The Next Turn - skiing, ski racing and sport

This week on The Next Turn, Erika Pykäläinen of Finland joins us for a candid conversation about the challenges of an early start on the World Cup and the tough road to find success at the highest level of our sport. From technical cues to mental adjustments, coaches insights to personal ownership…no subject was off limits. Erika shows her grit, resilience, gratitude and humor in this very enjoyable chat.

Thea Louise Stjernesund and Mina Fürst Holtmann may share a nation, but their paths to the World Cup couldn’t be more different — one a child prodigy, the other a late bloomer. In this episode, they take us back to the beginning, sharing how they found ski racing, what hooked them, and what’s kept them in the sport. Recorded after Sölden and Levi and before Copper, Thea and Mina walk us through the early part of their season: what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what they’re carrying forward. They offer insight into their training habits, inspection style, and the unique communication-driven culture of the Norwegian team. They also open up about what they admire in each other’s skiing… and the card game they can’t get enough of, all provides for a lively, thoughtful conversation with two athletes on the rise.

Felix Monsén is currently the only Swede competing in World Cup speed — to keep his career on track without the funding of the Swedish Team, he founded the Speed Swedes, the platform for him to create his own team and to cover his own travel, accommodation, and training heading into the 2026 Cortina Olympic Games. In this episode, Felix explains what happened and how he suddenly faced the possibility of forced retirement. Despite near–career-ending injuries, Felix chose to keep going. He now races independently for Sweden with coach, manager and best friend Alex Koell at his side. This conversation might frustrate you, but it will also fire you up — because when everything fell away, the people who believed in his talent, along with his own belief in himself, kept him moving forward. Felix and Alex share what it really takes to run an independent World Cup speed team: the work, the travel, the finances, and the grit.

The Next Turn continues the tradition of learning from the best coaches in the sport; Forest Carey is a career ski coach who has worn nearly every hat in the sport — including two seasons with Bode Miller’s independent “Team America.” After more than a decade with the U.S. Ski Team, he’s now running a Groms program in Park City, focusing on fun, feel, and confidence for young athletes. We talk about what it means to meet athletes where they are — from the world’s best to kids who just want to catch air. Forest brings a thoughtful, honest perspective that brings the sport back to what lasts: joy, movement, courage, and feel. As always, Martin, Cara and Jeff share their “thoughts of the day.” Be well, ski well.

We’re kicking off Season 6 of The Next Turn with French slalom specialist Steven Amiez. Now heading into his fourth full year on the World Cup circuit, Steven is analytical, grounded, and quietly determined to make his mark. He talks about the setbacks that shaped him and what drives him—the pursuit of a podium and the rush of seeing green numbers beside his name. Whether this is your first time hearing about Steven Amiez or not (his Wikipedia page is barely three sentences long), you’ll come away impressed by his honesty, his patience, and his love for the sport.

This week, the freshly crowned NCAA champions join The Next Turn. Sara Rask is currently wrapping up her college career in Denver after a few years with the Swedish national team and the Europa Cup circuit and is now living that student-athlete life with zero regrets and no World Cup pressure. Johs Braathen Herland is a first-year at University of Utah, but as you’ll hear, he is eyeing the big leagues and dreams of being a part of Norway’s Attacking Vikings. And Jayden Buckrell who came up through the provincial system, stuck it out in Canada, and is now tearing it up as a freshman with the University of New Hampshire. Together, the three break down the East vs West NCAA rivalry, what it’s like to win titles in your first year, and the very real challenges of balancing student life with high-level performance. They also reflect on the value of an NCAA championship — not just in North America, but in their home countries — and how the collegiate circuit stacks up against NorAm and Europa Cup racing. All this and some good old fashioned college pride and rivalry make for an awesome conversation. As always, hosts Martin, Cara and Jeff share their “SWIX Thoughts of the Day”. And this week’s Good Vibes - inlovingmemoryofadamk@gmail.com Adam Kulakowski monetary gifts (money can be emailed and will be auto-deposited at the address above).

This week, Alpine Canada’s Development Team coach, Cam McKenzie and US Ski C Team coach, Clement Tomamichel join The Next Turn for a terrific coaches roundtable. The experienced duo discuss their programs, their struggles and where they believe the gains will be made with their teams. Along with a thorough dive into technique, tactics, and the mindset that the athletes are looking to achieve, this episode provides a level of insight into what the development system looks like in North America. As always, Martin, Cara and Jeff share their “Swix Thoughts of the Day”.

Two parents of elite athletes join The Next Turn for Volume 2 of “World Cup Moms”. Patricia Seger, mom of Canadian speed skiers Brodie and Riley, and Amy Macuga, mom of ski jumper Samantha, mogul skier Alli, and alpine speed skiers Lauren and Daniel, have supported their children's dreams despite not coming from ski racing backgrounds themselves. Each has successfully navigated the complicated, exciting, and often exhausting world high-level training and competition. Patricia and Amy talk about raising elite athlete siblings, noting how they support and compete with each other, and about managing the ups and downs of high-performance sports. They share insights into managing schedules, making time for themselves, and ensuring they preserve a genuine love for skiing and sport within their children. It's an honest, funny, and heartfelt conversation about what it takes behind the scenes to support athletes while still managing everyday life. As always, hosts Martin, Cara, and Jeff share their “SWIX Thoughts of the Day”.

This week we had the privilege of catching up with two regional leaders in North American ski racing: Darlene Nolting, Program Director for Rocky Central in the US, and Jocelyn Huot, Director of Ski Quebec. Both have a ton of experience which leads to unique perspectives on the challenges faced by both athletes and their families. In this conversation, the two discuss the rising costs of ski racing, the balance between education and high-performance sports, and the importance of keeping kids in the sport for the pure love of skiing. They also share their thoughts on multi-sport participation, the potential negatives of live timing apps, and there is even a lively discussion surrounding ski academies. These two are seasoned pros who are knowledgeable and passionate about the future of ski racing, and their insights are incredibly valuable. As always, hosts Martin, Cara, and Jeff share their “SWIX Thoughts of the Day”.

Norway’s Atle Lie McGrath first joined us in 2021, with one World Cup podium to his name. Since then, he’s achieved remarkable success—all before his 25th birthday. In this conversation with McGrath, what’s notable is his wisdom, especially as he reflects on the World Championships, the pressure of being among the favourites, and the “we” of the Norwegian team. He discusses staffing changes, the value of consistency, and the team’s long-term goals. McGrath also walks us through key moments from this season, some exhilarating and some heartbreaking. As of today, he sits fifth in the overall standings, fifth in slalom, and is tied for eighth in GS—an incredible season by any measure. McGrath is articulate, introspective, and one of the established stars in our sport. As always, hosts Martin, Cara, and Jeff share their “SWIX Thoughts of the Day”.

Tim Dattels is an athlete advocate. He’s also a philanthropist who has used not only his own money but also his connections and business sense to help athletes bridge the incredible funding gap that often means the difference between ski racing and retirement. As the Chair of the Board for Alpine Canada, he’s played a pivotal role in supporting Canada’s ski racing community. We caught up with Tim in Whistler earlier this season to talk about his journey—what drew him to alpine ski racing, how he’s working to support athletes, and the unique challenges they face. Tim breaks down the financial realities for Canadian ski racers, the limited funding available, and the ways he and others are helping athletes navigate everything from sponsorships to life after racing.As always, Martin, Cara and Jeff share their ‘Swix Thoughts of the Day’

The Next Turn is celebrating its 100th episode by doing something a little different. This week instead of leading the conversation, we’re in the hot seat. We’ve given the keys to coach, author, marketing and communications expert, Christine Feehan, flipping the script and putting our team on the other side of the mic. Feehan digs into who we are, why we started the Next Turn, and what’s kept us going for five years. We talk through bumps in the road, lessons learned, and reflect on the evolution of the podcast, moments that surprised us, and the common threads we’ve seen emerge across a hundred interviews with some of the biggest names in the sport. And finally, we look ahead to what’s next. Where does The Next Turn go from here?  We’ve spent 99 episodes asking others to open up to us. Now, it’s our turn. And stick around for special ‘Thoughts of the Day’ with Tom Kelly, Parker Biele and Jacques Reid

Italy’s Dominik Paris, one of the most dominant speed skiers of his generation, joins The Next Turn for a conversation that is equal parts insightful, intense, and even a little bit spiritual. We caught up with him in the middle of a season that has tested his patience, and he talks openly about his frustrations. But as you’ll hear, Paris thinks on his feet, relying on feel, instinct, and a connection with the fall line, and he breaks down what that actually means, detailing how he approaches the classics like Bormio and Kitzbühel, and how he is able to push himself to the absolute limit. A highlight of the conversation is when he talks us through the course at Bormio, mentally skiing it aloud, visualizing every turn, every compression, and every high-speed adjustment. You don’t want to miss this riveting episode. As always, hosts Martin, Cara, and Jeff share their “SWIX Thoughts of the Day”.

Zrinka Ljutić is such an awesome guest that we had to invite her back to The Next Turn for more! Ljutić talks about expectations coming into this year, her equipment switch, and whether or not she’s surprised by her results so far. We dig into her first World Cup win and touch on how she’s handling pressure, getting her thoughts on possibly adding another discipline to her already stacked GS and SL schedule. Looking ahead, Ljutić shares her mindset for the upcoming World Championships, and as someone who’s become a celebrity in Croatia, she gives us insight into the attention she’s been getting from the media and talks about what life looks like off the slopes. It’s a great conversation with one of the most exciting young athletes in the sport! And as always, hosts Martin, Cara and Jeff share their “SWIX Thoughts of the Day”.

