The Steep Stuff Podcast
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The Steep Stuff Podcast
Daniel Antonioli & Beñat Albisu, Pre Beast of Big Creek Interview
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They just landed in Seattle, they’ve barely had time to shake out their legs, and they’re already thinking about one thing: how a U.S. sky race will feel compared to the European skyrunning circuit. We sit down with Daniel Daniel Antonioli & Beñat Albisu for a quick, high-energy pre-race conversation as they get ready to race near Big Creek in the Olympic Mountains for the first time on American soil.
We talk travel realities and first impressions of the Pacific Northwest, plus where they’re hoping to sneak in a little exploring with only a week in town. Then we get into racing: what it’s like to line up against a strong international field, and why an out-and-back skyrace course can create a different kind of pressure and excitement when you’re literally watching competitors coming toward you on the climb. Daniel shares why he loves the simple rhythm of one big ascent and one committed descent, and Banat reflects on what it means to race abroad as a 20-year-old following the U23 skyrunning circuit.
We also zoom out to season planning, including how athletes choose between major mountain running events when schedules collide, and why ultra-technical courses like Matterhorn Ultraks Extreme can shape training priorities. If you’re into trail running, skyrunning, mountain racing tactics, and the culture that makes these races special from Italy to the Basque Country, you’ll leave with fresh motivation and a clearer sense of how pros think before the gun goes off.
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Quick Welcome And Subscribe
SPEAKER_00This is the Steam Stuff Podcast. What's up, guys? Uh hey, before we get started, if you haven't already, whatever platform you're listening to this on, please hit that subscribe or follow button, whether that's Apple, Spotify, or YouTube. Those subscriptions go a super long way in being able to keep the podcast going and allowing me to continue to tell the stories of these amazing athletes and also do some of the race coverage and all the good stuff that we've been doing over the last few years. And also, if you haven't already, please give us a rating and a review if you haven't. Yeah, let us know what you guys think about the podcast and hope you enjoy this episode. Thanks so much for tuning in. All
First US Impressions In Seattle
SPEAKER_00right. Daniel Antellini, Banat Abuzi. Welcome to the Steep Stuff Podcast. How are you both?
SPEAKER_01Hi, James. Thank you. We are very well. We are uh just now arrived uh in the USA. It's uh our first time uh for uh for a for a sky race here for me is uh for a sky race uh for him he's uh first time in the USA in general.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. How do you how do you how do you like the area so far? How do you like uh Seattle and just uh those the Olympic mountains? Have you gotten to explore it all?
SPEAKER_01We are uh just now arrived uh so next day we we will go uh for sure uh to see the big creek, the first one, but uh maybe next days uh we will look uh year round and look very very nice here.
SPEAKER_00Nice. How how long are you uh staying for? Are you gonna spend some extended time to get to see get to see the rest of the country or are you gonna go heading back to Italy?
SPEAKER_01We have uh one week uh just uh till Monday. So next days uh we will uh we will do some training. Uh we will see the trails near here and uh and uh near Big Creek. And maybe on Sunday we can uh uh well where where you could suggest us to go.
SPEAKER_00Oh man, I would say go see uh either I mean there's so many national parks around. You could do Olympic National Park, there's Mount Rainier National Park, which is the the giant volcano, and then there's the North Cascades, which aren't far either. And those mountains are are beautiful as well. So I'd recommend any of those those mountain rangers that are within, I don't know, a two to three hour drive from you.
SPEAKER_01So okay, we don't have a lot of time, but uh we will uh look for the near one.
Why Race A US Sky Race
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah. So uh how excited are you guys to be out in the United States for for a sky race? I feel like is this is this the first time that you've ever raced on American soil?
SPEAKER_01Uh I was in uh in America for a duatron race, uh, but uh it's first time for sky running. I do all the sky racing in Europa, but uh I want to to see a new race, and uh it is a very good experience for me. Uh because uh I never see these mountains and uh sky running is for me is a very good experience to know a new place and uh new people with my passion.
