Podcasts about Independence Pass

On today's newscast: The traffic lights at two narrow portions of Independence Pass came down this year; the Colorado Cattlemen's Association reported multiple wolf depredation incidents in the last week at three ranches in the Roaring Fork Valley region; and a fatal neurological disease that affects deer and elk is spreading in Wyoming. Tune in for the stories and more.

On today's newscast: Local health providers are worried about access to abortion pills, the Aspen School District is considering cost-cutting and ballot measures to rebuild its reserve funds, a new employer-based child care facility is coming to the CMC Spring Valley Campus next year, Independence Pass will open ahead of Memorial Day weekend, and more.

On today's newscast: The National Weather Service monitors areas like Highway 82 for severe events such as mudslides; a 33-year-old climber died on Williams Peak near Independence Pass on Saturday; Jazz Aspen Snowmass will only allow small purses and clear bags into the Labor Day Experience this weekend; and more.

On today's newscast: Krabloonik Dog Sledding is closed for good, the city of Aspen will take applications for its Aspen 360 program starting June 1, Independence Pass will open today, Friday, by noon, and more.

This podcast hit paid subscribers' inboxes on Oct. 23. It dropped for free subscribers on Oct. 30. To receive future pods as soon as they're live, and to support independent ski journalism, please consider an upgrade to a paid subscription. You can also subscribe to the free tier below:WhoMatt Vohs, General Manager of Cascade Mountain, WisconsinRecorded onOctober 10, 2023About Cascade MountainClick here for a mountain stats overviewOwned by: The Walz familyLocated in: Portage, WisconsinYear founded: 1962Pass affiliations: NoneReciprocal partners: NoneClosest neighboring ski areas: Devil's Head (:20), Christmas Mountain Village (:30), Tyrol Basin (1:00)Base elevation: 820 feetSummit elevation: 1,280 feetVertical drop: 460 feetSkiable Acres: 176Average annual snowfall: 50-60 inchesTrail count: 48 (23% advanced, 40% intermediate, 37% beginner)Lift count: 10 (2 high-speed quads, 3 fixed-grip quads, 1 triple, 2 doubles, 1 ropetow, 1 carpet – view Lift Blog's inventory of Cascade's lift fleet)Why I interviewed himContrary to what you may imagine, Midwesterners do not pass their winters staring wistfully at the western horizon, daydreaming only of the Back Bowls and Wasatch tram rides. They're not, God help us, New Yorkers. Because unlike the high-dollar Manhattanite with weeks booked at Deer Valley and Aspen, Midwesterners ski even when they're not on vacation. Sure, they'll tag that week in Summit County or Big Sky (driving there, most likely, from Grand Rapids or Cincinnati or Des Moines), but they'll fill in the calendar in between. They'll ski on weekends. They'll ski after work. They'll ski with their kids and with their buddies and with their cousins. They'll ski in hunter orange and in Vikings jerseys and in knit caps of mysterious vintage. They'll ski with a backpack full of High Life and a crockpot tucked beneath each arm and a pack of jerky in their coat pocket. “Want some,” they'll offer as you meet them for the first time on the chairlift, a 55-year-old Hall double with no safety bar. “My buddy got an elk permit this year.”They ski because it's fun and they ski because it's cold and they ski because winter is 16 months long. But mostly they ski because there are ski areas everywhere, and because they're pretty affordable. Even Vail doesn't break double digits at its Midwest bumps, with peak-day lift tickets reaching between $69 and $99 at the company's 10 ski areas spread between Missouri and Ohio.Because of this affordable density, the Midwest is still a stronghold for the blue-collar ski culture that's been extinguished in large parts of the big-mountain West. You may find that notion offensive - that skiing, in this rustic form, could be more approachable. If so, you're probably not from the Midwest. These people are hard to offend. Michigan-born Rabbit, AKA Eminem, channels this stubborn regional pride in 8 Mile's closing rap battle, when he obliterates nemesis Papa Doc by flagrantly itemizing his flaws.“I know everything he's got to say against me” may as well be the mantra of the Midwest skier. In the U.S. ski universe, Colorad-Bro is Papa Doc, standing dumbfounded after Wisco Bro just turned his sword around on himself:This guy ain't no m***********g MCI know everything he's got to say against meMy hill is short, It snows 30 inches per yearI do ski with a coffee Thermos filled with beerMy boys do ski in camouflageI do ride Olin 210s I found in my Uncle Jack's garageI did hit an icy jumpAnd biff like a chumpAnd my last chairlift ride was 45 seconds longI'm still standing here screaming “Damn let's do it again!”You can't point out the idiosyncratic shortcomings of Midwest skiing better than a Midwest skier. They know. And they love the whole goddamn ball of bologna.But that enthusiasm wouldn't track if Wisconsin's 33 ski areas were 33 hundred-foot ropetow bumps. As in any big ski state to its east or west, Wisco has a hierarchy, a half-dozen surface lift-only operations; a smattering of 200-footers orbiting Milwaukee; a few private clubs; and, at the top of the food chain, a handful of sprawling operations that can keep a family entertained for a weekend: Granite Peak, Whitecap, Devil's Head, and Cascade. And, just as I'm working my way through the Wasatch and Vermont and Colorado by inviting the heads of those region's ski areas onto the podcast, so I'm going to (do my best to) deliver conversations with the leaders of the big boys in the Upper Midwest. This is my sixth Wisconsin podcast, and my 15th focused on the Midwest overall (five in Michigan, one each in Indiana, Ohio, and South Dakota, plus my conversation with Midwest Family Ski Resorts head Charles Skinner – view them all here). I've also got a pair of Minnesota episodes (Lutsen and Buck Hill), and another Michigan (Snowriver) one booked over the coming months.I don't record these episodes just to annoy Colorado-Bro (though that is pretty funny), or because I'm hanging onto the Midwest ski areas that stoked my rabid obsession with skiing (though I am), or because the rest of the ski media has spent 75 years ignoring them (though they have). I do it because the Midwest has some damn good ski areas, run by some damn smart people, and they have a whole different perspective on what makes a good and interesting ski area. And finding those stories is kind of the whole point here.What we talked aboutCascade's season-opening plan; summer improvements; how much better snowmaking is getting, and how fast; improving the load area around Cindy Pop; Cascade's unique immoveable neighbor; the funky fun Daisy mid-mountain parking lot; upgrading the Mogul Monster lift; why Cascade changed the name to “JL2”; Cascade's “Midwest ski-town culture”; Devil's Head; when I-94 is your driveway; why JL2 is a fixed-grip lift, even though it runs between two high-speed quads; other lift configurations Cascade considered for JL2; the dreaded icing issue that can murder high-speed lifts; reminiscing on old-school Cascade – “if the hill was open, we were here”; Christmas Mountain; a brief history of the Walz family's ownership; a commitment to independence; whether slopeside lodging could ever be an option; which lifts could be next in line for upgrades; whether Cascade considered a midstation for Cindy Pop; the glory of high-speed ropetows and where Cascade may install another one; the summer of two lift installations; the neverending saga of Cascade's expansion and what might happen next; the story behind the “Cindy Pop” and “B-Dub” lift names and various trail names; why Cindy Pop is a detachable lift and B-Dub is a fixed-grip, even though they went in the same summer; additional expansion opportunities; why Cascade hasn't (and probably won't), joined a multi-mountain ski pass; and Cascade's best idea from Covid-era operations.Why I thought that now was a good time for this interviewThe National Ski Areas Association asked me to lead a panel of general managers at their annual convention in Savannah last spring. I offered them a half-dozen topics, and we settled on “megapass holdouts”: large (for their area), regionally important ski areas that could join the Indy Pass – and, in many cases, the Epic and Ikon passes – but have chosen not to. It's a story I'd been meaning to write in the newsletter for a while, but had never gotten to.We wanted nationwide representation. In the west, we locked in Mt. Baker CEO Gwyn Howat and Mt. Rose GM Greg Gavrilets. For the eastern rep, I tapped Laszlo Vajtay, owner of Plattekill, an 1,100-footer tucked less than three hours north of New York City (but nearly unknown to its mainstream skier populations). In the Midwest, Cascade was my first choice.Why? Because it's a bit of an outlier. While the Ikon Pass ignores the Midwest outside of Boyne's two Michigan properties, opportunities for megapass membership are ample. Indy Pass has signed 32 partners in the region, and Vail has added 10 more to its Epic Pass. Five of the remainder are owned by an outfit called Wisconsin Resorts, which has combined them on its own multi-mountain pass. The model works here, is my point, and most of the region's large ski areas have either opted into the Indy Pass, or been forced onto a different megapass by their owner. But not Cascade. Here is a mountain with a solid, modern lift fleet; a sprawling and varied trail network; and what amounts to its own interstate exit. This joint would not only sell Indy Passes – it would be a capable addition to Ikon or Epic, selling passes to voyaging locals in the same way that Camelback and Windham do in the East and Big Bear does in the West. And they know it.But Cascade stands alone. No pass partnerships. No reciprocal deals. Just a mountain on its own, selling lift tickets. What a concept.A core operating assumption of The Storm is that multi-mountain passes are, mostly, good for skiers and ski areas alike. But I have not made much of an effort to analyze counter-arguments that could challenge this belief. The Savannah panel was an exercise in doing exactly that. All four mountain leaders made compelling cases for pass independence. Since that conversation wasn't recorded, however, I wanted to bring a more focused version of it to you. Here you go.What I got wrongI said that “I grew up skiing in Michigan” – that isn't exactly correct. While I did grow up in Michigan, and that's where I started skiing, I never skied until I was a teenager.Why you should ski CascadeLet's say you decided to ski the top five ski areas in every ski state in America. That would automatically drop Cascade onto your list. Even in a state with 33 ski areas, Cascade easily climbs into the top five. It's big. The terrain is varied. It's well managed. The infrastructure is first-rate. And every single year, it gets better.Yes, Cascade is consistent and deliberate in its lift and snowmaking upgrades, but no single change has improved the experience more than limiting lift ticket sales. This was a Covid-era change that the ski area stuck with, Vohs says, after realizing that giving a better experience to fewer skiers made more long-term business sense than jamming the parking lot to overfill every Saturday.Every ski area in America is a work in progress. Watching The Godfather today is the same experience as when the film debuted in 1972. But if you haven't skied Vail Mountain or Sun Valley or Stowe since that year, you'd arrive to an experience you scarcely recognized in 2023. Some ski areas, however, are more deliberate in crafting this evolving story. To some, time sort of happens, and they're surprised to realize, one day, that their 1985 experience doesn't appeal to a 21st century world. But others grab a handsaw and a screwdriver and carefully think through the long-term, neverending renovation of their dream home. Cascade is one of these, constantly, constantly sanding and shifting and shaping this thing that will never quite be finished.Podcast NotesOn Wisconsin's largest ski areasI mentioned that Cascade was one of Wisconsin's largest ski areas. Here's a full state inventory for context:On more efficient modern snowmaking I mentioned a conversation I'd had with Joe VanderKelen, president of SMI Snow Makers, and how he'd discussed the efficiency of modern snowmaking. You can listen to that podcast here:On naming the JL2 liftWhen Cascade replaced the Mogul Monster lift last year, resort officials named the new fixed-grip quad on the same line “JL2.” That, Vohs tells us, is an honorarium to two Cascade locals killed in a Colorado avalanche in 2014: Justin Lentz and Jarrard Law. Per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Feb. 16, 2014:Two men from Portage were killed in a Colorado avalanche while skiing over the weekend.Justin Lentz, 32, and Jarrad Law died when they and five other skiers were swept away by an avalanche late Saturday afternoon, friends and family told Madison television station WISC-TV (Channel 3.)The avalanche occurred at an elevation of about 11,000 feet near Independence Pass, roughly 120 miles southwest of Denver.The two skiers were found at the top of the avalanche, said Susan Matthews, spokeswoman for the Lake County Office of Emergency Management."The skiers were equipped with avalanche beacons, which assisted search and rescue crews in locating them," she said.She said authorities believe the seven skiers triggered the slide. Officials found the bodies of Lentz and Law Sunday afternoon but did not release their names.One of Lentz's family members told WISC-TV that the family was notified Saturday night. Lentz was a Portage High School graduate who was in Colorado on a skiing trip. A friend said Law had worked at Cascade Mountain and was an avid skier.WKOW captured the scene at the JL2 lift's opening this past January:It was a bittersweet moment for those at Cascade Mountain as visitors took a ride on a new ski lift named in honor of two late skiers.When it came time to name the new ski lift at Cascade Mountain in Portage, crews at the resort said there was only option that seemed fitting."We tossed around the idea of naming it after a couple of just really awesome guys who grew up skiing and snowboarding here," said Evan Walz, who is the Inside Operations Manager for Cascade Mountain.The name they landed on was JL2. It's in honor of Jarrard Law and Justin Lentz."[I] wanted to cry," Justin Lentz's mother, Connie Heitke, said. "Because I knew that people were still thinking of them and love them as much as when it first happened."Law and Lentz lost their lives to an avalanche while on a backcountry trip in Colorado in February 2014. Heitke said it has been hard but said it's the support from friends and family that helps her get through."[I] still miss him awfully a lot. He was my first. It's coming around and now that I can feel that it was okay because he used to enjoy life," she said.Seeing people gather for the ribbon cutting of the ski lift's grand opening, Heitke said is a fabulous feeling."He [Justin] would have been grabbing my head and shaking my head and shaking me screaming and yelling and hollering just like he did," she said. "Jarrard would have just been sitting over there really calm with a smile on his face enjoying watching Justin."From Lentz's obituary:Justin T. Lentz, age 32, of Sun Prairie, died on Saturday, February 15, 2014 as the result of a skiing accident in Twin Lakes, Colorado.Justin was born on August 7, 1981 in Portage, the son of Robert and Connie (Heitke) Lentz.  He graduated from Portage High School in 2000.  He had worked at Staff Electric in Madison since 2005.  Justin loved skiing, snowboarding, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, and making his weekends better than everyone else's year.    From Law's obituary:Jarrard Leigh Law, 34, of Portage, formerly of Carroll County, died tragically while skiing in Colorado Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014.He was born Dec. 6, 1979, in Freeport, to Joan (Getz) and Robert Law.Jarrard was baptized at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Savanna and confirmed at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Portage.He was a 1998 graduate of Portage High School and earned a degree in computer information systems from Madison Area Technical College.For the past 12 years, he was employed by CESA 5 working as a computer technician for the Necedah Area School District.Jarrard was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church serving as an usher and communion assistant.He enjoyed skiing, biking, hiking and many other outdoor activities.On Devil's HeadI've long had a low-grade obsession with ski areas that sit near one another. Despite drawing from identical or very similar weather systems, terrain features, and population bases, they ski, look, and feel like completely different entities. Think A-Basin/Keystone or Sugarbush/Mad River Glen – neighbors that exist, it can seem, in different universes.Many versions of this dot the Midwest, with perhaps the most well-known being Nub's Nob/The Highlands, an independent/Boyne Resorts duo that face one another across a Michigan backroad. How different are they? Both ski areas built new lifts this summer. The Highlands removed three Riblet triples and replaced them with one Doppelmayr D-Line bubble six-pack, a chairlift that probably cost more than the Detroit Lions. Nub's Nob, meanwhile, replaced a Riblet fixed-grip quad with… a Skytrac fixed-grip quad. “High-speed chairlifts at Nub's Nob just don't make sense,” GM Ben Doornbos underscored in a video announcing the replacement:Wisconsin's version of this is Cascade and Devil's Head, which sit 14 road miles apart. While both count similar vertical drops and skiable acreage totals, Devil's Head, like Nub's, relies solely on fixed-grip lifts. It's a bit more backwoods, a bit less visible than Cascade, which is parked like a sentinel over the interstate. Vohs and I talk a bit about the relationship between the two ski areas. Here's a visual of Devil's Head for reference:On Christmas MountainVohs spent some time managing Christmas Mountain, 22 miles down the interstate. He refers to it as, “a very small operation.” The place is more of an amenity for the attached resort than a standalone ski area meant to compete with Cascade or Devil's Head. It's around 200 vertical feet served by a quad and a handletow:On the capacity differences between fixed-grip and high-speed liftsCascade runs four top-to-bottom quads: two detachables and two fixed-grips. Vohs and I discuss what went into deciding which lift to install for each of these lines. Detachable quads, it turns out, are about twice as expensive to install and far more expensive to maintain, and – this is hard to really appreciate – don't move any more skiers per hour than a fixed-grip quad. Don't believe it? Check this excellent summary from Midwest Skiers:You can also read the summary here.On high-speed ropetowsI'm going to go ahead and keep proselytizing on the utility and efficiency of high-speed ropetows until every ski area in America realizes that they need like eight of them. Look at these things go (this one is at Mount Ski Gull in Minnesota):On Cascade's expansion and Google MapsMany years ago, Cascade cut a half dozen or so top-to-bottom trails skier's right of the traditional resort footprint. Were this anywhere other than Cascade, skiers may have barely noticed, but since the terrain rises directly off the interstate, well, they did. Cascade finally strung the B-Dub lift up to serve roughly half the terrain in 2016, but, as you can see on Google Maps, a clutch of trails still awaits lift service:So what's the plan? Vohs tells us in the podcast.The Storm explores the world of lift-served skiing year-round. Join us.The Storm publishes year-round, and guarantees 100 articles per year. This is article 90/100 in 2023, and number 476 since launching on Oct. 13, 2019. Want to send feedback? Reply to this email and I will answer (unless you sound insane, or, more likely, I just get busy). You can also email skiing@substack.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stormskiing.com/subscribe

