The Skippy Report

In this episode of "The Women in Telemark Skiing" series I talk with my dear friend and ski mentor Holly Blefgen. Holly is Telemark royalty here in Canada, much the same way as Dickie Hall, Craig Dostie, and Kare Andersen are in America.  Holly shares stories about her early life in skiing, what it what like skiing the 100-200 foot hills in and around Toronto in the late 60s and progressing to owning a sponsored mobile Telemark ski school starting way back in 1984 to where she is now personally and professionally. I hope you enjoy this episode with Holly Blefgen and the deep dive into the beginnings of organized Telemark skiing in Canada.

Meet Meghan Kelly in this episode of "The Women in Telemark Skiing" series.  I originally published this episode in April, 2021, and am including it in the series as Meghan needs to be here.  Not only is Meghan a badass Tele-skier, mountain biker, and wakeboarder, but a badass in general. She does all this while working as an engineer and tops it off as the mother of triplet boys! I hope you enjoy this episode from Skippy's archives.

Meet Marion Abrams telemark skier and Film maker, in this episode of "The Women in Telemark Skiing" series.  Marion and I talk about her skiing background as a child. We delve deeply into her introduction to Nordic and Telemark skiing and bushwhacking in the forests of the East. Marion shares with us her story of catastrophe, patience, passion, and persistence that took 25 years to complete. I hope you enjoy this episode.

Hey Crew, in this episode of "The Women in Telemark Skiing" series I talk with Farli Boden, a member of The US Telemark Ski Association's National Team. We talk about her ski life growing up in Sandpoint, Idaho and starting to Telemark when she was 5. We also talk about her making her way through skiing to the USTSA National Team and her racing life, as well as her career. Make sure to follow her progress this month, as Farli will be in Europe racing in the World Cup Telemark circuit. Enjoy!

Meet Josie Baker, a Badass New School Telemark skier, who with the encouragement of a friend took on the role of Vice President of The University of Vermont's Telemark Club, Josie embraced this role and then learned to Telemark.  Thankfully Josie comes by this sport honestly. as both of her parents are longtime Telemark skiers. Josie grew up in Harborview, Michigan just down the road from Nubs Nob, a well-known Telemark Mecca on Michigan's mainland. Enjoy this episode as we talk about Josie's skiing background and her ongoing journey as a relatively new Telemark skier.

Meet Madi McKinstry in this episode of "The Women in Telemark Skiing" series, we talk about he skiing background and journey to Telemark Skiing.  We also talk about her being a Pro-Patroller at Big Sky in Montana and River Guiding in Idaho during the off-season. Enjoy!

Meet Kristine Keeney in this episode of "The Women in Telemark Skiing" series.  Kristine is a hard-charging badass Telemark skier who routinely skis more than 100 days a year, Skiing from October to June throughout The Northeast.  We talk about her ski background and how Kristine got into Telemark Skiing and how she became, The Knee-dipping Ginger on Instagram. We also delve deeply into career, working in the ground transportation sector. Enjoy!

Meet Kate Kuncova Colburn in this episode of the, "Women in Telemark Skiing" series. Kate is one of the featured ski athletes in the women only Telemark ski documentary, "Telemarkeras" produced by Diana Rivera. Kate is from the Czech Republic and splits her time living between The Czech Republic and New Hampshire, USA. In this episode Kate tells us about her youth skiing, how she was introduced to telemark skiing and her adventures in globetrotting and ski instructing. Enjoy!  

meet The Telemommies in this episode of "Women in Telemark skiing". I sit down with Eliza Biondi, Brickley Biondi, Sylvia Kinosian, and Nina Asher of The Telemommies and get thier individual and collective journeys to Telemark. Get comfy while you listen to where Telemark has taken these young women and where it will take them this ski season. Enjoy!

Meet Sara Ellen Godek in this episode of "The Women in Telemark Skiing" series. She has a very unique introductory experience to Telemark skiing involving Mad River Glen, which she shares with us. Sara Ellen and I talk about her Alpine and Nordic background and how she got into Telemark Skiing. We also talk about racing for the United States Telemark Ski Association and her Downhill Mountain Bike racing. Enjoy!

In this episode of the "Women in Telemark Skiing" series you meet Giorgia Menetre.  Giorgia talks to about how she got into Telemark skiing with the help of her Dad, while growing up in Fort Collins, Colorado. We also talk about her growing up as a dancer and where Telemark has taken her and where it is taking her, presently. Enjoy!

Keith shares with us his introduction to, and journey with Telemark Skiing. We paricularly delve deep into all things Midwest Telefest and the list of events planned for this year. Enjoy!

