Race Ready1 Kesä 2025

Ep 6. Ski Flexes, Fitness and Family with Matt Liebsch

In this episode of the Race Ready podcast, Andy and Brian sit down with Matt Liebsch, co-owner of Pioneer Midwest, veteran World Cup skier, and legendary Birkie champion. Recorded while Matt was in Europe picking skis from top-tier race rooms, the conversation dives deep into the craft of ski selection. Matt shares his data-driven approach to picking skis, developed through years of engineering experience, testing, and fieldwork. He explains how no two skis are exactly alike, why flex matters more than brand hype, and what makes certain skis perfect for specific snow conditions.

The episode then pivots into Matt's unique path in the sport, from picking up skiing late in high school to nearly qualifying for the Olympics, all while balancing a full-time engineering career, raising a family, and eventually launching a successful ski shop. His journey illustrates how passion, persistence, and curiosity can propel someone to the top ranks—even outside the conventional elite pipeline. Listeners get a behind-the-scenes look at the mindset and training philosophy that helped Matt become a perennial contender at America’s biggest ski race, the American Birkebeiner.

Finally, Andy and Brian reflect on how Matt’s story is a powerful example of skiing as a lifelong pursuit, not just a fleeting Olympic dream. They explore the importance of self-guided training, maturing coach-athlete relationships, and finding motivation through personal goals like the Birkie. Whether you're a junior chasing national teams or an adult skier juggling family and fitness, this episode is packed with insight, inspiration, and a healthy dose of ski geekery.

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(66)

S2E20. Why Fall Training Is Where Athletes Get Into Trouble

As summer training gives way to fall, the focus begins to shift from building volume to adding more race-specific intensity. Getting that transition right can be tricky. In this episode, Brian and And...

6 Syys 58min

S2 E19. From Skiing to Ultra Running w/ David Norris

David Norris has spent more than two decades figuring out what it takes to go fast. A former World Championship skier, two-time American Birkebeiner champion, seven-time Mount Marathon winner, and now...

30 Elo 1h 4min

S2E18. What happens to your body at 8,000 ft (2,500m)?

This week on Race Ready, Andy checks in from one of the most unique training environments in North America: the Haig Glacier in Alberta. With athletes hiking nearly an hour just to reach the snow and ...

23 Elo 54min

S2 E17. Consistency, Culture, and the Making of Great Athletes w/ Colin Rodgers

In this episode of Race Ready, we sit down with SMS T2 head coach Colin Rodgers to talk about what it actually takes to develop great cross-country skiers. Colin shares lessons from his own career as ...

16 Elo 58min

S2E16. Are You Training… or Just Exercising?

How should endurance athletes actually build a training block?How do you know when more training is helping versus simply adding fatigue? In this episode of Race Ready, Brian and Andy break down the l...

9 Elo 1h 11min

S2 E15. How Utah Earned Six NCAA Championships w: Fredrik Landstedt

In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy Newell and Brian Halligan sit down with University of Utah Director of Skiing Fredrik Landstedt, one of the most accomplished coaches in collegiate Nord...

2 Elo 1h 4min

S2 E14. The Truth About Race Weight and Performance

This week on the Race Ready Podcast, we're answering some of the biggest questions sent in by listeners and tackling topics that every endurance athlete and coach eventually has to face. From training...

26 Heinä 1h 3min

S2 E13. Luci Anderson, Cross-Country or Biathlon? Here's What It's Really Like to Do Both

What happens when one of America's top cross-country skiers decides to start biathlon... and just two years later is racing on the World Cup and representing Team USA at the Olympic Games? In this epi...

19 Heinä 57min