This podcast first aired on November 9, 2021.
Our guest today is Bjarne Salen. Bjarne is best known for his talents behind the camera filming The Fifty Project with Cody Townsend, in which he documents Cody climbing and skiing the 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America. This video series has been insanely popular, with around 15 million views on the 35 or so videos they’ve already created thus far.
We already know a bit about that part of Bjarne. I was fascinated to learnย about Bjarne’s extensive ski mountaineering history worldwide, including Chamonix, Patagonia, New Zealand, Alaska, all over North America, and more. Bjarne’s skill, resilience, and ability to stay calm in the mountains are remarkable.
Bjarne was filming his close friend Andreas Franson when Andreas passed away in an avalanche with legendary freestyle skier JP Auclair deep in Chilean Patagonia in 2015. Like many of us who dedicate our lives to the mountains, this was not the only close friend Bjarne lost. Learning Bjarne’s perspective on life, willingness to confront drastic change head-on, and vicious passion for the mountains changed me, and I hope it changes you.
Please enjoy!
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Recorded on July 29, 2021, in the California Delta (Miles Clark) and Portland, OR (Bjarne Salen).
This episode was edited by Jared White.
Music by Chad Crouch
Host, producer, and creator = Miles Clark
About The SnowBrains Podcast:
- Top 12% of all podcasts
- Interviews the most intelligent people in the snowsports industry and passes their fascinating knowledge to you, our listeners.
- We explore skiing, snowboarding, snowsports, avalanches, technology, climate, snow science, medicine, nutrition, fitness, technique, and cutting-edge adventure with our listeners.
- The SnowBrains Podcast is hosted by professional freeskier, professional mountain guide, UC Berkeley Molecular Cell Biology graduate, and the Founder & CEO of SnowBrains,ย Miles Clark.
- The SnowBrains Podcast will publish new episodes with riveting guests weekly this winter.
- Please share with your friends and family, and please subscribe.
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The SnowBrains Podcast Season 5 Episodes:
- Episode #62 | Jessica Baker โ North American Freeskiing Champion, Alaska Heli-Ski Guide, Founder of Ski Divas Womenโs Ski Camp, & AMGA Certified Ski Guide
- Episode #63 | Christian Pondella โ Senior Photographer at Powder Magazine, Adventure Photographer, Extreme Ski Mountaineer, and Ice Climberย
- Episode #64 | Kyle Siegel โ Founder and Designer of Raide Research
- Episode #65 | Sven Brunso โ The Most Photographed & Published Skier in History
- Episode #66 | Dr. Kevin Stone โ Physician & Orthopedic Surgeon Talks About How Skiers and Snowboarders Can Optimize Off-Season Training
- Episode #67 | Jim Ryan โ Hardcore Free Skier & High-Skilled Mountaineer Featured in 4 Warren Miller Movies and 3 TGR Films
- Episode #68 | Paige Paguncco โ Director of the Utah Avalanche Center
- Episode #69 | Noah Dines โ World Record Holder for Most Human-Powered Vertical Feet Skied in a Year
The SnowBrains Podcast Season 4 Episodes:
- Episode #53 | Colby Stevenson โ Olympic Silver Medalist in Big Air, 3-Time X-Games Gold Medalist, Life-Altering Car Accident Survivor
- Episode #54 | Steven Nyman โ 20-Year World Cup U.S. Ski Racer & 3-Time Olympian
- Episode #55 | Dan Egan โ Legendary Warren Miller Ski Movie Skier, Hall of Fame Inductee, Powder Magazineโs Most Influential People, & Author
- Episode #56 | Sophia Schwartz โ Former U.S. Ski Team Member, Pro Freeskier, Ski Mountaineer, Mindfulness & Environmental Advocate
