GEAR:30

Blister Summit Dinner — Win Skis

TOPICS & TIMES:

Luke’s a Dad! (3:08)

Closing Day (5:38)

Blister Summit Snow & Forecast (9:45)

Hoji (12:16)

Win Folsom Custom Skis @ Summit Dinner (13:40)

Panel Sessions & Athlete Guests (16:46)

Armada ARV 106 Ti (22:57)

Kastle Sublime 93 (25:51)

Kastle at Summit (32:45)

Doberman Multi Pista (33:17)

Heritage Lab RC95 (36:48)

Line Poisson (40:13)

Moment Deathwish 112 (50:25)

Moment Wildcat 108 (54:14)

M-Free 108 (1st Gen) at Snowbird (56:26)

Most Surprising Ski of the Season? (59:22)

Skis We Want to Check Out @ the Summit (1:01:51)

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Which Skis are the Best Skiers Using? Ski Gear & Ski Technique w/ Carv & Stomp It Tutorials

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 18:24:23 GMT

Do narrower skis actually make you carve better on piste? What about in moguls? And what sorts of skis are the best skiers actually using? For less-experienced folks, do certain skis make it easier to progress? Luke Koppa dives into these questions and more with the folks at Carv and Stomp It Tutorials. Carv’s Jamie Salter brings a bunch of fascinating data to the conversation, and Stomp It Tutorials’ Jens Nyström adds his perspective as an instructor who’s been helping skiers of all backgrounds for years.

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

Please share with us the questions, topics, or stories you’d like us to cover on GEAR:30. You can email those to us here.

RELATED LINKS:

Blister Recommended Shop: The Ledge Boardshop

Ep. 386: The Ledge Boardshop w/ Suge

Join Us @ Blister Summit 2026

Carv Digital Ski Coach

Stomp It Tutorials & Stomp It Camps

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

The Ledge Boardshop (2:14)

Blister Summit 2026 (3:10)

Introducing Jamie & Jens (4:43)

Scoring Differences w/ Different Skis (15:24)

On-Piste Carving Data (17:21)

Mogul-Skiing Data (26:42)

Highest-Scoring Skis (36:03)

“Training Skis” (and Boots) (44:35)

Carv’s Freestyle Experience w/ Jens (54:56)

Carv at Blister Summit 2026 (1:06:00)

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Blister Summit ‘26 Preview, Big Announcements, & Reviewer Reports

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:49:22 GMT

Monoskis! Snowblades! Price Drops! Jonathan talks with Luke Koppa and Kristin Sinnott about some big announcements about our upcoming Blister Summit, and Otto Solberg joins us to give an up-to-date conditions report from the Bird. We also talk about the great-looking forecast, and we go through some of the gear we’re most excited to get on — and get you on.

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

Please share with us the questions, topics, or stories you’d like us to cover on GEAR:30. You can email those to us here.

RELATED LINKS:

Get Yourself Covered with BLISTER+

BLISTER+ Members: Blister Summit Discount

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

Current Conditions at Snowbird (4:58)

The Forecast! (11:18)

Important Info (16:05)

New Discounted Price (21:51)

Companies Attending (24:31)

Another Dan Abrams Story (35:58)

Salomon QST (41:03)

Salomon and Kastle (42:20)

Faction (46:34)

HEAD and DPS (48:33)

Nordica and Scarpa (54:18)

ZipFit and Product Purchasing (55:35)

Elan (56:57)

Zirkel (57:31)

Snowboard Brands (58:31)

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Reviewer Reports: Luke & Jonathan on Frontside Carvers, Comp Mogul Skis, & Metal Freestyle Skis

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:17:09 GMT

In this episode that we’re dedicating to JBobb, Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth talk frontside carvers; metal freestyle skis; and for the first time in Blister history, we’re reviewing a competition mogul ski.

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

Please share with us the questions, topics, or stories you’d like us to cover on GEAR:30. You can email those to us here.

RELATED LINKS:

Get Yourself Covered with BLISTER+

BLISTER+ Members: Blister Summit Discount

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

Palisades Tahoe (1:35)

Blister Summit (2:46)

Shoutout: BLISTER+ Members (3:50)

Atomic Carving Skis: (7:36)

Redster Q9.8 (9:07)

Redster X9S (12:37)

Redster S9 & G9 (14:42)

Faction Le Mogul Pro (21:42)

Fischer Carving Skis: (28:23)

The Curv Noize GT 85 (29:05)

The Curv Noize GTX (31:30)

RC4 Noize (33:14)

Armada ARV 106 Ti (36:05)

Faction Prodigy 3 (39:17)

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The Ledge Boardshop: Suge (aka, Brett Scott) on Hip-Hop, Snowboard Culture, & the Current State of Snowboard Gear

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:34:33 GMT

Last week at Palisades Tahoe, Jonathan Ellsworth & JBobb stopped by the The Ledge Boardshop to talk about snowboard culture & the current state of snowboard gear w/ a rather legendary figure in the snowboard world, Suge (aka, Brett Scott). We talk 90’s Hip-Hop; the history of snowboarding (and its influence on ski gear); and innovation in snowboard gear itself.

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

Please share with us the questions, topics, or stories you’d like us to cover on GEAR:30. You can email those to us here.

RELATED LINKS:

The Ledge Boardshop

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

BLISTER+ Members: Blister Summit Discount

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

‘Know The Ledge’ (3:50)

Hip-Hop & Snowboarding (7:29)

BOA (17:42)

Customization of Snowboard Boots? (18:22)

‘Convenience’ Bindings (23:12)

Indemnified Gear (36:04)

Snowboard Design Updates (43:34)

Shop Culture (48:23)

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Reviewer Reports: Palisades Tahoe; New Skis & Snowboards; & the Hunt for Red October

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 19:03:04 GMT

JBobb, Luke, Koppa, Kristin Sinnott and Jonathan Ellsworth just wrapped up a week at Palisades Tahoe, and today, they’re sharing lots of stories and impressions, and talking about the gear they reviewed — but didn’t bring with them. Thanks to everyone who made this a truly unforgettable trip.

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

Please share with us the questions, topics, or stories you’d like us to cover on GEAR:30. You can email those to us here.

RELATED LINKS:

Palisades Demo Center

Get Yourself Covered with BLISTER+

BLISTER+ Members: Blister Summit Discount

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

Getting There w/o Skis & Boards (1:34)

How Jonathan Jinxed Us (6:06)

What Luke’s Reading (10:22)

Day 1:

- Demo Center & People We Met Up With (14:23)

- Favorite Runs of the Day (17:31)

- Skis & Boards (19:23)

- Palisades Patrol Shreds Harder Than You (23:10)

- Slot Bar Sneak Attack (26:33)

Day 2:

- Armada Declivity 102 & Antimatter 100

- Day 2 Favorite Runs (37:00)

- Day 2 Equipment Picks (41:12)

Day 3:

- Rakim & Alpine Meadows (48:55)

- Connery Lundin (54:44)

- Wildfour & Rocker (59:35)

Day 4: (1:02:36)

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How to Tell if a Bootfitter is Any Good; Ski Boot Trends; & Strong Opinions w/ Luke, Jonathan, & Bootfitter, Hunter Dagnon

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 19:41:01 GMT

How do you tell if you’re working with a good bootfitter? Are all ski boots getting bigger? Where are BOA dials most effective, or, are they actually just ruining the industry? Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth dive into these topics — and present some valuable tips and tricks — with the help of our longtime friend and boofitter, Hunter Dagnon.

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

Please share with us the questions, topics, or stories you’d like us to cover on GEAR:30. You can email those to us here.

RELATED LINKS:

For BLISTER+ Members: Discounted Blister Summit Registration

Get Yourself Covered with BLISTER+

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

Boot-Fitters vs Boot-Sellers (5:43)

Higher-Volume Boots (8:50

What is an “Average” Foot? (9:29)

Bootfitting Red & Green Flags (12:25)

Shell Fit (18:07)

Concept of Comfort (20:45)

BOA (29:41)

“Pinner” Fit (36:00)

Boot Geometry Changes (43:44)

Volume Shifts & Performance (59:30)

Plastic Types (1:06:38)

JE's Case for Lower Volume (1:34:10)

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The AlpenFlow 89 Binding VS. the Rest of the 'Hybrid Bindings' Category

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 16:46:35 GMT

AlpenFlow Design spent nearly six years developing their flagship AlpenFlow89 hybrid binding, and today, Jonathan talks with AlpenFlow co-founder, Steven Waal, about that development process. Then they compare / contrast the AlpenFlow 89 to all the major players in the hybrid binding space. You’re guaranteed to learn a lot about the “Do-It-All” category of ski bindings.

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

Please share with us the questions, topics, or stories you’d like us to cover on GEAR:30. You can email those to us here.

RELATED LINKS:

Lone Pine Gear Exchange

Snowbird

GEAR:30 ep 357: AlpenFlow Founders’ Story

For BLISTER+ Members: Discounted Blister Summit Registration

Get Yourself Covered with BLISTER+

GEAR:30 ep 345: What’s New in Binding Design

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

Sale: Lone Pine Gear Exchange (2:46)

Overview of AlpenFlow (5:32)

The AlpenFlow 89 Binding (8:05)

What’s Changed Since the Blister Summit? (13:38)

Pin Toes vs Non-Pin Toes (23:44)

Release Characteristics & ISO 13992 (33:20)

Product Comparisons:

Marker Kingpin (39:00)

Marker Duke PT (42:35)

Atomic / Salomon Shift 2.0 (45:00)

ATK Freeraider 15 (46:26)

Cast 2.0 Touring System (49:05)

ATK Hy 13 (51:22)

Tyrolia Attack Hybrid 14 (52:46)

Best Question I Haven’t Asked You?(53:40)

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What You're Probably Getting Wrong about Ski Width

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 18:19:13 GMT

When it comes to the question of ski width, there are some very strong opinions held by skiers, and lots of them aren’t true. Are lots of people on skis that are too wide? Will a skinnier ski always carve better than a wider ski? What’s the ideal width for mogul skiing? And is there any real difference in bottomless powder between a 120mm-wide and a 135mm-wide ski? Today, Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth walk through the entire range of skis from 65mm to 135mm wide, and hope to clear up a number of confusions and debunk some myths about ski width.

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

Please share with us the questions, topics, or stories you’d like us to cover on GEAR:30. You can email those to us here.

RELATED LINKS:

CARV

For BLISTER+ Members: Discounted Blister Summit Registration

Get Yourself Covered with BLISTER+

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

Test Our Opinions Yourself w/ Carv (1:80)

Blister to Palisades Tahoe (2:34)

This Week’s Gear Giveaway (3:12)

Blister Summit 2026 (3:45)

The Question of Ski Width (4:53)

Ski Width Ranges

65mm - 71mm (11:49)

72mm - 78mm (16:48)

79mm - 85mm (27:41)

86mm - 92mm (38:08)

Q: Width / Getting a Ski On Edge (39:48)

93mm - 99mm (45:06)

100mm - 106mm (53:19)

107mm - 113mm (53:34)

114mm - 120mm (57:21)

Coastal Snowpack (1:07:17)

Significant Width Breaks (1:14:14)

What's Optimal? (1:16:45)

Ideal Width for Skiing Moguls? (1:20:38)

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Reviewer Reports: Paul's New Pow Ski Design; Carving Skis; & More

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 17:58:17 GMT

Luke, Koppa, Paul Forward, and Jonathan talk about some of the gear they've been reviewing; discuss topics related to that gear; and dive deep into the ideas behind a new pow ski design that Paul has been thinking about for years, and are now being incorporated into a brand new ski.

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

Please share with us the questions, topics, or stories you’d like us to cover on GEAR:30. You can email those to us here.

RELATED LINKS:

Episode Sponsor: OpenSnow

Episode Sponsor: Snowbird

For BLISTER+ Members: Discounted Blister Summit Registration

Get Yourself Covered with BLISTER+

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

Hallelujah! Check the Forecast! (2:58)

Snowbird (4:03)

Our Very Unique Gear Giveaway (5:24)

Paul Back in AK (6:47)

Paul’s Boot Surprise: Atomic Remedy 130 (13:08)

Luke on the 1000 Skis Carve (22:57)

Carving (28:12)

Jonathan’s Mistake / PSA (38:02)

Paul’s New Pow Ski Design (41:15)

The Heritage Lab HB 135 (53:47)

Flex Pattern vs Shape (1:04:50)

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Rewriting the Rules of Ski Boots? K2 Ski Boots’ Tom Pietrowski

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 17:23:49 GMT

(1) Why is it that typically, only the stiffest ski boots have all the best features and get the best liners and all the bells and whistles? (2) What are boot manufacturers doing about the fact that many of the best skiers on the mountain also have the least amount of money in their bank accounts? And (3) did K2 just create the first ski boot that was truly designed for women, from the ground up? To address these questions, we’re talking with Tom Pietrowski, the global product line manager for K2 ski boots.

