Skirious problems

Skirious problems

Skirious Problems is your backstage pass to the brilliantly unpolished world of elite cross-country skiing. Hosted by World Cup racers Mika Vermeulen and James Clugnet, the show delivers a sharp mix of insider insight, chaotic travel tales, training drama, and the kind of brutally honest banter you only get from athletes who spend far too much time together on the road. The hosts aren’t afraid to voice strong opinions, roast each other, or poke fun at the quirks of their sport — all with a wink and a sense of humility. What truly elevates the show, though, is the lineup of prominent guests who drop in: World Cup winners, rising stars, Olympic medalists, wax technicians with cult followings, and the occasional wild-card personality from outside skiing. Their stories bring depth, humor, and a fresh range of perspectives, whether they’re unpacking tense race moments, revealing team secrets, or debating the future of the sport. With its mix of authenticity, sharp humor, and unfiltered athlete conversations, Skirious Problems offers a uniquely entertaining look at skiing life beyond the finish line — perfect for fans, athletes, and anyone who enjoys a good dose of organized chaos.

  1. 6D AGO

    Gus Schumacher: Breaking Laws, But Not in the Olympic Village

    Gus Schumacher is officially the only guest we know who can hold his own in Olympic-level ski races and in a conversation about why Americans still use Fahrenheit. In this episode, we’re holed up in a mystery spot in Italy (so secretive we don’t even have chairs), and our chat goes everywhere from ski loops to existential crises about workout volume - and, yes, a serious amount of eagle-printed clothing at the Olympics. We grill Gus about why he ditched brutal, never-ending training plans for ski mountaineering tours and a bit more fun, only to discover that apparently, your legs and your brain actually both want to enjoy skiing. Who knew? We share the struggle of crowded gyms, the pain of construction not being finished on time, and the all-important mission of collecting cool Olympic pins. From the questionable smell of Italian race courses to who’s really the greatest skate skier of all time (sorry, not a two-month title!), this episode is packed with good laughs, classic banter, and a little slice of the wild skier life. Grab a snack and enjoy - this one’s a ride. 🎧 SUBSCRIBE TO “SKIRIOUS PROBLEMS” ON: - Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1nVdyNDukQ7Ucv7IdfXzpg⁠⁠- Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/skirious-problems/id1718097138 ⁠- RSS-Feed: ⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/s/ed0abed0/podcast/rss ⁠- YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SkiriousProblems ⁠⁠🤳🏼 FOLLOW US: - Skirious Problems: https://www.instagram.com/skirious_problems ⁠- Mika Vermeulen: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/mikaa_ver ⁠- James Clugnet: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jimmycluggz ⁠⁠Skirious Problems is partially supported by FIS and produced in cooperation with ⁠⁠Maniac Studios⁠⁠.

    51 min
  2. JAN 29

    Annika Malacinski: How to Save Nordic Combined (and Maybe the World)

    Annika Malacinski is one of the top names in US Nordic Combined. Get ready for a seriously real (and honestly pretty funny) chat about all things Nordic Combined - especially the wild ride it’s on when it comes to women’s equality and the drama around being cut from the Olympics. The crew doesn’t hold back - they dig into the behind-the-scenes scandals, the “gray zones” of ski jumping rules, and what it feels like to see your sport losing its Olympic spot. Annika Malacinski opens up about her journey, the struggle for support and visibility, and why simply loving your sport sometimes isn’t enough. Plus, you’ll hear the group’s spicy takes on the IOC, creative (but maybe a little crazy) protest ideas, and why watching and talking about Nordic Combined actually makes a difference. 🎧 SUBSCRIBE TO “SKIRIOUS PROBLEMS” ON: Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1nVdyNDukQ7Ucv7IdfXzpg⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/skirious-problems/id1718097138 ⁠RSS-Feed: ⁠https://anchor.fm/s/ed0abed0/podcast/rss ⁠YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SkiriousProblems ⁠ 🤳🏼 FOLLOW US: Skirious Problems: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/skirious_problems ⁠Mika Vermeulen: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/mikaa_ver ⁠James Clugnet: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/jimmycluggz ⁠ Skirious Problems is partially supported by FIS and produced in cooperation with ⁠Maniac Studios⁠.

