Featured Image: Mike Janyk racing slalom in 2014. Credit: GEPA

In episode 21 of the Skiing is Believing podcast, Matt Garcka, and Alan Rigg had the pleasure to welcome former Canadian slalom star Mike Janyk as the latest guest of the summer series.

Mike discussed his path to becoming a World Championship medalist in the 2009 Val d’Isere slalom, a feat he achieved more than two years after his FIS World Cup slalom podium in Beaver Creek.

Mike also expressed some of the few regrets from his astonishing career, during which he achieved 27 FIS World Cup, top-10 results.

Additionally, he talked about the astonishing out-of-body experience in the mountains, which led Mike to retirement after the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

Mike’s sibling, Britt, participated in alpine ski racing as well, and she achieved victory in the World Cup in Aspen in 2007. He recounts several remarkable moments they shared, such as the FIS World Cup Finals, the Olympics, and the World Championships.

Another highlight for him that he reminisced on was launching the Mike and Manny Camp with fellow Canadian racer Manny Osborne-Paradis back in their race days.

Recently, he had the opportunity to market his fantastic book, Go to the Start: Life as a World Cup Ski Racer, published 18 months ago.

Matt and Alan, of course, finished with the quick-fire questions where you can learn Mike’s favorite place to ski.

Please let us know what you think via Instagram @skiingisbelievingpodcast, where next week, we will be conducting our second LIVE podcast. That will be a quiz-only episode where you can test your FIS World Cup knowledge in five fun rounds. You can also contact us via email at mattgarcka.skiingisbelieving@gmail.com

Thank you, and enjoy!