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

We’d love for you to share with us the questions, topics, or stories you’d like us to cover on GEAR:30. You can email those to us here.

RELATED LINKS:

Episode Sponsor: Carv

Episode Sponsor: Snowbird

Episode Sponsor: OpenSnow

Join Us At Blister Summit 2026

For BLISTER+ Members: Discounted Blister Summit Registration

Get Yourself Covered with BLISTER+

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

Blister Summit (2:30)

This Week’s Gear Giveaway (3:49)

Tom’s Super Hot Take (5:02)

K2 Cortex 140 (12:49)

Boa Cable Length (15:41)

K2 Cortex Team 120 (18:23)

Flex Rating vs Price of Ski Boots (21:30)

New Recon (28:15)

K2 Anthem: the 1st True Women's Ski Boot? (30:48)

K2 Boot Collection Upgrades (47:06)

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Reviewer Reports: Luke’s in the Heli, Paul’s on Carving Skis, & Jonathan’s Trading Skis w/ Pros

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 19:41:25 GMT

Why is reviewer and heli-skiing guide Paul Forward in Crested Butte testing skinny skis? How did Luke Koppa end up being the one in a helicopter? And why have Luke and Jonathan been able to test the same new ski boot? Today we discuss it all, as well as a bunch of new freeride skis from 4FRNT and Heritage Lab; Jonathan swapping skis with Daron Rahlves; Luke face-planting in front of some other pro skiers, and more.

RELATED LINKS:

Episode Sponsor: Carv

Episode Sponsor: Snowbird

Episode Sponsor: OpenSnow

Join Us At Blister Summit 2026

For BLISTER+ Members: Discounted Blister Summit Registration

Get Yourself Covered with BLISTER+

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

Carv (1:38)

Snowbird & Giveaway (2:23)

Luke’s Trip Report (5:39)

Jonathan’s Trip Report (15:43)

Salomon S/Pro Alpha C BOA (21:24)

4FRNT Sinister (32:28)

Heritage Lab Skis (37:08)

Part 2: Jonathan & Paul Forward (41:05)

Testing Ski Boots, Skis, & Carv (45:35)

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Peak Skis is Back; New Gear Reveals; Current Product Reviews; & Best Snowboard Gear of the Century w/ Powder Hound AK's Eric Helmbrecht

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 18:30:59 GMT

Jonathan shares his thoughts on the stated return of Bode Miller & Peak Skis, then Powder Hound Ski & Bike Shop owner, Eric Helmbrecht, joins us to discuss several big new product announcements; review some current ski & snowboard gear; and then Eric shares his top 10 list of the most important developments in snowboard gear of the 21st century.

RELATED LINKS:

Join Us @ Blister Summit 2026

For BLISTER+ Members: Discounted Summit Registration

Get Yourself Covered with BLISTER+

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

Why My Voice is Gone (0:04)

Blister Summit 2026 (2:59)

Peak Skis is Back?? (4:11)

The ‘New New’ Gear (16:27)

- Nordica Nordica Promachine 3 (16:59)

- Salomon S/Pro Alpha C BOA (27:49)

- Atomic / Salomon Shift² 16 (35:33)

- Armada Snowboards (41:48)

- Current Ski & Snowboard Gear Reviews (44:38)

- 4FRNT MSP 99 (45:55)

- Marker X binding (47:04)

- Armada Ski Boot (49:13)

- Atomic Remedy (51:22)

- Rossignol XV Sashimi ( 52:48)

JE's Snowboard Questions (54:07)

Top 10 Snowboard Gear of the Century (58:00)

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25 Years: The Evolution of The North Face Summit Series w/ Sage Cattabriga-Alosa & TNF’s Head of Innovation, Cory Olson

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 12:00:00 GMT

The North Face’s iconic Summit Series collection has not only been a part of some of the greatest athletic feats of the past 25 years, it’s also had a major influence on the technical apparel we all use today.

In this 2-for-1 conversation, Luke Koppa dives into its backstory, major milestones, and standout pieces with The North Face’s Global Head of Innovation, Cory Olson. He also talks with the one and only Sage Cattabriga-Alosa to get his perspective as an athlete who’s been involved with this series for its entire run — including how he went from hitting backcountry booters in the baggiest clothes he could find, to summiting high-altitude peaks in the most technical gear on the market.

RELATED LINKS:

Episode Sponsor: Snowbird

Episode Sponsor: OpenSnow

Join Us At Blister Summit 2026

For BLISTER+ Members: Discounted Blister Summit Registration

Get Yourself Covered with BLISTER+

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

OpenSnow (2:09)

Snowbird (4:25)

Weekly Gear Giveaway (6:03)

Sage's History w/ The North Face (7:10)

Sage’s Ah-Ha Moments w/ Apparel (23:00)

Layering Evolution (36:30)

Sage’s Standout Products (40:56)

Cory Olson’s Role at The North Face (49:52)

Historic and Throwback Pieces (54:14)

Standouts Materials (56:36)

Athlete Feedback & Design Impact (1:01:11)

PFAS-Free Apparel: Present & Future (1:05:19)

Care & Washing (1:10:20)

Himalayan Suit (1:18:58)

Summit Series x Streetwear (1:23:30)

Future Projects (1:32:01)

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Gear of the Century, Part 2

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 00:19:19 GMT

What are the most significant developments in snowsports gear of the 21st century? We’ve already covered the ‘Best Skis of the Century’ on GEAR:30, and now, we’re ranking the most important gear and / or technological developments in skiing and snowboarding. And today, you’re going to get the real story of the first rockered ski.

RELATED LINKS:

Get CARV

Get Yourself Covered with BLISTER+

Join Us @ Blister Summit 2026

For BLISTER+ Members: Discounted Blister Summit Registration

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

Weekly Gear Giveaway (2:27)

New Boot Testing & Carv (3:42)

BLISTER+ (5:19)

Greg’s Background in Skiing (6:32)

Greg’s Top 10

#10: Removal of Fluoro Waxes (11:12)

#9: GripWalk (14:31)

#8: Tuning Robots (16:53)

#7: Gore Tex Patents Expiration (20:56)

#6: Step in / Step on Snowboard Bindings (25:51)

#5: Hybrid AT Systems

#4: Ski Boot Design (35:16)

Rockered Skis Unsolved Mysteries (46:13)

#3: Rockered Skis (44:17)

#2: Twin Tip Skis (50:19)

#1: K2 Four (53:46)

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Gear of the Century, Part 1

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 17:09:02 GMT

RELATED LINKS:

OpenSnow

CARV

Get Yourself Covered with BLISTER+

Ep.323 w/ Carv & Marcus Caston

Join Us At Blister Summit 2026

For BLISTER+ Members: Discounted Blister Summit Registration

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

Weekly Gear Giveaway: J Skis (1:01)

Jan 1, 2026: Changes to BLISTER+ (1:25)

OpenSnow Forecast is Looking Good! (3:11)

New Skis, Ski Boots, & Carv (4:05)

Our Top 10 Gear Developments:

#10: (6:48)

#9: (15:36)

#8: (27:11)

#7: (38:47)

#6: (46:17)

#5: (51:15)

#4: (56:41)

#3: (1:04:07)

#2: (1:15:36)

#1: (1:19:54)

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:

Blister Cinematic

CRAFTED

Bikes & Big Ideas

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Ski Testing, Ski Technique, & Data Analytics with Carv

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 17:25:32 GMT

What can you learn when you analyze hundreds of thousands of ski turns? What does it tell you about ski technique? And what can be learned about the gear you use to make those turns — and the gear we test and evaluate? Luke Koppa discusses all of the above with the team at Carv.

RELATED LINKS:

Carv Digital Ski Coach System

Ep.323 w/ Carv & Marcus Caston

Join Us At Blister Summit 2026

For BLISTER+ Members: Discounted Blister Summit Registration

Get Yourself Covered with BLISTER+

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

Weekly Gear Giveaway (2:01)

What is Carv? (4:33)

What’d They Learn Last Year? (6:41)

What’s New This Year? (11:30)

How Does Carv Turn Data into Scores? (14:46)

Off-Piste vs. On-Piste Analysis (20:50)

Using Carv in Our Reviews (23:28)

Why Do Certain Skis Score Higher? (24:00)

Skiing Switch With Carv (35:00)

Who is Carv For? (49:55)

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A New Approach to Apparel: Raide Founder on Unconventional Shells, Zip-Off Baselayers, & ‘Staying Slippery’

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 11:00:00 GMT

The skis, ski boots, and bindings made for human-powered ski-touring are very different from the ones built for the resort. But what about the clothes? Raide has been rethinking what apparel for the skintrack vs. the resort should look like, and their new collection is quite the ambitious debut. Luke Koppa discusses it all with Raide founder, Kyle Siegel.

RELATED LINKS:

Carv Digital Ski Coach System

Join Us At Blister Summit 2026

For BLISTER+ Members: Discounted Blister Summit Registration

Get Yourself Covered with BLISTER+

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

Carv & This Week’s Giveaway (3:03)

Raide State of the Union (6:15)

Raide’s First Apparel (12:22)

New TourTech System (13:13)

Hybrid Bibs (16:15)

Raide’s New Waterproof/Breathable Fabrics (29:13)

DWR Coatings (32:51)

Testing & Impacts of Washing (36:36)

Bib & Shell Featureset (39:26)

Zip-Off Baselayer (44:52)

Hybrid Hoody (51:36)

Kyle’s Favorite Non-Raide Products (56:57)

Future Raide Products? (1:01:02)

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Reviewer Reports: Early-Season Testing & Luke’s Dumbest Moment on Skis

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 19:27:54 GMT

We’re back on snow! And testing gear! And excited to talk about it! Jonathan and Luke cover several of the standout skis so far; Luke confesses to one of the dumbest things he’s ever done on skis; they discuss underappreciated upsides of early-season skiing; some interesting new outerwear and gloves; and more.

RELATED LINKS:

Our Recommended Shop: Round House Sports Center

Join Us! Blister Summit @ Snowbird

All of Our Blister Recommended Shops

Join Us At Blister Summit 2026

For BLISTER+ Members: Discounted Blister Summit Registration

Get Yourself Covered with BLISTER+

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

We’re Back on Snow! (3:40)

Luke’s First Skin (10:45)

Rossignol Arcade 94 (17:53)

Faction Dancer 79 (22:31)

Volkl Peregrine 72 (29:33)

Head Kore 88 Ti vs. Kastle Paragon 93 (33:41)

Outerwear & Accessories (38:18)

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Gear Gossip w/ Moment Skis’ Luke Jacobson

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 21:34:34 GMT

Today we spill some tea, break some news, fire off a few rants, and we walk through Moment’s 25/26 lineup, including what Moment CEO, Luke Jacobson, believes to be the most significant changes to the line.

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

Please let us know if there’s a topic you’d like us to cover or a guest you’d like us to have on GEAR:30. Or if you’d like to nominate yourself for a ‘Gear Therapy’ episode, let us know that, too! You can email us at info@blisterreview.com

RELATED LINKS:

BLISTER+ Get Yourself Covered

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

Vintage Moment Skis (4:05)

Belafonte Revival? (9:26)

Gear Gossip (12:32)

Moment’s New Ski Press (13:40)

Company Growth (28:30)

Luke’s Current Ski Boot (36:22)

Moment’s Factory Shop (40:58)

Moment 25/26 Lineup (46:40)

Women’s Skis (57:30)

Communism vs Democracy (59:12)

Ski Forums (1:03:38)

Moment’s Bella Skis (1:16:54)

Recap (1:23:57)

Blister Summit Talk + Alta vs Snowbird (1:28:34)

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The Science of Staying Warm: Innovations in Insulation w/ PrimaLoft

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 15:03:53 GMT

If you’ve worn a puffy jacket in the past 30+ years, there’s a good chance it used PrimaLoft insulation. And they’ve just announced their warmest insulation to date. So today, we get all the details on PrimaLoft UltraPeak from Andrea Paulson, PrimaLoft’s Senior Vice President of Innovation & Technology — and learn a ton about insulation in general along the way. Whether you’re curious about the latest puffy tech or just want to learn more about how to stay warm in the outdoors, this one’s for you.

