<p>Welcome to the second of three post–Winter Olympics episodes in which I am examining the recent Winter Olympics from a variety of different perspectives.</p><p>In this second episode, I’m joined by Lesley McKenna, one of snowboarding’s great original thinkers.</p><p>A pro skier, snowboarder, coach and team manager, she is herself a three-time Olympian, and helped run GB Park & Pipe in the years when Jenny Jones and Billy Morgan won their medals.</p><p>She has spent the last few years working on a Phd that analyses the tension that exists between a traditional sporting structure as epitomised by the Olympics, and a none-conventional action sports culture such as snowboarding. She’s has called it the <a target="_blank" href="https://risk-aesthetic.com">Risk Aesthetic Framework</a>, and it is fascinating stuff.</p><p>Why does this matter? Because while snowboarding now looks fully integrated into the Winter Olympics, its relationship with the Games has always been complex — and at times uneasy. </p><p>In this conversation, we dig into judging controversies, cultural friction, performance vs. progression, and ask whether something essential is gained — or lost — when snowboard culture enters the Olympic machine.</p><p>As ever with Lesley, this is a mind-bending conversation: endlessly intellectually-stimulating, and full of the ideas and provocations that mark her work out as so original. </p><p>If you care about snowboarding and its culture, don’t miss this one. </p><p>--</p><p>This week’s codes to use for some big old savings: </p><p><strong>LOOKINGSIDEWAYS</strong> for HUGE savings on ski and snowboard hire with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.intersportrent.com/en?partid=f0c73f77b60e4c86bd0cd6299682d3ff">Intersport</a> this winter.</p><p><strong>LOOKINGSIDEWAYS10</strong> for 10% off any order from <a target="_blank" href="https://finisterre.com/">Finisterre</a> </p><p><strong>LOOKINGSIDEWAYSXDB</strong> for 15% off anything from <a target="_blank" href="https://dbjourney.com/en-gb">Db</a></p><p><strong>LOOKINGSIDEWAYS2026</strong> for 15% off any <a target="_blank" href="https://www.albioncycling.com/">Albion</a> purchase</p><p><strong>LOOKINGSIDEWAYS</strong> for a whopping 20% off anything from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.goodrays.com/">Goodrays</a>.</p><p><strong>LOOKINGSIDEWAYS</strong> for 15% off any <a target="_blank" href="https://uk.stance.com/">Stance</a> order</p><p>--</p><p>To find out more about what I do, <a target="_blank" href="https://lookingsideways.substack.com/s/hkc-discount-club">you can sign up as a subscriber to my Substack newsletter here</a>. There's a brilliant community and much more than just the podcasts.</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://www.wearelookingsideways.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_2">www.wearelookingsideways.com/subscribe</a>