The Garage Hour goons got our fancy canyon carving nasties a little dirty on a fuuuuuun run over Independence Pass (lousy stupid mountain cloudbursts), so it's time for car cleaning.  How about some technique you might not know from the detailing experts (referring to us - hilarious)? Here's the what: keeping metal cool and wet, cold water versus glass, pre-washing, two buckets (and two sponges?), detailing with detailer, thumbnail tricks, clar bars, cotton and microfiber towels, car-care chemicals, wheel brushes, tool prep, hang-drying, air and water drying, specialized cleaners for special surfaces, and using good products like Mother's, Griot's and E.C.P. ( as well as their detail guides). More: Worschestirerer sauce, fresh O.J. (now that he's out of prison), plus Truckfighters, Quicksilver Loom, Yes, Faust & Shortee, Soundgarden, Tomohawk, and Massive Attack.

The Garage Hour goons got our fancy canyon carving nasties a little dirty on a fuuuuuun run over Independence Pass (lousy stupid mountain cloudbursts), so it's time for car cleaning.  How about some technique you might not know from the detailing experts (referring to us - hilarious)? Here's the what: keeping metal cool and wet, cold water versus glass, pre-washing, two buckets (and two sponges?), detailing with detailer, thumbnail tricks, clar bars, cotton and microfiber towels, car-care chemicals, wheel brushes, tool prep, hang-drying, air and water drying, specialized cleaners for special surfaces, and using good products like Mother's, Griot's and E.C.P. ( as well as their detail guides). More: Worschestirerer sauce, fresh O.J. (now that he's out of prison), plus Truckfighters, Quicksilver Loom, Yes, Faust & Shortee, Soundgarden, Tomohawk, and Massive Attack.

W 1970 roku w okolicach przełęczy Independence Pass w Kolorado znaleziono zwłoki mężczyzny. Identyfikacja okazała się niemożliwa i przez kolejne 53 lata ten mężczyzna pozostawał bezimienny - znany jedynie jako Independence Pass John Doe.

While Mike Marolt is a US Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame Member and a badass ski mountaineer, he never really had a pro ski career. He makes his money as a CPA. Ski-wise, Mike did so many incredible things, at high altitudes-without using oxygen, sherpa, or drugs, but he was always treated like Rodney Dangerfield. He and his crew never got the respect they deserved. On the podcast, we talk about the Marolt family roots in Aspen, his identical twin brother, college baseball, and his incredible resume full of American firsts in ski descents, and more. Mike Marolt Show Notes: 5:00:  Hunter S. Thompson's rocket, Jennifer Aniston, Michael Jordan, and his dad, the Olympian    12:00:  Aspen's dark event, having an identical twin, Independence Pass in the summer with his dad, and the Aspen School District Outdoor Education Program and trip 22:15:  Best Day Brewing:  All of the flavor of your favorite IPA or Kolsch, without the alcohol, the calories, and sugar. Elan Skis:  Over 75 years of innovation that makes you better 24:15:  Climbing at Kastle Peak at least 300 times, Jeeps, and being a clean-cut, church-going kid who drank beer 37:00:  College baseball, studying accounting, the unwritten rules of climbing from his era, Denali, Logan, and learning how to suffer 38:00:  Stanley:  Get 30% off sitewide with the code drinkfast Peter Glenn Ski and Sports:  Over 60 years of getting you out there 40:00:  First trip to Asia with Ed Viesturs, his first time above 20,000 feet, and  Ed inspiring him to bring skis on future trips 49:00:  Not cool enough for big-time ski or climbing sponsorships, getting enough hate online that there was a betting pool against them living through Shishapangma, and people questioning him (and his group) being the first North American to ski an 8000-meter peak 55:00:  Going got Everest with a chip on their shoulder, how not getting it impacted them, climbing, Choy Oyo pure style and Everest not fully pure style, and then his thoughts on supplemental oxygen (which he doesn't use) 67:00:  Not bring his skis on the summit bid, getting stuck in lines, and then getting cold and turning around