RELATED LINKS:

BLISTER+ Get Yourself Covered

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

PrimaLoft History (3:07)

Ultra Peak (9:41)

What’s Driven Innovation? (16:03)

UltraPeak vs. Other Insulation (19:08)

Warmth to Weight & CLO Values (21:20)

UltraPeak Use Cases (27:15)

Weights of Insulations (28:33)

Breathable Insulation (36:03)

Other New PrimaLoft Products (40:09)

How To Care for Your Insulation (45:53)

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Best Skis of the Century, Part 5

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 20:41:46 GMT

What are the Top 10 skis of the century? Top 3? #1 Ski? Today, Blister reviewers Dylan Wood, Luke Koppa, and Jonathan Ellsworth reveal their selections, and we also share some of the picks and insights from a number of pro skiers and ski industry professionals.

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

RELATED LINKS:

BLISTER+ Get Yourself Covered

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

Setting the Stage for Best Skis of the Century (3:15)

Luke & Dylan’s Top 10 (7:24)

Top 3 (34:40)

Luke's #1 (46:44)

Dylan’s #1 (50:03)

Honorable Mentions (53:02)

Jonathan Joins (56:52)

Jonathan's Top 10 (1:02:01)

Most Influential? (1:06:54)

Jonathan's Top 3 (1:09:27)

Jonathan's #1 (1:15:14)

More Takes from listeners and Industry (1:24:15)

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Best Skis of the Century, Part 4

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 17:44:19 GMT

What are the Top 10 skis of the century? Top 3? #1 Ski? Today, Blister reviewer, Paul Forward, reveals his very personal picks, plus we share a story from the Blister archives that involves New Zealand farmers and helicopters.

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

RELATED LINKS:

BLISTER+ Get Yourself Covered

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

What’s New at Blister Studios (1:55)

BDog & Benchetler on Blister Cinematic (2:33)

BLISTER+ and Bangtail Bike & Ski (3:28)

Paul’s Top 10 (4:40)

Our NZ Heli Story (16:33)

Some Formative Skis (28:35)

Paul’s Top 3 (39:09)

Paul’s #1 Ski of the Century (44:07)

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Blizzard-Tecnica: 10 Years of Designing Women-Specific Skis & Boots

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 15:35:48 GMT

Do “women-specific” skis need to exist? What about ski boots? In our conversation today, Leslie Baker-Brown shares her thoughts after leading Blizzard-Tecnica’s Women2Women program for the past 10 years.

Few people have been as deeply involved with women’s ski gear — and the community of women in skiing — as Leslie. Today, she discusses what the landscape looked like 10 years ago; the details of how and why the Women2Women program designs truly women-specific products; the cases where a unisex approach makes more sense; why it’s so hard to find a 130-flex boot if you have small feet; how the industry has changed for the better; and more.

RELATED LINKS:

BLISTER+ Get Yourself Covered

Women2Women Home Page

Blizzard Black Pearl 88 Special Edition

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

BLISTER+ Members (1:36)

Leslie’s History w/ Blizzard-Tecnica (3:15)

Formation of Women2Women Initiative (4:41)

Marketing to Women in the Early Years (8:45)

Current Trends (13:12)

Black Pearl Series (15:10)

Graphics (19:49)

Most Important Factors in Designing Women’s Gear (22:35)

Ski Boots (25:10)

Current Challenges (30:30)

Education (33:44)

Book and skis for kids, Hilaree, scholarship programs (39:21)

Community (42:30)

Unisex Gear (47:36)

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Best Skis of the Century from Each Brand, Part 3: Listener & Industry Selections

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 18:58:16 GMT

In Part 3 of our series on the Best Skis of the Century, Luke and Jonathan discuss some of the great answers from our BLISTER+ members and Digital Access Pass subscribers, as well as the selections from various ski designers, pro skiers, and folks from some of our Blister Recommended Shops.

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

RELATED LINKS:

Discounted Summit Registration for BLISTER+ Members

Non-Member Registration: Blister Summit 2026

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

New BLISTER+ Members (3:04)

Your Answers (BLISTER+ & DAP Subscribers) (4:27)

Industry Answers (26:29)

Request: Please Send Us Some BBRs (46:24)

Preview of Part 4: Best Skis of the Century (48:53)

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Best Skis of the Century from Each Brand, Part 2

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 18:04:21 GMT

In Part 2 of our series on the Best Skis of the Century, Luke Koppa and Sascha Anastas join Jonathan Ellsworth to dive into the best skis from 23 more brands, and we also discuss some of the best and most notable women-specific skis of the past 25 years.

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

RELATED LINKS:

Our Digital Buyer’s Guide: Read Now

Discounted Summit Registration for BLISTER+ Members

Non-Member Registration: Blister Summit 2026

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

New BLISTER+ Members (2:37)

Sascha on Women’s Skis from Part 1 (3:58)

SCOTT (16:38)

Armada (18:23)

4FRNT (24:40)

Zag (28:12)

Moment (29:49)

Liberty (33:26)

Prior (37:30)

DPS (38:54)

Icelantic (45:33)

Black Crows (47:58)

Faction (49:25)

Wagner (51:46)

Majesty (55:31)

ON3P (56:37)

Folsom (1:04:38)

RMU (1:07:14)

Shaggy’s (1:09:00)

Meier (1:10:15)

Whitedot (1:11:18)

J Skis (1:12:20)

Parlor (1:15:17)

Coalition Snow (1:16:13)

Renoun (1:18:39)

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Best Skis of the Century from Each Brand, Part 1

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 17:34:06 GMT

Today, we are kicking off a new series, where we will debate and try to identify the best skis of the 21st Century from over 30 ski brands. So over the next couple of weeks, you’re going to be hearing our choices, but we are also going to be sending out a survey to our BLISTER+ members, Digital Access Pass members, and a number of pro athletes and product designers around the ski industry. Then, in a few weeks, we’ll discuss how our selections match up with all of your answers. And finally, for the grand finale of this series, we’re going to offer our choices for the Very Best Skis of the Century — can we whittle things down to a top 10? A top 3? To a single ski? We’re going to find out, and it’s certainly going to be fun trying.

Today, Jonathan Ellsworth, Luke Koppa, Paul Forward, and our great friend, Rob Dickinson, get the conversation going.

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

RELATED LINKS:

Our Digital Buyer’s Guide: Read Now

Discounted Summit Registration for BLISTER+ Members

Non-Member Registration: Blister Summit 2026

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

New BLISTER+ Members (2:44)

Rossignol (7:58)

Åsnes (17:33)

Volkl (20:47)

Kastle (30:22)

Fischer (33:30)

Stöckli (39:53)

Elan (43:02)

Head (46:51)

Blizzard (53:46)

Atomic (59:59)

Nordica (1:05:38)

K2 (1:10:45)

Dynastar (1:17:01)

Salomon (1:20:16)

Line (1:23:55)

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Stinius & Hoji on Developing the New 4FRNT Sinister

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 16:56:07 GMT

Today we’re talking with Hoji and Stinius Skjøtskift about the creation of Stinius’ new pro model, the 4FRNT Sinister. There are lots of great stories in this one, plus you’ll find out why a number of us at BLISTER are extremely intrigued by this ski.

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

RELATED LINKS:

Our Digital Buyer’s Guide: Read Now

Discounted Summit Registration for BLISTER+ Members

Non-Member Registration: Blister Summit 2026

TOPICS & TIMES:

New BLISTER+ Members (1:03)

When Stinius ‘Crashed’ the Blister Summit (3:13)

When Did Stinius & Hoji First Meet? (7:23)

Hoji on Stinius’ Skiing Style (11:40)

Skiing the 1st Prototype at Sentry Lodge (13:36)

Stinius Describes the Sinister (17:32)

Mount Point (21:01)

The Testing & Prototyping Process (30:20)

Skiing in Chile, Going Skiing in Austria (43:53)

Future Film Releases (46:34)

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Our 25/26 Winter Buyer's Guide: Trends, Controversies, & Luke's Least Favorite Thing In It

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 16:47:15 GMT

Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth talk about our big new book, the Blister 25/26 Winter Buyer’s Guide, including the big takeaways, trends, and controversies. (Plus, stick around to hear Luke’s insane bear story at the end.)

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

RELATED LINKS:

Our Digital Buyer’s Guide: Read Now

Discounted Summit Registration for BLISTER+ Members

Non-Member Registration: Blister Summit 2026

TOPICS & TIMES:

Luke’s Facial Hair Situation (5:17)

How to Get the Guide (10:19)

How Our Guide Works (14:07)

Trends for 25/26: Boots (22:43)

Trends for 25/26: Skis (22:43)

Trend / Not a Trend: Weight (37:20)

Luke's Least Favorite Thing (42:36)

Apparel, Goggles, & Helmets (44:55)

Biggest Controversy (50:09)

The Company that Created an Industry: Alpacka Raft

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 18:10:33 GMT

We see new brands pop up all the time, but what happens when your idea is so novel that it essentially births an entire sport and industry? That was the case when Thor Tingey and his mom, Sheri, started Alpacka Raft.

So today, Thor and Luke Koppa discuss the unique challenges and advantages this scenario presented; how and why Thor and Sheri were able to craft these ultralight rafts themselves; the ways in which the packrafting industry has evolved and grown over the years; Alpacka’s manufacturing operation in the United States and how that’s changed with the recent shakeups to worldwide trade; and a whole lot more. This is an origin story unlike most in the outdoor gear world, and Thor does a great job telling it.

RELATED LINKS:

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

Alpacka Raft

TOPICS & TIMES:

Thor’s Unique Upbringing (3:33)

When & Why Did Packrafts First Come About? (6:02)

Making a Better Packraft (13:39)

From Homemade to Commercial Products (17:34)

Who Are Pack Rafts For? (21:20)

Whitewater Demand & Evolution (33:39)

Notable Advancements Over the Years (35:43)

Making Gear for a New Sport: Pros & Cons (37:08)

Alpacka’s U.S. Manufacturing Today (41:03)

Predictions: Future of Packrafting (54:36)

Info for Packraft-Curious People (57:03)

Evolution of Packrafting Gear vs. Mtn Biking, Skiing, & Surfing (58:22)

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Blister Summit Reveal, Winter Buyer’s Guide Update, & a Challenge to Outdoor Brands

Sat, 06 Sep 2025 16:47:35 GMT

Today we’re spilling the beans on the new dates - and new location — of Blister Summit 2026. Then we give a quick update on our Winter Buyer’s Guide Update, and wrap up with an important challenge to all outdoor brands.

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

TOPICS & TIMES:

Blister Summit 2026 Announcement (2:59)

Winter Buyer’s Guide Update (5:47)

Challenge to the Outdoor Industry (6:47)

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Spark R&D + ATK Bindings: a New Collab Sparked at the Blister Summit

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 20:20:00 GMT

Today’s episode contains a number of “firsts”; like the fact that we are going to be talking about a product launch that we didn’t know was happening until we sat down to record this conversation, and that’s just the beginning. So tune in to hear about a new collab between the splitboard binding company, Spark R&D, and ATK bindings. Or tune in to hear Jonathan caught completely off guard multiple times.

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

RELATED LINKS:

TOPICS & TIMES:

A New Collab: Spark R&D + ATK Tech Toes (3:35)

Significance of the Blister Summit (5:54)

Mysterious Photos & JE's Avalanche Hazard (14:41)

Innovations in Tech Toe Bindings for Hardbooting (18:45)

Hard Boot vs Soft Boot Debate (22:55)

Collaboration with ATK: A New Era for Spark R&D (27:05)

Challenges in the Design & Manufacturing Process (29:08)

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Reviewer Reports: Luke & Jonathan on Summer Gear + Red Bull Rampage vs. Hardline

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 16:44:44 GMT

Luke and Jonathan discuss some of our favorite gear we’ve been using this summer, and I make the argument for the single greatest piece of summer gear — so let us know if you agree. But we begin by discussing our Weekly Blister Survey question, and bottom line: we think half of you might be crazy??

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

RELATED LINKS:

Blister Guide to Buying a Mtn Bike

TOPICS & TIMES:

Rampage vs Hardline (2:56)

Psycho Rocks (10:44)

Summer Gear We’ve Been Testing (11:52)

The #1 Piece of Summer Gear? (15:03)

La Sportiva Aequilibrium Hike (21:54)

Flylow Trailworks Jacket (27:23)

Can Watches Help You Catch Fish? (31:24)

Our Winter Buyers Guide (33:52)

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Big News & Updates: Our New Mtn Bike Buyer’s Guide; Our Winter Buyer’s Guide; the State of Buyer’s Guides in 2025

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 16:31:00 GMT

Today we’ve got some big news and announcements for you: we’re releasing our first-ever Blister Mountain Bike Guide, and we’re doing it in a way that we don’t think has ever been done in the bike (or ski) world. We’re also talking about the state of buyer’s guides in 2025, and you’ll get the latest updates on our 25/26 Winter Buyer’s Guide — which you can pre-order now.

