"I don't think I have a lot of fear. I think I'm very respectful of the mountains and understand the danger that's inherently there. I think I have a healthy dose of awareness of the unpredictable nature of being in the mountains and snow conditions, but I wouldn't call it fear. It's more understanding that you're constantly putting yourself in unforgiving environments. Fear is more of a mindset. I don't consider myself afraid."
- Bode Miller
This episode first aired on February 16, 2021.
This week, we bring you Bode Miller. In this episode, Bode and Miles discuss skiing in the Olympics, skiing on the World Cup, losing friends in the mountains, throwing a 360º in competition, his "CBS 60-minutes" hung-over skiing controversy, the dangers of ski racing, and much more.
Bode Miller is the winningest American male ski racer of all time. Bode has won six Olympic Medals - one of them a gold medal. He's podiumed 79 times on the World Cup, with 33 being first place. He's won two World Cup Overall Titles. He's among only five men in history to have won World Cup events in all five alpine ski disciplines. And he's the only skier with five or more victories in each discipline. What I found out in this podcast is that Bode is a general all-around mountain badass who has been almost everywhere and done almost everything in the mountains, including getting caught in gnarly avalanches, throwing misty 720s and double front flips, and losing over 50 friends and acquaintances in the mountains. His stories are one of a kind, and so is he.
“When I was eight, I was following two local ski bums, which I guess I would call my friends, but they were probably 20 years older than me. I don't know that they would have called me their friend at that time. But I just chased them around the mountain all the time. I watched a guy walk out of a pair of MRR bindings and old markers and go straight into a beech tree at about 50 miles an hour. No helmet. I was the first one there because I was just 200 yards behind him, and he was just exploded. His head was just apart, still bubbling breath. That was a pretty nasty eye-opener. He passed away while I was right there."
- Bode Miller
Bode Miller answers these heavy questions:
Which ski racing discipline is your favorite and why?
How dangerous is ski racing?
I've heard you say: "I'm amazed more people don't die ski racing." What makes you say that?
How do ski racers make money? Is a good system in place?
I recently watched the movie American Downhiller, which focused on the rivalry between Americans and Europeans in male world cup ski racing. What did you experience in your ski racing career in Europe?
Are you the only ski racer in history to have thrown a 360º on the racecourse in a World Cup competition?
Are performance-enhancing drugs prevalent in ski racing?
What was it like partying in the Olympic Village?
Have you ever been in an avalanche? What happened?
What's your biggest accomplishment in life?
What challenges you most intellectually daily?
What's your favorite book?
More...
If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with friends & family and subscribe.
Recorded on February 8, 2021, in Jackson Hole, WY (Miles Clark) and Big Sky, MT (Bode Miller).
Robert Wilkinson edited this episode.
Music by Chad Crouch.
Host, producer, and creator = Miles Clark.
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