Sponsored, Episode 6: Michelle Parker

Sponsored, Episode 6: Michelle Parker

Author: Powder Radio October 11, 2016 Duration: 39:51

On this episode of the "Sponsored" podcast, presented by Powder Radio, host Mike Powell interviews Michelle Parker, one of the most well-rounded skiers in the sport and an eternal optimist.

"Skiing is the most fun thing in my life. It is my biggest passion. I love it so much," says Parker. "The second that it starts to become not fun, I'm doing something wrong and I need to reevaluate. My whole thing was no pressure, have fun with it, always smile."

Parker retains her positivity despite the number of difficult injuries and tragedies she has experienced among her Lake Tahoe community.

"I don't think it's normal for someone my age to have lost more people than I can count on both hands that I consider to be close to me," says Parker. "Every death I personally deal with it differently, and the most recent one that affected me super deeply was Timy Dutton, and he was my best friend since day one and we were like babies together and our moms were super close... I haven't had the nerve to delete his name from my phone. When I think about him, I have to laugh."

Michelle Parker Show Notes

1:50: What has Michelle been up to? 2:37: Knee injuries and positivity 3:35: Mike Powell Story 4:50: Life as a ski racer and the transition into free skiing 6:00: The scene in Squaw while Michelle was coming up, getting sponsored and more 9:45: Contest mentality 11:26: The fine line between being a great skier and a professional skier 13:06: Creepy things photographers do and strange photo shoots 16:08: Contests and learning sportsmanship from her Pro Tennis Player dad 17:55: The Pain McShlonkey and growing up with Shane 19:12: Coping with death in Squaw Valley 21:24: The community of Squaw Valley 22:35: Black Panther and other call names 23:18: Winning the 2013 Female performance of the year at the Powder Awards 23:48: Losing her sponsors and then kicking ass 26:10: What does Red Bull do differently? 29:00 Michelle talks about her first time going to Burning Man 30:22: Michelle plays her Ukulele and sings us an original song. 35:50: Safe As 37:44: When will Michelle be back on snow


There's a whole world of experience waiting just off the groomed trails, and Sponsored: The stories behind the skiers from Powder Radio is your ticket to it. This isn't just about technique or gear reviews; it's about the people who live for the mountains and the unique lives they've built around them. Each episode pulls up a chair in the lodge or sits on a ski lift next to someone fascinating, exploring how skiing shapes identity, community, and adventure. You'll hear from athletes, guides, artists, and locals whose personal journeys are deeply intertwined with the snow and the slopes. The conversations naturally delve into the culture of mountain towns, the thrill of discovering remote places, and the societal threads that bind this passionate community together. By focusing on the human element behind every turn, this podcast captures the spirit of the sport in a way that feels both intimate and expansive. Tune in for authentic stories that go far beyond the finish line, reminding us why we're drawn to these wild, beautiful places in the first place.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 34

Sponsored: The stories behind the skiers
Podcast Episodes
Sponsored, Episode 34: Rory Silva [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:07
On this week's episode of the "Sponsored" podcast, the last of season one, host Mike Powell interviews Rory Silva. If you've been regularly listening to "Sponsored," Silva's name is one that has frequently come up. He wa…
Sponsored, Episode 33: Marc-Andre Belliveau [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:56
On this week's episode of the "Sponsored" podcast, host Mike Powell interviews French Canadian Marc-Andre Belliveau. In 2006, Belliveau was one of the top skiers in the world. He was featured regularly in Teton Gravity R…
Sponsored, Episode 32: Mike Hattrup [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:06
Mike Hattrup Show Notes 1:30: What is Hatt up to and how has his season been 2:45: Getting a knee replacement 3:40: Growing up Hattrup, sports and getting into skiing 8:00: Filming with Stump and making the US Ski Team 1…
Sponsored, Episode 30: Matt Margetts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:15
On this episode of the "Sponsored" podcast, Canadian Olympian Matt Margetts joins host Mike Powell. After years pursuing halfpipe competitions, Margetts has joined childhood friends including Riley Leboe, Joe Schuster, a…
Sponsored, Episode 30: Kim Reichhelm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:31
On this episode of the "Sponsored" podcast, Kim Reichhelm, one of the original badasses of freesking, joins host Mike Powell. Reicchelm is candid about her upbringing with a stern father and her current rock and roll lif…
Sponsored, Episode 29: Colston Vb [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:41
On this episode of the "Sponsored" podcast, Colston VB talks to host Mike Powell about the struggle to make it as a professional skier. The two discuss Vb's role on Bravo's reality TV show, Timber Creek Lodge, which he w…
Sponsored, Episode 28: Pep Fujas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:36
On this episode of the "Sponsored" podcast, Pep Fujas, one of the most influential skiers of the 21st century, joins host Mike Powell. Known for his seminal segment in Session 1242, his role in Nimbus films, and his succ…
Sponsored, Episode 27: Julian Carr [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:37
"It's hyper awareness. I am like charged particles, and I'm sharing with my surroundings, like part of this rich, interconnected web," he says about his airs. "There is no empty space. So the moment I leave a cliff I'm c…
Sponsored, Episode 26: Drew Tabke [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:11
On this episode of the "Sponsored" podcast, host Mike Powell interviews perennial Freeride World Tour contender and former champion Drew Tabke. Tabke is one of the most outspoken athletes on the tour, and the two discuss…
Sponsored, Episode 25: Kristi Leskinen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:42
2:43 Life in Arizona 3:44: Growing up in Pennsylvania wakeboarding and skiing 6:00: The end of team sports 8:32: Killington Mountain School 9:12: Skiing, wakeboarding, and the US Open 12:29: The early challenges for wome…