Trout Wrangler Podcast Season 2 Ep.80: Guiding in Utah & Skiing for USA at the Olympics with Derek

In this episode of the Trout Wrangler Podcast, I sit down with Olympic aerial skier Derek Krueger to talk about his incredible journey from elite winter sports to guiding on some of the most iconic trout water in the country. Derek walks us through his path into aerial skiing, what originally drew him to the sport, and what the grind toward the Winter Olympics really looks like behind the scenes. We talk about the challenges of elite competition, the discipline it requires, and what it's like living in the Olympic Village surrounded by the best athletes in the world. From there, we shift into fly fishing. Derek shares how he transitioned from the skiing world into guiding with Utah Troutfitters, what day-to-day life as a guide looks like, and how the mindset of an Olympian translates directly into success on the water. We dive into what makes Utah such a special place to fly fish, the species and fisheries he guides most often, and how he balances the "ski grind" with the "guide grind." We also talk about what it's like returning from a month overseas in Italy and jumping right back into guiding season. To wrap it up, Derek gives us 5 songs for the Trout Tunes Spotify playlist, plus final thanks and plugs. This episode is all about discipline, mindset, passion, and chasing excellence — whether that's off a ski jump or on a trout stream. FREE MONTH OF TROUT ROUTES PRO https://troutroutes.onelink.me/NvfJ/6au6z3i3⁠