All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Snowboarding

In episode 99 of “All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Snowboarding,” Chris Rogers, Brian Donovan, and Matt Larson unpack why jumping on a snowboard is difficult, emphasizing that takeoff dictates flight and landing and that timing is critical. They discuss how jumping on a snowboard differs due to being strapped to a board on a slippery, deforming surface with limited ankle range, added boot/...

In episode 98 of “All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Snowboarding,” Matt Larson, Brian Donovan, and Chris Rogers reunite for an unstructured catch-up after a missed recording when Matt got called to the hospital. They share seasonal updates (river trips in Montana, Vermont black fly season, travel, volleyball, motorcycles, a Pittsburgh birthday trip and sunburn, and Rogers’ basement renovati...

Chris rejoins Brian and Matt to recap the last episode on “chatter,” Rogers shares a Europe trip with Head Snowboards for 27/28 product testing that delivered an April powder day, helped him recognize season burnout, and renewed his stoke; the group discusses motivation during poor conditions and valuing community over snow quality. Donovan describes squeezing in two quick Copper laps with the Rid...

With Chris in Austria testing boards with Head Snowboards, Matt Larson and Brian Donovan are let loose for episode 96 of “All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Snowboarding.” They describe bulletproof, icy conditions during regional trainings for National Team selections, which sets the stage for an episode all about chatter. They define heel chatter as edge skipping when forces build around th...

In Episode 95 Brian Donovan, Matt Larson, and Chris Rogers compare late-season conditions across Big Sky, Colorado, and the Northeast, then offer practical advice for spring exams and assessments, including terrain planning, adapting movement intensity to speed and snow, and tuning and waxing strategies (structure, sharp edges, not tuning the day before, and watching for box/rail unpredictability)...

Chris Rogers, Brian Donovan, and Matt Larson return to recording in the garage after a difficult Hawaii remote episode, sharing stories of extreme island weather, a missed volcanic eruption, and Matt surfing alone on a standup paddleboard in a big swell. They then do a first-time watch-along of the Red Bull Yeti Natural Selection Snowboard Finals Day at Revelstoke, providing timestamps, reactions,...

Matt is on vacation in Hawaii but called in to join Chris and Brian in this bonus episode. Discussions include Ride for Jake events at Mount Snow and elsewhere, and rewatching “Dear Rider.” Brian recommends the Red Bull x Burton video “Bloom” for its heavy street riding. They read listener emails, including tips for a 12-year-old worried about park progression: build comfort through mileage, off-s...

In episode 93, Chris Rogers, Matt Larson, and Brian Donovan revisit fore-aft movement after a prior episode was cut short when Matt got called into the hospital. They compare weather and riding conditions, then define fore-aft as pressure and center-of-mass management along the snowboard’s length (tip to tail). They explain why beginners are taught to pressure the front foot to engage sidecut and...

In this mini-episode of “All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Snowboarding,” Brian Donovan, Chris Rogers, and Matt Larson recap the Vert Derby, which didn’t come together as planned but still happened independently across the country. They share storm-related travel cancellations, solo ride days, and wildly different winter conditions, along with ride stats, splitboarding laps, and speed/vert...

In episode 92 of “All I Really Need to Know I Learned From Snowboarding,” hosts Matt Larson, Brian Donovan (recording from a moving car), and Chris Rogers return with a belated Valentine’s Day episode built around listener emails about meeting significant others through ski and snowboarding. They confirm the Vert Derby is Monday, February 23 at Highland Hills with a 30,000‑vert goal, invite listen...

In Episode 91 of the 'All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Snowboarding' podcast, hosts Brian Donovan, Matt Larson, and Chris Rogers discuss strategies for getting into the right mental space and preparing for ski and snowboard assessments during peak exam season. The episode focuses on the importance of having confidence, understanding the assessment structure, and managing both physi...

In Episode 90 of the 'All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Snowboarding' podcast, hosts Matt Larson, Chris Rogers, and Brian Donovan dive into the importance of technical understanding as it relates to your own personal performance in snowboarding. As they approach their 100th episode, the trio discusses the newly introduced assessment criteria that require instructors to not only anal...