France’s Clara Direz joins The Next Turn for a conversation that ranges from her training and competition focus, to her life outside ski racing. Direz, who is best known as a GS specialist, has been working her way into speed disciplines, and in this interview she explains why she’s adding Super G to her schedule and illuminates what influenced that decision. She opens up about the challenges she’s faced so far this season, focusing on the disconnect between her performance in training versus races. She talks about good days and bad days, handling pressure and expectations, and how she bounces back from disappointment. Direz, who is also a licensed pilot, opens up about her love of flying, her time in the mountains, and how she embraces her inner adrenaline junkie. As always, hosts Martin, Cara, and Jeff share their “SWIX Thoughts of the Day”.

Swedish powerhouses Lisa Nyberg and Estelle Alphand join The Next Turn for a conversation that includes reflections on what it was like for both to grow up with famous fathers, but their stories go far beyond their family backgrounds. Alphand, who grew up in France, competed for the French team, eventually making the move to represent Sweden—a story in itself. Both women give us a peek at their individual careers—one is just at the start of her World Cup journey, while the other admits she’s closer to the end, talking about finding autonomy in their lives, building confidence, as well as how they approach training. They also discuss equipment changes, disappointment, and overcoming challenges. As always, hosts Martin, Cara and Jeff share their “SWIX Thoughts of the Day”.

Two remarkable World Cup dads join The Next Turn this week. Jeff Hensien, parent of U.S. Ski Team athlete Katie Hensien, and Steve Smart, parent of Canada’s Amelia Smart, chat with us about the balancing act of being a parent of a high-level athlete. Both reflect on the full family commitment required and the unglamorousness of life on the road. Steve, a long time ski professional and instructor, and Jeff, who joined this world with very little ski experience, have unique perspectives as a result. They share some of the wisdom they’ve tried to impart as their daughters navigate pressures of life on the World Cup. Volunteerism is important to these two, and Jeff shares how learning skills like timing and being a technical delegate deepened his family’s understanding of the sport. They talk about how they’ve navigated ski academies and offer wisdom for parents facing the same challenges. This conversation is a behind-the-scenes look at the sacrifices, life lessons, and love that goes into raising and supporting world-class athletes. As always, hosts Martin, Cara, and Jeff share their “SWIX Thoughts of the Day”.

The Next Turn caught up with Austrian ski racer Mirjam Puchner just before the World Cup season started heating up, and she offered a great deal of insight into her world. At 32 and in her 11th season on the circuit, she’s already had two top 15 finishes in Beaver Creek this year. Puchner discussed everything from her off-season training, to how she learns new tracks like Beaver Creek, diving into what it means to train well and race well, along with how to manage pressure. Puchner’s story extends beyond skiing too; her experience as a high-level tennis player shapes how she approaches ski racing. Puchner is an open book in this great conversation—it’s one you won’t want to miss! As always, hosts Martin, Cara and Jeff share their “SWIX Thoughts of the Day”. And don’t forget this week’s “Good Vibes” www.teampanorama.ca and www.windermerevalleyskiclub.com

The Next Turn is thrilled to be joined by three American speed skiers, Keely Cashman, Bella Wright, and Jacqueline Wiles, who chatted with us about how their training is going leading up to Beaver Creek, sharing details about getting their equipment dialed and about how they are feeling physically. They tell us how they’re learning the track at Beaver Creek, what intel the US men have given them, and what it means to them to race in front of a home crowd. They also share their thoughts about finding the balance between being brave, searching for speed, and performing, while also enjoying the home field experience. As always, hosts Martin, Cara and Jeff share their “SWIX Thoughts of the Day”…and this week’s “Good Vibes”, Keelys Camp www.keelyscamp.com

Czech snowboarder and alpine skier Ester Ledecká joins The Next Turn, giving us a behind-the-scenes look into her world of competing in two sports at an elite level. She shares the fascinating and sometimes chaotic power struggle between her skiing and snowboarding teams, illuminating the logistics of juggling two sports that often overlap. Ledecká also opens up about the fluidity it takes to switch gears between disciplines, reflecting on her upbringing and how her parents encouraged her to dream big, leading her to embrace the benefits of multi-sport training. She even hints at possibly adding another discipline to her already stacked Olympic repertoire. As always, hosts Martin, Cara and Jeff share their “SWIX Thoughts of the DayAlso, this week’s “Good Vibes” Jasper Williams https://www.snowathletes.ca/athlete/jasper-williams