The Backcountry Podcast Backcountry

Kolin Powick knows about as much as anyone when it comes to cams, carabiners, and quickdraws because he’s a crucial part of climbing’s history. As the Director of Product at Black Diamond for over 20 years, he used his engineering experience to develop some of the most impactful climbing equipment of all time. In this episode, Nils probes Kolin about the current state of climbing and the impact of indoor climbing on the greater community. The pair also dive into Black Diamond’s un...

As a climbing athlete and a guide for She Moves Mountains, Maiza Lima is an established member of the climbing community whose story resonates with everyone she crosses paths with. Rock climbing became her ideal escape when navigating the hardships that come along with moving from Brazil to the US at seventeen years old. Nils and Maiza navigate challenging topics ranging from the expectations of the outdoor identity to the importance of investing in others. Maiza carries an authentic, d...

As the Executive Director of the American Avalanche Association, Jayne Nolan is a core community member in the backcountry skiing space. We’re honored to have Jayne on the podcast to discuss the Resilience Project, which is one of their initiatives that we’re proud to offer support for as a partner. Nils and Jayne discuss the current state of snow science and avalanche awareness, and the latest initiatives from the American Avalanche Association. Listen along for endless learning opport...

Rio Lakeshore is a Backcountry partner who's known for his trail running achievements—but he’s accomplished so much more than that. Rio is a deeply introspective individual and he’s also very intentional about his actions both within his sport and outside of it. Nils speaks with Rio about being a father, and developing the tools to take on the adversity that life consistently dishes out. The pair also dive into the topic of fashion, and certain parallels between the running and sn...

Remy Metailler is a mountain biking phenom known for his viral POV videos that capture seemingly impossible lines in the Squamish wilderness. We're proud to have him as a Backcountry ambassador and have him on the podcast to chat with Nils about his prestigious career. In this episode, Remy shares how his pro mountain bike career actually stemmed from the need for gainful employment. It served as the perfect opportunity for the Frenchman to extend his stay while spending a year in Squami...

This week on the podcast, we have Victor Daviet who recently made his Natural Selection Tour debut in Durango, CO alongside NST vet and podcast host Nils. The pair discuss Victor’s recent projects and some wild stories ranging from volcanic lakes to unorthodox avalanche control methods. Victor lets his passion guide his snowboarding career. In a project to document the ski and snowboard culture in Afghanistan, he helped the Afghani Federation officials promote the message of equality be...