This week's guest interview is with Polar adventurer, expedition guide, dog musher and educator, Eric Larsen. Eric has spent the past 15 years of his life traveling in some of the most remote and wild places left on earth including Antarctica, the North Pole, Everest and the biggest challenge of them all - cancer.   Show Sponsor: UCAN Generation UCAN has a full line of nutrition products to fuel your sport. UCAN uses SuperStarch instead of simple sugars and stimulants to fuel athletes.  UCAN keeps blood sugar steady compared to the energy spikes and crashes of sugar-based products. UCAN also has hydration products focused on giving you the sodium you need when hydrating, including several clean and light flavors. Steady energy equals sustained performance and a faster finish line!   Use UCAN in your training and racing to fuel the healthy way, finish stronger and recover more quickly!  Use the code 303UCAN for 20% off at ucan.co/discount/303UCAN/ or ucan.co   In Today's Show Feature Interview Eric Larsen Adventurer, Guide and Educator Endurance News Bermuda World Triathlon Series Race Results El Tour de Tucson, November 19 Ironman Arizona, November 20 What's new in the 303 Victoria Brumfield Now Chief Executive Officer of USA Triathlon You Get What You Give, Ask Primal Why Videos of the Week 2022 World Triathlon Championship Series Bermuda   Feature Interview: Eric Larsen Polar adventurer, expedition guide, dog musher and educator, Eric Larsen has spent the past 15 years of his life traveling in some of the most remote and wild places left on earth.   In 2006, Eric and Lonnie Dupre completed the first ever summer expedition to the North Pole. During this journey, the duo pulled and paddled specially modified canoes across 550 miles of shifting sea ice and open ocean.   Eric successfully led his first expedition to the South Pole in 2008, covering nearly 600 miles in 41 days. Eric is now one of only a few Americans in to have skied to both the North and South Poles.   In November 2009, Eric returned to Antarctica for the first leg of his world record Save the Poles expedition. This time he completed a 750-mile ski traverse to the geographic South arriving on January 2, 2010.   Two short months later he was dropped off at northern Ellesmere Island for a winter-style North Pole Journey. The international team reached the North Pole 51 days later on Earth Day - April 22, 2010.   He completed the Save the Poles expedition by reaching the summit of Mt. Everest on October 15th, 2010 becoming the first person in history to reach the world's three 'poles' within a 365-day period.   In March 2014, Eric Larsen and Ryan Waters set out to traverse nearly 500 miles across the melting Arctic Ocean, unsupported, from Northern Ellesmere Island to the geographic North Pole. Despite being one of the most cold and hostile environments on the planet, the Arctic Ocean has seen a steady and significant reduction of sea ice over the past seven years due to climate change. Because of this, Larsen's and Waters' trip—dubbed the "Last North Expedition"—is expected to be the last human-powered trek to the North Pole, ever. Eric Larsen (explorer) - Wikipedia Eric Larsen Explore   Kindred spirits indeed 3 day Gunnison Spring bar tent Camp stove Grew up in Wisconsin Read books about explorations; fascinated by Alaska Taught Environmental Education In January 2021, Eric was initially diagnosed with Stage 4 colorectal cancer, but upon further biopsies was categorized as Stage 3b. After a year of intensive chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, he is currently still in treatment. Cancer journey a lot like an explanation   News Sponsor Buddy Insurance: Buddy Insurance gives you peace of mind to enjoy your training and racing to the fullest. Buddy's mission is simple, to help people fearlessly enjoy an active and outdoor lifestyle.    Get on-demand accident insurance just in case the unexpected happens. Buddy ensures you have cash for bills fast.  Go to buddyinsurance.com and create an account.  There's no commitment or charge to create one.  Once you have an account created, it's a snap to open your phone and in a couple clicks have coverage for the day.  Check it out!   Endurance News: 2022 Bermuda World Triathlon Championship Series Flora out of the water second Raining on bike On the 3rd loop of bike joined by maya kingma Knibb was more than 40 back at the start of the bike but in 3rd place by t2 (45 seconds)   Vincent Luis led from swim to finish The front 7 gave an impressive t2 performance all coming it as a pack and dismounting in unison Blummenfelt and Yee were in a second pack   Results: Elite Women | 2022 World Triathlon Championship Series Bermuda • World Triathlon Pos First Name Last Name YOB Country Start Num Time Swim 1500m T1 Bike 40km T2 Run 10km 1 Flora Duffy 1987  BER 1 02:01:26 00:20:15 00:00:42 01:05:26 00:00:26 00:34:39 2 Taylor Knibb 1998  USA 7 02:03:04 00:20:46 00:00:47 01:05:32 00:00:32 00:35:28 3 Beth Potter 1991  GBR 2 02:03:17 00:20:47 00:00:42 01:06:45 00:00:24 00:34:41 4 Laura Lindemann 1996  GER 4 02:04:00 00:20:35 00:00:44 01:06:56 00:00:27 00:35:20 5 Taylor Spivey 1991  USA 3 02:04:05 00:20:42 00:00:44 01:06:47 00:00:26 00:35:27     Results: Elite Men | 2022 World Triathlon Championship Series Bermuda • World Triathlon Pos First Name Last Name YOB Country Start Num Time Swim 1500m T1 Bike 40km T2 Run 10km 1 Vincent Luis 1989  FRA 4 01:49:37 00:19:01 00:00:45 00:58:06 00:00:25 00:31:22 2 Antonio Serrat Seoane 1995  ESP 6 01:49:45 00:19:43 00:00:39 00:58:19 00:00:23 00:30:43 3 Roberto Sanchez Mantecon 1996  ESP 24 01:49:54 00:19:51 00:00:42 00:58:07 00:00:25 00:30:52 4 Jelle Geens 1993  BEL 1 01:49:59 00:19:49 00:00:41 00:58:05 00:00:21 00:31:06 5 Alex Yee 1998  GBR 2 01:50:04 00:19:40 00:00:38 00:58:21 00:00:26 00:31:01 6 Kristian Blummenfelt 1994  NOR 51 01:50:06 00:19:37 00:00:43 00:58:14 00:00:24 00:31:10   Tucson Bikes for Change to give out over 500 free bikes TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Tucson Bikes for Change is giving out more than 500 bicycles for children in need, before the start of El Tour de Tucson.   These special children will receive a bicycle, a helmet, lock and t-shirt at certain locations, along with a free Tour de Tucson Kid's Fun Ride registration.   "This year, Serve Our City is excited to Partner with El Tour de Tucson and their Tucson Bikes for Change program by helping to provide volunteers at seven locations throughout the city to assemble 500 bikes provided by a host of great sponsors for children in need," said Outreach Pastor Robin Blumenthal.   “What a great way for so many partners to join forces and give Tucson kids the chance to experience the joy of riding a bike in our beautiful city," expressed Blumenthal.   TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — As El Tour de Tucson draws closer, drivers in the Tucson and surrounding areas will want to take note and prepare for upcoming road closures the day of the race, Saturday Nov. 19.   An anticipated 7,000 cyclists will navigate the Old Pueblo and surrounding areas beginning at 8 a.m. Multiple variations of the El Tour route are planned:   The Century - 102-mile route; 7 a.m. start The Metric Century - 62-mile route; 9 a.m. start The Half Metric Century - 32-mile route; 10:15 a.m. start The FUN Rides! - 10, 5, and 1-mile routes; 8:00 a.m. start   All routes start and end around the Tucson Community Center (TCC), with live music, food, beer garden and other exhibitors in the Eckbo Plaza, 260 S. Church Ave.   “It's important we let the Tucson community and its surrounding areas to the south – Green Valley & Sahuarita – know what roads will be closed during El Tour on November 19," said El Tour Executive Director TJ Juskiewicz.   "We want to make sure everyone is prepared for our road closures as they plan their day. Our ride begins at 7 a.m. and goes to 4 p.m. with roads being closed at various times. Those times are listed on the list we've sent," added Juskiewicz. Organizers suggest parking in one of the two garages at the TCC, or any number of the city, county or private surface lots in the area.   Bike valet services will be available at the finish line and is included as part of the registration for riders.   Mark Allen's brother Gary and his wife Michelle Allen   From Arizona to Bahrain – Five races still to look forward to in 2022 10 Nov 2022 by John Levison We may be approaching the middle of November and the racing calendar is indeed winding down for 2022, but there are a still several notable events to look forward to. Some stellar start-lists, high-quality races – and a very significant World Championship title showdown – still remain.   We've done a little forward planning and picked out five of our highlights to look forward to in the Pro triathlon world between now and the end of 2022.   IRONMAN Arizona: 20 November With live coverage of the event from Tempe, IRONMAN Arizona offers a $100,000 prize purse, four Kona qualifying slots (2MPRO / 2WPRO) and a pretty impressive start list, should the majority of these athletes all show.   For the men those names include Joe Skipper (fifth in Kona), the full-distance debut of Ben Kanute (second at the 70.3 World Champ), Mr Yo Yo Yo, Sam Long, IRONMAN Des Moines winner Matt Hanson, Chris Leiferman (fourth at the IRONMAN World Champs, St George), Kristian Hogenhaug (2021 World Triathlon LD Champion) and INEOS rider, Cameron Wurf. Lots of fast athletes on a historically fast course. What's not to like?   joe-skipper-kona-2022-bike Joe Skipper – Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images for IRONMAN The women are headed by Skye Moench (fourth in St George), Sarah True and Great Britain's IRONMAN Lanzarote champion, Lydia Dant.     What's New in the 303: Victoria Brumfield Now Chief Executive Officer of USA Triathlon COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Victoria Brumfield today was announced by USA Triathlon Board of Directors Chair Joel Rosinbum as the Chief Executive Officer for the National Governing Body.   Brumfield, who has served as USA Triathlon's interim CEO since early September, becomes the organization's first female CEO in its 40-plus-year history.   Brumfield has been a highly impactful executive within the organization for more than four years, serving as an innovative and results-driven leader for the sport and organization. Her vision and leadership led the development and implementation of USA Triathlon's most recent strategic plan – Elevate 2028 – that sets the path for the organization through the LA 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.   “I'm honored to lead USA Triathlon during such an important time, and I want to thank Joel, the USA Triathlon Board of Directors and members of the hiring committee for the opportunity,” Brumfield said. “Multisport is transformative, unifying and empowering, and I am proud and ready to wake up every morning and bring this sport and community to more people. I look forward to working closely with our constituents and team to continue to spread the virtues of our sport far and wide, serve our community in a way that enables everyone to prosper, build on the development programs for youth and junior athletes, and celebrate our sport and community every day.”   A trailblazer and advocate throughout her career, Brumfield was hired as the first female member of the USA Triathlon's Executive Leadership Team. Brumfield's leadership has elevated and empowered female leaders within the organization at every level of the organization. Additionally, Brumfield has been a staunch proponent of diversity, equality, inclusion and access (DEIA) during her time at USA Triathlon and worked to make DEIA a focal point of the organization's long-term strategic plan, annual priorities and hiring processes, among other areas.   Brumfield has helped transform USA Triathlon's approach to service and the constituents it serves, most notably race directors, clubs, coaches, officials and age-group athletes. She has instilled a focus on building meaningful relationships with community members across the United States and emphasized the need for both resource development and initiatives and programs that drive value at the grassroots level.   Prior to her appointment as interim CEO Brumfield most recently served as USA Triathlon's Chief of Staff and Chief Business Development Officer. She led the turnaround of USA Triathlon from a transactional entity to an organization celebrated for its service leadership by fostering a culture of collaboration both internally and externally. With a people-first approach, Brumfield helped USA Triathlon earn best-place-to-work recognition by Front Office Sports, Outside Magazine, and Colorado Springs Gazette.   In 2020 Brumfield was named the Chief Business Development Officer, in addition to her Chief of Staff role, and led business development and partnerships. Under her leadership,U USA Triathlon led unprecedented commercial growth and strategic partnerships, even while navigating the Covid-19 pandemic.   In her role as Chief of Staff, Brumfield was responsible for directing strategic planning, managing and streamlining the organization's operational plan, and overseeing cross-functional projects with large-scale organizational impact. She also directly oversaw business administration including human resources, finance, and information technology (IT), for three years.   Brumfield currently serves on the World Triathlon Audit Committee and was a member of the SportsBusiness Journal “Game Changers: Women in Sports Business” 2020 Class.   Prior to USA Triathlon, Brumfield worked in the endurance sports industry for nearly 20 years across a number of roles that gave her both a broad understanding of the business of the sport and the opportunity to grow and inspire triathlon communities at the local level. Most recently, she was a founding member of the Virgin Sport start-up in Sir Richard Branson's global Virgin Group. Before Virgin, Victoria's roots were deeply embedded in triathlon as the former Event Director for the New York City Triathlon, IRONMAN US Championship, 2003 ITU World Cup in New York City, 2005 ITU Age Group World Championships in Hawaii, and 2004 USA Olympic trials for Triathlon, among others.   Brumfield is a passionate amateur short and long-distance triathlete and endurance athlete. She studied finance and earned a Master of Business Administration from the NYU Stern School Of Business. She currently resides in Colorado Springs, Colo.   You Get What You Give, Ask Primal Why By Bill Plock Nov 6, 2022–Denver  In 1998, The New Radicals released the song, “You Get What You Give” and it seems to have resonated strongly as a business mantra with premier cycling apparel manufacturer Primal of Denver.   As I looked around the room at the Four Seasons conference room during the PrimalBike 2022 gathering a couple of weeks ago, it dawned on me that between all of the rides represented here, well over $150 million is raised each and every year for a variety of causes; cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, college scholarships, community causes and so much more.   Between the rides, tens of thousands of riders explore roads in every corner of America. The reason they were all in Denver? Primal, a thirty-year-old company supplies cycling clothing for all of these rides and the cyclists who spend hours raising money and a lifetime rolling on roads.   Thirty years ago, Dave Edwards made some cool cycling t-shirts and sold them out of the back of his car in Moab. They were a hit and one thing has led to another and thousands upon thousands of designs later Primal has evolved into one of cycling's top brands of cycling wear.   Each year, Primal invites some of their top customers to meet and discuss the “state of the union” in cycling events and ponder the future, and share ideas on how to improve events and the sport of cycling. This year's attendee's included leaders from MS, RAGBRAI, Bike New York, Pan-Mass Challenge, Outside, and many others. All of the organizations attending, some for-profit and most non-profits, raise enormous money, but so does Primal.   Since its inception, Primal has given away over 12 million dollars. Says founder, President/CEO Dave Edwards about the gathering, “the most meaningful part is making connections and sharing knowledge and experiences. We're privileged to work with incredible partners, and we wanted to provide an opportunity for them to get together in a setting that inspires learning, conversations, and relationship building that makes their events even better while getting more people on bikes.”   The Pan-Mass Challenge, in particular, raising $63million in one ride for cancer research leads the peloton of charity. Said President, Jarrett Collins, “Primal is a great partner for the Pan-Mass Challenge because they support many of our teams with high-quality kits, AND they give back to the fundraising efforts of those teams, all in the service of defeating cancer!”   The group had break-out sessions focused on discussing a variety of topics ranging from sustainability to trends such as gravel, or as Jarrett Collins termed, “unpaved”. Steve Schulz from Cycle Oregon gave us a peek behind the curtains of their Community of Giving (COG) program and the impact their ride has on its communities and how it helps build everything from community centers to improving community relationships.   The group took to the streets and rode bikes to further build camaraderie and consider ideas aimed at getting more people on bikes and raising more money.   Ken Podziba, President of Bike New York holds the largest one-day ride in the United States, the Five Boro Bike Tour with over 32,000 riders (303 articles about the ride HERE) and said of the conference, “the conference, which was interesting, engaging, informative, and entertaining, provided an opportunity to learn from and collaborate with some of our country's top bike event organizers.  I left Denver with a much greater knowledge of Primal's creative and managerial processes, learning things we can apply to our events, and making some awesome new friends – now that's a successful conference!”   If you measure yourself by the peers you attract, Primal has attracted many of the best of the best when it comes to top cycling events and raising money for good causes. You Get What You Give seemed more than obvious at PrimalBike 2022.   Aspen unicyclist left his mark on famed Iron Horse Bicycle Classic It's only fitting that Aspen's Mike “Pinto” Tierney is going out “No. 1” in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic.   Not “No. 1” as in the fastest in the famed race and recreational ride between Durango and Silverton. Nor did he log the most years riding in the event, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year on Memorial Day Weekend.   Instead, he is the guy who has turned heads for tackling the grueling 47-mile ride over two mountain passes exceeding 10,000 feet on one wheel.   In Aspen, Tierney is famed for working 40 years on the exalted Aspen Highlands Ski Patrol and for ­regularly riding his unicycle up Independence Pass and Maroon and Castle Creek roads — and even on a ­variety of mountain bike trails in the Roaring Fork Valley.   In Durango and Silverton, he's known as the crazy dude who rides a one-wheeled cycle with no brakes up and down some of the most challenging passes in Colorado.   “A 63-year-old unicycling 50 miles from Durango to Silverton sounds a little crazy. I don't mind being called crazy,” Tierney said.   This year's event was his eighth and final Iron Horse. “I was the only unicyclist to do it, ever,” he said. Others started, none finished. He heard of a unicyclist from Cortez who rode the route, just not during the Iron Horse.   Unicycles weren't allowed in the event prior to 2005. Rules changed and Tierney jumped at the opportunity — and promptly got humbled. Six unis started. The other riders dropped out along the route. Tierney started with the two-wheeled riders and was quickly left in the dust. One restaurant hung a sign on the door saying, “Free food to Lance Armstrong and any unicyclist that finishes.” By the time Tierney finished, the restaurant was closed for the day because all riders had long since finished.   He changed strategy the next time he rode it in 2015. He started an hour early and got the flats north of Durango out of the way. In that and subsequent years, he got used to the racers sweeping by him on lower Coal Bank Pass, then the recreational riders catching him higher up the major ascent. He completes the ride between 6 and 6.5 hours.   It's not about finishing fast. It's about finishing on one wheel. Other cyclists marvel at how he can tackle the steep ascents and hair-raising downhills on a cycle with one speed and no brake. He rides a 36-inch wheel. He grinds up with 170mm crank arms and swaps them out to 140mm for the downhills.   Over the 45 years since he started riding a unicycle, he's learned to seek the slow cadence of pedal strokes on the downhill. If he cannot maintain it and gets going too quickly, he's got to jump off. He's never had to do it in his eight Iron Horses. While bicycle riders get to coast on the downhills, Tierney still has to work.   For Tierney, it was particularly humbling to get accolades in a couple of notable celebrations of the Iron Horse's 50th anniversary. There is a section about him in a book marking the anniversary, “Fiftieth Anniversary, Looking Back Racing Forward” by John Peel. His accomplishments also are included in a special exhibit at Fort Lewis College's Center of Southwest Studies. The exhibit, “Looking Back, Racing Ahead: 50 Years of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic and Durango Cycling Culture,” is on display until spring 2023.     Invitation to TriDot Pre Season Project The Preseason Project® is a triathlon research initiative that helps TriDot quantify and enhance the performance gains that TriDot's Optimized Training™ delivers over training alternatives. Welcome to the 2023 TriDot Preseason Project (PSP) application.      Submit this 2-minute app to qualify for 2 FREE months of optimized triathlon training with the TriDot Mark Allen Edition.   PSP is an annual R&D initiative that helps triathletes reach their true performance potential through optimized preseason training. It also quantifies the substantial performance gains that TriDot's Optimized Training delivers over training alternatives.   You qualify for the FREE training if you meet the following criteria: Planning an Olympic, Half, or Full triathlon for 2023 season Train using a device with GPS and/or power Have not used TriDot in the last 6 months Not a professional triathlete Enthusiastic and motivated to get a jump start on your season! * Applications are reviewed and accepted on a first-come basis and must be fully completed to be considered.    Register For Free   Video of the week: 2022 World Triathlon Championship Series Bermuda: Elite Women's Highlights   2022 World Triathlon Championship Series Bermuda: Elite Men's Highlights   Closing: Thanks again for listening in this week.  Please be sure to follow us @303endurance and of course go to iTunes and give us a rating and a comment.  We'd really appreciate it! Stay tuned, train informed, and enjoy the endurance journey!