- Episode #57 | Kevin Quinn โ Points North Heli Founder, 20-Year Heli-Ski Guide, STOL-Pilot, Former Pro Hockey Player & All Around Certified Badass
- Episode #58 | Harlan Sheppard โ Alaska Heli-Ski Guide for 25 Years, Highway Avalanche Forecaster for Washington State, Heroโs Journey Mindfulness Advocate
- Episode #59 | Mary Kate Buckley โ President of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, WY
- Episode #60 | Dr. Daniel Swain โ Climate Scientist/Meteorologist-Communicator Focused on Extreme Weather Events Like Floods, Droughts, & Wildfires on a Warming Planet
- Episode #61 | Dr. Kevin Stone โ Physician & Orthopedic Surgeon Focused on Repairing & Replacing Meniscus, Articular Cartilage, and Ligaments to Keep People Active
The SnowBrains Podcast Season 3 Episodes:
- Episode #41 | Kit DesLauriers โ 1st Person to Ski All of the โSeven Summits,โ National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, 2-Time Freeskiing Champion
- Episode #42 | Utah Avalanche Center โ Should We Use Avalanche Airbag Backpacks?, How To Stay Out of Avalanches, Updated โKnow Before You Goโ
- Episode #43 | Spot Insurance โ US Health Insurance Sucks, Medical Bills Are The #1 Cause of Bankruptcy in America, Spot Can Help
- Episode #44 | Zahan Billimoria โ IFMGA Mountain Guide, TGR Ski & Snowboard Movie Guide, Samsara Experience CEO, Jackson Hole Local
- Episode #45 | Mike Douglas โ The Godfather of Freeskiing
- Episode #46 | Henri Rivers โ President of the National Brotherhood of Skiers
- Episode #47 | Dr. Robb Gaffney MD โ The G in GNAR, Ski Movie Star, Former Pro Freeskier, Activist, Medical Doctor of Psychiatry, Cancer Survivor
- Episode#48 | Kelly Pawlak โ CEO of the National Ski Areas Association
- Episode #49 | Nina Aragon โ Climate Scientist Discusses the State of the Western US Snowpack
- Episode #50 | Johnny Collinson โ Pro Freeskier, Ski Movie Star, Youngest to Climb The 7 Summits, Fitness Guru
- Episode #51 | Vamonos Outside โ Letโs Get More People of Color Skiing & Snowboarding in North America
- Episode #52 | Errol Kerr โ Jamaican Ski Team Olympic Skier, Cover of Ski Magazine, X-Games Competitor, Warren Miller Ski Movie Star
The SnowBrains Podcast Season 2 Episodes:
- Episode #21 | Doug Stoup โ More North & South Poles Than Anyone on Earth, Pro Soccer Player, Mountain Guide, Founder Ice Axe Expeditions
- Episode #22 | Bjarne Salen โ Filmer of โThe Fiftyโ w/ Cody Townsend, Hardcore Ski Mountaineer, Adventurer, Philosopher
- Episode #23 | Todd Offenbacher โ Comedian, Mountain Guide, Body Builder, Badass Rock Climber, TV Personality, Climbing Community Builder
- Episode #24 | Scott Gaffney โ Matchstick Productions Editor, Producer, Filmer, the G in Shane McConkeyโs GNAR, Lake Tahoe Surfer, & Badass Freeskier
- Episode #25 | Ingrid Backstrom โ Legendary Freeskier, Fierce Competitor, Game-Changer, Ski Movie Star
- Episode #26 | Dr. Ethan Greene, Director of CAIC โ Why Did the USA Have the Most Avalanche Deaths in History Last Season?
- Episode #27 | Travis Ganong โ Badass World Cup & Olympic Ski Racer, World-Class Freeskier
- Episode #28 | Tommy Moe โ Olympic Gold Medal Ski Racer, Alaska Heli-Ski Guide, Co-Founder of Tordrillo Mountain Lodge in Alaska
- Episode #29 | Doug Fish โ The Genius Who Created the Indy Pass, the Fastest Growing Multi-Mountain Pass on Earth With Over 80 Ski Resorts
- Episode #30 | Tom Day โ Emmy Winning Cinematographer, 38 Years as Warren Miller Director/Filmer/Skier, โBlizzard of Aahhhsโ Ski Movie Star, Smoothest Skier on Earth
- Episode #31 | Dr. Russ Costa PhD โ Why People Do Dumb Shit in the Mountains!!