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

RELATED LINKS:

Blister Guide to Buying a Mtn Bike

TOPICS & TIMES:

Update: Our Winter Buyer’s Guide (2:37)

Our New Mtn Bike Buyer’s Guide (5:20)

Digital Access Pass & New Benefits (10:38)

Relevance of Buyer’s Guides in 2025? (15:27)

Most Interesting Takeaways (27:56)

Interlude: JE’s Gear Therapy Session (34:37)

The Cover of our 25/26 Winter Guide (40:07)

Reminder: Paul Forward is Good at Everything (46:46)

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What is NNormal? NNormal’s CEO on Kilian Jornet; NNormal’s Name & Origin Story; & Company Principles

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 17:26:16 GMT

Jonathan talks with Sito Luis Salas, the CEO of NNormal, about NNormal founder, Kilian Jornet, and his recent performance at Western States, and they also discuss the NNormal name, its origin story, and its well-defined principles. NNormal is a company we predict you’ll be hearing about more and more in the coming years, and in this conversation, you’ll see why.

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

RELATED LINKS:

TOPICS & TIMES:

Shoutout to BLISTER+ Members (1:17)

Mallorca (2:23)

What is NNormal? (3:23)

The Origin Story (4:40)

Kilian Jornet (10:50)

Kilian’s Recent Performance at Western States (15:01)

The Name ‘Nnormal’ (21:11)

NNormal’s Target Audience (22:52)

The Pro's Gear: Marcus Goguen, 2025 Freeride World Tour Champion

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 17:50:36 GMT

Jonathan talks to the reigning FWT champion, Marcus Goguen, about the gear he skis on to film, rip around the resort, and yes, win the FWT. We also talk about his new YouTube series (it’s must-see-TV), and Marcus breaks news about his new project that comes out in October.

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

RELATED LINKS:

Blister Podcast #341: Marcus Goguen

Marcus’ YouTube Channel

TOPICS & TIMES:

Shoutout to BLISTER+ Members (2:19)

Paintball! (3:55)

2025 FWT Championship Season (6:09)

Marcus’ New YouTube Series (10:29)

The gear Marcus used most this past season (18:02)

Mount Point: Thoughts & Preferences (26:00)

Rocker Profile vs Sidecut (30:05)

Are You More Particular about Skis or Boots? (34:14)

Ski Poles (38:31)

Product Testing / R&D (40:56)

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:

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Public Lands Update, More Peak Skis News, & New Gear We're Reviewing

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 14:48:05 GMT

Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss the latest with respect to public lands and the revisions to the reconciliation bill; share more news about Peak Skis; and preview some new gear they’re going to be talking about and testing in the very near future.

RELATED LINKS:

BLISTER+ Get Yourself Covered

Get Our Free Newsletter & Gear Giveaways

Luke Koppa on Public Lands Sale

GEAR:30 ep. 353: Our Thoughts on Peak Skis

Jason Blevins’ article on Peak Skis

TOPICS & TIMES:

Skratch Labs (1:30)

New BLISTER+ Program (2:04)

Public Lands Status & the Revised Bill (8:14)

More Peak Skis News (14:29)

New Gear We’re Reviewing (23:04)

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:

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Our Thoughts on Peak Skis & What Needs to Happen Next

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 16:30:07 GMT

Today, Jonathan lays out more fully his thoughts about the Peak Skis debacle; Luke Koppa offers his perspective too; and they discuss Jonathan’s initial comments made here on GEAR:30 back on May 23, what he’s been up to and learning since then, and what we think needs to happen going forward.

RELATED LINKS:

Skratch Labs

BLISTER+ Get Yourself Covered

Jason Blevins’ article on Peak Skis

GEAR:30 ep 191: Bode on Peak Skis

GEAR:30 ep 163: Bode on Crosson Skis

Peak's Crowdfunding Form C Doc

TOPICS & TIMES:

Be Like Rocco, Rosemary, & Shashi (1:10)

Some Background re: Peak (4:54)

Reckless Spending (8:01)

False Promises & Broken Contracts (11:57)

How to Operate in the Outdoor Community (16:00)

Lawsuits (23:17)

Peak’s Crowdfunding Initiative (26:55)

What Needs to Happen Next? (31:00)

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Southern Hemisphere Skiing, Sustainability, & Shop Strategies w/ Outside Sports

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 16:04:35 GMT

Today, we head south to the snow, and back behind the counter at Outside Sports in New Zealand. We talk about the gear and innovations they're stoked on; what it takes to keep a mountain town business thriving; sustainability from a local shop’s perspective; business strategies for adapting to the unpredictability of climate change; and a whole lot more.

RELATED LINKS:

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

Blister Recommended Shop: Outside Sports

Ep.260: A Guide to Skiing in New Zealand with Outside Sports

TOPICS & TIMES

Consumer-Driven Conversation (4:54)

Momentum: Local Distributor in NZ (7:57)

What’s Been Most Exciting? (12:42)

The Challenges (20:48)

Commitment to Values (25:44)

1% for the Planet (26:25)

Helping the Community (27:46)

Climate Change in NZ (32:44)

How to Adapt (34:54)

Exciting New Gear (40:24)

The Winter Ahead (46:12)

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The New Rules of Apparel: PFAS, What’s Changed, & What It Means for You

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 14:56:13 GMT

In this panel conversation from Blister Summit 2025, we discuss why all of your outdoor apparel recently changed — and how that will impact your own experiences.

Specifically, we’re talking about the ban on PFAS chemicals; why they’d been so extensively used in outdoor apparel (and far beyond); the real-world performance differences between them and new PFAS-free alternatives; and what you need to know to make the most of your own apparel.

To cover all of this, we brought together an excellent panel of industry professionals, including Eric Wallis (Patagonia), Dan Abrams (Flylow), Tom Mason (Ortovox), and Ross Herr (Rab).

RELATED LINKS:

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

TOPICS & TIMES:

What Are PFAS? (3:31)

Why the Move Away from PFAS (8:09)

New vs. Old DWR & Waterproof Membranes (10:15)

New Discoveries (18:56)

Exciting Trends (25:35)

Audience Questions:

Down vs Synthetic (28:55)

Caring For PFAS-Free Layers (32:23)

3rd-Party Water Repellants (35:53)

Non-Porous Membranes (40:05)

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Ski vs Bike Industry, Part 2: State of Shops; Gear Wins & Fails; & the Future of Each

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 15:53:31 GMT

In past years, we’ve done a series called ‘Bikes vs Skis’ where we’ve posed the question: Which bike company is most like which ski company? But this year, we’re zooming out a bit, and instead are putting up the whole ski industry vs the bike industry. In part 2 of this conversation, we take a look at the state of ski shops vs bike shops; what each industry is doing to grow participation and engagement in their sport; gear trend wins and fails; and we weigh in on which industry has the brighter future. You’ll hear from Blister reviewers Luke Koppa, Jonathan Ellsworth, David Golay, Simon Stewart, Kara Williard, and Xan Marshland.

RELATED LINKS:

BLISTER+ Get Yourself Covered

Ski vs Bike Industry, Part 1

Our ‘Bikes vs Skis’ Series:

Bikes vs Skis, 4th Edition (2023): Part 1

Bikes vs Skis, 4th Edition (2023): Part 2

Bikes vs Skis, 4th Edition (2023): Part 3

Bikes vs Skis, 3rd Edition (2021): Part 1

Bikes vs Skis, 3rd Edition (2021): Part 2

Bikes vs Skis, 2nd Edition (2020): Part 1

Bikes vs Skis, 2nd Edition (2020): Part 2

Bikes vs Skis, 1st Edition (2018): Part 1

Bikes vs Skis, 1st Edition (2018): Part 2

TOPICS & TIMES:

Ski Shops vs Bike Shops (3:13)

Growing Participation: Ski vs Bike Industry (12:52)

Lift Tickets (25:01)

BMX Bikes (26:30)

Gear Wins & Fails (29:43)

Brighter Future? Ski or Bike Industry? (38:41)

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Ski vs Bike Industry, Part 1: Similarities, Differences, Trends, & the Health of Each

Fri, 30 May 2025 16:09:46 GMT

In past years, we’ve done a series called ‘Bikes vs Skis’ where we’ve posed the question: Which bike company is most like which ski company? But this year, we’re zooming out a bit, and instead are putting up the whole ski industry vs the bike industry, to identify the significant similarities or differences; assess the relative health of each; and see how the trends in one might align with trends in the other. Today, you’ll hear from Blister reviewers Jonathan Ellsworth, Luke Koppa, David Golay, Simon Stewart, Kara Williard, and Xan Marshland.

RELATED LINKS:

BLISTER+ Get Yourself Covered

Our ‘Bikes vs Skis’ Series:

Bikes vs Skis, 4th Edition (2023): Part 1

Bikes vs Skis, 4th Edition (2023): Part 2

Bikes vs Skis, 4th Edition (2023): Part 3

Bikes vs Skis, 3rd Edition (2021): Part 1

Bikes vs Skis, 3rd Edition (2021): Part 2

Bikes vs Skis, 2nd Edition (2020): Part 1

Bikes vs Skis, 2nd Edition (2020): Part 2

Bikes vs Skis, 1st Edition (2018): Part 1

Bikes vs Skis, 1st Edition (2018): Part 2

TOPICS & TIMES:

Health of the Bike Industry (4:52)

Volatility in the Ski Industry (12:11)

Supply Chain Complexity (16:35)

Which Categories are Growing or Shrinking? (18:45)

Enduro vs DH Bikes (33:44)

Pow Skis & DH Bikes (36:40)

Small Brands & Niche Products (39:02)

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Your Questions: Our Favorite Skis This Season; Big vs Small Brands; Quiver Overlap; & More

Fri, 23 May 2025 16:23:42 GMT

Today, you — our prestigious GEAR:30 listeners — provided the questions, and Jonathan Ellsworth and Luke Koppa are offering their answers.

Topics include our go-to backpacks for ski-touring; how a given brand’s size, location, and ethos factor into our own purchasing decisions; what skis to get if you’re spending a lot of time cruising slow-speed groomers; when and how to replace ski boot liners when they wear out; and we answer one of the most frequent questions we get: what were our favorite skis this season?

RELATED LINKS:

Skratch Labs: Fuel Up, Hydrate, & Recover

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

TOPICS & TIMES:

Go-To Ski Touring Backpacks (7:32)

Supporting Indie Brands vs. Big Brands (21:07)

Ideal Skis for Slower Groomer Laps? (30:56)

Ski Boot Liner Longevity: When / How to Replace? (39:11)

ON3P Woodsman vs. Moment Countach (49:16)

Scarpa 4-Quattro Pro (53:48)

Quiver Overlap (101:54)

Our Favorite Skis This Season (1:09:58)

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Gearing Up for the Famous Chamonix-to-Zermatt Haute Route

Fri, 16 May 2025 17:46:08 GMT

Jonathan talks to BLISTER members, Bobak Farzin and Lukas Friedli, who recently teamed up to take on the famous Haute Route. We talk about their trip; the gear they used; what gear worked well; what worked less well; and they offer some great advice for anyone thinking about doing any multi-day ski touring trip, or anyone interested in the Haute Route itself.

RELATED LINKS:

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

TOPICS & TIMES:

Introductions (2:33)

Background on the Haute Route (10:40)

Ski Selection (19:11)

Ski Boot Selection (23:06)

Bindings Selection (26:21)

Gear Regrets? (29:00)

Packs — and Pack Weight (32:18)

Trickiest Gear Selections? (41:14)

Gear You Were Happiest With (49:54)

The Skiing! (52:20)

Coffee & Coffee Gear (1:00:44)

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Reviewer Reports: Testing at Palisades, Ski Touring Gear, Favorite Ski Socks & Midlayers

Fri, 09 May 2025 17:11:31 GMT

Luke Koppa, Kristin Sinnott, and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss what they’ve been getting up to lately, and the gear they’ve been using to do so. Luke recaps his first trip to Palisades Tahoe, being there during Level 1’s mind-blowing SuperUnknown event, finally experiencing the iconic Wildflour Bakery, and some of the skis that stood out throughout the week. Kristin covers her recent trip down to the tropics, and Jonathan goes over some of the touring skis, boots, and bindings he’s been liking. We also dive into ski socks, the particular socks each of us used most this season, some new midlayers we’ve all been testing, and more.