During Interstate 70 construction in the 1980s, more than 100 structures were found near Sevier, Utah, dating from the 10th and 11th centuries. After hundreds of thousands of artifacts were excavated, the actual village site was destroyed by the freeway's construction. Fremont Indian State Park was established to preserve the site's treasures. Plus, an Arizona tribe plans to pull out of a deal meant to prop up the Colorado River's largest reservoir. And later, a group of scientists and nonprofit leaders recently headed over Independence Pass in a small airplane, looking for places to restore beavers. // Show Notes: // Photo: Nathanial Pikyavit demonstrates how to throw an atlatl. The atlatl is the wooden portion on the bottom. It has a hook to attach to the metal spear. Kristine Weller/KUER // KUER: Fremont Indian State Park exists to keep an ancient tribal way of life alive https://www.kuer.org/arts-culture-entertainment/2022-08-30/fremont-indian-state-park-exists-to-keep-an-ancient-tribal-way-of-life-alive

2x Olympian Noah Hoffman discusses what went down at the Human Rights Watch roundtable discussion leading up to the Beijing Olympic Games. We talk IOC-athlete relationships, the work of Global Athlete, an organization working to hold administrations accountable and grant greater athlete voice, the U.S. Olympic team nominations, and whether or not he would be down to race the Seder-Skier in a double-pole race up Independence Pass.... Enjoy - thank's Noah! Check out his podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-podcast-called-global-athlete/id1274093398?i=1000525673160 Here is an article with backstory on the roundtable discussion: https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1117952/beijing-2022-human-rights-watch --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/seder-skier/support

In today's episode we talk about how Colorado transportation officials are reminding truckers to use approved detour routes during the extended closure of I-70 through Glenwood Canyon. Follow us on social media! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ele_logistics/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ELELogisticsInc/

This week we have world record owner Mike Tiernery. Mike Tiernery has been riding unicycles in epic rides in Colorado and elsewhere.  100 mile Copper Triangle (4 passes), the 48-mile Iron Horse Classic (Durango to Silverton over Coal Bank and Molas passes), or the world record Mauna Kea 14K, Mike does it all on a unicycle.   Show Sponsor: VENGA   As you know, we're huge fans of Venga CBD. It really helps us recover more quickly from our workouts and have way less soreness. Oh, and the sleep - it's helped our sleep SO MUCH.   We've been taking CBD for a long time now, but if you're new to it - or haven't yet tried it - you might be confused about where to start.   Well, good news. Venga is now offering personalized CBD plans. All you have to do is take a simple quiz to get you started! Answer a few questions and, voila - there's your personalized CBD recommendation! It's all based on YOU - what CBD YOU need right now to meet your goals.   Guys, it's super easy to go take this quiz on their website. Just go to vengacbd.com/quiz and (you didn't hear it from us but…) there's a freebie in it for you just for taking the quiz.   So go - right now - to vengacbd.com/quiz and get started. We trust these guys 100% and they'll make it really easy for you to get started with the RIGHT CBD.   To celebrate the longest day of the year, VengaCBD is offering our biggest discount ever for first-time customers.  Here's the deal:  40% off Ultra Gels (up to 2 bottles) through Sunday using promo code SUN40.     Goal: 5 Mistakes Download We've been using CBD for a long time now and I have to admit - we didn't always know what we were doing with it. It's easy to get confused when you don't know when, how much, or even why to take it.   It wasn't until we found Venga CBD that it all really started to click. Venga CBD makes really powerful CBD, and they know that if you're using it wrong, you're just not going to get the full benefit. And that kind of defeats the purpose.   Fortunately, they have this really cool free download that walks you through the mistakes athletes make when they start using CBD. Guys, after reading this, it all started to make sense and it became clear we needed to make a few adjustments in order to get the full benefit of their products.   If you're currently using CBD, or are just curious about it, I highly recommend you grab this free download. It costs nothing and it is super useful. Simply go to VengaCBD.com/5mistakes - that's the number 5, mistakes, no spaces, and request your free download.   We have a BIG sale starting today - Thursday the 17th. To celebrate the longest day of the year, we're offering our biggest discount ever for first-time customers.  Here's the deal: 40% off Ultra Gels (up to 2 bottles) Thursday through Sunday using promo code SUN40.      Just go to https://vengaendurance.com/303podcast to order yours today. First-time order is 30% off with code (303PODCAST).  We've also added 50% off your first month's subscription with code (303SUBSCRIPTION).     In Today's Show Feature interview - Mike Tiernery Endurance News - Olympics - Triathlon Team, Why 3 women and 2 men, Katy Ledecky What New in the 303 - Rattler Racing in WinterPark and Ragnar Report from last week Video of the Week - Mike Teirnery World Record     Interview Sponsor: UCAN Take your performance to the next level with UCAN Energy and Bars made with SuperStarch®  UCAN uses SuperStarch instead of simple sugars to fuel serious athletes.  UCAN keeps blood sugar steady compared to the energy spikes and crashes of sugar-based products.  Steady energy equals sustained performance!   You put in the training, so don't let nutrition limit your performance.  Use UCAN in your training and racing to fuel the healthy way, finish stronger and recover more quickly!  Use the code 303UCAN for 20% off at ucan.co/discount/303UCAN/ or ucan.co   Use the code 303UCAN for 20% off at ucan.co/discount/303UCAN/ or ucan.co,      Interview with Mike Tiernery Years ago, I saw some guy riding a unicycle coming down Lookout Mountain as I was riding up with some friends.  I remember saying out loud "do you guys see what I see"?   Mike Tiernery has been riding unicycles in epic rides in Colorado and elsewhere.  100 mile Copper Triangle (4 passes), the 48-mile Iron Horse Classic (Durango to Silverton over Coal Bank and Molas passes), or the world record Mauna Kea 14K, Mike does it all on a unicycle.   Tierney loves to train by climbing Independence Pass in the spring, when the road had been plowed but is still closed to vehicular traffic. He says he has a passion for climbing hills on his uni, and he likes the simplicity and the “Zen state” it puts him in.   FIETS – What's FIETS? | George's Epic Adventures (epictrain.me) Aspen man sets world record climbing Hawaiian volcano on unicycle – The Denver Post The iron hoss - Durango Telegraph Unicyclist climbing to new heights – The Denver Post Aspen unicyclist tackles tough terrain | VailDaily.com a5E3A5745--Unicyclist Mike Tierney making it to the summit… | Flickr Mike Tierney World Record Unicycle Climb     Our News is sponsored by Buddy Insurance. It's big time training and racing season.  Buddy Insurance is the kind of peace of mind so you can enjoy your training and racing to their fullest.  Buddy's mission is simple, to help people fearlessly enjoy an active and outdoor lifestyle.  You can now get on-demand accident insurance to make sure you get cash for bills fast and fill any gaps between your current coverage.  Go to buddyinsurance.com and create an account.  There's no commitment or charge to create one.  Once you have an account created, it's a snap to open your phone and in a couple clicks have coverage for the day.  Check it out!   Endurance News:   USA TRIATHLON ANNOUNCES 2020 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIATHLON TEAM USA Triathlon today announced its 2020 U.S. Olympic Triathlon Team, comprised of the five athletes who will represent the United States in triathlon competition at this summer's Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Kevin McDowell (Geneva, Ill.) and Katie Zaferes (Cary, N.C.) were newly announced to the roster, joining Summer Rappaport (Thornton, Colo.), Taylor Knibb (Washington, D.C.) and Morgan Pearson (Boulder, Colo.), who were already qualified.   The five members of the Tokyo-bound team have a wealth of experience and success on the international race circuit, with a combined 32 World Triathlon Championship Series medals, 30 World Triathlon Cup medals and 12 World Triathlon Mixed Relay Series medals between them.     The road to Tokyo 2020 For the first time in history, our triathletes will compete across three medal events at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The long journey to be among those chosen to compete for Olympic glory begins in Japan this weekend, at the 2018 ITU World Triathlon Yokohama. In just over two years' time, 55 men and 55 women be going for Olympic gold in the individual events and then again in country-based teams of four in the Mixed Relay. The qualification period starts on 11 May 2018, and will finish the very same day in 2020.   “Tokyo is going to be an extremely important event not only for the International Triathlon Union, but also for the history of our sport and for the athletes competing there”, said ITU President and IOC member, Marisol Casado. “The Olympic Games is the pinnacle of the sport, and to give our athletes the opportunity to earn two medals in the same Games is something of which we should all be very proud. With male and female athletes competing together as a team we will show the world just how committed triathlon is to gender equality, and how our athletes can shine and perform under any circumstances, both individually and as a team”, she said.   “For this Qualification period, the key for the National Federations will be to find the balance in the focus of the individual and mixed relay participation in the next two years. It will require a real team effort from all the Federations”, explained Gergely Markus, ITU Sports Director.   There will be various ways to qualify for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and earn one of the 55 spots available. As a new addition to the previous qualification criteria, there will be Mixed Relay events counting towards the qualification.   The top seven countries on the Mixed Relay Olympic Qualification Ranking as of March 31, 2020, will secure two men's and two women's quota places each.   Three further countries will be awarded two men's and two women's places at a qualification event for the top 18-ranked countries (not including those already qualified) to be held between 1 April and 11 May, 2020. Our Olympic Games hosts Japan are already guaranteed their four places in the Mixed Relay.   Via these three methods, 22 places will have been secured, with a further 26 places then available through the Individual Olympic Qualification Ranking.   For those countries with 2-2 places already secured by any of the previous qualification pathways, the top 2 athletes in both genders will not be considered in this ranking.   Countries with three or more athletes among the top 30 of this ranking will be able to secure a third quota place, otherwise there will be a maximum two per country.   The overall Olympic eligibility criteria for any athlete will be finishing in the top 140 of the Individual Olympic Qualification Ranking.   The “new flag” rule will be applied again for the qualification for Tokyo 2020. The countries that will be eligible for those places will be the ones which athletes' are at the best ranking position from the continent on the ITU World Ranking from those countries which didn't secure any place by any means of the above.   Last but not least, a maximum of two invitations will be awarded to countries entitled to receive such places and with eligible athletes according to the IOC criteria and who are represented in the top 180 of the ITU World Ranking.   It is important to remember that quota places will be earned by the countries, not the individuals. It remains the decision of each National Olympic Committee which athletes are chosen to take them.   Athletes will not have to compete in the individual events of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games to be part of the team of the Mixed Relay event, but their country's quota would not be increased in such cases.     U.S. Olympic Trials: Katie Ledecky wins 200, 1500 meter freestyle titles Katie Ledecky secured two Olympic bids on Wednesday at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha, Neb., winning the 200-meter freestyle and cruising in the 1,500-meter freestyle to qualify in those events for for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.   A little more than an hour after winning the 200 freestyle in 1:55.11, Ledecky — the world record holder in the 1,500 — swam the fastest 1,500-meter time in the world this year (15:40.50) for victory. Erica Sullivan was second at 15:51.18.   Ledecky has the top 10 fastest times in history in the women's 1,500 freestyle. She previously won the 400-meter freestyle final on Monday. Ledecky has won six medals at the Olympics (five gold, one silver), including five at the 2016 games.     What's New in the 303:   Check Out Upcoming 3 Day MTB Stage Race in Winter Park–Qualifier for Nationals Rattler Racing has been around awhile just coming off a successful new gravel race in Eastern Colorado, the Mad Gravel. Now their focus will turn to a three day mountain bike stage race in Winter Park June 17-19–and you will not be racing on Fathers Day if you need to keep that open for family time.   Looking over the event information and having talked with Race Director Dave Muscianisi, you know the goal is to have a lot of fun, be challenged and have a lot of fun–oh wait did I say that already? Here are a few rules that foreshadow the vibe for a well organized event on some beautiful trails and roads in Grand County.   Rule 1: You will smile no matter the pain. Rule 6: Be nice to the land, it never did anything to you. Rule 8: If you don't thank a volunteer, you will be publicly shamed.     Confessions of a Ragnar Newbie Shout out to Emma Pearson of Athletic Brewing Company for the free 6 pack of Run Wild IPA, All Out Stout and Rainbow Wall IPA (their pride month beer).   Just hit the highlights Amber Hardesty and marketing director Dave Deboer Aaron, Rich, Josh, Jake, Patrick, Chris, Matt, Matt 13 overall and 3 in Male Open     Bill & Rich's Excellent [Endurance] Adventure Bill   Rich Riding Squaw Pass on Saturday, Fathers Day baby back smoked ribs Sunday     Video of the Week: Mike Tierney World Record Unicycle Climb       Upcoming Interviews People For Bikes   Closing: Thanks again for listening in this week.  Please be sure to follow us @303endurance and of course go to iTunes and give us a rating and a comment.  We'd really appreciate it! Stay tuned, train informed, and enjoy the endurance journey!

