We had the good fortune of connecting with Nicole Handel and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Nicole, what principle do you value most?
I have been most shaped by settling into discomfort. In everything I do, I strive for finding the balance between welcoming in newness and vulnerability, and finding the peace in that.
I didn’t get involved in outdoor sports until after college, so I’ve been “new” at a lot of things as an adult (skiing, split boarding, ultra running, mountain biking, rock climbing, and more).
Leaning into the feelings of imposter syndrome, the learning stages that feel like they last forever, countless falls/crashes, slow paces, etc has shaped my character more than any other force in my life so far.
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.
My work is a bit all over the place!
My “day job” is as the Director of Marketing for Mammut, a Swiss outdoor gear brand. I work with an incredible and tiny team, based between here in Colorado, and out east in Vermont. This truly is my dream job, and I am super lucky.
Apart from that, I founded a business called AlpinePup, where I help dog owners do more outside with their dogs. This stemmed from my observations on social media, through my account (@nicolehandel), where I found that lots of dog owners wanted to hike, ski, run, bike with their dogs, but didn’t always know how to do so safely or responsibly.
I’m also fortunate enough to be a Ford Bronco ambassador, and to work with lots of other, smaller brands through digital storytelling.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Ooooh I love this question!
I live in Erie, so I’m close to both Boulder and Denver, which gives me a ton of flexibility in where I take friends when they visit. I’m also only an hour from the Indian Peaks, so I spend a lot of time there.
For food, we’d have to go to 24 Carrot in downtown Erie. It’s a small, farm-to-table spot that my boyfriend and I really like.
We also frequent Punch Buggy Shave Ice in Lafayette, and Heaven Creamery in Boulder (the BEST ice cream in the world…). Other than that, my style of eating tends to be “grazing”’on lots of different things, so we’d have to go to the Boulder Farmers’ Market, and maybe take a day trip to Bluebird in Breck (a cute infoor food hall).
Besides good food, this area has endless outdoor recreation options, and that’s how I prefer to spend my free time. We’d definitely go to the Indian Peaks for hiking, and to one of the several trail networks in Boulder for trail running.
Since I live on several rural acres in Erie, and we have dogs, goats, and cats, I’d likely also spend some time at our house, hanging with the animals.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
It sounds silly, but my first dog, Bear, deserves a shoutout.
As a junior in college, I found myself with a German shepherd puppy that I wasn’t entirely ready for.
I had been studying Psychology and Anthropology, and wanted to live and work overseas when I graduated.
Instead, I shifted directions so that I could take care of him.
I started working in marketing, and took up hiking every week so that he could get exercise. That led to mountain biking, split boarding, skiing, backpacking, and more.
Bear was my companion in all things, so it was easier to get started or to continue with a new sport, because I was never going alone.
Bear passed away a few months ago, and I spend a lot of time reflecting on his impact on me.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolehandel/?hl=en
Image Credits
I own all images 🙂
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