RELATED LINKS:

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

TOPICS & TIMES:

Luke’s Trip Report (3:57)

Kristin’s Trip Report (11:22)

Jonathan’s Trip Report (12:58)

Volkl Revolt 101 vs. Fischer Ranger 102 FR (14:52)

Salomon QST Echo 106 (18:11)

Salomon MTN 96 & MTN Pure Binding (23:01)

ON3P Jeffrey & Mango Skis (28:49)

Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130 BOA (33:09)

Our Favorite Ski Socks This Year (36:19)

Patagonia Nano-Air Ultralight & Freeride (47:28)

Kristin’s Promise to Jonathan (1:04:36)

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What's New in Ski & Snowboard Bindings (Burton, Spark R&D, ATK Bindings, AlpenFlow Design)

Fri, 02 May 2025 18:14:20 GMT

What new thoughts and ideas emerge when you bring together in conversation makers of hybrid ski bindings and AT bindings and snowboard bindings and splitboard bindings? Well you’re about to find out, because at Blister Summit 2025, Jonathan Ellsworth led a conversation along these lines with Will Ritter of Spark R&D; Royal White, from Burton; Andy Merriman, from ATK Bindings; and Steven Waal, from the very new company, AlpenFlow Design. Enjoy, this is a great one.

RELATED LINKS:

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

TOPICS & TIMES:

Exploring the Evolution of Bindings (3:11)

Customer Feedback in Product Development (5:47)

Design Principles of New Companies (08:50)

The Importance of User Experience (12:13)

Evolution of ATK Bindings (15:00)

The Future of Snowboard Bindings (18:02)

Challenges in Binding Production (21:02)

User Errors / Misuse of Bindings (23:58)

Understanding Binding Mechanics & Maintenance (34:03)

The Importance of Familiarity with Gear (37:10)

The Shift towards Lightweight Ski Gear (41:18)

Ethical Considerations in Product Development (46:54)

Bindings Compatibility (50:00)

The Cost of Backcountry Bindings Explained (54:03)

The Future of Binding Standards in Skiing (57:15)

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See Better, Ski Better: the State of Goggle Lens Tech

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 16:40:40 GMT

If you think all goggles are the same, well, think again. At our Blister Summit 2025, Jonathan Ellsworth spoke with Steven Kennedy (Giro), Ted Ligety (Shred Optics), Stefan Stahl (Glade Optics), and Gabriel Lobbi (Provuu) about some different approaches — and solutions — to the problem of seeing well on snow.

RELATED LINKS:

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

TOPICS & TIMES:

Introductions (4:15)

Different Approaches to the Problem (7:00)

Photochromic & VLT (11:34)

High-Contrast Lenses (17:08)

Lens Shapes (19:53)

Goggles & Helmet Fit (24:11)

Flat-Light Optimization (28:48)

What's the Best Question I Haven’t Asked? (32:05)

Audience Questions (33:45)

Goggle Care (40:58)

Materials (42:11)

Shield Helmets & Corrective Lenses (50:27)

Fogging (53:23)

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Reviewer Reports: Closing-Day Setups, Trip Reports, Cody’s Surprise Visit, & More

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 16:05:25 GMT

In this episode, Luke Koppa sits down with Kara Williard, Jonathan Ellsworth, and the strikingly handsome Justin Bobb to talk about the many skis Jonathan and I opted to take out during closing weekend at CBMR; Kara’s powder-filled winter trips, and the two skis and single boot she used throughout; and Justin’s latest, crazy biking / skinning / snowboarding adventure + some of the boards and boots he’s been testing. Finally, we dive into some ski-touring boots discussions, and Jonathan tells us about his surprise visit from Cody Townsend.

RELATED LINKS:

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+ Membership

TOPICS & TIMES:

Jonathan & Cody’s Surprise Coffee Date (2:49)

Colby MunicipalBoundaryLine (6:07)

Kara’s Trip Report (8:45)

Justin’s Trip Report (14:43)

Salomon QST X (16:23)

Luke’s Closing-Day Skis (24:02)

New Snowboards & Boots (26:32)

Jonathan’s Closing-Day Skis (35:46)

Black Crows Anima Birdie (47:06)

Atomic Hawx Ultra 115 XTD (49:25)

La Sportiva Sender (53:26)

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Gear Testing Tips & Tricks w/ Hoji, Ted Ligety, Anne Wangler, & Jess Tennyson

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 18:29:27 GMT

Today we are sharing the first of our Blister Summit 2025 panel sessions, and we’ve got a great one to kick things off. We’re asking the pros — Hoji, Ted, Anne, and Jess — how they go about assessing and testing ski and snowboard gear, and what advice they have for the rest of us? Plus you’ll hear Ted share one of his favorite (but questionable??) ways of testing skis.

RELATED LINKS:

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

BLISTER YouTube Channel

TOPICS & TIMES:

BLISTER+ Updates (00:00)

Intros (5:34)

Evaluating Prototypes (8:21)

Assessing Gear for Yourself (11:35)

Going in Blind vs Getting Info First (18:05)

Gear You Liked but Didn’t Expect to? (23:29)

Advice on How to Evaluate (28:41)

Trickiest Variables when Testing? (34:10)

Ted’s Favorite Testing Method (38:55)

Audience Q&A:

Evaluating Pow Skis Outside of Pow? (46:26)

Intuitive Products vs. Adapting to Them (49:27)

Personal Preference vs. Objective Performance (54:00)

How to Rule Out a Bad Tune? (55:29)

How Many Runs Should You Take? (56:48)

What Notes Do You Take? (1:00:16)

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25/26 Fischer Boot Lineup, the Importance of Inner Boots, & More w/ Christoph Lentz

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 22:29:42 GMT

Kara Williard catches up with Christoph Lentz, Fischer’s Global Product Manager for Alpine Boots, to discuss what they’ve been up to since the launch of their RC4 Lineup two seasons ago; how this lineup has expanded and evolved, including the new models for the 25/26 season; why Fischer has invested so much time and energy into “inner boots,” including using D3O padding in their latest liners; their all-new touring boot; the process for Vacuum molding plastics; Christoph’s favorite part of his job; and a whole lot more.

RELATED LINKS:

BOA & the Death of Buckles? 2024 Ski Boot Design | Blister Summit Panel

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

TOPICS & TIMES:

Christoph’s Role & How it Came to Be (4:05)

Reflecting on the RC4 Pro (10:20)

25/26 RC4 Lineup / New Models (20:11)

RC4 Pro for Women (25:03)

Inner Boots, aka Liners (27:24)

D3O in Liners (29:52)

Vacuum Plastics & Molding Process (37:01)

The New Traverse (43:06)

Current Trends in the Ski Industry (51:17)

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Ted Ligety on Ski Tuning, World Cup Racing, & the Art of Going Fast

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 15:45:49 GMT

As part of the 5850 Fest at the World Cup Finals in Sun Valley, Jonathan talked with Ted Ligety about the tricky conditions and the very challenging course here in Sun Valley for the Super G and GS races, and the incredibly demanding business of going fast.

RELATED LINKS:

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

GEAR:30 Ep. 326: DPS Carbon Pisteworks 79

Blister Podcast Ep. 332: Ted Ligety 24/25 World Cup Preview

TOPICS & TIMES:

Unique Course & Unique Challenges (5:32)

Course Sets & Resets (10:54)

Brignone Coming To Win (15:21)

Lara Gut-Behrami (20:17)

Best Super G's Women's Run (23:41)

Lindsey Vonn (25:32)

Men's Super G (29:29)

Ski Tuning (36:22)

GS Races (41:01)

Slalom Races (44:24)

What's Next for Ted? (45:48)

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Reviewer Reports: Big-Mountain Ski Showdowns, Powder-Touring Setups, & Much More

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 18:44:16 GMT

Luke Koppa talks with several of our reviewers about some of the latest gear they’ve been testing. Paul Forward discusses a bunch of the lightweight powder touring skis he’s been on, as well as some new models from Heritage Lab. Then, Kristin Sinnott and Sascha Anastas cover some new all-mountain skis and apparel that they’ve been using, and we round things out with a conversation with Dylan Wood about some very interesting new big-mountain skis, including the Dynastar M-Free 112, how it compares to the Rossignol Sender Free 110, the Head Kore 112 Ti, and more.

RELATED LINKS:

Ep. 226 w/ Heritage Lab Skis

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

TOPICS & TIMES:

Paul Forward’s Recent Touring (1:42)

Black Diamond Helio 115 (5:37)

La Sportiva Capo (13:27)

ON3P Billy Goat 118 Tour (16:29)

Faction La Machines (18:46)

Heritage Lab Models (22:37)

Kristin Sinnott & New Head Kores (41:44)

RMU Valhalla 97 (43:49)

New Apparel (45:13)

Sascha Anastas & DPS Wailers (48:33)

Buttnski Down Pants (51:51)

Rossignol Apres Slippers (54:04)

Dylan Wood & 190 cm Moment Wildcat (56:27)

Dynastar M-Free 112 vs. Rossignol Sender Free 110 (1:01:00)

Head Kore 112 Ti (1:09:30)

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25/26 Gear, Bootfitting & Boot Trends, Making the Most of Any Season, & More w/ Powder Hound

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 15:55:02 GMT

Kara Williard is back with Eric Helmbrecht of Powder Hound, our Blister Recommended Shop in Girdwood, Alaska to discuss a the ups and downs of their season up in Alaska; our tips and tricks on how to make the most of any season, including some of our favorite gear for low-tide skiing; 25/26 gear including the new Salomon QST Lineup, Dual BOA, boot trends, aftermarket liners; and more.

RELATED LINKS:

Blister Rec. Shop: Powder Hound

Become a BLISTER+ Member

TOPICS & TIMES:

Ski Season in Girdwood (3:25)

25/26 Salomon QST Lineup (5:49)

Skiing at Palisades (10:44)

Dual BOA (12:09)

Boot Trends (17:25)

Realistic Expectations for Ski Boots (21:54)

Aftermarket Liners (27:18)

Making the Most of a Low-Tide Season (34:32)

Narrow All-Mountain Skis (43:56)

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New Gear from Blister Summit 2025

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 18:18:15 GMT

Blister reviewers Jonathan Ellsworth, Luke Koppa, Sascha Anastas, Kristin Sinnott, and the strikingly handsome Justin Bobb discuss a bunch of new ski and snowboard gear they spent time on at last week’s Blister Summit. They also talk about several prototypes they got on at the Summit, so if you want to get a little glimpse into the future, you’re in luck.

RELATED LINKS:

Taos Ski Valley

Blister Rec Shop: Willi’s Ski & Board Shop

Get Covered: BLISTER+

TOPICS & TIMES:

Chile Rant / Taos Ski Valley (0:59)

Deals from Willi’s Ski Shop (1:53)

Story from a BLISTER+ Member (3:11)

Prototypes at the Summit (7:54)

Giro Meetups (10:21)

Icelantic Pioneer Prototype (10:55)

J Skis Hotshot Prototype (15:45)

Romp Zorro 100 Prototype (17:06)

Salomon Addikt Pro 66 (18:35)

Kaestle Marble 84 (21:17)

Majesty HNX Ti (23:05)

New Salomon QST Skis (25:55)

DPS Carbon Pisteworks 79 (30:10)

Mito Skis (34:59)

ON3P Woodsman 100 (38:02)

Liberty Radian 100 (41:09)

Snowboard Gear (42:58)

J Skis Escalator (46:00)

Patagonia Powslayer & Nano-Air Ultralight Freeride (50:08)

Apparel (54:37)

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Reviewer Reports: Pow Skis, New Bindings, & Our 40” Storm

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:56:51 GMT

Crested Butte Mountain Resort recently got 40+ inches of new snow in just a few days, so it was time to break out the big skis. Jonathan and Luke discuss the very new (and very different) Head Kore 118Ti and Kore 112Ti; the latest iteration of the ON3P Billy Goat 118; Tyrolia’s Attack Hybrid binding; Salomon’s revised QST Blank and QST 106, and more.

RELATED LINKS:

Blister Rec. Shop: Mountain Ops

Join us @ Blister Summit 2025

Become a BLISTER+ Member

TOPICS & TIMES:

Mountain Ops (1:21)

Blister Summit (2:26)

Head Kore 118Ti & 112Ti (3:20)

Tyrolia Attack Hybrid (14:40)

ON3P Billy Goat 118 (21:00)

Rossignol Sender Free 118 (25:03)

Salomon QST Blank (27:35)

Salomon QST 106 (32:50)

Summit (38:35)

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Love, Drugs, & Graphene: Mito Materials’ Founders on Next-Gen Ski Construction

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 15:26:31 GMT

Today we are talking about love, materials science, and ski construction. More specifically, we’re going to be looking at graphene, and why you might soon be hearing more about it in skis in the near future. Our guests are Haley and Kevin Keith, the founders of Mito Materials, and you’ll hear them explain their journey into the ski industry, and the unique properties of their functionalized graphene material.

