Arc City Jimmy Krupka

If basketball fans know about Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, then ski racing fans absolutely need know about Tamara McKinney: the first American woman to win the World Cup Overall title, and the only, before Lindsey and Mikaela. First, we hear the story of McKinney's gold medal at the 1989 World Championships, a gripping, multifaceted tale full of life, and death. Then we talk about her ’84 Olympic performance that was defined by media hype—and McKinney uses her own experience to comment on that of Olympic champion Simone Biles’. McKinney talks briefly of her family’s move from Maryland to Nevada to pursue skiing and ultimately make the National Team at 14 years old. And finally, we discuss how McKinney is helping make skiing more affordable and accessible to anyone and everyone within a two hundred-mile radius of Reno (https://www.skytavern.org/).**This episode is brought to you by GiveGo (Givego.io). Use code ARCCITY and get 50% off your subscription!**Questions or comments: arccityjimmy@gmail.com, on arccity.org, or on Instagram @jimmy_who_

Warning: the crash that broke both Sam's legs will be described (at 5:43). Sam DuPratt (2:45) is a member of the US Ski Team's World Cup speed squad. Despite his horrific injury, Sam maintains a great sense of humor. We talk about everything from the psychology of major injuries, how to best tackle recovery, and some controversial ski technique theories (wait, the fast guys lean back?). Briefly, I ask Sam--who has skied on the National Team, in college, and independently--what the best route for developing athletes is. We close by discussing Sam's greatest fear. The Skiing History nugget this week is about the oldest skis ever found (48:19), and at the end, as always we read some mail (49:55).(Questions, suggestions, and grievances to ArcCityJimmy@gmail.com, to @jimmy_who_ on Instagram, or visit ArcCity.org for more information)

Well folks, this is a big one. Olympic champion, World Champion, and 69-time World Cup winner Mikaela Shiffrin gives us a chunk of her very-busy, Olympic-prepping schedule to talk over Zoom (2:34). First and importantly, we talk about the Jeff Shiffrin Athlete Resiliency Fund (keeptheflamealive.org), which gives direct aid to National Team athletes. The fund is named after Mikaela’s late father, and I ask her a bit about him. Then we try to figure out who Mikaela would be if she didn’t ski race, what it’s like being the person that’s supposed to win every single race, and how she handles the tightrope of social media. At the end, we have some fun with her boyfriend (and 2020 Overall Champion) Aleksander Kilde (37:35). We also get to ask him a couple serious questions, as he is coming back from his ACL tear and looking ahead to the Olympics. The Skiing History nugget this episode involves the surprisingly early invention of indoor skiing (49:07), and at the end, as always, we read the mail (52:22). (Visit our website www.arccity.org for more info; send questions, suggestions and grievances to arccityjimmy@gmail.com or on Instagram to @jimmy_who_)

At long last, Arc City is back. And for this episode, a slight change of pace. Instead of an athlete, we talk to someone inside the ski industry (2:55). Jake Stevens spent six years running the North American Race Department at Rossignol Group, and now works at a higher, more general position in the company. He gives us his inside insights on everything from cutting-edge ski technologies to how a World Cup racer develops skis to the actual budgeting of a race department. After, we give two young racers, Doum Rainville and Cam Smith, a 5-minute call to hear about the company they founded called Thrival Muscle Recovery (45:10). Finally, as always, we read the mail (55:00).(Check out our BRAND NEW website ArcCity.org !!)

Ralph Green is a Paralympian and one of the best one-legged ski racers ever (1:14). We talk about his incredible back story, from his humble beginnings in Brooklyn to his introduction to skiing and his miraculous, hard-work-pays-off leap to the U.S Ski Team. I ask him about his unique experience jumping into the ski racing world after growing up so far removed from the sport. We dive into the tough questions, like how to bring more diversity to skiing and what it's like being a Black man in a very white sport. For our five-minute call, we dial up Doug Lewis, an Olympian who knows a few things (47:38). Our one question: Are Kid "Softer" These Days? The History Skiing nugget of the week is about the three years that turned ski racing from fringe to fantastic (54:09). Finally, I spotlight a non-profit that I'm excited about called Share Winter Foundation (57:10), and at the end, as always, we read the mail (58:04).(Questions, suggestions, and greivances to arccityjimmy@gmail.com or @jimmy_who_)

Things are heating up here in Arc City. Ted Ligety retires (00:36) and World Champs begins. Breezy Johnson has been on fire this season so we give her a call (4:03), and the first question is, what started this podium streak? The answer involves Breezy’s impressive recovery from back-to-back knee injuries and her fearless mentality, which, we learn isn’t as fearless as it seems. Naturally, I ask about her real name, and also how to ski downhill. We dive deep into the coach-athlete relationship, and finally, end with a couple fun questions. Then Breezy brings the call down the hall to find her teammate Laurenne Ross and fill our five-minute slot with talk of mentorship (45:43). At the end, as always, we read the mail (56:25).(Questions, suggestions, comments, and grievances to arccityjimmy@gmail.com or DM on Instagram @jimmy_who_)