In episode 89 of 'All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Snowboarding,' hosts Chris Rogers, Brian Donovan, and Matt Larson discuss technical understanding for AASI exams and how that assessment criteria relates to the day-to-day of being an instructor. The conversation covers critical areas like equipment choices, physical development, and how varying snow conditions impact performance....

In episode 88 of 'All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Snowboarding,' hosts Chris Rogers, Matt Larson, and Brian Donovan delve into another episode of commonly misunderstood snowboarding terms with a focus on 'rebound.' The team discusses the nuances of rebound, its applications in snowboarding, and how it differs from retraction and redirection. They share personal stories, Ne...

In Episode 87 of the 'All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Snowboarding' podcast, hosts Brian Donovan, Matt Larson, and Chris Rogers reflect on their podcast's performance over the past year using Spotify Wrapped 2025 data. They celebrate a 264% increase in total audience, a 722% increase in new listeners, and 45,961 total streams and downloads. The episode highlights their listene...

In Episode 86 of 'All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Snowboarding,' hosts Matt Larson, Brian Donovan, and Chris Rogers dive into navigating the holiday season as snowboarding instructors. The episode kicks off with light banter about the holidays and then moves into a discussion on the challenges and strategies for managing the busy holiday season. They delve into tips for working th...

In this episode of 'All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Snowboarding,' Chris Rogers, Brian Donovan, and Matt Larson tackle a variety of hot takes and mailbag questions. The hosts start by sharing updates from their recent training sessions and travel adventures, discussing the pros and cons of powder skirts, bibs, and uniform etiquette. Midweek chairlift interactions and annoying habits of fe...

In Episode 84 of the 'All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Snowboarding' podcast, hosts Chris Rogers, Matt Larson, and Brian Donovan discuss strategies to increase training attendance and buy-in at ski and ride schools. As resorts open and clinics become available, they explore barriers to participation, such as financial concerns and time off work, and emphasize the importance of buil...

In this bonus Thanksgiving episode of 'All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Snowboarding', hosts Brian Donovan, Chris Rogers, and Matt Larson gather for a laid-back, bonus session. The episode includes a discussion of favorite Thanksgiving dishes and a debate on the best type of M&M's. The episode also delves into nostalgic reflections on favorite old-school snowboard brands an...

In this mini-episode of 'All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Snowboarding,' hosts Brian Donovan, Matt Larson, and Chris Rogers return after a busy period of team and regional training. They share updates about their recent activities, including travel and new gear. The conversation shifts to the excitement of the snowboarding season, the challenges of early season conditions, and thei...

In this episode, hosts Chris Rogers, Matt Larson, and Brian Donovan dive into the ATML model (Approach, Takeoff, Maneuver, Landing) used for teaching and analyzing freestyle snowboarding. They discuss the importance of breaking down tricks into these four zones, providing insights on how understanding each phase can improve performance and troubleshooting. The conversation blends nostalgic referen...

In Episode 82 of the 'All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Snowboarding' podcast, hosts Matt Larson, Chris Rogers, and Brian Donovan explore the Fitts and Posner model of motor skill development. They discuss its application to snowboarding and skiing instruction, breaking down the stages of cognitive, associative, and autonomous learning. The trio delves into the history of motor skil...

In Episode 81 of the 'All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Snowboarding' podcast, hosts Chris Rogers, Brian Donovan, and Matt Larson share listener feedback and dive into a series of hot takes. They discuss various snowboarding topics, including the optimal snowboard boot size, effective off-season cross-training activities like foil surfing and play boating, and the best type of snowboard soc...

In episode 80 of 'All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Snowboarding,' hosts Brian Donovan, Matt Larson, and Chris Rogers dive into the intricacies of down-unweighting and retraction, common snowboarding skills that are often misunderstood. They clarify the nuanced differences between these two movements, explore their applications in certification contexts, and discuss the technical sk...

In Episode 79 of 'All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Snowboarding,' hosts Brian Donovan, Matt Larson, and Chris Rogers dive into the topic of imposter syndrome, addressing its impact and how to navigate it in various aspects of life and career. They discuss personal experiences, the challenges of validation, and strategies to overcome self-doubt. The episode also features shout-outs...