This week we have world record owner Mike Tiernery.  He rode up Mauna Kea in eleven hours, forty-four miles, nearly 14,000 vertical feet on one 29-inch wheel. That's right, a unicycle! Mike Tiernery has been riding unicycles in epic rides in Colorado and elsewhere.  100 mile Copper Triangle (4 passes), the 48-mile Iron Horse Classic (Durango to Silverton over Coal Bank and Molas passes), or the world record Mauna Kea 14K, Mike does it all on a unicycle.   Show Sponsor: VENGA   As you know, we're huge fans of Venga CBD. It really helps us recover more quickly from our workouts and have way less soreness. Oh, and the sleep - it's helped our sleep SO MUCH.   We've been taking CBD for a long time now, but if you're new to it - or haven't yet tried it - you might be confused about where to start.   Well, good news. Venga is now offering personalized CBD plans. All you have to do is take a simple quiz to get you started! Answer a few questions and, voila - there's your personalized CBD recommendation! It's all based on YOU - what CBD YOU need right now to meet your goals.   Guys, it's super easy to go take this quiz on their website. Just go to vengacbd.com/quiz and (you didn't hear it from us but…) there's a freebie in it for you just for taking the quiz.   So go - right now - to vengacbd.com/quiz and get started. We trust these guys 100% and they'll make it really easy for you to get started with the RIGHT CBD.   To celebrate the longest day of the year, VengaCBD is offering our biggest discount ever for first-time customers.  Here's the deal:  40% off Ultra Gels (up to 2 bottles) through Sunday using promo code SUN40.     Goal: 5 Mistakes Download We've been using CBD for a long time now and I have to admit - we didn't always know what we were doing with it. It's easy to get confused when you don't know when, how much, or even why to take it.   It wasn't until we found Venga CBD that it all really started to click. Venga CBD makes really powerful CBD, and they know that if you're using it wrong, you're just not going to get the full benefit. And that kind of defeats the purpose.   Fortunately, they have this really cool free download that walks you through the mistakes athletes make when they start using CBD. Guys, after reading this, it all started to make sense and it became clear we needed to make a few adjustments in order to get the full benefit of their products.   If you're currently using CBD, or are just curious about it, I highly recommend you grab this free download. It costs nothing and it is super useful. Simply go to VengaCBD.com/5mistakes - that's the number 5, mistakes, no spaces, and request your free download.   We have a BIG sale starting today - Thursday the 17th. To celebrate the longest day of the year, we're offering our biggest discount ever for first-time customers.  Here's the deal: 40% off Ultra Gels (up to 2 bottles) Thursday through Sunday using promo code SUN40.      Just go to https://vengaendurance.com/303podcast to order yours today. First-time order is 30% off with code (303PODCAST).  We've also added 50% off your first month's subscription with code (303SUBSCRIPTION).     In Today's Show Feature interview - Mike Tiernery Endurance News - Olympics - Triathlon Team, Why 3 women and 2 men, Katy Ledecky What New in the 303 - Rattler Racing in WinterPark and Ragnar Report from last week Video of the Week - Mike Teirnery World Record     Interview Sponsor: UCAN Take your performance to the next level with UCAN Energy and Bars made with SuperStarch®  UCAN uses SuperStarch instead of simple sugars to fuel serious athletes.  UCAN keeps blood sugar steady compared to the energy spikes and crashes of sugar-based products.  Steady energy equals sustained performance!   You put in the training, so don't let nutrition limit your performance.  Use UCAN in your training and racing to fuel the healthy way, finish stronger and recover more quickly!  Use the code 303UCAN for 20% off at ucan.co/discount/303UCAN/ or ucan.co   Use the code 303UCAN for 20% off at ucan.co/discount/303UCAN/ or ucan.co,      Interview with Mike Tiernery Years ago, I saw some guy riding a unicycle coming down Lookout Mountain as I was riding up with some friends.  I remember saying out loud "do you guys see what I see"?   Mike Tiernery has been riding unicycles in epic rides in Colorado and elsewhere.  100 mile Copper Triangle (4 passes), the 48-mile Iron Horse Classic (Durango to Silverton over Coal Bank and Molas passes), or the world record Mauna Kea 14K, Mike does it all on a unicycle.   Tierney loves to train by climbing Independence Pass in the spring, when the road had been plowed but is still closed to vehicular traffic. He says he has a passion for climbing hills on his uni, and he likes the simplicity and the “Zen state” it puts him in.   FIETS – What's FIETS? | George's Epic Adventures (epictrain.me) Aspen man sets world record climbing Hawaiian volcano on unicycle – The Denver Post The iron hoss - Durango Telegraph Unicyclist climbing to new heights – The Denver Post Aspen unicyclist tackles tough terrain | VailDaily.com a5E3A5745--Unicyclist Mike Tierney making it to the summit… | Flickr Mike Tierney World Record Unicycle Climb     Our News is sponsored by Buddy Insurance. It's big time training and racing season.  Buddy Insurance is the kind of peace of mind so you can enjoy your training and racing to their fullest.  Buddy's mission is simple, to help people fearlessly enjoy an active and outdoor lifestyle.  You can now get on-demand accident insurance to make sure you get cash for bills fast and fill any gaps between your current coverage.  Go to buddyinsurance.com and create an account.  There's no commitment or charge to create one.  Once you have an account created, it's a snap to open your phone and in a couple clicks have coverage for the day.  Check it out!   Endurance News:   USA TRIATHLON ANNOUNCES 2020 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIATHLON TEAM USA Triathlon today announced its 2020 U.S. Olympic Triathlon Team, comprised of the five athletes who will represent the United States in triathlon competition at this summer's Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Kevin McDowell (Geneva, Ill.) and Katie Zaferes (Cary, N.C.) were newly announced to the roster, joining Summer Rappaport (Thornton, Colo.), Taylor Knibb (Washington, D.C.) and Morgan Pearson (Boulder, Colo.), who were already qualified.   The five members of the Tokyo-bound team have a wealth of experience and success on the international race circuit, with a combined 32 World Triathlon Championship Series medals, 30 World Triathlon Cup medals and 12 World Triathlon Mixed Relay Series medals between them.     The road to Tokyo 2020 For the first time in history, our triathletes will compete across three medal events at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The long journey to be among those chosen to compete for Olympic glory begins in Japan this weekend, at the 2018 ITU World Triathlon Yokohama. In just over two years' time, 55 men and 55 women be going for Olympic gold in the individual events and then again in country-based teams of four in the Mixed Relay. The qualification period starts on 11 May 2018, and will finish the very same day in 2020.   “Tokyo is going to be an extremely important event not only for the International Triathlon Union, but also for the history of our sport and for the athletes competing there”, said ITU President and IOC member, Marisol Casado. “The Olympic Games is the pinnacle of the sport, and to give our athletes the opportunity to earn two medals in the same Games is something of which we should all be very proud. With male and female athletes competing together as a team we will show the world just how committed triathlon is to gender equality, and how our athletes can shine and perform under any circumstances, both individually and as a team”, she said.   “For this Qualification period, the key for the National Federations will be to find the balance in the focus of the individual and mixed relay participation in the next two years. It will require a real team effort from all the Federations”, explained Gergely Markus, ITU Sports Director.   There will be various ways to qualify for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and earn one of the 55 spots available. As a new addition to the previous qualification criteria, there will be Mixed Relay events counting towards the qualification.   The top seven countries on the Mixed Relay Olympic Qualification Ranking as of March 31, 2020, will secure two men's and two women's quota places each.   Three further countries will be awarded two men's and two women's places at a qualification event for the top 18-ranked countries (not including those already qualified) to be held between 1 April and 11 May, 2020. Our Olympic Games hosts Japan are already guaranteed their four places in the Mixed Relay.   Via these three methods, 22 places will have been secured, with a further 26 places then available through the Individual Olympic Qualification Ranking.   For those countries with 2-2 places already secured by any of the previous qualification pathways, the top 2 athletes in both genders will not be considered in this ranking.   Countries with three or more athletes among the top 30 of this ranking will be able to secure a third quota place, otherwise there will be a maximum two per country.   The overall Olympic eligibility criteria for any athlete will be finishing in the top 140 of the Individual Olympic Qualification Ranking.   The “new flag” rule will be applied again for the qualification for Tokyo 2020. The countries that will be eligible for those places will be the ones which athletes' are at the best ranking position from the continent on the ITU World Ranking from those countries which didn't secure any place by any means of the above.   Last but not least, a maximum of two invitations will be awarded to countries entitled to receive such places and with eligible athletes according to the IOC criteria and who are represented in the top 180 of the ITU World Ranking.   It is important to remember that quota places will be earned by the countries, not the individuals. It remains the decision of each National Olympic Committee which athletes are chosen to take them.   Athletes will not have to compete in the individual events of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games to be part of the team of the Mixed Relay event, but their country's quota would not be increased in such cases.     U.S. Olympic Trials: Katie Ledecky wins 200, 1500 meter freestyle titles Katie Ledecky secured two Olympic bids on Wednesday at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha, Neb., winning the 200-meter freestyle and cruising in the 1,500-meter freestyle to qualify in those events for for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.   A little more than an hour after winning the 200 freestyle in 1:55.11, Ledecky — the world record holder in the 1,500 — swam the fastest 1,500-meter time in the world this year (15:40.50) for victory. Erica Sullivan was second at 15:51.18.   Ledecky has the top 10 fastest times in history in the women's 1,500 freestyle. She previously won the 400-meter freestyle final on Monday. Ledecky has won six medals at the Olympics (five gold, one silver), including five at the 2016 games.     What's New in the 303:   Check Out Upcoming 3 Day MTB Stage Race in Winter Park–Qualifier for Nationals Rattler Racing has been around awhile just coming off a successful new gravel race in Eastern Colorado, the Mad Gravel. Now their focus will turn to a three day mountain bike stage race in Winter Park June 17-19–and you will not be racing on Fathers Day if you need to keep that open for family time.   Looking over the event information and having talked with Race Director Dave Muscianisi, you know the goal is to have a lot of fun, be challenged and have a lot of fun–oh wait did I say that already? Here are a few rules that foreshadow the vibe for a well organized event on some beautiful trails and roads in Grand County.   Rule 1: You will smile no matter the pain. Rule 6: Be nice to the land, it never did anything to you. Rule 8: If you don't thank a volunteer, you will be publicly shamed.     Confessions of a Ragnar Newbie Shout out to Emma Pearson of Athletic Brewing Company for the free 6 pack of Run Wild IPA, All Out Stout and Rainbow Wall IPA (their pride month beer).   Just hit the highlights Amber Hardesty and marketing director Dave Deboer Aaron, Rich, Josh, Jake, Patrick, Chris, Matt, Matt 13 overall and 3 in Male Open     Bill & Rich's Excellent [Endurance] Adventure Bill   Rich Riding Squaw Pass on Saturday, Fathers Day baby back smoked ribs Sunday     Video of the Week: Mike Tierney World Record Unicycle Climb       Upcoming Interviews People For Bikes   Closing: Thanks again for listening in this week.  Please be sure to follow us @303endurance and of course go to iTunes and give us a rating and a comment.  We'd really appreciate it! Stay tuned, train informed, and enjoy the endurance journey!

