Catamount Trail Association Expands Outreach

Spanning 300 miles and nearly 200 landowners, the Catamount Trail is a decades old winter ski route. As uphill/downhill backcountry skiing participation grows, the CTA is broadening its mission beyond The Trail to encourage the responsible proliferation of human powered skiing zones across Vermont. Vermont's Catamount Trail is the longest continuous XC ski trail in the United States. It was conceived in 1984 and fully linked together in 2008. In this episode Alex welcomes the CTA's Amy Kelsey and Brian Mohr to the VPR studios to get a "state of the trail" as it navigates its future. Season 2 of Wintry Mix is made possible by www.Inntopia.com. Additional support from www.snowbird.com, www.skivermont.com, www.peakresorts.com and www.llbean.com.

28 - No Lift Lines: 25 Years of DIY Skiing at Polar Peak

The Herishko brothers (Tom and Mark) grew up on a farm in the foothills of the Taconic Mountains of New York, which is east of the Hudson River and west of Massachusetts. Since their school was 20 minutes from home, they were on their own for after school activities. This need for a more local hobby birthed what is now Polar Peak, a private and do-it-yourself cow pasture ski area which they've been refining since 1991. Season 2 of Wintry Mix is made possible by www.Inntopia.com. Additional support comes from www.Snowbird.com, www.SkiVermont.com, www.PeakResorts.com and www.LLBean.com.

27 - Tahoe Millers: Mountain Town Co-working Gaining Momentum

Want to live closer to your passions? Co-working spaces in mountain towns across North America and Europe have been opening rapidly as the global workforce becomes less tethered to any given location. In this episode we'll hear from those who put together a successful co-working space in North Lake Tahoe and a few of their members that have fueled the growth of similar spaces around the world. Season 2 of Wintry Mix is made possible by www.Inntopia.com. Additional support comes from www.Snowbird.com, www.SkiVermont.com, www.PeakResorts.com and www.LLBean.com. Photo by GP Martin Photography

26 - Burke is Back: Vermont Community Embraces Life After Q

Pro tip: when acquiring a ski area with a passionate community, storied history and key stakeholders including a nationally respected resort management college, mountain biking destination and olympic caliber ski academy, perhaps don't rename the mountain after yourself as a first order of business. Even if you saw it in a Hollywood movie. That oddity (and much more like it) is what transpired at the briefly named Q Burke Mountain in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom over the last few years. A side effect of the alleged EB5 scandal in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom is the ousting of the often combative Quiros family management at Burke Mountain, bringing a sigh of relief to skiers, stakeholders and staff as they rally around what they hope will be a more stable period of mountain operation and community cooperation. Not only is the Q gone from the name but a brand new hotel was built and finished right before the change of the guard. In this episode we'll chat with many community stakeholders as well as tour the brand new Burke Mountain Hotel. Season 2 of Wintry Mix is made possible by www.Inntopia.com. Additional support comes from www.Snowbird.com, www.SkiVermont.com, www.PeakResorts.com and www.LLBean.com.

25 - On The Spot: Resort Marketing Honchos Dish on Technology and Shampoo

A swath of international resort marketing brainiacs were in Stowe, Vermont back in May for an annual gathering produced by Wintry Mix supporter Inntopia. Seminars, data crunching, speakers, wining, dining, etc, all centered around the quest to get folks to book trips and increase tourism. Mostly digitally. For the sake of the podcast, I invited a few of these tech buffs to my studio (porch) in order to poke and prod them for your enjoyment. Season 2 of Wintry Mix is made possible by www.Inntopia.com. Additional support comes from www.Snowbird.com, www.SkiVermont.com, www.PeakResorts.com and www.LLBean.com.

24 - Northern Care: Practicing Medicine Across the Wilds of Labrador

Canada's northeastern lands are dotted with small, mostly indigenous, communities which operate far differently than those in the US and more populated areas of Canada. There are few roads, few people and limited economies. Also icebergs and polar bears.  In episode 24 we connect with Dr. Andrew Bresnahan, who was born in one of these communities and now practices medicine in the region.  Season 2 of Wintry Mix is made possible by www.Inntopia.com.  Additional support comes from www.Snowbird.com, www.SkiVermont.com, www.PeakResorts.com and www.LLBean.com.

23 - In Hindsight: Vermont Family Reflects on Dad's Mount Washington Mishap

Backcountry skier and father of three Jon Miller took a long and harrowing slide down Hillman's Highway near Tuckerman Ravine on New Hampshire's Mount Washington in March of 2016. Episode 23 welcomes the Miller family to the Vermont Public Radio studios to reflect on the experience and what it might mean for the future. More info and photos at www.WintryMixCast.com. Season 2 of Wintry Mix is made possible by www.Inntopia.com. Additional support comes from www.Snowbird.com, www.SkiVermont.com, www.PeakResorts.com and www.LLBean.com.

