Fresh Corduroy, a podcast exploring the people, stories, and policies shaping skiing’s future, has launched its second season with in-depth conversations featuring two figures at very different stages of the sport: Sophie Goldschmidt, CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, and Annika Hunt, the 2025 NorAm overall champion.
Hosted by Craig Zolan, a lifelong skier and former racer, Fresh Corduroy blends insider knowledge with thoughtful discussion about what drives performance and progress in the mountains.
In the season premiere, Goldschmidt outlines her vision for expanding participation and strengthening the culture at U.S. Ski & Snowboard. She describes the importance of grassroots engagement, collaboration across disciplines, and the power of storytelling to attract new fans.
“We’re not just managing athletes — we’re building a culture where skiers can thrive from the grassroots to the Olympic podium,” Goldschmidt said. “That sense of purpose drives everything we do.”
She also highlights the federation’s partnerships with resorts, its reliance on philanthropy to fund athlete programs, and efforts to make competition coverage easier for fans to follow.
“There’s incredible drama, risk, and emotion in skiing,” she said. “When we tell those stories well, we not only inspire fans — we bring new people into the sport.”
The newest episode, released this week, turns to the athlete’s perspective. Hunt joins Fresh Corduroy fresh off her NorAm title to talk about her path from Park City to Burke Mountain Academy, the setbacks that shaped her, and the mindset shift that unlocked her best skiing.
“I think skiing is such an unrewarding sport,” Hunt said. “There are so many hard days, crashes, DNFs, and setbacks — but that one good day makes it all worth it. It’s addicting.”
Twice missing U.S. Ski Team selection by fractions of a FIS point forced her to rethink her approach. Working with Olympic gold medalist Barbara Ann Cochran helped her develop the mental skills to focus on process over outcome — a change that ultimately carried her to the NorAm overall title and a World Cup debut this season.
Past guests have included U.S. Sen. John Curtis of Utah, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, Proctor Academy’s Jason “Moot” Nelson, Canadian World Cup skier Stephanie Fleckenstein, and Apex2100 coach and former U.S. Ski Team coach Sasha Rearick.
Fresh Corduroy is also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Follow the show on Instagram at @freshcorduroypodcast
About the Author: Craig Zolan
