Espresso and ski mountaineering—two things Davide Giardini takes very seriously. In this episode, Travis Macy sits down with the Italian-born, Boulder-based endurance athlete to explore the deep cultural roots of ski mountaineering, from its military heritage in World War I to its modern-day evolution as an Olympic sport.

Davide shares his personal journey from triathlon to skimo, the challenges of transitioning between sports, and how he found community and purpose in Boulder’s endurance scene. He and Travis dive into the differences between European and American skimo funding, the rise of youth programs in the U.S., and how the sport can grow through mass participation events and grassroots initiatives.

Oh, and coffee? Davide’s got strong opinions. He and Travis debate espresso culture, ristretto vs. American single origins, and the critical role of caffeine in endurance sports. Whether you’re a seasoned skimo racer, an uphill enthusiast, or just here for the coffee talk, this episode is packed with insights, stories, and a vision for the future of ski mountaineering. Let’s go!

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Thanks to our sponsors Redmond Real Salt and CAMP

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Learn more about Travis Macy and Cam Smith

Follow along with Skimo Gold and the Travis Macy Show

Skimo Gold is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.

Jessie Young isn’t just keeping up—she’s setting the pace. Fresh off an impressive performance at the SKIMO World Cup in Spain, Jessie joins Travis Macy to talk about making the A final alongside her racing partner, Cam Smith, proving that experience, strategy, and grit can go toe-to-toe with raw youth.

A mother of two balancing elite competition, family life, and work, Jessie shares how she ramped up training in October with coach Josiah Middaugh, focusing on VO2 max and threshold workouts to sharpen her speed. She breaks down the art of the mixed relay—why nailing transitions is everything—and how her recent sprint race win at the US National Championships solidified her focus on Olympic qualification.

Travis and Jessie dig into the mindset, resilience, and tactical preparation it takes to compete at the highest level, especially when most of the competition is nearly two decades younger. Jessie’s story is one of pure determination, and with more World Cup races ahead, she’s all in on helping Team USA lock down an Olympic quota.

If you need a dose of motivation, this episode delivers.

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Thanks to our sponsors Redmond Real Salt and CAMP

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Learn more about Travis Macy and Cam Smith

Follow along with Skimo Gold and the Travis Macy Show

Skimo Gold is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.

From tearing it up on the World Cup circuit to juggling tennis balls on the start line, Max Drion brings a whole new level of skill, strategy, and fun to SKIMO racing. In this episode, hosts Travis Macy and Cam Smith sit down with the Belgian champ to talk about his journey from discovering ski mountaineering in Switzerland to becoming an 11-time World Cup medalist and Olympic hopeful.

Max shares what it takes to compete at the highest level—his first World Cup win in 2021, the mental coaching techniques that help him push past limits, and his fueling strategies. He also opens up about the balance between training and adventure, the unique camaraderie among World Cup athletes, and his vision for growing ski mountaineering in Belgium.

Plus, Travis and Cam dig into Max’s unconventional race prep, his YouTube channel packed with training insights, and—yes—the story behind his pre-race juggling routine. This episode is packed with insight, inspiration, and a whole lot of stoke. Let’s go!

Max on Instagram | YouTube

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Thanks to our sponsors Redmond Real Salt and CAMP

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Learn more about Travis Macy and Cam Smith

Follow along with Skimo Gold and the Travis Macy Show

Skimo Gold is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.