    46 min
  3. JAN 23

    Rosie Fordham: The offset Queen

    This week on Skirious Problems, we spiral (productively) through the chaos of elite skiing: race FOMO, weird techniques that somehow work, and why the women’s field is constantly asked to do more with less. We’re joined by Rosie Vordam to talk offset technique, World Championship nerves, Olympic dreams, and what it’s actually like racing for a small nation with quota math always looming in the background. From there, things get existential: 50K races, race stress vs. training stress, and why longer races can feel both “easier” and way more brutal at the same time. We dig into racing dynamics, gender disparities, and the cursed race calendar—plus why more races (and relays!) could actually make athletes fitter, faster, and less unhinged. Hot takes include: perceived exhaustion is lying to you, racing might be the best training, and the sport desperately needs more opportunities on the women’s side. We finish with Mika’s athletic origin story, a dream training session, and a moment of silence (or not) for the retirement of Gabriel Gledill. If you’ve ever felt FOMO watching a start list, questioned your life choices in a 50K, or wondered why skiing makes things harder than they need to be—this one’s for you. 🎧 SUBSCRIBE TO “SKIRIOUS PROBLEMS” ON:  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1nVdyNDukQ7Ucv7IdfXzpg  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/skirious-problems/id1718097138  RSS-Feed: https://anchor.fm/s/ed0abed0/podcast/rss  🤳🏼 FOLLOW US:  Skirious Problems: https://www.instagram.com/skirious_problems  Mika Vermeulen: https://www.instagram.com/mikaa_ver  James Clugnet: https://www.instagram.com/jimmycluggz

    49 min
  4. JAN 15

    Coletta Rydzek: Bavarian Export, Nordic Skier, and Secret Alpine Gossip Broker

    Trust us, this episode with Coletta Rydzek is loaded with honest talk, fresh gossip, and a ton of laughs. We kick things off diving into German ski culture: strict performance tests, old-school coaching styles, and how things are changing for the better (thanks to some Scandinavian influence and a little more flexibility). Coletta Rydzek opens up about her own journey, hitting her stride after a rocky start, and even shares what it was like to win her first World Cup with her brother cheering her on. Of course, we also got some spicy rumors for you - dating drama in the athlete world, boyfriend talk, and a peek at what goes down on TikTok and at German ski camps. Plus, if you’ve ever wondered why biathlon is basically a religion in Germany or got confused by all these weird testing acronyms, you’ll want to stick around! 🎧 SUBSCRIBE TO “SKIRIOUS PROBLEMS” ON: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1nVdyNDukQ7Ucv7IdfXzpgApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/skirious-problems/id1718097138 RSS-Feed: https://anchor.fm/s/ed0abed0/podcast/rss YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkiriousProblems 🤳🏼 FOLLOW US: Skirious Problems: https://www.instagram.com/skirious_problems Mika Vermeulen: https://www.instagram.com/mikaa_ver James Clugnet: https://www.instagram.com/jimmycluggz Skirious Problems is partially supported by FIS and produced in cooperation with Maniac Studios.

    58 min

Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Skirious Problems is your backstage pass to the brilliantly unpolished world of elite cross-country skiing. Hosted by World Cup racers Mika Vermeulen and James Clugnet, the show delivers a sharp mix of insider insight, chaotic travel tales, training drama, and the kind of brutally honest banter you only get from athletes who spend far too much time together on the road. The hosts aren’t afraid to voice strong opinions, roast each other, or poke fun at the quirks of their sport — all with a wink and a sense of humility. What truly elevates the show, though, is the lineup of prominent guests who drop in: World Cup winners, rising stars, Olympic medalists, wax technicians with cult followings, and the occasional wild-card personality from outside skiing. Their stories bring depth, humor, and a fresh range of perspectives, whether they’re unpacking tense race moments, revealing team secrets, or debating the future of the sport. With its mix of authenticity, sharp humor, and unfiltered athlete conversations, Skirious Problems offers a uniquely entertaining look at skiing life beyond the finish line — perfect for fans, athletes, and anyone who enjoys a good dose of organized chaos.

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