Episode 30

Dark Starts backcountry splitboarding podcast presents Baldface Ops Manager and ex-pro boarder JP Martin.

• Pro riding has its perks! Shredding days away and partying all night results in epic stories for your listening pleasure
  
• Planning a tour in Japan? JP lived there for 7 years and has great tips on when to go and the state of the snow
  
• Managing ops at Baldface during the building of the Supernatural and Ultra Natural events wasn’t without sweat and its own challenges
  

JP fell in love with the land of the rising sun while riding on the pro tour and bouncing between Japan and Alaska chasing snow. If you’ve ever wanted to shred in Japan, this episode is a must listen before you go! Now he runs operations and programs at Baldface, shaping the powder playground for all of us to enjoy.

Show links:

www.parkdiggers.com

@jpmartin_fun

@gentemstick

@avalon7

@_tlg8_

@bluebirdwax

@karakorambc

@patagonia_snow

@burtonsnowboards

@burton

@smithoptics

Baldface Lodge

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@ Darkstarts.podcast

@ Darkstarts.Media

Special thanks to:

Groundswell Marketing

Valerie Black The Artist Behind The Logo

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 29

Dark Starts backcountry splitboarding podcast presents splitboarder and photographer Ryan Irvin.

• Discovered he preferred still life to the monotony of video editing, picked up a DSLR instead and now shoots epic pics
  
• Rides for Venture Snowboards, because they are solidly handcrafted by shredders for shredders in the USA
  
• Tried and tested gear rundown, and deep knowledge of snow that only comes from years of experience in the backcountry
  

Coming from the Pacific Northwest, Ryan has a soft spot in his heart for alpine starts and long corn runs. He studied video production and outdoor education at Mount Hood Community College, where he got sucked into the obsession of splitboarding and mountaineering. He's currently living the seasonal lifestyle with time split between Oregon, Salt Lake City, Alaska, and Southwest Colorado. His passion will be your listening pleasure!

Show links:

Ryan Irvin Photography

Instagram

Venture Snowboards

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@ Darkstarts.podcast

@ Darkstarts.Media

Special thanks to:

Groundswell Marketing

Valerie Black The Artist Behind The Logo

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 27

Dark Starts backcountry splitboarding podcast presents Jeff Pensiero, owner and co-founder of Baldface Lodge.

• When he discovered the Ski Area & Resort Management program, all he knew is that he liked the idea of taking people out and giving them access
  
• Learn about how the powder playground that we know as Baldface Lodge came to be, with some help from awesome humans
  
• The resort would eventually become the prime location for the Natural Selection Event, marrying together the best riders and snowboard film
  
• Runs an annual Risk Maturity program with Pat Moore to continue sharing important information and safety practices in the backcountry
  

Jeff is one of those solid humans we love to talk to. He rode the river of life and the flow took him to rekindle love in Nelson, B.C., make it his home, and create an amazing catskiing playground for the world to enjoy. It wasn’t easy or without risk, but soooo worth the 700 bucks and case of beer. Cheers to you, the next one’s on us.

Show links:

Baldface Lodge

Email

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/volcomsnow/

https://www.instagram.com/volcom/

https://www.instagram.com/volcomwomens/

https://www.instagram.com/skullcandy/

https://www.instagram.com/yeti/

https://www.instagram.com/traegergrills/

https://www.instagram.com/traegeroutdoors/

https://www.instagram.com/vanssnow/

https://www.instagram.com/vanscanada/

https://www.instagram.com/vans/

https://www.instagram.com/aetherapparel/

https://www.instagram.com/dangelicony/

https://www.instagram.com/unionbindingco/

https://www.instagram.com/libtechnologies/

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@ Darkstarts.podcast

@ Darkstarts.Media

Special thanks to:

Groundswell Marketing

Valerie Black The Artist Behind The Logo

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 28

Dark Starts backcountry splitboarding podcast presents Abe Greenspan, co-founder of TahoeLab Snowboards.

• Built his skills competing all over the world with the US national snowboard team, built his education after surviving an avalanche
  
• Amazing passion for building better boards, by riders, for riders
  
• If you ever tour with your dog, you’ll want to hear these great tips
  
• Pro tips on tuning and waxing to get the best day ever
  

When you love to do something, your passion becomes apparent. Starting from nothing, TahoeLab Snowboards has built literally everything from the ground up themselves. Abe and Lee pour their heart and soul into it each day so that you can get the payday after all that suffer. Introducing the Connoisseur of Suffer, Abe Greenspan.