RELATED LINKS:

CARV

Blister Rec Shop: Viking Ski Shop

Become a BLISTER+ Member

Join us @ Blister Summit 2025

Mito x Folsom: Case Study

TOPICS & TIMES:

CARV (2:10)

Viking Ski Shop (3:09)

Functionalized Graphene (4:30

How Haley & Keith Met (6:14)

Manipulating Material Properties (6:55)

Graphene In Skis (13:17)

The Data & How it's Collected (16:02)

How Did it End Up in Skis? (21:03)

Mito at the Blister Summit (25:03)

Is All Graphene Created Equal? (28:02)

Carbon vs Graphene (31:25)

Folsom Ultralights (38:45)

Where to Learn More (41:26)

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Matt Manser on Atomic's New Redster Ski Boots, New Remedy 130, & More

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 07:37:43 GMT

What’s the difference between a true race boot; a race-inspired ski boot; and a high-performance freeride or freestyle boot? Matt Manser is back to talk about all of these things and more, and to walk us through Atomic’s new range of Redster ski boots, and their new freeride & freestyle boot, the Remedy 130. Plus, you’ll hear the most important rant / public service announcement in GEAR:30 history.

RELATED LINKS:

Blister Rec Shop: Willi’s

Become a BLISTER+ Member

Join us @ Blister Summit 2025

JE’s Flash Review of Atomic Remedy 130

TOPICS & TIMES:

How Atomic Protects Their Athletes (2:22)

Update: Blister Summit Forecast (3:16)

Important Rant / PSA: “Plug Boots” (5:37)

Overview of Atomic’s New Boots (15:57)

New Redster Boots: TR, STR, & TX (19:10)

Redster TX & Remedy 130 (23:43)

Formula Plastics (36:57)

The ‘Uh Oh’ Boot (46:44)

Reviewer Reports: New Head Kores, Ski Boots, & One Age-Old Question

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 16:55:39 GMT

In today’s episode, Luke Koppa sits down with Jonathan Ellsworth and Kara Williard to discuss just a small portion of all the gear we’ve been testing lately. We cover Head’s overhauled collection of Kore skis; Jonathan makes a confession after he took some carving skis off piste; Kara and Luke discuss a bunch of boots they’ve been testing; Jonathan poses an age-old question about boot flexes; Kara breaks down the setups she’s bringing to Japan; and much more.

RELATED LINKS:

Blister Recommended Shop: SkiBootRX

Carv | Use code BLISTER32 for 10% off

Join us @ Blister Summit 2025

Become a BLISTER+ Member

TOPICS & TIMES:

Carv (1:18)

Ski Boot RX (2:10)

Summit 2025 (2:58)

Ski Boots (7:09)

Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD Boa & Salomon Shift Alpha Boa (7:42)

Head Kaliber BOA2 (11:45)

Armada & Phaenom Boots (13:10)

Would Your Rather: Too Soft or Too Stiff? (16:21)

Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro W (22:31)

4FRNT MSP CC (27:21)

Dynastar M-Pro Skis (29:49)

New Head Kores (33:10)

Head Supershape e-Titan: Carving Ski or Mogul Ski (37:44)

Nordica Enforcer 104 (44:40)

Kara’s Japan Ski Quiver (47:24)

Summit Products We're Excited About (51:41)

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:

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New Salomon Dual BOA Ski Boot & New Salomon QST Skis

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 19:24:03 GMT

Today we’ve got 2 episodes in 1 for you. We first talk about the biggest development in the world of snowsports gear: dual BOA ski boots. Joining Jonathan for that conversation are Salomon’s Lauren Samuels and Cesar Brouck, and you’re going to learn a lot more about the Dual BOA system in general, and also some of the very specific design decisions that Salomon made to implement this system into their new S/Pro Supra dual BOA ski boot. Then, we dive deep into the weeds with Quentin Boutry, the man behind Salomon’s new 4th generation of QST skis.

RELATED LINKS:

Our Blister Rec Shop: Viking Ski Shop

BLISTER+ Get Yourself Covered

Join Us! Blister Summit 2025

TOPICS & TIMES:

Jonathan’s Neighborhood Ski Shop (1:45)

Blister Summit News & Updates (3:50)

Did You Know? PT (4:38)

Part 1: New S/Pro Dual BOA Ski Boot (8:20)

Who’s this Boot For? (11:20)

Benefits of Dual BOA? (12:15)

The R&D Process (27:27)

Cable Routing of the Dual BOA (36:44)

The ‘Step In’ Experience (39:13)

Part 2: New Salomon QST Skis (44:17)

Get to Know Quentin Boutry (44:25)

From Gen 2 to Gen 3 QST Skis (55:09)

Salomon Rocker 122 vs QST X (1:04:53)

Why Go Unisex w/ 4th Gen QST? (1:06:33)

More on Changes from Gen 3 to Gen 4 (1:14:00)

‘Double Metal’ & ‘Non Double Metal’ Skis (1:29:59)

Salomon QST 94 (1:31:59)

Salomon QST 100 (1:37:19)

Salomon QST 106 (1:41:17)

New Materials: Fruit Roll-Ups? (1:45:45)

Salomon QST Echo 160 (1:50:4)

Salomon QST X vs QST Blank (1:59:42)

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From World-Cup Race Skis to Recreational Skis & Everything In Between with Rossignol’s Jake Stevens

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 19:59:55 GMT

After a great day of skiing together, Jonathan talked with Jake Stevens (Rossignol’s Winter Sports Equipment Director for North America) about world-cup race skis vs. recreational skis: what do they have in common; how do they incorporate technological advances; and what are the available options between skis designed to win gold medals and those designed to have fun on the weekends with your family and friends? It’s a conversation that is guaranteed to get you thinking about various approaches to the mountain — and your own approach to sliding around on snow.

RELATED LINKS:

OpenSnow.com/buy - code: blister50

Our Blister Rec Shop: Spokane Alpine Haus

5850 Fest, Ketchum, Idaho

BLISTER+ Get Yourself Covered

Join Us! Blister Summit 2025

TOPICS & TIMES:

Jake’s Background in Racing (8:47)

Ski Gear at the World Cup Level (12:13)

Line Control Technology (27:46)

The Direction of Tech Developments (30:31)

Understanding the Options via Rossignol’s Hero Line (33:13)

Rossignol Arcade 88 (45:51)

Surprising Products & World Cup Finals in Sun Valley (51:43)

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Athletes & Bootfitting w/ Freeride Skier Nat Segal x Pulse Boot Labs

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 17:52:03 GMT

Freeride athlete Nat Segal has had a long and impressive journey as a professional skier, and part of this journey has been getting in a properly fitting ski boot. Our Blister Recommended Shop, Pulse Boot Labs and Ski Co., has been an important part of this process.

So, Kara Williard sat down with Nat and Bryn Vickers from Pulse to hear about bootfitting from an athlete’s perspective; Nat’s current setup; bootfitting stories from her career; and we hear about some recent filmmaking projects, including her latest short film, Mountain Joy, which covers her journey of managing a chronic disease.

Our Blister Rec Shop: Pulse Boot Labs and Ski Co.

Watch Mountain Joy

BLISTER+: Get Yourself Covered

Blister Summit 2025

TOPICS & TIMES:

The Season in Revelstoke (4:07)

Nat’s Background (5:43)

Bootfitting Considerations for Athletes (9:36)

Nat’s Journey with Boots (14:35)

Athlete Bootfitting Stories (22:18)

“No Pain No Gain” Mentality (26:07)

Nat’s Current Setup (31:22)

Nat’s Transition to Filmmaking & Producing (35:44)

Mountain Joy (43:17)

The Season Ahead / Upcoming Projects (46:25)

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The New Armada AR ONE Ski Boot: What Is It & Who's It For?

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 17:02:58 GMT

For the first time in company history, Armada is releasing a ski boot: the AR ONE. It’s a project that’s been in development for five years, and this release comes with a number of questions, like: why do a boot? And why now? What sort of boot is the AR ONE, how is it different from what’s out there, and … who's it for? We discuss all of these questions and more with Matt Rihm, Armada’s VP of Product, and Bransford Briggs, Ski Boot Product Manager.

RELATED LINKS:

CARV: getcarv.com (use code BLISTER32)

Blister Rec Shop: Boot Mechanics

GEAR:30 Ep #327 w/ Boot Mechanics

BLISTER+: Get Yourself Covered

Blister Summit 2025

TOPICS & TIMES:

Boot Mechanics (1:20)

Carv (2:11)

The New Armada AR ONE (6:37)

A “Hybrid Cabrio” Boot (12:40)

Matt's Background (14:50)

Bransford’s Background (15:34)

Development of the Boot (18:10)

Heel Hold (21:26)

Liner (24:09)

Fit (25:30)

Instep & the 2nd Buckle (28:33)

Redneck Engineering (31:56)

Plastic (34:28)

Fine-Tuning Flex (39:00)

Range of AR ONE Models (44:51)

Who’s It For? (49:12)

Where to Find Them (52:05)

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Reviewer Reports: Luke Koppa & Jonathan Ellsworth

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 17:01:20 GMT

Luke and Jonathan discuss some of the frontside skis they’ve recently been on; why choosing the right frontside ski requires as much consideration as any other type of ski; and they give an update on how they’ve been using the CARV system (so far) to enhance their ski reviews.

RELATED LINKS:

1: Blister Rec Shop: Alpenglow Sports

2: Taos Ski Valley

3: Blister Summit 2025: Learn More

4: Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

TOPICS & TIMES:

Alpenglow Sports (1:12)

Taos (2:26)

Blister Summit 2025 (3:10)

Frontside Skis (8:20)

- Stockli Montero AR

- Volkl Peregrine 80 & 82

- Nordica Steadfast 85

CARV & Our Ski Reviews (21:44)

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A Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting, Pt. 8: Your Questions Answered by Master Bootfitter, Jeremy Johnston

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 16:16:27 GMT

In the latest installment of our “Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting” series, Kara Williard is joined by Master Bootfitter & Instructor — and Founder of Boot Mechanics, a Blister Recommended Shop — Jeremy Johnston. This one is all about you, the audience, as we make our way through a bunch of your questions. We discuss the process of stance alignment; what’s happening on both ends of the spectrum when it comes to low-volume and high-volume boot design; the process of downsizing; forward lean and ramp angle; and a bunch of other bootfitting mysteries and complexities.

RELATED LINKS:

1: Blister Rec Shop: Boot Mechanics

2: GetCarv.com, use code: BLISTER32

3: OpenSnow.com/buy, use code: blister50

4: Blister Summit 2025: Learn More

5: Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

TOPICS & TIMES:

Boot Mechanics Background (3:44)

Stance Alignment Process (8:38)

Adjusting Flex & Forward Lean / 1-Boot Quivers (17:54)

Are Boots Getting Roomier? (23:50)

Performance Boots (28:22)

Performance Boots for HV Feet (30:30)

How Long do Insoles Last? (39:16)

Downsizing / Cuff Height (42:34)

Forward Lean & Ramp Angle (47:55)

Junior Boots (56:46)

Bootfitting Complexities (1:01:56)

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The Design & Development of the New DPS Carbon Pisteworks 79

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 20:58:52 GMT

This week, DPS introduced a new product that represents quite a departure for the company: the DPS Carbon Pisteworks 79. And today, you’re going to hear one of the deepest dives we’ve ever done on GEAR:30 about the design and development of a new ski; how Blister Labs was involved; and the lengthy process of developing a ‘metal ski without the metal.’

RELATED LINKS:

Blister Rec. Shop: Powder Hound

Submit your Bootfitting Questions

Blister Summit 2025

Blister Pod: Jonathan on this DPS Prototype

Blister Pod: Ted Ligety on this New Ski

TOPICS & TIMES:

Powder Hound Updates (2:39)

Next GEAR:30: Submit Your Questions (4:30)

DPS’s 20th Anniversary, News, & New Release (5:30)

Weight & Suspension (11:47)

Ted Ligety's Involvement (19:27)

Dr. Sean Humbert (22:19)

Goals for the Project

Numerical Simulation (38:36)

Modal Testing (48:21)

Lab Tests & Field Measurements (49:51)

Building a Metal Ski Without the Metal (51:18)

Locating the DPS Pisteworks 79 (53:09)

Where to Get the Pisteworks 79 (57:06)

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Ski Racing, Ski Tuning, & State of the Bike & Ski Industry w/ Sturtevant’s Olin Glenne

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 17:52:05 GMT

Today, Olin Glenne, the owner of Sturtevants bike & ski shop is back on GEAR:30 to talk about the state of the bike industry and ski industry; the World Cup Finals that are being held in Sun Valley in March of 2025; Sun Valley’s impressive ski race programs and some things those programs are doing that might be good ideas for race programs elsewhere to consider. Olin and Jonathan also talk a lot about ski tuning and ski finishing; ski base flatness (and who should obsess the most about it); and more.

