New Video Series "The Ski Legends" Being Developed

Mike Stoveken is a Summit County skier and former business owner who recently started producing an online television series he calls "The Ski Legends."

The 65-year-old has only recently started the project, but his endless enthusiasm should help it become a great source of entertainment and enjoyment in the years to come.

“'The Ski Legends' is a captivating series that delves into the lives and stories of those who have shaped the world of skiing," Stoveken wrote on his Youtube page. "Give a follow and stay in the know with more stories coming soon."

I caught up with Mike last week.

Powder: What's your background? Where'd you grow up?

Stoveken: Once I graduated high school I started working at a ski shop, later becoming the manager. I then decided that I would like to teach skiing at Vernon Valley and got a job there. After a few years teaching in New Jersey I migrated to Sugarbush, Vermont. I taught there for about five years and In 1985 spent the summer working in Portillo Chile.

During the summer I was an independent sales rep in the windsurf and surf industry. The late '70s and '80s were a magical time in the ski industry. I made many life-long friendships and important contacts in the industry that have been important in establishing and growing “the Ski Legends.”

Powder: What was/is your career?

Stoveken: In the mid '80s I decided to get a real job. I ventured into the publishing industry with the encouragement of a friend that I taught skiing at Sugarbush. Chuck ran the sales departments for several well known magazines in New York. I moved to St. Petersburg Florida and took a position as sales manager at Tampa Bay Magazine .

While in St. Pete, I taught skiing on the weekends on a rotating/carpeted ski deck at Bill Jackson’s Shop for Adventure. I had to keep the ski bug alive! I had two friends visit me this past January that I taught on that deck! They turn much better than they did during those first lessons many years ago.

In 1997 I moved to Summit County Colorado to ski. I had friends here that I met when I would come out and do ski articles for Tampa Bay Magazine . In 2003 I opened a motorcycle dealership in Silverthorne Colorado called Silverthorne Power Sports.

When you own your own business, you don’t get to ski much. The next 20 years I worked my ass off, had various health issues (plates, screws, knee replacement, open heart surgery and more) and hardly skied. However, after "The Ski Legends" takes off, look for "The Moto Legends" generated from my motorcycle industry contacts.

I sold the dealership this past January and started skiing several days a week at the beginning of February.

Powder: Family?

Stoveken: Nobody in my family skied. Raised by a single mom. No siblings.

Powder: How did the Legends Series come about? What inspired you to create this?

Stoveken: The idea for “The Ski Legends” came about chatting with other retirees that fill the ski lifts on weekdays. We all loved to reminisce about our past ski days. Questions about gear that might work well with our slightly older bodies.

In addition, In 2014 I started a Facebook page for my friends that I skied/taught with in the Sugarbush and Portillo days. I called it the “Sugarbush Ski School Meeting Place.” In the past year it has gone from two members to more than 150. All of these folks are friends and are all interconnected. As the group got older, it was clear that they enjoyed visiting with old friends and talking about those fun days. They now share stories and photos, and we have had a few small reunions. I thought if this worked for my friends, it might be a great idea to expand the idea to the skiing public. I have always had a strong passion for history. Particularly skiing. The guest room in my home has a treasure trove of ski collectibles from the '70s and '80s.

Powder: When did you start it?

Stoveken: Two week ago!!!

Powder: Do you have any sponsors yet?

Stoveken: Nope.

Powder: What's the status? I know you're hard at work on this project.

Stoveken: I have been loading some more videos lately. I need to do more interviews.

I am interviewing a guy next week that has a dive bar in Golden, Colorado that likes to ski. He has a ski tune machine in the back. You can grab a beer and have your skis tuned and waxed. In addition, he developed a ski wax that I tried this morning at Copper. At 50 degrees it did not stick. Quite the opposite, it felt like my skies were turbocharged on the flats!

This week Mikaela Shiffrin was training at Copper. I missed her. That could be the Holy Grail for a Legends interview! I will keep trying to find a connection. I may know her physical therapist or something.

Powder: Who else do you have lined up?

Stoveken: Anything ski industry related is fair game. Lifties, snowcat drivers, ski bums old and new, restaurant owners, ski shops, resorts, etc.

Here's the first installment, an interview with Breckenridge's Chuck Ginsburg who runs Racers Edge in that fair city:

Powder: Will it just be a Youtube thing or are there any thoughts to screenings?

Stoveken: The sky is the limit on this project. The Legends Series can expand in many different directions from events at resorts, reunions, t-shirts, hats, books, old time ski movies. The movie Hot Dog just had a 40-year reunion. I would like to work with professionals like Chuck at A Racers Edge in Breckenridge and other businesses to suggest gear for us retired ski bums. (He has me in Fischer AC3 boots with a BOA. My feet say aaah!)

I could go on and on here about this series. It’s inspiration, my background, etc. As you will be able to tell, I am passionate about it! As I answered your questions, I realized that much of my life experiences have led me to this project and will help me establish and grow it.

Powder: Good luck, Mike!

The Youtube page is here .