About this episode
Send us a text A tailbone crash on a triangle rock. A season of strange falls and late-race cramping. And then a decision to tear it all down and rebuild. We sit with Dan Curts to map the truth behind his 2025 campaign, from a promising start at Canyons to a frustrating run through Iger, ETC, and Plitz Alpin Glacier. The thread is unglamorous and vital: when the posterior chain shuts down, quads overwork, climbing implodes, and even the best descenders can’t press when it matters. Dan walks us through a hard reset with coach Jack Kenzel—starting with a track-based drift test to lock in real aerobic limits, adding heavy strength to hit a baseline of force, and then pressing the volume button with sustained climbs, daily vert, and technical footwork. We dig into why he believes cramping is a muscular endurance problem more than a bottle problem, how heart rate caps keep ego in check, and why Northeast granite and mud might prep athletes better for Europe than endless sunshine ever will. We also zoom out. Short trail is growing, but it needs stars, live coverage, and sharper storytelling. Dan shares what Europe gets right—stacked fields, iconic venues, and snackable highlight reels—and how U.S. races can catch up with consistent live streams, honest athlete recaps, and creative embeds that show how fast “runnable” really looks. Gear matters too: lighter, grippier shoes like the Cascadia Elite change what’s sustainable at speed on wet rock and alpine grass, expanding both safety and excitement. If you care about subultra trail, this is the blueprint: build durability, race smart, tell the story well, and make it easy to watch. Hit play, then tell us—what race do you want live-streamed next? And if you’re new here, follow, share, and drop a quick review so more runners can find the show. Follow Dan on IG - @dancurts Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod Use code steepstuffpod for 25% off your cart at UltimateDirection.com !