RELATED LINKS

1: 5850 Fest

2: Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

3: Get Our Winter Buyer’s Guide

4: Blister Summit 2025: Learn More

TOPICS & TIMES

5850 Fest (1:11)

Status of the Bike industry (4:16)

Status of the Ski Industry (6:16)

Ski Season Readiness (9:04)

WC Finals in Sun Valley (13:03)

Sun Valley’s Racing Program (18:43)

Ski Tuning & Ski Finishing (30:27)

What’s New at Sturtevants (53:13)

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Reviewer Reports + a Shop Talk First

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 17:27:41 GMT

Luke and Jonathan offer their early-season reviewer reports, then Jonathan talks to Bangtail Bike & Ski’s new owner about why he did something that no other shop in the world has done — but why others might want to.

RELATED LINKS

1: Blister Rec Shop: Powder7.com

2: GetCarv.com, use code: BLISTER32

3: Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

4: Get Our Winter Buyer’s Guide

5: Blister Summit 2025: Learn More

TOPICS & TIMES

Powder 7 (1:44)

Carv Update (3:04)

JE’s Updates (5:01)

Powder / Chop Skis Episode (5:46)

James Bond, Babysitter (6:59)

Opening Day in CB (9:43)

Luke’s Report (15:00)

- RMU Apostle 106

- Rossignol Sender Soul 102

- Fischer Curv GT 85

- Ferreol Explo 86

- Black Crows Octo vs Mirus Cor

- Line Blade

- Rossignol Arcade 88

JE's Skis (26:41)

- Armada Declivity 108

- Armada Declivity 102

Shop Talk: Bangtail’s 1st (32:08)

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CARV Co-Founder Alex Jackson & Pro Skier Marcus Caston on Using New Tech to Ski Better & Have More Fun on Snow

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 18:03:08 GMT

CARV is a slick and sophisticated system that aims to help skiers improve their skiing and have more fun on snow. And this winter, Blister is partnering with CARV to do 2 things: (1) see how — and how well — CARV accomplishes this for our team of Blister reviewers; and (2) see if the analysis we get from CARV provides insights that will enhance our ski reviews. So if you’re a fan of new tech, high edge angles, and / or getting better at skiing, listen up.

RELATED LINKS

1: Blister Rec Shop: Pulse Boot Lab & Ski Co

2: Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

3: Get Our Winter Buyer’s Guide

4: Blister Summit 2025: Learn More

TOPICS & TIMES:

Pulse Boot Lab & Ski Co (1:56)

Blister Summit Update (3:15)

What is CARV? (9:13)

The Ski Coaching Paradox (11:46)

Confirmation Bias in Skiing (19:05)

Origin Story, Duct Tape, & University (20:57)

Tech & its Evolution (23:43)

Data & Data Interpretation (31:16)

Edging & Transitions (38:21)

Ski IQ (41:20)

CARV Off Piste? (43:07)

CARV 2 & Blister Reviews (52:47)

Summary & Final Thoughts (1:00:55)

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Good Idea or Bad Idea? Dreams, Doorknobs, & Binding Innovations w/ Austin Smith

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 16:26:07 GMT

Recently, Austin Smith created a stir when he posted a video of a prototype of a snowboard binding … that rotates. So Jonathan talks with Austin about the idea, his prototyping process, the testing process, and his predictions for whether we’ll see a development like this come to market.

RELATED LINKS

OpenSnow.com/buy (use code Blister50)

Blister Rec Shop: Teton Village Sports

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

Our Full List of Blister Recommended Shops

TOPICS & TIMES:

OpenSnow Deal for GEAR:30 Listeners (1:30)

Blister Rec Shop: Teton Village Sports (2:17)

BLISTER+ News / Time to Get on Snow (3:16)

Austin’s Roadtrip (5:50)

Rotating Snowboard Binding (9:13)

Testing the Prototype (12:02)

Safety vs. Ride Quality (18:23)

Future Predictions for Bindings (20:51)

Realizing Dreams, Lessons Learned (23:22)

Board Preferences & Riding Styles (25:21)

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Gear Quiz, Ski Recycling, & Circular Business w/ Powder7

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 17:17:29 GMT

On this week’s episode, Kara Williard sits down with some of the crew from our Blister Recommended Shop, Powder7, to quiz them on gear; discuss the skis, boots, and outerwear they’re most excited about this season; gear they’re sad to see go; the best and worst topsheets; and get some of their hot takes.

Then we dive into the topic of circular business and how Powder7 has maintained this as a key part of their business model since they were based out of a garage through their ski trade-in / ski recycling program.

RELATED LINKS

Blister Recommended Shop: Powder7

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

TOPICS & TIMES

Most Exciting Skis This Season? (4:30)

Boots (11:23)

Bindings (17:51)

Blizzard Anomaly & Black Pearl (23:01)

Gear Updates / Overhauls (28:56)

Outerwear & Apparel (31:02)

Awards: Topsheets (36:38)

Powder7 Bussiness Circularity (41:54)

Event Season & What’s Next (55:40)

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Powder Ski Comparisons: Old vs New vs What Should Be Next?

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 19:23:38 GMT

The snow’s been falling here in Crested Butte, and we’re already fantasizing about those really deep days. So today, Jonathan Ellsworth and Paul Forward are discussing pow skis. They start by making the case for wide pow skis, then, they talk about a bunch of current pow skis, old pow skis, and some design specifics that they think are good ideas when you’re building a wide ski that’s designed to float for days.

RELATED LINKS

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

TOPICS & TIMES:

The Case for Wide Pow Skis (7:45)

1st Gen DPS Lotus 138 (27:56)

Line Pescado (21:09)

Heritage Labs 132 (34:18)

K2 Powabunga (43:33)

Volkl BMT 122 (54:32)

DPS Lotus 124 Tour (57:06)

K2 Hellbent (59:49)

Praxis Protest (128) (1:01:17)

Praxis Powderboards (1:04:07)

Folsom Rapture (1:06:38)

4FRNT Renegade (1:09:51)

Faction La Machine 5 (1:10:35)

Blizzard Spur (1:14:22)

Salomon Rocker2 122 (1:22:53)

Volkl Shiro (1:27:53)

K2 Reckoner 124 (1:32:30)

Paul’s Injury & Recovery (1:35:38)

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Moment Skis 24/25 Lineup with Luke Jacobson

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 17:17:54 GMT

Jonathan talks with Moment Skis CEO, Luke Jacobson, about Moment’s latest skis; some former Moment skis; some other companies’ skis; Moment snowboards?; why Hoji is a traitor(!!); and more.

RELATED LINKS

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

VIDEO: Luke J @ the Blister Summit

TOPICS & TIMES:

Company Overview & Mt. Rose (5:41)

Factory Updates (8:43)

Snowboards?? (17:08)

Moment’s 24/25 Lineup (22:58)

Deathwish 104 & Countach 110 (23:36)

Wildcat (29:32)

Meridian (35:18)

Countach 104 vs the old Belafonte (40:39)

Commander Series & Touring Skis (45:49)

ATK x Moment Voyager Evo Binding (50:31)

Reverse-Camber Skis (53:17)

Q’s from Tyler Curle & Scott Andrus (1:00:16)

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24/25 Ski Season & Big Moves w/ Spokane Alpine Haus

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 16:48:26 GMT

Kara Williard catches up with Drew and Rachel Harding of our Blister Recommended Shop, Spokane Alpine Haus, to hear all about the exciting recent developments at the shop; how this news runs counter to a lot of what you see from local retailers these days; what ski / snowboard gear they’re excited about for the 24/25 season, and more.

RELATED LINKS

Spokane Alpine Haus

24/25 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide

TOPICS & TIMES

Store Background (1:39)

Big Announcement & All the Details (10:52)

Bringing in Bikes (20:20)

Advice for Small Retailers (30:32)

Love What You Do (31:26)

Season Lease Program (33:00)

The Winter Ahead (35:17)

24/25 Gear (37:53)

Ski Network & Community (41:55)

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GEAR THERAPY: Elite Football Player Gets Back into Skiing

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 15:29:38 GMT

When it comes to gear, we’ve all been there: loads of questions, crippling confusion, severe analysis paralysis. You need some help! So in this edition of GEAR THERAPY, BLISTER+ member, Pete Brantley, talks about getting back into skiing and playing football for the Oregon Ducks (and Chicago Bears!). Then he poses his most-pressing gear questions, and gets Jonathan’s best recommendations.

RELATED LINKS:

Episode Sponsor: Taos Ski Valley

24/25 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide

TOPICS & TIMES:

Pete’s Story & ‘Hot Dog… The Movie’ (4:15)

Football: Oregon Ducks & Chicago Bears (21:45)

Pete’s Crashes & Close Calls Story (30:47)

Gear Therapy Begins (35:53)

Atomic Maverick 95 (37:38)

Chamonix / New Blister Guide to Chamonix (44:28)

JE's Recommendations (47:37)

Backcountry Skiing (1:12:56)

Ski Boots & Ski Bags (1:13:53)

Custom Footbeds (1:20:34)

Our reviews & Pete’s Gear Purchases (1:27:02)

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ON3P Skis 24/25 Lineup with Scott Andrus

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 18:01:25 GMT

We talk to ON3P Skis founder, Scott Andrus, about the 24/25 ON3P lineup; building skis in Portland, Oregon; and we dive into the weeds about numerous aspects of ski design and ski manufacturing that you really won’t hear about anywhere else.

RELATED LINKS

OpenSnow.com/buy (code: BLISTER50)

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

Crafted Podcast: Scott Andrus on Knives

Crafted Podcast: Scott Andrus on Coffee

TOPICS & TIMES:

Overview of New Stuff at ON3P (3:00)

Origin Story of ON3P (7:00)

Moving to Year-Round Manufacturing (9:44)

USA Manufacturing (10:25)

ON3P (Jack the) Ripper Rocker (14:30)

Freeride Skis (16:02)

Mount Points (20:08)

Ramp Angle / Rocker Profile (22:45)

Touring Skis (28:49)

Freestyle Skis (34:34)

Where They Start w/ Ski Design (41:18)

Park Skis (49:00)

The new ‘Oski’ (50:20)

Team Rattlecan! (52:32)

Unisex Skis (57:55)

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Does the Color of Your Jacket Affect Its Performance? Blister Labs Apparel Testing Update

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 16:38:59 GMT

Today we’re talking about exploding fabrics, microwaving hotdogs, and whether the color of your jacket affects its performance. Dr. Jeni Blacklock is back to discuss all of this, and to provide an update on the Blister Labs’ testing that’s been happening at the Rady School of Computer Science & Engineering at Western Colorado University, as part of the partnership program between Blister, Western Colorado University & the University of Colorado Boulder.

RELATED LINKS

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:

TOPICS & TIMES:

Apparel Testing Overview (1:25)

Friction & UV Tests (3:53)

Exploding Fabric?? (6:16)

Color & Other Variables (12:23)

What’s Next? (20:44)

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The Pro's Gear: Cody Townsend

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 18:16:15 GMT

We spend so much time reviewing the news these days on our Blister Podcast, we were officially overdue to have Cody Townsend back on GEAR:30 to talk about his current gear preferences and the specific gear he’s using most these days. So today, we remedy that.

RELATED LINKS

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:

TOPICS & TIMES:

Cody’s Pre-Season Training (3:00)

Coffee Gear Update (12:03)

Skis (17:49)

Ski Bindings (25:04)

Ski Boots (34:57)

Race Boots (42:33)

Apps (48:20)

Backpacks (57:24)

Apparel (1:02:52)

Gear Your Most Picky About? (1:12:22)

Sidecut or Rocker Profile? (1:19:13)

Mount Points (1:21:26)

Bonus Talk for the 100 (1:25:03)

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A Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting, Pt.7: The Pedorthist’s Perspective

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 16:58:14 GMT

A Pedorthist is someone who is trained in the assessment of lower limb anatomy, biomechanics, and, of course – feet. Heather Van Glider is not only a Pedorthist, but also an experienced ski bootfitter, making her particularly well suited for the latest installment of our Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting series.

We dive into the importance of custom insoles and orthotics; why they are beneficial for not only ski boots, but other types of footwear; how Heather thinks through some of the biomechanics related to skiing; what it’s like to run a women-owned and operated bootfitting operation, Boulder Orthotics; her best bootfitting horror story; and more.