SPEAKER_00Amazing, amazing. Yeah, what do you think? I don't know. Have you looked at all at the field? There's a very good international field. I I think uh both um uh Jackson Cole is in the in in the field.
SPEAKER_01Uh I can't remember the some of the other names, but yeah, there's quite there's a good yeah there is also Manuel Quispe from uh from Peru. There are a lot of strong athletes, and uh I think uh think uh on Saturday will be a very very good battle uh with them uh yeah and uh also with Bennett. He he's uh younger. I have uh experience on my side and uh he he has uh all the other things uh on his side.
SPEAKER_00Uh Bennett, how how how old are you?
SPEAKER_02I'm 20 years old.
SPEAKER_00Okay, how many sky races have you done this year? Are you pretty new to the scene?
SPEAKER_02I have raised just uh around eight uh races of the skyrunning circuit, but this is my first time in other continents and it's the first time in the USA. So it's just an experience. Nice, nice.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I hate to say you guys are gonna be very disappointed by the food in America. It's not it's not it's not like the food in Italy. Our pizza here, not very good.
SPEAKER_01Today we eat uh spaghetti. Maybe tomorrow may not prepare uh paella. But uh then we have to try the the speciality of uh of America.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah. I mean, I it's like fast food. I mean that's that's what we got going for us over here. It's not not ideal.
Course Talk And Out-Back Battles
SPEAKER_00Uh what um let's talk a little bit about the course itself. I know you guys haven't seen it yet, but I'm curious to see how you feel about there's a there's a nice section of the course that's out and back, which is different compared to a lot of sky races that are more uh looped-based courses. This is you're gonna be seeing as you're running downhill, you're gonna be seeing a lot of other competitors coming uphill, um, maybe from the back of the pack or middle of the pack. Um, is that is that different for you guys to be for because it is a little bit of a different course.
SPEAKER_01But uh really I love this kind of uh of race because I like uh the one appeal and the one downil. Appeal, I go to the top, and uh is uh my favorite. Uh and uh on this trail is also possible to see the others uh and uh I like this uh real battle uh in the race. Nice.
SPEAKER_00Are you guys camping or are you uh or are you in an Airbnb uh out there?
SPEAKER_01We are Airbnb in the in the nature in uh in the forest. Uh it's a very nice place here.
SPEAKER_00Oh nice. Oh, very cool.
SPEAKER_01The weather is not very very good, but maybe in the afternoon uh will come the sun uh and uh we will go on the trails.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah, definitely, definitely. What
Season Plans And Technical Priorities
SPEAKER_00else are you uh racing this year? Are you doing chema or anything like that?
SPEAKER_01I done uh two times chema. Uh my best place is fourth place in chema. I I would like to retry to to go on the podium, but uh not this year, because this year there will be the Maternon Ultraxic stream one day before. And it's impossible to do both, and I have to decide. And uh I decide for uh Zermat for uh Ultrax Extreme because uh I'm not uh specialist of a long race. And uh but I like the very technical race like Mataron, so I will be there this year.
SPEAKER_00The uh Ultrax Extreme, that's a very technical course from what I've heard. It's it's quite quite technical. Is that correct?
SPEAKER_01Yes, yes, it's uh the most technical uh I think I I ever done. But but not to to the uh American to to come in Europe for the Mataron because uh near Mataron uh is uh is wonderful.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. No, I hear it's amazing and quite beautiful as well. Uh but not what will you be racing uh for the rest of your season?
SPEAKER_01Uh me, I I will do the I'm following the Scarania Circuit. I done just the Scares de Matizen in France, after uh Beast of Big Creek, Matron Ultra Extreme, and uh Magascar Race and uh the final in uh Spain. Oh wow, okay.
SPEAKER_02And uh following the U23 circuit? I'm doing the circuit but for the young runners, the under 23 circuit. And this is my second race. The first has been in Golodutan. And then the final also in Spain, but in Asturias, in Redes.
SPEAKER_00Very cool, very cool. What uh what what courses or what what course what race excites you the most? What what uh do you have as more of your A race or something that's the where you want to perform the best at you repeat the the question please? Yes, what is uh what what is your A race or the race you want to perform the best at of the races that you're racing.
