Q&A with Pro-Athlete and Entrepreneur Davide Giardini

Italian-born and raised Davide Giardini has been calling Boulder home for almost 15 years since pursuing an MBA at the University of Colorado Boulder. 

Ever since joining the CU Triathlon Team as a grad student, he has become a staple in Boulder's world-class endurance sports community, both through his athletic pursuits and community-building initiatives. 

Davide achieved 10 professional triathlon podiums and represented Team USA with a top 10 finish at the Long Distance Triathlon World Championships. He was also the Marketing Director at Bolder's beloved Full Cycle Bikes, where he started what's now known as some of Boulder's best weekend group cycling rides. 

Since retiring from being a professional triathlete, he's become Boulder's an ambassador for the local skimo (short for ski mountaineering) community: he won the Colorado Skimo Cup two years in a row; founded the Boulder Skimo Club (with over 120 members); started a Youth Skimo program at Eldora; qualified for the US Skimo National Team; and filmed a "How to Ski Tour" video series for La Sportiva — all in Boulder's snowy backyard.

When you're preparing for a big day outside, where do you stop for breakfast or coffee to fuel up before heading out?
I actually prefer to enjoy Boulder’s breakfast scene after my outdoor mountain outings! A staple for me through the years is Lolita’s — inexpensive, no frills, delicious and somewhat still underground and true to its roots. I double it up with a Spruce Confections espresso from across the street. 

Both are best served on the bike, enjoying the sunshine, the Flatirons views, and the hustle and bustle of “big city” life after a quiet time in the mountains. 

A new favorite has to be Skratch Labs Table if I’m craving a bigger sit-down meal that still doesn’t break the bank, and a chat with some acquaintance in the Boulder endurance sports world that I’d surely bump into while there!

What is a Boulder hidden gem you love?
Boulder County’s hidden gem has got to be its human-powered skiing potential! It’s so good, I even started a community for it: Boulder Skimo Club. All the way from RMNP to Eldora and beyond, the ski touring terrain is really good (when not windy!) and especially in the springtime. 

I love Spruce Pool in the summer. It’s a nice alternative to the crowdedness of Scott Carpenter Pool, and the older crowd, cool sealife mural and Sanitas views make it a chill spot to hang after a swim on a hot day.

For someone who wants to try winter sports for the first time, what's the best way to get started — are there local guides or shops you'd recommend?
I’m biased, as I started Boulder Skimo Club exactly for this very reason — to get more athletes into ski touring and to unite this niche community under one voice (turns out there’s a lot of us in Boulder!).

Nothing beats expert instruction, for beginners to advanced looking to progress. Hence I recommend professional instruction. We offer weekly ski touring clinics at Eldora with Boulder Skimo and La Sportiva.

After a long day guiding or training in the mountains, which Boulder restaurant or brewery do you head to for recovery food and drinks?
My go-to staple after a long successful spring skiing day with friends is Mountain Sun for nachos and beers. On colder days, I really like Sherpa’s. 

How do you spend a lazy day in Boulder? What are your favorite things to do on a rest day?
One of my favorite recovery things to do in Boulder is to commute on the B360 bike paths. It’s taken me years to master them, and it’s my preferred mode of transportation around town, away from cars. It’s super enjoyable, safe, you get to learn all the nooks and crannies of Boulder, and see all the quirky bike commuters. It’s truly one of the best systems in the world and one of the things that makes Boulder unique.

If you had friends or family visiting and you wanted to show them around Boulder, where would you go?
It depends on the type (of athlete!), as Boulder is world-class for so many niches. 

Trail runner? Green Mountain
Road runner? Boulder Reservoir
Mountain biker? Betasso Preserve
Backcountry skier? RMNP

How do you think visitors can experience Boulder's wild spaces responsibly?
Definitely get on a bike!

"It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them... " -Ernest Hemingway 

We’re lucky to have amazing bike infrastructure to connect all points of town. There is no need to get in a car to run errands, get to work, get to the trailheads and really anywhere in Boulder. It beats driving any day.