Mike Rogge

Love this guy

Mike Rogge is a writer and media producer living in Northern California. His work has appeared in Powder, ESPN, Bomb Snow Magazine, and Vice. Mike has the ability to shoot the shit like no other. If you get caught on a chairlift with him, be prepared to be entertained.

Doyonator Striped

Q&A

1.) What does it take to construct a good magazine article?

A team and a tried and true process make a good magazine. Would you like to hear about it? No? Great! Listen up… First, a good magazine article needs a great concept and a writer to make it happen within the confined space of smaller budgets, tourism boards, egos, and PR bats flying around asking said writer to, “Please, try the new heated six-person chair!” A photographer needs to capture the feel of the writer’s story, so communication between the two parties is key. Remember, most photographers are “arty” so two “artists” working together is like a game of chicken played with two dump trunks carrying their version of The Soul of Skiing. From there, an ample amount of time is needed to let the story soak in to the writer’s brain. I prefer forgetting about the story and losing sleep over it at night for three months until an editor says, “Hey! How’s The Good Magazine Article coming?” Always answer with, “Good! Almost there. Still tweaking it a bit. How’s your summer in (insert place they live)?” Changing the subject is vital to buying more time. Next, a great top editor is needed to help clarify the writer’s incoherent dribble of a message. From there, a photo editor selects the best image to represent the story, drawing a reader in and always pissing off the photog and skier, because, “He never selects shots of….” Right, it’s about you. Next, the story and photograph go to an art director, preferably a good Canadian one named Basher. Basher giggles and dials in his own perceptions on the story, studying it like a Jedi Knight instructed by Yoda. He then creates a layout that’s both engaging and interesting. Next, it takes three over-worked, too-young-to-be-surly-but-are editors to drink beer and read through the story two-three times ensuring all the shitty grammar mistakes made are X-ed out. Fights over hyphens and adverbs are a must. A must. The editors think up a witty, late-night headline that’s kind of funny, say fuck it, then smoke a couple cigs out by the dumpster. Finally, the story goes to press where it becomes a good magazine article. Later, it gets repurposed online and shit talked by countless faceless Facebook commenters about how terrible it is and how said writer is ruining the legacy of the magazine. Of course, a publisher will tell you it takes one thing to make a good magazine article—money. But that’s just bullshit. All it takes to make a good magazine article is powder snow, good homies, and a healthy dose of optimism.

2.) What have been some of your toughest challenges this past season? How did you overcome them?

Shortly after I returned from a trip to Haiti, my grandfather died of lung cancer. The disease took him quickly. Before he passed, he and I sat down with a recorder. We spoke about his life. He was a successful, yet complicated man with an interesting past. Much of his story didn’t come out until after his passing. As cliché as it may be, I found comfort and was able to process everything by riding the Siberia lift at Squaw with a couple friends in late spring.

3.) What has been your favorite project to work on?

The next one. My life works when I focus on what I’m about to do as opposed to what I have done.

4.) Favorite Discrete product?

The Vaston Beanie looks like an old school Mead notebook.

5.) Who are some of your favorite people to follow on Instagram?

You will have the best Instagram experience by following: Photogs: @GarretGrove, @ErikSeo, @Mason_Mashon, @BrunoLongPhotography, @JordanManleyPhoto, @ReubenKrabbe, @NateAbbott, @AlexaPhoto, @PerpetualWeekend, @InstantKC, @MeganMichelson, @MikeYoshida, @Hugruber Good People: @ArcadeBelts, @SelfieSteveWallace, @Hi5sFoundation, @ComptonsWeak, @AlTroutSki, @ThatsSoLaven, @TBirdley, @HenrikHarlaut, @BushyWayne, @TWallisch, @BishopJosh, @Bankzg, and my dude @JulianCarr

6.) Will you ever bring back “The Ski Show"?

No. I’ve debated it, had false starts, and what I’m left with is that in 2014-15 the easiest project in the world to make is a sequel or a remake. It’s bullshit. They’re never as good as the original. I’ll keep making projects through Verb Cabin and hopefully keep the spirit of The Ski Show in all stuff I work on.

7.) Which athletes did you admire most growing up, and who do you look up to now?

I admired J.P. Auclair, Tanner Hall, C.R. Johnson, Candide Thovex, Skogen Sprang, and Andy Woods when I was growing up. They all approached the game a little differently. Today, my biggest influences are people I try and surround myself with. I admire guys like Tristan Queen at Arcade Belts, Roy Tuscany and Steve Wallace at High Fives Foundation, and Dan Abrams and Greg Steen over at Flylow Gear. Starting something is getting easier. Making it successful is fucking hard. I’m grateful I get to see those dudes day in and day out, grinding away, at The Tahoe Mill and around North Lake Tahoe. They make the most of their time while still enjoying a couple laps at Alpine Meadows in the afternoon. That’s inspiring. 8.) Most unique travel experience? This past year Verb Cabin traveled to Haiti with the artist Kehinde Wiley on a documentary project. It was unique in that all of the traveling I’ve done never required a healthy dose of research into cholera. More so, our trip to Haiti opened my eyes that the images often seen by Americans of Haiti are of depressed, third-world impoverished people. There’s no doubt their living situation isn’t perfect, but the people are optimistic and filled with hope that a brighter future is on the horizon. You don’t get that in Colorado.