Welcome to Episode #246 of the 303 Endurance Podcast.  Today's feature interview with the Executive Director at USA Triathlon Foundation, Dave Deschenes.  He's been involved in Multisport for over 20 years.  Before coming to the USA Triathlon Foundation, Deschenes spent seven-plus years as Executive Director for the IRONMAN Foundation in Tampa, Florida, where he was responsible for growing the organization’s total charitable giveback from $12 million to over $50 million. He's going to have an interesting insight into how the sport is being impacted by COVID.  Sponsor VENGA: Thanks to Venga CBD for sponsoring today's show.  Venga is a premium CBD that will improve your athletic performance by helping reduce inflammation and anxiety.  I'm personally a fan of the ultragels and balm. Venga CBD products are different than typical CBD products, they are made for endurance athletes here in Colorado with the highest quality PCR hemp. All their products are THC free, with the highest bioavailability of any CBD because it’s water-soluble CBD. And they have a no-risk, 60-day, money-back guarantee.  It's easy order online and delivered right to your door. You can get Venga CBD by going to VengaCBD.com which is spelled V - e - n - g - a CBD.com.  Get 30% off your first order with promo code - 303podcast.  Subscribe and save 15% on future orders. Sponsor UCAN: This week UCAN is featuring a deal for 20% OFF ALL BARS.  UCAN gives you steady energy so you can finish stronger. UCAN Performance Energy and Bars are powered by SuperStarch®.   Use in your training to fuel the healthy way and recover quickly! Use code MHE2020 for 15% off at generationucan.com, or try the UCAN Bars for 20% off and use code ENERGYBAR or try the UCAN Tri Starter Pack - 50% off, limit 1 - https://www.generationucan.com/product/ucan-tri-starter-pack-50-off/         Interview with Dave Deschenes: Dave Deschenes is the Executive Director at USA Triathlon Foundation.  He's been involved in Multisport for over 20 years.  Before coming to the USA Triathlon Foundation, Deschenes spent seven-plus years as Executive Director for the IRONMAN Foundation in Tampa, Florida, where he was responsible for growing the organization’s total charitable giveback from $12 million to over $50 million. Deschenes also managed the organizational and business strategy, nonprofit compliance, financial planning, donor and program management, marketing innovation, community engagement and social media outreach. Prior to his tenure at the IRONMAN Foundation, Deschenes was Managing Director for the Prostate Cancer Foundation’s Athletes for a Cure program in Santa Monica, California. Preceding IRONMAN and the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Deschenes had a long-standing business career in financial services working in a variety of management roles with Franklin Templeton Investments. Athletic Background:  Dave is a USA Triathlon Certified Level II coach, a Level III USA Cycling Certified Coach and a Natural Running – Newton Running Certified Coach. Dave has participated in over 100 endurance events, including being a 3X Boston Marathon Finisher, an IRONMAN Finisher and an IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship finisher.  He is an avid outdoorsman and mountain and gravel biker. For more information, visit Usatriathlonfoundation.org New Sponsor - Buddy Insurance. Buddy Insurance is the kind of peace of mind you need as an active outdoor enthusiast.  Buddy’s mission is simple, to help people fearlessly enjoy an active and outdoor life. Have you ever been out for a ride or a run and felt vulnerable? Or accepting a dare to do expert only terrain while skiing? You can now get on-demand accident insurance to make sure you get cash for bills fast and fill any gaps between your current coverage. Endurance News: So I have my news feed for "marathon" full of Charlotte M cancelled, R/R DC cancelled, Seattle R/R cancelled, and then there's this story of a Last-Minute Marathon A Boon for Alaska Runners During A Summer With Few Footraces. Anchorage Daily News - The Anchored Marathon was the brainchild of Ryan Cox and Julianne Dickerson, 2 of 16 Boston qualifiers in Anchorage  who took on designing their own course. Dani Martínez wins the Critérium du Dauphiné 2020 Dani Martínez has won the Critérium du Dauphiné 2020, overhauling Thibaut Pinot’s pre-stage GC lead, the Frenchman finishing runner-up.  His compatriot Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) was third overall, while Sepp Kuss won the final stage five following a late attack, the third victory for Jumbo-Visma at this year’s Dauphiné. Martínez (EF Pro Cycling) finished second on the stage, with Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) third.  Nairo Quintana (Arkéa-Samsic) abandoned during stage five after experiencing pain in the same knee injured when he was hit by a car during a training ride in July, while Mikel Landa (Bahrain-McLaren) also dropped out of GC contention after suffering from cramps. Final general classification Dani Martínez (Col) EF Pro Cycling, in 21-44-58 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) Groupama-FDJ, at 29 seconds Guillaume Martin (Fra) Cofidis, at 41s Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, at 56s Miguel Ángel López (Col) Astana, at 1-38 Romain Bardet (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 1-43 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Jumbo-Visma, at 2-07 Lennard Kämna (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 2-14 Warren Barguil (Fra) Arkéa-Samsic, at 2-49 Sepp Kuss (USA) Jumbo-Visma, at 2-55   Cyclists pelted with ping pong-sized hail during freak storm at race in France The second stage of cycling's Critérium du Dauphiné quickly turned into something that you'd see in an apocalypse movie. As riders neared the finish line, the sky opened up and everyone below was pelted by ping pong-sized hailstones. The riders were just a few kilometers from the finish line at the top of the Col de Porte in the southwest part of France when the conditions turned bad.  Cycling group Israel Start-Up Nation described the situation as "total chaos and mayhem."  Belgian cyclist Tim Declercq was one of many riders that ended up with large red welts on his back due to the hailstones. Declearcq shared a photo on his Instagram story of what his back looked like afterwards. It wasn't exactly a pretty sight:   What's New in the 303: Colorado - Top Bike Climbs Colorado is known world wide for its 14ers  AND for its exceptional cycling terrain. Some of the worlds top climbs hail from Colorado - Pikes Peak - #4 US/#17 World, Mt Evans - #13 US/#94 World; also the highest paved road in North America) and Trail Ridge - #52 US and is the longest climb in the Continental US.  Colorado's Top 10 Road Bike Climbs are 1. Pikes Peak, 2. Mount Evans, 3. Grand Mesa North, 4. Trail Ridge, 5. Grand Mesa South, 6. East Portal, 7. Independence Pass West, 8. Left Hand Canyon, 9. Wolf Creek Pass, South, and 10. Slumgulion Pass  This page provides a summary for cycling and climbing by bike the top climbs in Colorado. Bicycling around Denver, Colorado Springs, Loveland, Aspen, Fort Collins, Idaho Springs, Grand Mesa and more). Biking up some of the greatest climbs in the world ( Pikes Peak, Mt Evans, Trail Ridge, Grand Mesa North, Left Hand Canyon, Guanella Pass, Independence Pass, and many more. This page contains the top bike climbs in Colorado. Cycling, riding and climbing the top, most difficult, hardest, challenging, extreme, best, scenic, inspiring, bucket list climbs in Colorado. These climbs can be viewed via the map below (scroll in to view climbs in particular areas), by a detailed list of the climbs that can be arranged by difficulty, distance (longest climbs in the area), altitude gained, highest elevation (highest summit), average grade (sort the grades by varying distances), lowest start point, etc. You can also view the Top 10 and Top 25 Bike Climbs in Colorado. Click on "Climb Page" to jump to the detail page for that particular bike climb. We feel this page provides a good summary of the best bicycling and biking climbs in Colorado.   Video of the Week: Dave Deschenes Part 1   Upcoming Interviews: 8/27 Dave Scott uses every single workout to assess your body's performance capacity and predict why you could do in a race of a particular distance on that day.  Talk about how routine practice helps dial it in for different disciplines. 8/28 Siri Lindley who was on the UCAN coaches panel and had a good perspective on COVID - "We've been a gift.  Not training balls out is going to take discipline. Reframe as an opportunity to strengthen the parts of our life that needed work and bring us into our racing season when it comes." Closing: Thanks again for listening in this week.  Please be sure to follow us @303endurance and @triathlon and of course go to iTunes and give us a rating and a comment.  We'd really appreciate it! Stay tuned, train informed, and enjoy the endurance journey!

