We had the good fortune of connecting with Ben “Benny” Piekarz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ben “Benny”, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I am a firm believer that less risk leads to less reward and vise versa. I thrive outside of my comfort zone, whether it be on the river, on the mountain, in the kitchen, or on a job site. Throughout my life I’ve found that the more nervous or uneasy I am going into a situation, the better I perform and, if all goes well, the happier I am with the outcome. Looking back, if I hadn’t put myself in certain situations that I felt were risky or out from under my security blanket, my life wouldn’t by any means resemble what it is today. I grew up a city kid minutes from Wrigley Field in Chicago, but always felt the grasp and the allure of the outdoors. During high school and college I worked as a wrangler at ranches in Michigan and Montana. As a College Sophomore, I was licensed as a commodity futures trader at the Chicago Board of Trade, through self evaluation I realized what I wanted to chase at that time in my life. Upon graduating from Michigan State University, I decided to hop on a flight to Kodiak, Alaska to be a commercial Salmon fisherman. It was a risk that set my life up to be what it is today and ultimately spear headed the path to my outdoor lifestyle choice.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

Some would say I’m a jack of all trades or a renaissance man, but I just like to say that I’ve been lucky enough to turn my passions and hobbies into different ways to make a living. Since moving to Vail in 2010, I’ve been able to learn and grow as a fly fishing guide, private chef, ski instructor, and carpenter. To me, the value of life lies in experiences, emotions, and connections, and each one of these skills/occupations provides me with all of them. I’ve even been able to intertwine some of these together as well which is something that I think sets me apart from others.

My primary passion and occupation is as a fly fishing guide. Fly fishing has taken me to some of the most beautiful places I’ve ever experienced and introduced me to some of the most interesting people I’ve ever met. Over the past decade I’ve guided in Colorado, Alaska, Idaho, and Wyoming taking people from all over the world in boats, helicopters, and floatplanes to chase fish in some extremely rugged and remote wilderness areas. For me it’s not about catching fish. It’s about everything that goes into the adventure and about providing the best experience for my clients. The preparation, attention to detail, ability to read people and different situations are all crucial for having a successful day on the water.

Between seasons I fill my time mainly with private cheffing and carpentry. I have always loved to cook, but more importantly, to create an experience that puts a smile on peoples’ faces. There’s something about seeing the reactions to something you’ve put your heart and soul into . Carpentry is something I have always enjoyed and honing those skills with every project makes it fun for me. As with guiding, preparation, attention to detail, and surpassing expectations are key in these industries. One of my absolute favorite things is to mesh cooking and guiding into one experience. The outfitter I manage and guide for in Colorado, Colorado Angling Company, offers a Cast N’ Taste trip in which we take groups out for a half day fishing trip and either bring them back to our private river-side cabin or set up a dining experience riverside and prepare a gourmet meal for them to enjoy.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
To me, Vail, Colorado is one of the largest playgrounds in the United States. If you love the outdoors, beautiful scenery, delicious food, live music, and just an all-around good time there is something for you located in the Vail Valley. When I have friends or family coming to the valley, we always hit the rivers, great restaurants, hot springs, and live music.

To me a perfect day would begin at Village Bagel in Edwards with a delicious bagel for breakfast and a sandwich to take along on the river. Next a raft or drift boat trip on either the Eagle or Colorado River for a day of floating and fishing. After wrapping up a great day on the water, we’d head to the Minturn Saloon for a delicious dinner, fantastic company, and to feel the rich history of Colorado. We would wrap up the day with some live music or a trip to Iron Mountain Hot Springs in Glenwood Springs. Vail offers some great options with free concerts in Eagle, Minturn, Avon, and Vail. Ford Amphitheater always brings in some great artists and Shakedown Bar has some great local bands that always put on a good show.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost I have to acknowledge my parents. They have always been supportive of me chasing my dreams and exploring my passions. Even when the path was far from status quo, they never tried to dissuade me from following my heart. Their incredible work ethic, passion, and positive outlook has has been a life long inspiration. Without their unconditional love, encouragement, and influential life lessons, I would certainly not be living the life I am today.

I’ve been lucky enough to have some great bosses and mentors throughout the years in many different types of jobs who I’ve been able to learn and build my skillset from. I hold each and every one in high regard. I’m a big believer in surrounding yourself with individuals in whom you see traits or successes that you find desirable. In the same light, it is important to realize your own weaknesses and to surround yourself with people who can help you fill those gaps.

Website: Www.benpiekarz.com

Instagram: @bennypieks

Other: Www.coloradoanglingcompany.com Www.alaskasteelheadco.com https://vimeo.com/250901461

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.