Looking Sideways Action Sports Podcast

Full episode info and show notes: www.wearelookingsideways.comBefore June 2017, Alex Honnold, my guest for episode 015, was already renowned as one of the world’s greatest climbers thanks to achievements such as the Fitzroy Traverse, his free solo ascents of Moonlight Buttress in Zion National Park and on Half Dome, or his solo ascent of Yosemite’s Triple Crown.Then he ‘sent the project’ he’d been working on for years – a free solo ascent (where the climber ascends without ropes or protection) of the 3000-plus feet Freerider on El Capitan in California’s Yosemite Valley.It was immediately hailed as one of the greatest climbing accomplishments in history, and it immediately catapulted Alex into a new stratosphere of fame and notoriety.So when I was invited along to interview Alex during his flying visit to London, a scant two months after this historic achievement, I headed on up to town to get a first-hand account from the man himself. Thanks to Chris Cracknell (https://soundcloud.com/6ftstereo) and Matt Ward (www.linguistine.com) for the theme tune This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wearelookingsideways.com/subscribe

Full episode info and show notes: www.wearelookingsideways.comMy episode 014 guest is Lucy Adams - pro skateboarder, chair of Skateboard England and one of the most respected and positive presences in UK skateboarding. Lucy has been a tirelessly upbeat presence in UK skateboarding for years now, whether through the efforts she’s made to make skateboarding more accessible for girls through her She-Shredders coaching classes, or through her visibility as one of the most high profile female skateboarders out there.She’s also celebrating twenty years in the game with a pro model on long-term sponsor Lovenskate, and a new video part, so it seemed the perfect time to meet and discuss her life and career. It’s a very honest and moving chat this one, so big ups to Lucy for her hospitality and openness. Thanks to Chris Cracknell (https://soundcloud.com/6ftstereo) for post production help and Matt Ward (www.linguistine.com) for the theme tune. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wearelookingsideways.com/subscribe

Full episode info and show notes: www.wearelookingsideways.comMy guest for episode 013 is journalist and broadcaster Keme Nzerem: skier, climber, outdoorsman, head judge at Kendal Mountain Film Festival and Correspondent for Channel 4 News. Keme covers some of the biggest stories in the world, and in this in-depth chat, recorded in London in July 2017, we dig deep into his career and experiences working on stories such as Hurricane Katrina and Grenfell Tower. If you enjoyed Ed Leigh on how he ended up presenting Ski Sunday, or Orlando von Eisendel on how he carved out his illustrious film-making career, you'll love this one. Thanks to Scott Nixon (www.scottnixon.co.uk)for post-production help and Matt Ward (www.linguistine.com) for the theme tune. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wearelookingsideways.com/subscribe

Full episode info and show notes: www.wearelookingsideways.comFor episode 012 I welcomed Finisterre founder Tom Kay to the show. A surfer, swimmer, fisherman, lifeboatman, father and entrepreneur, Tom founded Finisterre in 2002 and in that time has overseen the brand's evolution from bedroom start-up to the UK’s most beloved surf brand with a staff of 50 and a workshop overlooking the cliffs of Saint Agnes in Cornwall. Tom and I spent the day in Brighton, and after a brisk sea swim we sat down on pebble-strewn Brighton beach, where we grabbed a shandy and spent an hour or so discussing his life and career, and digging right into the story of how he built this most influential of British surf brands. Thanks to Scott Nixon (www.scottnixon.co.uk) for post-production help and Matt Ward (www.linguistine.com) for the theme tune. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wearelookingsideways.com/subscribe

Full episode info and show notes: www.wearelookingsideways.comMy guest for episode 011 of the podcast was writer, journalist, novelist, editor, photographer, documentary-maker, surfer and former Pro Tour competitor Jamie Brisick.Jamie, a writer of uncommon power and sensitivity, has been chronicling surf and popular culture since the early 90s. For the last decade he’s been immersed in the story of Westerly Windina, firstly through his magisterial book Becoming Westerly, and now through a documentary he’s been working on since 2009.Becoming Westerly is an enthralling, multi-layered piece of work that tells the story of Aussie surf champion, pioneer and legend Peter Drouyn‘s transformation into Westerly Windina.I spoke to Jamie in June 2017 and we had a wide-ranging chinwag about Becoming Westerly, his career in surfing and writing, and the fascinating life he’s lived over the past three decades. This is a free-wheeling conversation with one of modern surfing’s most original thinkers. Dig in. Thanks to Scott Nixon (www.scottnixon.co.uk) for post-production help and Matt Ward (www.linguistine.com) for the theme tune. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wearelookingsideways.com/subscribe

