Episode 18: Lonny Vanatta - Backcountry Bulldog

Mill House Podcast

Mill House

Wilderness, Sports, Leisure, Education, Hobbies

5 • 973 Ratings

🗓️ 9 September 2020

⏱️ 57 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Being slighted by the US Ski Team in 1978, Lonny Vanatta spent the rest of his career trying to prove something and that he did. Turning pro he became the top American on the world pro ski racing tour for many years. He won 20 races and won the slalom title in 1980 - finishing 3rd overall in the season title. Even though he was smaller in stature and weight than most of his competition, he had the heart of a lion that many people feared. His success was profound and was inducted into the Colorado Ski Hall of Fame in 2018. Throughout his career, his passion for hunting was paramount, as intense as it was for smashing his competitors on a race hill. His archery stone sheep in 1989 was the largest Pope and Young sheep ever killed at the time. He completed the grand slam of North American sheep - only the 54th bowhunter at the time to do so. He has 34 Pope and Young animals to his name. Lonny recently sold his successful outfitting business of 31 years. Vanatta is a cancer survivor but continues to attack life the only way he knows, head on - a true inspiration to all.

Transcript

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0:00.0	On today's podcast, we have Lonnie Vanatta, one of Pro Ski Racing's dominant American
0:06.8	forces for years, winning 20 races in the Tours' slalom title in 1980. Throughout his life he has had that will to win attitude in the
0:16.4	field as well and his successes were on a grand scale. He's amassed 34 Pope and young animals to his credit, highlighted by harvesting the
0:26.2	grand slam of North American sheep with his bow.
0:30.5	His greatest prize was attained in 1989 when he arrowed the world's largest stone sheep.
0:37.0	On today's podcast, we spoke of his many victories, his tenacity to win, and beating cancer, a true inspiration to all.
0:47.0	We hope you enjoy.
0:51.0	We broke everything, lines, we broke hooks, we broke rods, we broke our minds, we broke our minds, we broke marriages, we broke the whole thing.
1:05.0	We came up with the idea of going out that night and chasing girls and whoever had the biggest
1:10.7	pair of panties went to pot. I knocked another arrow pain he's won the pot.
1:13.0	I knocked another arrow and he turned around the other way and I shot him going through the other
1:16.8	way.
1:17.8	So I doubled him both ways.
1:19.8	But it was nothing for us to paddle an air mattress out into government cut.
1:23.2	I got him out right now. I'm going to teach him a lot so. I'm just an old guy that likes to fish. I'm not quitting yet.
1:32.3	And he said, well who the hell do you? just an old guy that likes to fish, I'm not quitting yet.
1:33.0	And he said, well, who the hell do you think you are, Sue App?
1:37.0	And I said, that's exactly who I am.
1:40.0	Life's journey to the grave should not be one arriving with a pretty well preserved body,
1:46.0	but rather skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly torn out,
1:51.0	thoroughly used up, proclaiming wildly. Wow! What a ride!
1:57.0	There's something fishy going on here. Lonnie, welcome to the millhouse podcast.
	...

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