SPEAKER_02Uh I have enjoyed a lot, Gorges.
SPEAKER_01Because it's like uh the long hills are really a bit inclination and you have to let go down and go and go yeah that's technical but it's not uh uh easy question for me because uh I done uh I don't know uh hundred or hundred sky races and uh but uh I like very much the the sky race in the Alps uh and uh when uh it's possible to run on the snow and uh when it's possible to climb is my favorite.
Home Mountains And Zegama Dreams
SPEAKER_00Nice. Where do you where do you both call home? Where are you guys from? Uh Daniel in Italy and Banat. Where are you guys uh specifically located?
SPEAKER_01Uh I live near uh Grigne, maybe you know Grignezke Marathon.
SPEAKER_00Yes, yes.
SPEAKER_01I live uh near the trail of uh Grignewski Marathon in the in the Alps uh near Miland.
SPEAKER_00Wow.
SPEAKER_01And what about to you and uh the American sky runners to come uh to come there and uh let me know when you come? Uh we can go together on on Grigne.
SPEAKER_00That would be amazing. Binat, where are you from?
SPEAKER_02I'm from bus country. Uh a little town for the bus country, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Wow. What is it like there during like Zagama and uh things like that? Like, is it just absolutely crazy? Like all a lot of fans and just an amazing place to be around.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, the Gama is something something special. Uh I'm still young and I have never run it yet, but it's uh it's a dream, yeah. Is it very cool?
Pre-Race Sendoff And Good Luck
SPEAKER_00Well, guys, uh thank you so much for coming on. I told you this would be just a quick little uh introduction one uh pre-race interview. Wishing you guys the best of luck uh at your race on Saturday, and uh I hope you enjoy it over here in the United States. Thank you for coming. I hope you uh enjoy the course and the food. It's not as good as Italian food or Spanish or Basque food, but hey, it's it's okay. Uh but yeah, thank you guys so much.
SPEAKER_01Thank you very much. Yeah, thank you. Yeah, bye.
SPEAKER_00Bye guys, thank you. Thank
Foot Care Sponsor And Discount Code
SPEAKER_00you. Guys, how's your feet? Like, seriously, uh huh. How's uh how are your feet doing? Um, I'm sure if you're listening to this, you're a runner or an athlete of some kind, uh, in one way or another. And as most athletes do, everybody struggles with injury one way or another, and foot care is like one of the most important things when it comes to injury mitigation or just dealing with injuries in general. Um, everything from plantar fasciitis, peroneal issues, uh a lot of people deal with blisters in the sport. Uh kind of the list goes on. It's a great opportunity for me to talk about our partner, Cetus US. Um, I've been partnering with them for a couple of years now, and man, the products have just gone such a long way for me as an athlete personally. Um couple months back I'd been dealing with some proneal issues and some planter issues on my left foot, and uh got hooked up with some of the Cetus insoles. Um the trail three feet, and man, it went such a long way in helping me rehab that foot and just helped a ton. Um, on top of that, big fan of the socks and big believer in the socks as well. I use them all the time because they're amazing. Uh, but in all seriousness, I'm sure you've seen like Jim Walmsley, Hidden Hawks, and then you know, some of the best women in the sport, like Robin Lesh, um, or even on the ski side, uh Jesse Diggins rocking uh the Cedus feet. And um, for me personally, it's the run-in atomic comfort. I absolutely love those socks. Um, it's got reinforced protection, it's got a great grip strip to keep the sock from kind of moving within uh the shoe. It's breathable and it's got great protection, especially for technical trails for your heels and your toes. And uh above all else, it's breathable, so it's not gonna stink too bad. Uh, my wife definitely gives uh thumbs up when it comes to that. So I don't have two stinky feet or stinky socks. So if you haven't already, go online, check out CDS.us, and if you find something you like, use code SteepStuff. It's good for one use only. It's gonna get you 20% off your car and uh giving you guys the hookup. So hope you enjoy it. Check it out, CDS.us in souls and socks, they've got the best in the game.