Welcome to Episode #246 of the 303 Endurance Podcast.  Today's feature interview with the Executive Director at USA Triathlon Foundation, Dave Deschenes.  He's been involved in Multisport for over 20 years.  Before coming to the USA Triathlon Foundation, Deschenes spent seven-plus years as Executive Director for the IRONMAN Foundation in Tampa, Florida, where he was responsible for growing the organization’s total charitable giveback from $12 million to over $50 million. He's going to have an interesting insight into how the sport is being impacted by COVID.  Sponsor VENGA: Thanks to Venga CBD for sponsoring today's show.  Venga is a premium CBD that will improve your athletic performance by helping reduce inflammation and anxiety.  I'm personally a fan of the ultragels and balm. Venga CBD products are different than typical CBD products, they are made for endurance athletes here in Colorado with the highest quality PCR hemp. All their products are THC free, with the highest bioavailability of any CBD because it’s water-soluble CBD. And they have a no-risk, 60-day, money-back guarantee.  It's easy order online and delivered right to your door. You can get Venga CBD by going to VengaCBD.com which is spelled V - e - n - g - a CBD.com.  Get 30% off your first order with promo code - 303podcast.  Subscribe and save 15% on future orders. Sponsor UCAN: This week UCAN is featuring a deal for 20% OFF ALL BARS.  UCAN gives you steady energy so you can finish stronger. UCAN Performance Energy and Bars are powered by SuperStarch®.   Use in your training to fuel the healthy way and recover quickly! Use code MHE2020 for 15% off at generationucan.com, or try the UCAN Bars for 20% off and use code ENERGYBAR or try the UCAN Tri Starter Pack - 50% off, limit 1 - https://www.generationucan.com/product/ucan-tri-starter-pack-50-off/         Interview with Dave Deschenes: Dave Deschenes is the Executive Director at USA Triathlon Foundation.  He's been involved in Multisport for over 20 years.  Before coming to the USA Triathlon Foundation, Deschenes spent seven-plus years as Executive Director for the IRONMAN Foundation in Tampa, Florida, where he was responsible for growing the organization’s total charitable giveback from $12 million to over $50 million. Deschenes also managed the organizational and business strategy, nonprofit compliance, financial planning, donor and program management, marketing innovation, community engagement and social media outreach. Prior to his tenure at the IRONMAN Foundation, Deschenes was Managing Director for the Prostate Cancer Foundation’s Athletes for a Cure program in Santa Monica, California. Preceding IRONMAN and the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Deschenes had a long-standing business career in financial services working in a variety of management roles with Franklin Templeton Investments. Athletic Background:  Dave is a USA Triathlon Certified Level II coach, a Level III USA Cycling Certified Coach and a Natural Running – Newton Running Certified Coach. Dave has participated in over 100 endurance events, including being a 3X Boston Marathon Finisher, an IRONMAN Finisher and an IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship finisher.  He is an avid outdoorsman and mountain and gravel biker. For more information, visit Usatriathlonfoundation.org New Sponsor - Buddy Insurance. Buddy Insurance is the kind of peace of mind you need as an active outdoor enthusiast.  Buddy’s mission is simple, to help people fearlessly enjoy an active and outdoor life. Have you ever been out for a ride or a run and felt vulnerable? Or accepting a dare to do expert only terrain while skiing? You can now get on-demand accident insurance to make sure you get cash for bills fast and fill any gaps between your current coverage. Endurance News: So I have my news feed for "marathon" full of Charlotte M cancelled, R/R DC cancelled, Seattle R/R cancelled, and then there's this story of a Last-Minute Marathon A Boon for Alaska Runners During A Summer With Few Footraces. Anchorage Daily News - The Anchored Marathon was the brainchild of Ryan Cox and Julianne Dickerson, 2 of 16 Boston qualifiers in Anchorage  who took on designing their own course. Dani Martínez wins the Critérium du Dauphiné 2020 Dani Martínez has won the Critérium du Dauphiné 2020, overhauling Thibaut Pinot’s pre-stage GC lead, the Frenchman finishing runner-up.  His compatriot Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) was third overall, while Sepp Kuss won the final stage five following a late attack, the third victory for Jumbo-Visma at this year’s Dauphiné. Martínez (EF Pro Cycling) finished second on the stage, with Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) third.  Nairo Quintana (Arkéa-Samsic) abandoned during stage five after experiencing pain in the same knee injured when he was hit by a car during a training ride in July, while Mikel Landa (Bahrain-McLaren) also dropped out of GC contention after suffering from cramps. Final general classification Dani Martínez (Col) EF Pro Cycling, in 21-44-58 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) Groupama-FDJ, at 29 seconds Guillaume Martin (Fra) Cofidis, at 41s Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, at 56s Miguel Ángel López (Col) Astana, at 1-38 Romain Bardet (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 1-43 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Jumbo-Visma, at 2-07 Lennard Kämna (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 2-14 Warren Barguil (Fra) Arkéa-Samsic, at 2-49 Sepp Kuss (USA) Jumbo-Visma, at 2-55   Cyclists pelted with ping pong-sized hail during freak storm at race in France The second stage of cycling's Critérium du Dauphiné quickly turned into something that you'd see in an apocalypse movie. As riders neared the finish line, the sky opened up and everyone below was pelted by ping pong-sized hailstones. The riders were just a few kilometers from the finish line at the top of the Col de Porte in the southwest part of France when the conditions turned bad.  Cycling group Israel Start-Up Nation described the situation as "total chaos and mayhem."  Belgian cyclist Tim Declercq was one of many riders that ended up with large red welts on his back due to the hailstones. Declearcq shared a photo on his Instagram story of what his back looked like afterwards. It wasn't exactly a pretty sight:   What's New in the 303: Colorado - Top Bike Climbs Colorado is known world wide for its 14ers  AND for its exceptional cycling terrain. Some of the worlds top climbs hail from Colorado - Pikes Peak - #4 US/#17 World, Mt Evans - #13 US/#94 World; also the highest paved road in North America) and Trail Ridge - #52 US and is the longest climb in the Continental US.  Colorado's Top 10 Road Bike Climbs are 1. Pikes Peak, 2. Mount Evans, 3. Grand Mesa North, 4. Trail Ridge, 5. Grand Mesa South, 6. East Portal, 7. Independence Pass West, 8. Left Hand Canyon, 9. Wolf Creek Pass, South, and 10. Slumgulion Pass  This page provides a summary for cycling and climbing by bike the top climbs in Colorado. Bicycling around Denver, Colorado Springs, Loveland, Aspen, Fort Collins, Idaho Springs, Grand Mesa and more). Biking up some of the greatest climbs in the world ( Pikes Peak, Mt Evans, Trail Ridge, Grand Mesa North, Left Hand Canyon, Guanella Pass, Independence Pass, and many more. This page contains the top bike climbs in Colorado. Cycling, riding and climbing the top, most difficult, hardest, challenging, extreme, best, scenic, inspiring, bucket list climbs in Colorado. These climbs can be viewed via the map below (scroll in to view climbs in particular areas), by a detailed list of the climbs that can be arranged by difficulty, distance (longest climbs in the area), altitude gained, highest elevation (highest summit), average grade (sort the grades by varying distances), lowest start point, etc. You can also view the Top 10 and Top 25 Bike Climbs in Colorado. Click on "Climb Page" to jump to the detail page for that particular bike climb. We feel this page provides a good summary of the best bicycling and biking climbs in Colorado.   Video of the Week: Dave Deschenes Part 1   Upcoming Interviews: 8/27 Dave Scott uses every single workout to assess your body's performance capacity and predict why you could do in a race of a particular distance on that day.  Talk about how routine practice helps dial it in for different disciplines. 8/28 Siri Lindley who was on the UCAN coaches panel and had a good perspective on COVID - "We've been a gift.  Not training balls out is going to take discipline. Reframe as an opportunity to strengthen the parts of our life that needed work and bring us into our racing season when it comes." Closing: Thanks again for listening in this week.  Please be sure to follow us @303endurance and @triathlon and of course go to iTunes and give us a rating and a comment.  We'd really appreciate it! Stay tuned, train informed, and enjoy the endurance journey!

This month's episode of For Land's Sake features a conversation with Karin Teague, Executive Director of the Independence Pass foundation.

This week we have Alain Lambert the Chairman of Haute Route North America joining us to talk about what makes these multi-day cycling events so unique. If you saw the teaser video we posted on social media this week, you they offer a pro-cyclist experience in epic locations around the world. Today's show is supported by iKOR Labs. iKOR is a clean, natural source of recovery enhancing CBD hemp extract that protects your body from the stresses of training, improves recovery from intense efforts and helps you maintain a positive mental state. The most bio-available CBD product on the market, iKOR is a highly protective anti-oxidant and effective anti-inflammatory. WADA and USADA legal. Used by world class professional athletes. Save 20% by using the code "endurance" at checkout. Go to www.ikorlabs.com for more details. Thanks to last week's guests, Olympian, Ironman and mental health advocate, Sarah True for joining us last week. If you haven't heard the interview, go back and listen to episode #152. Our interview is sponsored by Riplaces. Riplaces are the no tie laces with custom tension for the perfect fit. Pro triathlete proven and endorsed, most durable elastic bungee lace system available and they come in the MHE logo package. The regular price for the custom set is $19.98. For a limited time, through the end of the year Riplaces is going to offer a 25% discount. Just use the code MHE25 to get that 25% discount. These are a great Christmas stocking idea for your loved endurance athlete. Go to https://www.riplaces.com/collections/mile-high-endurance for more information. The Tour de France began as a marketing gimmick by Henri Desgrange who was editor of a sports newspaper called L'Auto which was targeted to French auto racing enthusiasts. He started to cover cycling and in 1902 an employee suggested a stage bicycle race around France. The first tour was 2400 kilometers to be covered in six stages. It was less intended as an athletic contest as it was an experiment in human endurance limits. Desgrenge promised the steepest mountains, the darkest nights, the most violent winds, the most difficult routes. In that inaugural year, 60 riders started the Tour and 21 finished. Origin of the name Haute Route, (or the High Route or Mountaineers' Route) is the name given to a route (with several variations) undertaken on foot or by ski touring between Chamonix in France and Zermatt in Switzerland. The Haute Route’s objective is to deliver an unparalleled 'professional' experience for amateur cyclists. This means not only delivering first class hospitality and event management, but all the key ingredients that make up the culture and experience of professional road racing. Hundreds of riders every year from all over the world take part in the Haute Route events, and take on the most mythical passes and roads in all of cycling. The attraction of these legendary cols, such as the Ventoux, Alpe d’Huez, Galibier, Tourmalet, Stelvio and Independence Pass cannot be underestimated, but beyond the sporting challenge is another story, a human story that for many is life changing. What is the Haute Route exactly? The basic facts can be easily stated – the Haute Route cycling events are the world’s most prestigious multi-day cycling events for amateur riders, run over seven or three days, timed and ranked, across the most iconic mountain passes and valleys. We are fortunate to have the Chairman of Haute Route NA, Alain Lambert join us this week. Let's get into the interview right now. Welcome back. Our post interview discussion is sponsored by Halo Neuroscience. The Halo Sport from Halo Neuroscience will help you learn the technique and form to get faster. 20 minutes of neural priming with the Halo Headset gives you an hour of neural plasticity to work and lock in the muscle movement that leads to strength, power and endurance. If you are looking for a premium gift for your endurance athlete for the holidays, this is that item. Use code MHE150 to save $150. Haute Route: This is really sounding attractive to me for this coming year. The level of support during the Haute Route is also unique. We ensure that Haute Route riders enjoy an unprecedented level of safety, security and comfort. The Haute Route Cycling Series are undeniably a series of ‘professional’ events, for amateur cyclists! Marshals ensuring priority right-of-way for riders on course 35 safety, medical, and press motorcycles accompanying the peloton The Course Director’s vehicle at the front of the race 1 official mid-course vehicle 1 official end-course vehicle, and a ‘broom wagon’ to collect riders if necessary 2 ambulances A medical support team A team of professional masseurs at each Event Village 4 to 5 fully staffed refreshment points per stage 4 Mavic mechanical support vehicles   Events: https://www.hauteroute.org/events/middle-east https://www.hauteroute.org/events/north-america https://www.hauteroute.org/events/europe   Events like Alpe d’Huez, Pyrenees, Ventoux, and the Alps are epic sections most well understood by cyclists in N. America.   The Comeback: Greg LeMond (born June 26, 1961) is an American former professional road racing cyclist who won the Road Race World Championship twice and the Tour de France three times (1986, 1989 and 1990). He is considered by many to be the greatest American cyclist of all time. He is also an entrepreneur and anti-doping advocate.   In the book The Comeback, written by Daniel De Vise, there are some incredible things about Greg LeMond, his childhood, his career and the stories of his epic races against riders like Frenchman Laurent Fignon. was born in Lakewood, California,[3] and raised in ranch country on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, near Reno.   He was a victim of sexual abuse from a male neighbor and friend of the family. In the middle of his cycling career, he was nearly mortally injured in a hunting accident. Page 155 highlights.   The Comeback Cycling Trivia (closest to gets a point) What do you think Greg LeMond's Vo2 Max was? Page 174 What was LeMond's peak cycling salary from a team? Page 180 What year did the first tri bars were used in the Tour? Page 193 Did the Tour ever end with an individual time trial? Page 218 What year did EPO show up in the Tour? Page 251 What year were the first carbon bikes come on the scene in the Tour? Page 255 How much influence does the tour have on bike purchasing trends in the US? Page 278   When did mechanical doping show up in the Tour? Page 323 Ironman Arizona: Pre race interview with Meredith Kessler Smile Train Solos Steph is now an Ironman! Pro results  Cyber Monday Deals: Solos Optic Nerve Dcurve Feedback Sports Coeur Blue Ikor YouTube Video of the Week is sponsored by Rudy Project. Rudy Project has the helmets, glasses and gear to help you ride safe and look great. Use code MHE30 to get 30% off your full price items.  Haute Route - Climb Higher at Mavic Haute Route Rockies Bonus NXR Video - NXR 2018 Upcoming Interviews: Todd Carver, Cliff Simms and Franko Vaterott- co-founder of Retul and now working with Specialized. Human Performance Center, 3D Retul technology and where the product roadmap is heading and how it can help you Professional triathlete Merredith Kessler Tim Yount on the USAT Point System and qualifying for Worlds Our show is also supported by 303 Endurance Network, which includes 303Triathlon and 303 Cycling, which covers the endurance culture, news and events on triathlon and cycling. Be sure to subscribe to the 303Radio podcast and follow 303Triathlon's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Please support our affiliate brands that support the show and help you get faster! All of these discounts can be found at milehighendurance on the Discounts page. Be sure to follow us on social media to get the show announcement each weekend, plus additional links to show content. We forward information related to our guests and provide teasers for upcoming interviews. We are posting regular videos to the YouTube. Be sure to subscribe to the channel. Facebook @milehighendurance Twitter @milehighpodcast Instagram @tripodcasterrich YouTube Channel @Mile High Endurance We hope you enjoyed today's show. Please rate us on iTunes or your podcast player. Be sure you are subscribed in iTunes so you get the show automatically downloaded on Saturday evening and recommend Mile High Endurance to a friend. Stay tuned, train informed, and enjoy the endurance journey!        