Welcome back to The Skippy Report's Women in Telemark Skiing series. During this episode I chat with the woman/skier behind the Documentary, "Telemarkeras", Diana Rivera. We talk about how Diana was introduced to snow sports and the love of the outdoors and mountains, while growing up in Granada, Spain, on the shore of The Mediterranean Sea by the all important school club, which all lead to her wanting to be outdoors and skiing and snowboarding all year long.  I ask Diana how she got into Telemark Skiing and where it has taken her since. Most importantly, we talk about her passion for skiing and her 3 year odyssey making her documentary, "Telemarkeras" which features 5 accomplished Women Telemark Skiers and their journeys with Telemark Skiing. I hope you enjoy this episode as Diana and I talk about the passion for being outdoors and developing a career in which Diana skis all year long, travelling between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Welcome to the first official episode of The Skippy Report's "Women in Telemark Skiing". In this episode I talk with Jasmin Taylor about how she got into skiing, then Telemark , Telemark racing on the World's stage, and finally, after putting all the hard work, becoming the World Champion she had always wanted to be.

During this episode I speak with Rory MacLeod and Tom Baleshta of Northshore Telemark, North Vancouver, BC, Canada. We talk about who each of them are and their experiences with Telemark and most importantly their involvement with Northshore Telemark, and how they are doing so many things right to grow our sport. Enjoy!

Amy Butler is a Vermont based published Outdoor Educator and hard charging Telemark Skier.  Amy's Book, Educating Children Outdoors, is an educator's resource with the rationale for bringing nature-based curriculum to your school and classroom no matter if you are in a rural or urban setting. The book has activities spread across five seasonal units with 25 lesson plans. Oh yeah, we also talk about the Zen/Chi of Telemark Skiing. Enjoy!

During this episode Skippy delves into the transition from alpine skier to telemark skier to telemark ski journalist with Jack O'Brien. Show Jack some love and check out the link to his column on Powder.com Welcome to The Tele Dribble (powder.com)

This episode's guests are Jenn and Brian Cook, owners of Kingdom Brewing in Newport, Vermont. They graciously host me and Missus Skippy in the taproom of their brew house, where we talk about Brian's backstory and how he went from a travelling sales rep for his family's Snowcat business to brewery owner. We also talk; beer making, scaling up their beer production, becoming music bookies, wood fired pizza chefs, food smoking, and how covid actually helped them, in a way.  All the things that weren't in the Brewery Handbook.  It is important for you to know, how important it is to them that they know where all of their ingredients come from and that everything is Vermont made!  As they say, "You bet your Ass it's farm to glass".

This episode's guest is Rajkeshwar Tulsie, a new Canadian, sort of. This is the story of his journey from South America to Canada's Pacific Northwest and making his way to enjoying Winter life on Telemark skis.

Wow, imagine being outside in the winter time and doing an oil painting at a ski resort? Well, during this episode, you will meet Carrie Pill, an artist who resides in Southern Vermont. Carrie just completed a project with Ski Vermont and Stio to paint 20 of Vermont's ski resorts. We discuss this project , Carrie's back story, and of course, skiing, Enjoy!

In this episode Skippy talks with Patrick Hummel, Supervisor of Mount Washington State Park, about Mount Washington, his cool job, and his commute to his office at 6288 feet above sea level. Enjoy!

Skippy talks with good friend Marc Godbout about his love for the outdoors and where he developed this love.  We also talk about his adventures and accomplishments in whitewater canoeing and kayaking, along with a newer sport to Marc, para-gliding. ...And yes we did manage to squeeze a bit of Telemark skiing in the discussion, also.

Josh and I sit down to catch up for a bit then we delve into things Telemark and Freeheel Life.

join Skippy and his guest/friend, Mikael Dansereau, as we have a conversation about Mikeal's bring raised in a Telemark family, his first foray into telemark skiing and Telemark racing which would eventually lead to his first winter on the FIS Telemark World Cup tour through Europe, this past winter.

During this episode I talk with Ivan Moen, a Nordic skier from Vos, Norway about his podcast and growing up in Norway, cross country skiing to and from school, ski jumping for sport, and of course Telemark Skiing.

Enjoy this episode of The Skippy Report where Jimmy and Bob regale us with their ski adventures from around the World. Remember to look for Jimmy's books at www.skiingaroundtheworldbook.com  where he chronicles his skiing adventures from all 7 continents and over 650 resorts. 

Enjoy this episode where I interview the brains behind @east_coast_telemark on Instagram, Adam Myott and Jason Black.  We talk about the back story to East Coast Telemark, their video competition #macnsteeze22 and "The Fall Line, meet a Tele skier".