- Episode #32 | Eddie Taylor โ Member of โFull Circle Everestโ 1st All-Black Team to Attempt 29,032โฒ Mt. Everest
- Episode #33 | Park City Professional Ski Patrol โ Battling Vail Resorts For a Living Wage
- Episode #34 | Julian Carr โ 210-Foot World Record Cliff Invert, Pro Freeskier, Discrete Founder, X-Games Gold Medalist, Cirque Series Founder
- Episode #35 | Lel Tone โ Alaska Heli-Ski Guide for 23-Years, Winner of National Geographicโs โUltimate Survival Alaska,โ Ski Patroller for 28-Years, Avalanche Professional
- Episode #36 | Scot Schmidt โ The Original Freeskier
- Episode #37 | Elyse Saugstad โ Ski Movie Star, Freeride World Tour Champion, Skier of the Year, 3x Best Line of the Year, In ESPNโs Top 50 Women in Action Sports
- Episode #38 | H.A.P.E. & The Ghost of La Anciana โ Mexican Ghost Stories From 18,000 Feet
- Episode #39 | Jonny Moseley โ Olympic Gold Medalist, Skiing Pioneer, Voice of Warren Miller, TV Personality
- Episode #40 | Connery Lundin โ Naked on Cover of Powder Magazine, Freeskiing World Tour Champ, MSP & Warren Miller Ski Movie Star
The SnowBrains Podcast Season 1 Episodes:
- Episode #1: Why Is The Colorado Backcountry the Deadliest in the USA?
- Episode #2: Are Ski Resorts Safe To Visit During COVID-19?
- Episode #3: Why Do Skiers Tear Their ACLs So Frequently?
- Episode #4: Whatโs The #1 Tool Available To Skiers & Riders in Avalanche Terrain?
- Episode #5: Renaming Squaw Valley, CA & Squaw Alpineโs 2020/21 COVID Strategy
- Episode #6: Alta Ski Area โ Skiing First, COVID, Canyon Traffic, & Possible Mt. Baldy Tram
- Episode #7:ย Andrew McLean, The Big Mountain Scientist [Part 1]
- Episode #8:ย Andrew McLean, The Big Mountain Scientist [Part 2]
- Episode #9:ย Whistler Blackcomb โ Climate Change, The Future of Summer Skiing, COVID
- Episode #10: Chris Davenport โ Legendary Freeskier, Ski Mountaineer, Mountain Guide
- Episode #11:ย Cody Townsend โ Star & Producer of The Fifty Project
- Episode #12:ย Randall Osterhuber โ Winter Survival Instructor, Search & Rescue Badass, Snow Scientist, Avalanche Forecaster, Mountain Guide
- Episode #13:ย Adrian Ballinger โ Climbing Mt. Everest & K2 Without Supplemental Oxygen
- Episode #14:ย Bode Miller โ The Winningest American Male Ski Racer of All-Time
- Episode #15:ย Dr. Ethan Greene โ Why Did The USA Just Have Its Deadliest Avalanche Cycle in History?
- Episode #16: ย 27 Avalanche Deaths in Only 29-Days in the USAโฆ Why Did the US Just See Its Deadliest Avalanche Cycle of All-Time?
- Episode #17:ย Dr. Michael Fischman: COVID Vaccine โ When Will Ski Resorts Go Back To Normal?
- Episode #18: Jeremy Jones โ Legendary Big Mountain Snowboarder, Climate Change Activist, CEO/Founder of Jones Snowboards
- Episode #19: Angela Hawse โ President of the American Mountain Guide Association
- Episode #20: Daron Rahlves โ 4 Time Olympian, King of Kitzbรผhel, and World Jet Ski Champion
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