22 - The Meltdown: Listener's Guide to Wintry Mix Season 1

So that was fun. Enjoy some of the highlights from season 1 and find the episodes that you'd be most interested in. Let us know what topics or guests you think would be fun in Season 2 via twitter.com/wintrymixcast, instagram.com/wintrymixcast or fb.com/wintrymixcast. We're also working on a new website at www.wintrymixcast.com. It's there now as we work on it. Season 2 starts in June. Thanks to our season 1 sponsors: Mount Snow, Snocountry, Snowbird, Propeller Media Works and Ski Vermont.

21 - On Belay: Ice Climbing in Smugglers' Notch

A group of Norwich University students paired up with Adventure Spirit Mountain Guides for a day of ice climbing. This episode of Wintry Mix brings you along for the ride. Enjoy the library produced to date and give us a rating/review on iTunes. This is the conclusion of season 1. New episodes will arrive again in June. This episode of Wintry Mix is supported by Ski Vermont. Get to www.skivermont.com for the latest details on conditions and upcoming events at downhill and cross country ski centers across the Green Mountain State. And did you know you can win prizes just for hitting the slopes? Download the Trace Snow app to participate in Ski Vermont’s Check In To Win promotion. Skip the airline hassles. The month of March in Vermont combines historically strong snowfall with comfortable temperatures. Get to www.skivermont.com and start planning your winter adventure today.

20 - Snowmaking Vs Kilowatts: Helping Vermont Resorts Tackle Energy Consumption

Efficiency Vermont has been teaming with ski resorts to reduce energy consumption for a decade with recent focus on snowmaking operations. In this episode, we chat with John McMurry, a lead engineer in this effort about the past, present and future of this initiative in Vermont and beyond. Image courtesy of Snow Logic Inc. This episode of Wintry Mix is supported by Ski Vermont. Get to www.skivermont.com for the latest details on conditions and upcoming events at downhill and cross country ski centers across the Green Mountain State. And did you know you can win prizes just for hitting the slopes? Download the Trace Snow app to participate in Ski Vermont’s Check In To Win promotion. Skip the airline hassles. The month of March in Vermont combines historically strong snowfall with comfortable temperatures. Get to www.skivermont.com and start planning your winter adventure today.

19 - Transylvania to New England: Alpine Olympian Mihaela Fera

Born and raised in Romania, Mihaela Fera represented the eastern European nation at three Olympic Games in all alpine skiing disciplines. She now resides in New Hampshire teaching the next generation of ski racers at Bretton Woods. In this episode we delve into representing a communist nation at an overseas Olympics, the ratio of bears to people, and the future of ski racing. This episode of Wintry Mix is supported by Ski Vermont. Get to www.skivermont.com for the latest details on conditions and upcoming events at downhill and cross country ski centers across the Green Mountain State. And did you know you can win prizes just for hitting the slopes? Download the Trace Snow app to participate in Ski Vermont’s Check In To Win promotion. Skip the airline hassles. The month of March in Vermont combines historically strong snowfall with comfortable temperatures. Get to www.skivermont.com and start planning your winter adventure today.

18 - On The Spot: Freeskier Magazine Edition

I recently swung by the offices of Storm Mountain Publishing outside of Boulder, Colorado to poach wifi and pick the brains of the editorial team at Freeskier Magazine. The result is the first run of a maybe recurring episode style I'm calling 'On The Spot'. You'll understand. Cameos by Chug. This episode of Wintry Mix is supported by Ski Vermont. Get to www.skivermont.com for the latest details on conditions and upcoming events at downhill and cross country ski centers across the Green Mountain State. And did you know you can win prizes just for hitting the slopes? Download the Trace Snow app to participate in Ski Vermont’s Check In To Win promotion. Skip the airline hassles. The month of March in Vermont combines historically strong snowfall with comfortable temperatures. Get to www.skivermont.com and start planning your winter adventure today.

17 - Wassail Waterbury: Singing at Strangers

The wassailing component of Waterbury Vermont's Winterfest brings out creative musical troops to entertain themselves and local patrons at the town's watering holes.

Episode 17 tries to keep up with this third annual event. Wassailing (verb): The house-visiting wassail is the practice of people going door-to-door, singing and offering a drink from the wassail bowl in exchange for gifts. This practice still exists, but has largely been displaced by caroling.

This episode of Wintry Mix is proudly supported by Propeller Media Works. Propeller provides custom web development and online marketing services to ski resorts, hospitality partners, and unique brands that aim to connect and convert more visitors into customers online. Custom web design; hand-crafted in Vermont. Check them out at www.propellermediaworks.com and catch their digital truth nuggets at facebook.com/propellermediaworks.

16 - Since 1984: Sarasota Snowbirds Serve Florida Skiers

Hank and Barbara Rhawn have been running Sarasota, Florida's Active Lifestyles ski shop for over 30 years. On top of that, as the organizers of the Sarasota Ski Club, they've taken trips to over 130 ski areas around the world. Their store was swiped by a tornado a few days before I spoke to them. This episode of Wintry Mix is proudly supported by Propeller Media Works. Propeller provides custom web development and online marketing services to ski resorts, hospitality partners, and unique brands that aim to connect and convert more visitors into customers online. Custom web design; hand-crafted in Vermont. Check them out at www.propellermediaworks.com and catch their digital truth nuggets at facebook.com/propellermediaworks.