I sit down with Kate Galliett, an Exercise Scientisit, Athletic Therapist, Personal Trainer, and all-around outdoor and activity enthusiast. Kate has just published her first book, "Becoming Unbreakable". Kate and I talk about growing up and her journey to becoming Unbreakable. We also discuss how and why she mentors others, around the globe, in their journeys toward becoming Unbreakable through resistance and resiliency as they mature.

Enjoy this episode of the Skippy Report as I have a conversation with my good friend Travis Bellantino as we talk about his Ambassadorship with Skate Park Respect.org.

Enjoy this episode as we learn René-Martin's history and how he become an outdoor content creator.

Learn how 14 year old Bob, from L.A., learns to ski in the San Gabriel Mountains of California in the mid 70s, and how this act takes him on a mind-blowing life journey into the World of Skiing.

Nick Cluley, co-owner of Happenstance Coffee Pub, Happenstance Cafe, Happenstance Bakery and Roastery, and Happenstance Farm, and I talk about his childhood in Grand Rapids, Michigan and his life journey ending up in Port Hope, Ontario. We talk about how coffee has turned into such an awesome business which invests and contributes in our towns of Port Hope and Cobourg here in Northumberland. Enjoy!

Mountain Grown Media's Bevan Waite and I talk about his attraction to Telemark Skiing and growing up in this sport. We talk about his backstory about going to school to become an Architect, and where Telemark skiing is taking him these days. We also talk about his filmmaking career, how it started, what he and fellow pinhead and ski athlete, Ty Dayberry have released, and what is next for Bevan as he transitions to filmmaking full time.  Check out his movies, "A Telemark Tale" and "Our Family", and check out his filmmaking company at Mountaingrownmedia.com.

Mitch and I talk Mid-west Telemark, Mitch's attraction to telemark, and the famous Mid-West après-ski scene.

During this episode I chat with Josh about life before and his pursuit of, "The Freeheel Life". Most of us know how passionate El Jefe is about the Telemark turn, during this first of two episodes we find out how and why Josh has become the "Protector of the the Turn". Enjoy!

This time we get to talk about living in a skoolie, converted van, the builds, and life on the road. Enjoy!

Meet Jonathan Capozzi, owner and maker of handcrafted wood skis, with a slant toward Telemark skiers.  Jonathan and I have many commonalities as we discovered through our conversation.  Sit back and enjoy this conversation about how a skier/carpenter who was not happy with the choice of skis and how he built his own ski press and started building handcrafted wood skis.

Meet Jamie and Joseph, The Oily Travelers. During this episode, we talk full time rv living while raising a family and actualizing your family/travel dreams and lifestyle, all the while staying true to yourself and your family's core values.

Welcome back to another episode. During this episode I talk with Louis Hatchwell about sports, diet, physical activity, suffering, and mental wellness, and of course there is a "smattering" of Telemark throughout.

On this episode of The Skippy Report Cory and I sit down and talk Telemark, Telemark ski racing, and Sports Science, 

Hey Crew, in this episode I talk to Ontario Agricultural College student, Gavin Brady.  We talk Zero Till Farming, and outdoor fun!

During this episode Super Mom, Meghan Kelly and I talk about her growing up in the Mid-West and her developing a love for skiing, Telemark skiing, sports, outdoor pursuits. We also talk about how she and her partner juggle being the parents six year old of triplet  boys, and Meghan being an athlete and most particularly a ski athlete.

ON this episode Skippy talks with a former student about her love of the outdoors and her becoming a sponsored fisherman.

Enjoy this episode as Lorin and I "Raise a Glass" and talk Country Music, Fly Fishing, and Friendship.

Grab a cold one and chill while Adam and I discuss outdoor stoke.

Enjoy this episode with the head coach of the United States Telemark Team, sailor, cyclist, carpenter, Keith Rodney.

Enjoy this podcast with young social media guru, Jeremy Poulin, of Red Mill Maple Syrup.

Enjoy this episode with my good friend, Jeff McKague. In This episode we talk car racing, car racing coaching, cycling, some skiing, and about Jeff's business, Event Matrix.

A casual conversation about skiing (Telemark, primarily) and cycling with my good friend, Jarl "Ski Bun Dad" Berg.  This episode is best enjoyed by cracking a beer or two and kicking back, as we did. Cheers!

Skippy interviewed owners Erin and Tyler of Foragers Farms, an organic farm in South-Central Ontario. You can find them on Instagram at @foragersfarms, show them some love and enjoy the podcast.

This episode is an introduction, history, and evolution of The Skippy Report