By Jeff Martin
Adam Sauerwein has built his career on one core belief: authenticity matters.
As a wedding photographer in Springville, NY, he knows the power of capturing real moments.
“The clothing might go out of style, but the emotion never does,” he says.
That same philosophy fueled his work in ski media. As the former host of The Pursuit Podcast on The Out of Collective, Sauerwein became known for cutting through industry fluff. No scripted soundbites. No corporate-approved answers. Just real conversations.
“People hear the usual PR-friendly stuff from athletes, but I think they want something real,” he says. “Gone are the days of pushing products and fake enthusiasm. If an athlete’s angry, I want them to say why.”
From Telemark to The Mic
Sauerwein didn’t grow up steeped in telemark culture. He discovered it at Holiday Valley in western New York, watching skiers like Mike Paterniti prove that free-heel skiing could be aggressive, stylish, and dynamic. Inspired, he committed nearly a decade to telemark before shifting toward alpine touring for backcountry efficiency. Unlike die-hard free-heel skiers, he never tied his identity to one discipline.
His entry into ski media was just as unconventional. Over a decade ago, he converted a school bus into a mobile studio, launching The Pursuit, a web series documenting his East Coast travels. That caught the attention of Adam Jaber, host of The Out of Bounds Podcast, who invited him on as a guest. Their chemistry was immediate. Before long, Jaber offered him his own show under The Out of Collective banner.
Originally planned as a short-run series, The Pursuit Podcast lasted 189 episodes, covering everything from freeskiing to industry trends, with telemark skiing woven into the larger conversation. Unlike traditional telemark-focused media, Sauerwein pulled free-heel skiing into a broader discussion about the sport’s future.
Challenging the Industry
Sauerwein’s willingness to challenge the status quo has made him both an ally and a thorn in the side of the ski industry. His critique of Scarpa’s revamped TX Pro boot release was a perfect example. For months, details about the boot had been circulating online, yet Scarpa continued to tease the launch as if it were still a secret.
To Sauerwein, this wasn’t just bad marketing—it highlighted a deeper issue. In his view, telemark risks becoming trapped in nostalgia instead of evolving for a modern audience.
His style—blunt but often laced with humor—has resonated with younger skiers who feel disconnected from telemark’s old-school image. But some traditionalists see his critiques as disrespectful.
Still, Sauerwein insists he’s not here to tear people down. “It took a lot for people to trust me in this business,” he says. “But they know now that I’m not just here to make them look bad—I want to push the conversation forward.”
What’s Next?
In February, Sauerwein announced he was stepping away from The Pursuit Podcast. But he’s not stepping away from the conversation. Instead, he’s transitioning to The Out of Collective Podcast, where his voice—unfiltered and unapologetic—will continue to challenge, question, and push skiing culture forward.
The medium may change, but the mission stays the same: real conversations that lead to an authenticity that has been sorely missed.