ON THE KNUCKLE: SNOWBOARDING’S NEW PODCAST FROM INSIDE THE JUDGING BOOTH

Snowboarding’s most experienced judges are stepping up to the microphone. This season, Snowboard International is partnering with Gaz Wessman Vogan and Adam Begg to launch On The Knuckle, a new podcast offering a rare insider’s look at the world of competitive snowboarding – from how judging decisions are made to what really happens behind the scenes on tour.

Hosted on the Snowboard International YouTube channel, the show brings listeners closer to the action than ever before, with unfiltered conversations straight from the judging booth.

Meet the Voices Behind the Mic

Gaz Wessman Vogan is the FIS Snowboard Judge Coordinator and has been a World Cup judge since 2019. Originally from the UK’s dry slope and snowdome scene, he’s now part of snowboarding’s biggest stages, including the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, with another Olympic appointment coming in Milano-Cortina 2026. Fans may also recognise his voice from Eurosport and FIS TV, where he has covered everything from slopestyle to snowboard cross.

Adam “Beggsy” Begg is the Head Judge for the 2026 Winter Olympics – his third Olympic appearance after PyeongChang and Beijing. With over 30 years in the industry and 15 on the international circuit, he’s judged major contests including Stylewars, Air & Style, The Laax Open, and multiple World Championships. Recognised for his fairness and precision, he was named Snow Australia’s Snowsport Official of the Year for long-term commitment and excellence in judging.

A Podcast About What Happens Behind the Scores

The idea for On The Knuckle came from a shared desire to make judging more transparent and accessible.
In the opening episode, Vogan explained:

“This is something we’ve been chatting about for quite some time now, just to give a little bit of insight into more of the behind the scenes and kind of have our platform for a voice. We know it’s a very subjective part of the sport – the judges is probably the most hated aspect of snowboarding – so it’s quite nice that we get a chance to at least explain why some of those judging decisions have been made and kind of help educate people along the way.”

The first few episodes of On The Knuckle look back at the 2024–25 World Cup season . Gaz and Beggsy revisit everything from the year’s standout World Cups and the Engadin World Championships to the evolution of judging formats across Big Air, Slopestyle, and Halfpipe. Their conversations delve into how contests are evolving, where style meets difficulty, and what distinguishes a good run from a winning one.

After wrapping up the previous season analysis, the show will shift focus to the preseason camps and training sessions, where riders fine-tune new tricks before the tour begins. From there, listeners can expect regular weekly episodes throughout winter – offering fresh insight and commentary from each major stop on the calendar.

Why It Matters

For a sport often defined by its creative subjectivity, On The Knuckle offers a level of transparency rarely seen in competitive snowboarding. The podcast gives listeners the chance to understand how judges interpret tricks, apply criteria, and evolve with the riders themselves.

As Begg will explain in Episode 2, the process is constantly being refined:

“We’re trying to be as transparent as we can for the riders, the coaches, the viewers. We’re trying to keep it very consistent from one comp to the next.”

And for Vogan, the show is just as much about sharing their passion as it is about demystifying the process:

“Judges get blamed for everything. But the truth is, we care deeply about getting it right – and about progressing the sport.”

Where to Listen

On The Knuckle is available now on YouTube, hosted by Snowboard International, Spotify and all of the major platforms. New episodes will drop bi-weekly during the first weeks and then weekly through the winter, following the winter’s competition schedule.

For those who live and breathe competitive snowboarding – or just want to understand what really happens on the knuckle – this is the podcast to tune into.

Now, enjoy the first episode: