Raphael Lessard’s path to the World Cup wasn’t linear—and that’s exactly what makes it so compelling.

In this episode of Fresh Corduroy, World Cup speed skier Raphael Lessard joins the show to break down his journey from ski racing in Quebec, through Burke Mountain Academy, formative years racing in Europe, and a deliberate return to North America to ski for the University of Utah. Along the way, he balanced NCAA competition, international racing, and a demanding academic path that included internships in financial services.

We talk about winning the overall NorAm title, earning a full slate of World Cup starts, scoring his first World Cup points with a top-20 Super-G in Val Gardena, and navigating the mental and physical challenges of injury and recovery. Raphael also offers rare insight into speed-ski development—covering intentional training, visualization, race-day preparation, and why college skiing can be a powerful part of a World Cup trajectory.

A thoughtful, honest conversation with an athlete who approaches ski racing with both patience and purpose.

Former Division I ski racer Kelly Brush joins Fresh Corduroy for a powerful conversation about ski racing safety, adaptive sports access, and how culture—not just equipment—shapes risk on snow.

After a 2006 collegiate racing accident left her paralyzed from the chest down, Kelly turned her focus to preventing avoidable injuries and expanding access to sport for people with spinal cord injuries. As founder of the Kelly Brush Foundation, she has helped drive major improvements in U.S. ski racing safety through education, grants, and advocacy—while also funding adaptive sports equipment and access nationwide.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why safety culture matters more than checklists

• How ski racing in the U.S. has changed—and where it still needs work

• The rise of laceration injuries and stop-the-bleed response on snow

• Sit-skiing, adaptive equipment costs, and access to chairlifts

• Why international safety education is the next frontier

This is an essential listen for ski racers, coaches, parents, mountain operators, and anyone who believes skiing should be both challenging and responsible.

Theme music by Eric Zolan from the album Calder's Universe

Tricia Mangan is an active World Cup alpine ski racer for the United States — but her path to the highest level looks very different from what most people expect.

Growing up skiing a small hill in western New York, Tricia didn’t attend a ski academy or chase a predefined elite pipeline. Instead, she developed through local racing, skied collegiately at Dartmouth, stepped on and off the U.S. Ski Team, and ultimately rebuilt her career as an independent athlete competing on the World Cup circuit.

In this conversation, Tricia talks candidly about:

• Developing as a racer outside traditional systems

• College skiing vs. the full-time World Cup path

• Competing independently and returning to the U.S. Ski Team

• Her evolution as a Super-G and downhill skier

• How she thinks about World Cup success versus Olympic success

• The mental, financial, and personal realities of elite ski racing

This episode is an honest look at what it takes to keep going at the top of the sport — and a reminder that there’s more than one way to get there.