Full episode info and show notes: www.wearelookingsideways.comI marked the tenth episode of the Looking Sideways podcast by welcoming legendary UK skateboarder Peter Hellicar to the show. Pete is a skater, company owner, designer, artist, musician, thinker and all round creative powerhouse who first came to prominence in the late 80s/early 90s UK skate scene. Since then, he has gone on to have a long and varied career. He helped set up OG British skate company Unabomber, then headed to the States to work as Art Director of Sole Tech, before returning home where he works today as an established and highly admired artist.I went to see Pete in Lewes, where we had a hugely enjoyable conversation about art, music, life, creativity, the joy and openness of skateboarding, and much more besides.It was a brilliant, wide-ranging chat with a great conversationist and somebody who has lived a fascinating life and career. Thanks for doing the show Pete, and big thanks to legendary skate photographers Kevin Banks, Wig Worland and Donovan Pennant for the pics.Thanks to Scott Nixon (www.scottnixon.co.uk) for post-production help and Matt Ward (www.linguistine.com) for the theme tune. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wearelookingsideways.com/subscribe

Full episode info and show notes: www.wearelookingsideways.comIt's the long-awaited episode 009 of the Looking Sideways Action Sports podcast, in which I finally managed to interview somebody who isn’t a man - visionary snowboarder, three-time Olympian and current GB Park & Pipe Programme Manager Lesley McKenna.That description doesn’t really do Lesley justice though, as the truth is she’s spent her entire career blazing trails for other people to follow, whether by pioneering the route into the Olympics that all British athletes now follow, producing the all female films she made as a member of the Chunky Knit production crew, her role as Roxy Team Manager, or as now through her visionary work with GB Park & Pipe.Lesley came down to visit me in Brighton and we got right into it and chatted about her extraordinary career. This was a hugely enjoyable, inspiring chat with a true action sports visionary, full of peerless insights from Lesley’s career with value for anybody interested in how somebody at the top of their game has managed to sustain excellence over a two decade career. Don’t miss it.Thanks to Scott Nixon (www.scottnixon.co.uk) for post-production help and Matt Ward (www.linguistine.com) for the theme tune. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wearelookingsideways.com/subscribe

Full episode info and show notes: www.wearelookingsideways.comIn episode 008 of the Looking Sideways Action Sports podcast, I was ‘catertained' by the great DJ BBQ, aka Christian Stevenson. Christian may currently be best known for being a breakout star on Jamie Oliver’s FoodTube, but his roots in action sports go back thirty years. He's been a film-maker, team manager, a BAFTA-award winning TV presenter, a Sony Award-winning radio DJ, and a best-selling author. Christian is one of those action sports lifers who has managed to pursue his passions, grasp every opportunity life has thrown at him and deal with the inevitable setbacks in inimitable style. During a riotous chat, recorded as Christian cooked for me, we looked back over his life and career. Thanks to Scott Nixon (www.scottnixon.co.uk) for post-production help and Matt Ward (www.linguistine.com) for the theme tune. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wearelookingsideways.com/subscribe

Full episode info and show notes: www.wearelookingsideways.comIn episode 007 of the Looking Sideways Action Sports podcast, I spoke to one of snowboarding's all time legends, Tom Burt.Tom Burt has been at the cutting edge of freeriding for over thirty years. Whether it’s been putting down legendary lines like Cordova Peak, being one of the first riders to open up Alaska, his filming feats with Standard, or his current role as Head Judge on the Freeride World Tour, Tom has seen it all, done it all and got the tales to prove itAbove all, Tom is one of those gloriously unique individuals who make up the backbone of action sports history, a rider who’s deeds and attitude gave sports like snowboarding it’s spirit and culture and who effectively shaped the sport in his own image. It’s no over-statement to say that without riders like Tom setting the standards back in the 80s and 90s, the very history of snowboarding would be very different.During our conversation, we looked back over Tom's life, career and tapped into his unique perspective on snowboarding and it's evolution.Thanks to Scott Nixon (www.scottnixon.co.uk) for post-production help and Matt Ward (www.linguistine.com) for the theme tune. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wearelookingsideways.com/subscribe

Full episode info and show notes: www.wearelookingsideways.comFor episode 006 of the Looking Sideways podcast, I paid a visit to legendary freerider Xavier de le Rue at his Verbier home.Where to start with Xavier? Universally considered one of our greatest freeriders, he began his career racing boardercross, picking up four world titles. Then he switched his attention to freeriding, winning three Freeride World Tour titles. He followed this by embarking upon some of the greatest and most ambitious snowboarding expeditions ever, hitting up Antarctica and Svalbard, among others. And along the way, he found the time to create era-defining film parts, produce countless films and win endless plaudits from the snowboarding and adventure media.The thing about Xavier though, as you’ll hear while listening to our conversation, is that there's much more to him than one of the most storied CVs in the history of snowboarding. He's a very intelligent, very focussed and insightful individual, who has constantly been driven by evolution and the need to progress, whether that’s through his various projects or his entrepreneurial involvement with at least five different companies.Now, as he explained during our fascinating conversation, Xavier’s next evolution is about where he takes his snowboarding as he hits 40.Thanks to Scott Nixon (www.scottnixon.co.uk) for post-production help and Matt Ward (linguistine.com) for the theme tune. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wearelookingsideways.com/subscribe