Hop into Leadville Ski Country to rent gear, and you’re likely to run into one of the most interesting shopkeeps you’ll meet.

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Get Rad anxiety: This real, if also made up, condition perfectly explains the mind and machinations of Paul Mumford. Better known to friends and strangers alike by just his surname, Mumford runs Leadville Ski Country in Colorado’s eponymous high-altitude township.

But while you’re certain to make his acquaintance when gearing up during ski season, you’d be hard-pressed to track him down any other time of year. You see, Mumford is something of a wild man — he races in just about every form of locomotion imaginable.

Ski mountaineering? Check. Mountain bike racing? Check. The 6-Day Baja Rally on a motorcycle? Check. Heck, he’s even raced in the world’s largest alleycat bicycle race, Stupor Bowl — it’s all because he has “get rad anxiety.”

And it drives him to extremes beyond just racing. Mumford has even spent seasons working in mining — a job he’ll tell you was among his favorites.

Needless to say, sit down with Mumford for a conversation, and you’re in for a wild ride.

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