With billionaire backing, a D.C. museum is headed to Five Points to collect Denver’s black culture Nov. 1-11, the NMAAHC will set up shop in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood and elsewhere with the goal of collecting and digitizing as much of the local African-American population’s photos, documents and videos as possible — part of a nationwide initiative that began last fall in Baltimore. The opening reception for the project took place on November 2 at the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library That institution and the Black American West Museum, also in Five Points, are collaborating with the Smithsonian on the initiative. https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/initiatives/family-history-center/community-curation-program/community-curation-denver -- It appears Denver is off the list of possible locations for Amazon's second headquarters. The retail giant is in "advanced talks" to open its second headquarters in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, The Washington Post reported Saturday. -- Skiers heading to Aspen this weekend may have to reschedule their route. The Colorado Department of Transportation announced that Independence Pass on Colorado 82 will be closed for the weekend because of snow and wind. —

On July 9, Blister founder, Jonathan Ellsworth, was involved in a near-fatal fall while ski touring on Independence Pass. This is the account of what happened; what can be learned from the incident and our decision-making; and what's next for him.TOPICS & TIMES:Jonathan's friends describe the accident (0:00)Our group — who was there (5:00)The objective that day (10:00)The line (17:30)The crash (27:57)The response (39:20)The decision to walk out (55:36)The bear incident (1:17:17)What’s next (1:24:12) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This podcast is about following the energy of the lunar cycles in between the full moon and the new moon to enhance your creating and your releasing. I firmly believe we can use the astrologic energy to our advantage to not only focus on what we want to release and create, but also to be intentional with action lists to take specific steps toward what we want in life.As I mentioned in the podcast, here are some pictures from the new moon ceremony I did in July, 2017 at the top of Independence Pass, just east of Aspen.[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”3″ gal_title=”Ceremony”]The post Podcast 113 – Manifesting With The Moon appeared first on Subconscious Mind Mastery. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

  Frank Eriksen was a radio star     by Steve Skinner, Aspen Daily News Columnist.     No one forgets the first time they see Aspen.   When I first saw Aspen it was summer, 1982. I was free as a bird, having just graduated from college. I had “half the car” and about $500 in my pocket. My college roommate and I were driving around the West looking for a place to live, work and ski.   When you are in that state of mind, Aspen pretty much knocks you over. The ski area comes right into town. The Roaring Fork River snakes downvalley. The aspen trees quake in the breeze. Independence Pass is in the back yard.   A scratch deeper showed so much more. The music festival, the live local music scene, the local newspapers, casual celebrities and rock stars, great food and always a party.   Having gotten hooked on radio in college, imagine my delight at discovering an epic radio station in Aspen right in the middle of the dial at 97.7 FM. I say KSPN was epic because it fit my idea of the ideal commercial radio station: Local DJs, local news and sports, live broadcasts, humor, witty talk and really good music. I was naive enough to think that this was how commercial radio was and would always be.   KSPN buzzed. There was a receptionist, several sales people, news reporters, a sports reporter, a music director, a manager, a program director, a production director, live announcers day and night, etc.   I had to work there. And I did. I discovered that it wasn’t hard to get an overnight shift, even five overnights shifts a week. KSPN was my broadcasting school.   Among the formidable talent, one guy really stood out.   Frank Eriksen was a DJ who was fully able to take advantage of the fun, freedom and flexibility of the place. He was funny, fast, professional, unprofessional, irreverent and spontaneous. He drove it like it was stolen, getting away with it all because he had a voice that made you listen. Frank made you listen. There was no not listening to Frank. He had the voice.   Frank passed away in January of this year. Aspen lost an icon.   He was on the air for about 10 years in the ’80s, and he made Aspen a much better place. Frank was a master broadcaster with a sparkling personality.   I started hosting the jazz show on Sundays at 9 p.m. on KSPN. That was my opening. Jazz followed the show “Static,” KSPN’s weekly hour-long talk show. Frank was the host with program director Lee Duncan, local Judge J.E. DeVilbiss and sometimes other local authorities and personalities. They took phone calls from locals. They partied. They laughed.   Frank often made phone calls and took phone calls on the air during his regular show. He would jump on an issue of the day and make it part of the program. He was brilliant and unstoppable.   It was often thrilling to be at KSPN, often because of Frank’s spark. In those days, we broadcast live from the World Cup, the Coors Bicycle Classic, parades and lots of local events. I thought this was normal.   KSPN was led by smart and talented people who had the humility and common sense to realize that the best thing you could do in a live broadcast situation was hand the microphone over to Frank Eriksen. For all intents and purposes, at the time KSPN was the only game in town. Almost everyone in town listened, and we DJs could not go into a club or restaurant without being treated like royalty.   Frank set the bar high, and people in town were lucky and spoiled to have him at their ear-tips. The station suffered a huge blow when it was sold the first time in the mid-80s, but when the station sold again, around 1989, the hammer fell, and the experts from out of town thought they could do better than Frank Eriksen. They let him go, and the townspeople let out a collective groan.   As the voices of anguish rose around his ears, the new morning show host and program director asked me what he should do about the uproar (I think he was from Nebraska).   “Put Frank back” was the only possible answer. But it was too late for that. Everything in town had already changed so much. It was a sad day when Frank packed up his belongings and moved out of Aspen. That was the silent end to a very festive era.   Frank ended up on the Front Range and started his own voice-over company. I would still catch him on various commercials as I scanned the dial on visits to Denver and Boulder. You could not mistake his voice and delivery. Like I said, he made you listen. No matter what the subject, he was smart and you felt smart listening.   I called some of the KSPN posse from the glory days to reminisce about Frank and the station. Duncan was the program director, the morning show host and the guy who hired Frank and, eventually, me. He and Frank were roommates and partners in crime.   Duncan told me a story about doing the morning show with a raging hangover. He opened the window for a little fresh air, put on a long tune and headed to the couch in the hallway. While he was sleeping the record ended. A local cop walked up to the window and put the record on again from the beginning. We were all in town to have a good time, and we helped each other out. That was the culture.   Duncan and Eriksen had their disagreements, but they always made up and stayed friends.   “Humor. His humor was amazing. He was quick. He was really good and he was funny,” Duncan told me.”   Fellow DJ Leigh Anne Lindsey remembers Frank’s power.   “He was completely at ease with people. He was a mountain and you couldn’t rock him,” she said.   “I always wished I could be a fraction as talented as him,” she added.   Thanks to Facebook, Lindsey reconnected and got closer to Eriksen. They toured wine country in California and talked about the challenges and opportunities in each other’s lives.   “He was magical. Mystical. Mysterious. Deep. Thoughtful. Hilarious. He could whip out those quips with that deadpan, straight-faced, hooded-eyes look. Then chuckle with his whole body and soul when he either saw you laugh, or take him too seriously. You’d see that slim grin appear. You had to be careful around Frank because you never really knew when he was serious. Or not. (It wasn’t easy for me because he had the knack for catching me off-guard because I’d think he was telling me the truth when — nah. Just jokin ;-) .”   That pretty much says it. That was Frank.   I know I speak for a lot of us when I say that the legendary Frank Eriksen lives on in our fondest memories of Aspen. For a while he was the absolute star of a vibrant and vital local radio station. He should be in the Aspen Hall of Fame. His voice echoes on in our hearts.   Steve Skinner didn’t realize at the time that those were going to be the good old days. Reach him at nigel@sopris.net.   Original theme by Steve Skinner.   Steve Skinner's music is at steveskinner.bandcamp.com

Good afternoon, it’s Mountain Edition. Aspen’s second lifeline to the world is up and running again, as Independence Pass reopens. A judge dismisses a case against an elderly Carbondale driver who killed a Basalt motorcyclist. Two Aspen City Council candidates carefully duke it out on the Aspen Public Radio airwaves. Turns out, you cannot buy exclusive access to your condo building, especially if you share the building with affordable housing residents. Childcare in the Roaring Fork Valley is getting harder to find. Housing is just as hard to find. Our series continues on the Midvalley housing crunch with a look at government subsidized options. Garfield County’s elected leaders say a potential endangered listing for a bird spells trouble for the local economy. They also want to avoid more diversions that move west slope water east.

Welcome to Valley Roundup, a review of the top news stories in the valley in the past week. The smells of legalization permeate up and down the valley, and the odor of marijuana has some people plugging their noses and complaining to city officials. An investigation is brewing around a nonprofit in Glenwood and whether funds were misappropriated. Meanwhile, there’s more debate on oil and gas drilling in the valley. Carbondale is trying to get out in front of how development is handled by going to the citizens before making laws. In Aspen, the citizens are trying to circumvent laws. And there’s a big dust up in the Aspen High School after the vice principal changed a student’s grade without telling the teacher. This year’s USA pro challenge bike race is coming back to Aspen, with two chances to watch the cyclists battle up and down Independence Pass. Joining me this week are Curtis Wackerle, editor of the Aspen Daily News, Jill Beathard, editor of the Snowmass Sun and Randy Essex, editor of the Glenwood Post Independent. Learn more about Valley Roundup and Aspen Public Radio: www.aspenpublicradio.org/programs/valley-roundup

The Amateur Traveler talks to Kara Williams of TheVacationGals.com about Aspen, Colorado. Like so many locals who live in that area of Colorado, Kara came for the winters but stayed for the summers. She tells us about this historic silver-mining town that is better known as a winter playground for the wealthy now than for its mining past. Whether you are skiing, hiking or fly fishing it has a wealth of outdoor activities. It offers great, if not always inexpensive, food and a wealth of artistic events set in a gorgeous mountain valley. Kara describes side trips to the Ghost towns of Ashcroft and Independence, to the continental divide at Independence Pass and to the caves at The Grottos. She also tells you whether the Aspen Crud is something you want to get. Aspen also hosts festivals as diverse as the Aspen Institute, Jazz Aspen Snowmass, the Aspen Music Festival and School and Aspen Summer Words.

The Amateur Traveler talks to Kara Williams of TheVacationGals.com about Aspen, Colorado. Like so many locals who live in that area of Colorado, Kara came for the winters but stayed for the summers. She tells us about this historic silver-mining town that is better known as a winter playground for the wealthy now than for its mining past. Whether you are skiing, hiking or fly fishing it has a wealth of outdoor activities. It offers great, if not always inexpensive, food and a wealth of artistic events set in a gorgeous mountain valley. Kara describes side trips to the Ghost towns of Ashcroft and Independence, to the continental divide at Independence Pass and to the caves at The Grottos. She also tells you whether the Aspen Crud is something you want to get. Aspen also hosts festivals as diverse as the Aspen Institute, Jazz Aspen Snowmass, the Aspen Music Festival and School and Aspen Summer Words.

The Amateur Traveler talks to Kara Williams of TheVacationGals.com about Aspen, Colorado. Like so many locals who live in that area of Colorado, Kara came for the winters but stayed for the summers. She tells us about this historic silver-mining town that is better known as a winter playground for the wealthy now than for its mining past. Whether you are skiing, hiking or fly fishing it has a wealth of outdoor activities. It offers great, if not always inexpensive, food and a wealth of artistic events set in a gorgeous mountain valley. Kara describes side trips to the Ghost towns of Ashcroft and Independence, to the continental divide at Independence Pass and to the caves at The Grottos. She also tells you whether the Aspen Crud is something you want to get. Aspen also hosts festivals as diverse as the Aspen Institute, Jazz Aspen Snowmass, the Aspen Music Festival and School and Aspen Summer Words.

The Amateur Traveler talks to Kara Williams of TheVacationGals.com about Aspen, Colorado. Like so many locals who live in that area of Colorado, Kara came for the winters but stayed for the summers. She tells us about this historic silver-mining town that is better known as a winter playground for the wealthy now than for its mining past. Whether you are skiing, hiking or fly fishing it has a wealth of outdoor activities. It offers great, if not always inexpensive, food and a wealth of artistic events set in a gorgeous mountain valley. Kara describes side trips to the Ghost towns of Ashcroft and Independence, to the continental divide at Independence Pass and to the caves at The Grottos. She also tells you whether the Aspen Crud is something you want to get. Aspen also hosts festivals as diverse as the Aspen Institute, Jazz Aspen Snowmass, the Aspen Music Festival and School and Aspen Summer Words.

Matt Segal was raised in Florida and discovered his passion for rock climbing in the gym. He has been climbing since 1998 and quickly left the man-made holds for those naturally placed. He moved to Boulder, Colorado to grow his passion. He’s traveled the world, from China to Argentina, mostly focusing on establishing the most difficult traditional climbs he can find. Some of his proudest lines include The Iron Monkey (5.14) in Eldorado Canyon, CO, The Orangutan Overhang (5.14-) in Independence Pass, CO and Air China (5.13d R) in Liming, China. Recently he’s also collaborated with both scientists and photographers on National Geographic expeditions where his skills as a climber have proven to be valuable. He has started instant coffee company Alpine Start Foods providing high-quality coffee for adventurers. Listen in to be inspired to try some rock climbing!   www.mattsegal.com www.instagram.com/mattsegal www.alpinestartfoods.com www.instagram.com/alpinestartfoods www.senderfilms.com