Photo: Emrik Jansson
The Swedish Snowboard Podcast
We had a conversation with Joel Söderström, the man behind the Snowboard Podcast. Joel describes Snowboard Podcast as a podcast about people's lives sideways. A podcast for snowboard enthusiasts and those curious about the Swedish snowboard scene.
Sweden's snowboard scene is full of interesting people and anecdotes. Read the interview with Joel and then start listening to our, and perhaps your new favorite podcast, Snowboard Podcast.
Photo: Philip Alexandersson
Hello Joel, how's it going?
Just fine, thanks!
Who are you and how did you start snowboarding?
Well... It's been said before, but ironically, I didn't like winter when I was young. Back then, it was all about summer, BMX, and motocross. But then I made a brave attempt at skateboarding as a kid. I had a friend who had been snowboarding for a couple of winters, and it looked fun, so I wanted to try it. Jumping off everything! I was completely crushed when I tried it for the first time because it wasn't as easy as I thought! So, the first time didn't go well at all.
I snapped the skis on one of the family's mountain turns in Funäsdalen the following winter, around 97/98. Of course, I really wanted to snowboard, but I only had skis. I was 12 or 13 years old and managed to rent a snowboard from the legends at the rental shop in Ramundberget. When the day was over, my mom came in and paid. Since then, I've only skied twice, both times by force!
When and why did you start Snowboard Podcast?
I had thoughts about some kind of project for a while, but I didn't really figure out what I should do with all these different scattered ideas. Eventually, after some discussions with a few well-chosen industry veterans and a serendipitous meeting with Magnus Ormestad, who runs Husky Podcast, the foundation of Snowboard Podcast was formed in the fall of 2017.
As for why, I could probably give several reasons, but I think the biggest one was that I wanted to make snowboard culture more accessible. I'm incredibly grateful that I've gotten to know so many amazing people over the years. Both personalities, idols, industry professionals, and people who just love snowboarding. It has given me so much, so I wanted to pass the puck on in some way. It's probably also because I've been involved in the snowboarding scene in one way or another for a while. But if you don't have that and can't snowboard more than a week per year, for example, it's difficult to get an insight into the culture. Unfortunately, we've lost a lot of the more in-depth interview material in magazines and such, so I wanted to create a shortcut, in a way. A way for more people to get to know the snowboarding heritage, culture, and highlight some of the profiles and stories that might otherwise stay within our little bubble.
Tell us about Snowboard Podcast. What is it? Has it been well-received? What are your plans for the podcast?
Well, it's a podcast about life sideways! Jokes aside, it's a podcast where I meet profiles in the snowboard industry. Riders, industry people, and individuals who, in some way, have had an impact on the scene. Since it's relatively new, there's a lot of room for development, but that's also what makes it exciting!
It's been very well-received, I must say. I was super excited when the first episode with Stefan Karlsson reached over 100 listens. Now the episodes have between 1000 and 2000 listens. It feels incredibly surreal when someone comes up and says they like the project. It makes me very happy and motivates me to continue developing it!
Photo: Philip Alexandersson
What's your best anecdote so far from Snowboard Podcast?
Oh, the best anecdote. A lot has actually happened in a short time, but I think I'll have to give that to Joakim Sahlberg. He was one of those involved in the initial discussions and the first one to be part of an interview. We both sat in the living room at my place with a beer in hand and had no idea how anything worked, but we went for it, and the result is available for everyone to form their own opinion! Otherwise, I have to mention that it felt quite unreal to jump into an Uber in Santa Monica, CA and give the driver Eddie Wall's address as well...
Who are your listeners? Who is your target audience?
Anyone who's curious about the profiles and culture in the snowboard scene, really.
Who is your dream guest?
Wow, that's a huge question, but I think every guest who shows me something new. Discovering new things within areas where you thought you had it all figured out is always dreamy!
Do you listen to any other podcasts?
Definitely! I listen to a lot of podcasts related to board sports, of course. So, Looking Sideways and F*n Rad are two that I follow. I like the mix in Looking Sideways with snowboarding, skateboarding, surfing, and industry folks. I also enjoy the underground vibe in F*n Rad. I'm also deeply into cycling, so I follow podcasts like Vital Mtb's Inside Line quite religiously. Since I discovered the whole podcast thing, it has been a great source of inspiration and knowledge. There's an incredible amount of material out there, so it's just a matter of picking your cherries from the cake, really!
What do your winters look like?
Most of the time is spent at home in Åre. Regardless of the weather, there's always something to ride. That's probably what I appreciate the most. When there's good snow, it's like one big playground. Otherwise, you just need to know where to look, and when it's bad, you make the best of it by carving in the terrain park. Åre, in particular, has a wonderful snowboard scene with many talented and enthusiastic riders to hang out with. It feels like many people miss the mark with Åre, having a preconceived notion that it's only a certain type of tourism here and that we lack a local scene, but that couldn't be further from the truth.
Otherwise, the goal is often to take a trip abroad with my wife Sanny for snowboarding or to meet friends around the world. But it depends a lot on what we've planned during the rest of the year and what time and budget allow. On the edge of spring, the schedule fills up with fun events that follow each other, so I try to attend as many as possible!
What do you do when you're not snowboarding?
Work, of course. You can't always be on the board, even though that would be great! During winter, I focus a lot on snowboarding during my free time, but otherwise, I usually have some trips going on with Sanny, as mentioned. She loves to travel and has really gotten me on that train too. On home turf, I spend a lot of time with my dog Vilda, who is often around when the splitboard or noboard is out and the conditions allow. I'm quite social, so I spend a lot of time with friends. If we end up in town, we often go to Parkvillan and listen to rock n' roll! You can't hate rock n' roll.
Photo: Philip Alexandersson
Anything else you want to add?
I want to take a moment to give a special thanks to everyone who has been involved, shared ideas, participated in interviews, and in some way made this project possible. I'd like to give a special shoutout to Jon Reinklou for all his technical help. I can talk, but without his technical expertise and time, the quality and listening experience would probably have been quite different!
I also want to highlight the Snowboard Association for supporting the project and providing opportunities for me to record interviews. Last but not least, Nitro for the support and for us planning some fun projects together in the future!
Brief about Joel Söderström:
Born: 1985
Resides: Åre
Goofy or regular: Regular
Started snowboarding: 1998/1999
Last seen snowboarding film: Can I say True Life every time I get that question?
Number of days on the slopes last season: Good question. Many! I've never counted, but probably around 3-4 days a week on average.
Snowboarders who inspire you: So many... Anyone who spreads great riding energy. But Jakob Wilhelmsson and Hampus Mosesson are two big inspirations for me, not just for their film parts, but also because the first times I rode with them, I realized I hadn't been opening my eyes wide enough when riding a board!
Listen to Snowboard Podcast
Available wherever podcasts are found. Listen on SoundCloud HERE
Snowboard Podcast on Instagram
Thank you for what you're doing for Swedish snowboarding, Joel! See you on the slopes