Show links:

Instagram

TahoeLabs

Follow us on Instagram:

@ Darkstarts.podcast

@ Darkstarts.Media

Special thanks to:

Groundswell Marketing

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 26

Dark Starts backcountry splitboarding podcast presents Craig Gordon of the Utah Avalanche Center.

• Over 20 years experience forecasting avalanches for the Utah Avalanche Center
  
• Founded the Know Before You Go program to educate people after a tragic accident in 2003 took the live of 3 young men
  
• His philosophy is simple, respect the mountains and practice avalanche avoidance so you make it home to your family
  

Craig enrolled in the college of snow 37 years ago and never looked back. He is often referred to as the know-before-you-go guy, and sometimes the original manbun guy, since creating the program to raise public awareness about avalanche risks. His experience is invaluable and his tips could one day save your life. You don’t want to miss this episode!

Show links:

Utah Avalanche Center

Know Before You Go

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/skyline_avalanche/

https://www.instagram.com/uintabrewing/

https://www.instagram.com/utavy_uintas/

https://www.instagram.com/utavy_ogden/

https://www.instagram.com/outdoorresearch/

https://www.instagram.com/skiutah/

Follow us on Instagram:

@ Darkstarts.podcast

@ Darkstarts.Media

Special thanks to:

Groundswell Marketing

Valerie Black The Artist Behind The Logo

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 25

Dark Starts backcountry splitboarding podcast presents pro rider, AMCG guide and owner of Spline Snowboards Justin Lamoureux:

• His early days as a pro boarder led him to become a World Champion, compete in the 2006 and 2010 olympics, and 3x canadian national halfpipe champion
  
• His experience working at K2 and background as a mechanical engineer inspired the founding of Spline Snowboards, creating unreal boards
  
• As a certified Accredited Canadian Mountain Guide, he shares awesome tips on gear, safety, terrain and what to pack on your next tour
  

Justin knew he loved snow at an early age. And he loved it hard. He even reworked his college schedule and put every penny he had into chasing it. It brought him fame, glory, and a great career. His engineering background led his curious mind to start building his own boards, and his ability to push the edge created the most unique boards we’ve ever seen. He’s also inspiring his young son to follow in his skin tracks. We’re inspired too!

Show links:

Spline Snowboards

Spline Instagram

Justin Instagram

Time Bomb Trading

Rudeboys Shop

Clif Bar

Thirty Two Boots

Spark R and D

Arc'teryx

Justin Lamoureux.com

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@ Darkstarts.podcast

@ Darkstarts.Media

Special thanks to:

Groundswell Marketing

Valerie Black The Artist Behind The Logo

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 24

Dark Starts backcountry splitboarding podcast presents avalanche expert and mountain guide John Buffery.

• Guide, educator, film consultant, speaker, writer, avalanche expert, mountain guru
  
• Pioneer splitboarder, advocated the adoption of snowboarding into guiding for the growing number of snowboards in backcountry
  
• Spent years as a personal guide for the godfather of freeriding, Craig Kelly
  
• His avalanche experience and education catapulted his career in film consulting, the founding of Baldface Lodge and keeping roads safe in BC.
  

His roots run as deep as his chakras. We loved talking to Buff about his amazing stories and over three decades of experience in backcountry and avalanche safety. An avalanche in a helicopter, playing chess with Craig Kelly, the origins of Baldface Lodge - this episode has got it all! We still don’t know if he really invented the first splitboard. Listen in and let us know what you think.

Show links:

Safety Wrangler Website

John Buffery Instagram

IMDB Credits

@depthperceptionfilm

@baldfacelodge

Follow us on Instagram @ DarkStarts.Podcast

Special thanks to:

Groundswell Marketing

Valerie Black The Artist Behind The Logo

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 23

Dark Starts backcountry splitboarding podcast presents the legend himself, DCP.

• Father, husband, pro snowboarder, skater, surfer, adventurer
  
• Star of many classic powder flicks that we got frothy watching
  
• Co-owner of Yes Snowboards, now sporting a wicked split
  
• Discovered CBD when his wife Megan was battling breast cancer, also found it to be useful for aging athletes, so he started a company
  

Summers surfing in Costa Rica, winters riding in Squamish, British Columbia - could life get any better? We dropped in with DCP and listened to his amazing stories of getting started in snowboarding, going pro, getting dropped, getting buried and starting his own ventures with the connections he made along the way. The man is a legend!

Show links:

Yes Snowboards

NOW Bindings

Rip Curl

Globe

Zeal Optics

Empire

Deeluxe Boots

YES on Life

CBDayz

DCP Instagram

Follow us on Instagram @ Darkstarts.podcast

@ Darkstarts.Media

Special thanks to:

GroundSwell Marketing

Valerie Black The Artist Behind The Logo

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.