RELATED LINKS

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

A Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting Series

Boulder Orthotics

TOPICS & TIMES

Custom Insoles 101 (3:13)

Insoles vs. Orthotics (5:54)

Insoles for Skiing (9:40)

Insoles for Other Sports (17:21)

Women-specific vs. Unisex Boots (19:36)

Boulder Orthotics (27:32)

Mentorship (30:50)

Best Bootfitting Horror Story (36:37)

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Flylow’s Dan Abrams on Burrito Grease & PFAS; Slide Gliding; Palisades Tahoe; & More

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 15:10:08 GMT

Dan Abrams from Flylow is back to talk about toxic positivity, slide gliding, burrito grease, the Palisades base vs. Alpine base of Palisades Tahoe, what’s going on at Flylow, how they’re handling the transition away from PFAS, a few of Dan’s favorite pieces, and more.

Also, we’re proud to announce that Flylow is the first apparel company to commit to covering their international athletes with BLISTER+, which is another step forward in getting sponsored athletes better protected than they’ve ever been. That’s a big deal, and shout out to Dan and Flylow for stepping up.

RELATED LINKS

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:

TOPICS & TIMES:

Dan’s Palisades Tahoe Review (9:46)

Flylow & BLISTER+ (17:58)

Other Flylow Updates (20:23)

The Transition Away from PFAS (23:56)

Washing Technical Apparel (31:45)

Was the PFAS Mandate Good Legislation? (40:28)

Breaking News: Hiking is Fun (45:26)

Ski Apparel Vs Mtn Bike Apparel and "Hip" Packs (1:00:22)

Dan's Favorite Pant (1:11:41)

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Venture Snowboards — and New Venture Skis — w/ Klem Branner

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 16:40:13 GMT

This week Venture Snowboards announced that they will also be making Venture skis. So Jonathan talked with Venture’s Klem Branner about why skis — and why skis now; what’s harder or easier about making skis vs snowboards; and what, exactly, is this new ski of theirs, the Sultan?

RELATED LINKS

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

The Published Paper on this Project

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:

TOPICS & TIMES:

New Skis & Old Sweatshirts (5:20)

Venture’s Origin Story (6:18)

Building Splitboards (7:35)

Why Skis & Why Now? (13:05)

Skking, Riding, or Boarding (16:51)

Sultan Specs (19:24)

Manufacturing differences with skis (21:20)

Sidecut (25:33)

Sustainability (37:47)

Most Outrageous Warranty Story (44:02)

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The 10th Anniversary of our Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide: Why We Started It, How It’s Evolved, & What’s in the Latest One

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 16:17:12 GMT

Since we’re releasing soon the 10th edition of our Really Big Book, Jonathan talks with Luke Koppa and Kara Williard about our latest buyer’s guide (pre-order ends on 9.01.24), what’s in it, how it’s evolved, and of course, we talk about that super sexy cover photo….

RELATED LINKS

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

Pre-Order: Our 24/25 Winter Buyer’s Guide

TOPICS & TIMES:

BLISTER+ Members: Check Yo Inbox! (1:48)

Mtn Town Advice w/ Cody (2:24)

‘Rocky’ as Running Movie? (3:15)

Big News in the Outdoor Industry (4:00)

Overview of the Guide + Cover Model Luke (8:28)

What's in the Guide (16:00)

Women's Gear (17:20)

What Else? (23:59)

Photos (35:18)

How to Get the Guide (40:49)

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:

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The Pro's Gear: Nikolai Schirmer

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 16:50:04 GMT

Nikolai Schirmer has made quite a name for himself by sometimes sailing to — and then, almost always climbing up — very technical lines, then often flashing those lines at ridiculous speeds on relatively lightweight gear. Today, Niko and Jonathan have the great debate about pin bindings; talk about Niko’s approach to selecting gear; discuss the specific gear he’s currently using the most; when & why he prefers lightweight ski gear, and we end with Niko announcing for the first time in public the name of his new film, which is his biggest project ever.

RELATED LINKS

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

Pre-Order: Our 24/25 Winter Buyer’s Guide

TOPICS & TIMES:

Niko’s Style

Pin Bindings (7:49)

Light vs Heavy Gear (21:08)

Ski Boots (38:29)

Boot Quivers (46:09)

Ski Quivers (48:23)

Niko’s New Film (1:06:16)

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:

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Reviewing the Reviewer: Zack Henderson

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 18:54:17 GMT

Today we’ve got another episode of our “Reviewing the Reviewer” series, where we ask our reviewers questions about their backgrounds and gear preferences to give you a more complete picture of the people behind our reviews. In the hot seat is bike reviewer, Zack Henderson, but in addition to mountain biking and gravel riding, Zack is also a snowboarder and a skier, so our conversation is almost equal parts bike, board, and ski talk. Jonathan also starts the episode by remembering our friend and fellow reviewer, Eric Freson.

Become a Member: BLISTER+

TOPICS & TIMES

Zack’s background / sports did you play growing up? (7:40)

Where’d You Go to School & Why? (11:12)

How did you first get connected with Blister? (15:42)

Zack’s bike, ski, & snowboard, gravel bike preferences (18:31)

Who is your favorite reviewer at Blister? (40:12)

Who is your favorite pro mtn biker, pro skier, pro snowboarder? (41:17)

What’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever done? (51:21)

What gear are you most picky about? (54:35)

What gear are you least picky about? (57:21)

Best Crash or Close Call Story? (59:35)

Top 3 favorite books, movies, and musicians (1:02:54)

Give us a random review (1:06:39)

What’s the best question I haven’t asked you? (1:12:35)

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:

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Blister Labs: Results from our On-Snow Ski Testing & Dynamic Modeling

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 18:03:28 GMT

Interested in ski design? Curious about where the next advancements in ski design might come from? Dr. Sean Humbert is back to provide an update on our Blister Labs’ ski flex project and to go over some of the results and takeaways from the on-snow ski testing and dynamic modeling from this past ski season.

Blister Labs is a partnership between BLISTER and the Western Colorado University - CU Boulder Partnership Program.

RELATED LINKS:

BLISTER+: Get Yourself Covered

TOPICS & TIMES:

Project Overview (3:23)

In-Field Testing & Results (6:08)

Bindings & Ski Flex Patterns (24:45)

What’s Next (35:54)

Published Paper (44:13)

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:

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Helping Everyone ‘Go’ Outside w/ Gnara

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 16:16:13 GMT

Imagine being in freezing temperatures on a glacier and having to remove your harness and several layers of clothing just to pee. What about scrambling around a desolate desert looking for a place to pull down your pants in private? Maybe you don’t have to imagine — maybe you’re part of half the population who have to wear pants that weren’t originally designed for your anatomy.

Gnara is an apparel company that has spent the last several years working to solve this problem with the advent of their “GoFly Technology,” a patented zipper that allows you to ‘go’ anywhere while maintaining privacy. We talk to Gnara co-founder, Georgia Grace Edwards, about how this idea came to be; the brand’s growth in the last few years; the impact they’ve had on a variety of professions and applications (with more to come); how to approach a taboo topic with humor and grace; and more.

Become a Member: BLISTER+

Gnara’s GoFly Technology

TOPICS & TIMES:

Glacier Guiding & Origin Story (4:19)

Why Pee Zippers Matter (7:32)

“GoFly” Technology (15:53)

Product Lineup (17:22)

Using Humor to Address Taboo (24:16)

The Rewarding Moments (28:08)

Scaling (31:32)

Leggings (35:16)

Crowdfunding Strategy (39:55)

Rebranding (45:50)

Georgia Grace’s Background (54:21)

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:

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A Novel Twist on Wool w/ Nuyarn CEO, Andy Wynne

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 14:37:42 GMT

Wool has seen quite the resurgence in technical apparel over the past couple decades, and for good reason — it’s breathable, odor-resistant, and manages moisture better than most natural fibers. However, the way that most wool is spun into yarns can hamper its natural performance traits — at least, that’s what Nuyarn CEO, Andy Wynne, claims, and it’s why Nuyarn set out to come up with an entirely new way to use wool in technical fabrics.

On today’s episode, Luke Koppa sits down with Andy to get the details on the traditional methods of yarn spinning; why he believes they have been holding back the true potential of wool; how Nuyarn is different; the extremely impressive performance metrics of Nuyarn; how it’s being applied to a very wide range of end uses; an exciting new wool product they’re about to launch, and more.

Become a Member: BLISTER+

TOPICS & TIMES:

Andy’s Backstory (5:07)

Traditional Implemntations of Wool (7:44)

How & Why Nuyarn is Different (14:31)

Production (21:03)

Nuyarn’s Different Applications (47:37)

Future Product: Hurcelan (53:11)

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New Zealand Ski Season, Gear Trends, & How a Specialty Retailer Curates Their Products

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 17:02:41 GMT

How has the ski / snowboard season in the southern hemisphere been this year? To find out, we caught up with Benji Knight and Darren Grimmett from Outside Sports in New Zealand; we also cover the gear trends they’re noticing in their area, and then they peel back the curtain on how, exactly, a local shop curates the collection of gear they offer — often picked from thousands of options — for their specific location and customers.

RELATED LINKS:

Our Blister Recommended Shop: Outside Sports

A Guide to Skiing in New Zealand, Ep.260

Camille Jaccoux on Blister Podcast Ep.144

BLISTER+: Become a Member

TOPICS & TIMES

Season Update (6:14)

How do you Pick Products?? (7:23)

Supplier Relationships & Brand Loyalty (12:24)

Athlete & Customer Relationships (15:04)

Bringing on a New Brand (19:04)

Sizing (20:42)

Hardgoods vs. Softgoods (26:53)

Evolution of the Industry (28:59)

NZ Gear Trends (33:42)

Season Outlook (41:45)

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24/25 Black Crows lineup, new Corvus, & more w/ co-founder Camille Jaccoux

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 17:11:21 GMT

Camille Jaccoux, co-founder of Black Crows Skis, is back on GEAR:30 to catch up on what the brand has been up to since last we spoke four years ago; the legacy of the iconic Corvus; how they overhauled it for 24/25; other new products they’re rolling out this winter; and a whole lot more.

RELATED LINKS:

Bag Balm: use code BLISTER to get 20% off

BLISTER+: Become a Member

Camille & Julien Regnier on GEAR:30 Ep.64

TOPICS & TIMES:

Black Crows Since the Pandemic (4:04)

Touring Lineup (7:33)

New Octo & Octo Birdie (9:59)

Global Market Share (15:39)

The Corvus Legacy (20:09)

New 24/25 Corvus (25:42)

24/25 Lineup Highlights (33:00)

Other Products (42:30)

Ghost Resorts (45:06)

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The Life of a Ski Engineer + 24/25 LINE & K2 Skis

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 16:53:18 GMT

Sean Fearon is a ski development engineer at LINE & K2, and he’s been busy — between the two sister brands’ 24/25 collections, Sean helped design over a dozen of the new skis. So Luke Koppa sat down with Sean to get the details on LINE’s new Pandora, Vision, and Optic skis (and how they all relate to each other); the overhauled K2 Reckoner and Omen series; working with Karl Fostvedt to create his unique pro model, the Reckoner KF, and more. He also peels back the curtain on what it actually means to be a ski designer / engineer, why his job is often very similar to what we do at Blister, and how others might pursue a similar career.

RELATED LINKS:

Bag Balm: use code BLISTER to get 20% off

BLISTER+: Become a Member

Blister Summit 2025: register before July 1st to save $150

Reviews: Line Pandoras, K2 Reckoners, K2 Omens

TOPICS & TIMES:

Sean’s Background (3:55)

Being a Ski Engineer / Designer (7:25)

24/25 LINE Skis Overview (13:20)

LINE Pandora, Vision, & Optic Skis (17:02)

K2 Omen Skis (41:47)

K2 Reckoner Collection (51:05)

Karl Fostvedt & The Reckoner KF (53:38)

Advice For Future Ski Designers (1:09:43)

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Travel Gear + Bringing Back the Snake Bite Black

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 15:29:59 GMT

Since Jonathan missed our GEAR:30 ‘travel gear’ conversation a few weeks ago, he wanted to weigh in. So he and Kristin Sinnott open by discussing their recent trips; they discuss the question of ‘why we travel?’; and then, they dive into some of their favorite travel gear.

RELATED LINKS:

Bag Balm: 20% Off w/ Code: BLISTER

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

Blister Summit 2025: Early-Bird Registration

TOPICS & TIMES:

Recap of our Recent Trips (6:28)

Snake Bite Black story (12:46)

Italy (18:01)

Why Do We Travel? (28:40)

Florence, Italy (32:25)

Gear Talk: Headphones (37:10)

Roller Bags (42:15)

Backpack (47:40)

Walking shoes (51:04)

Mechanical Watches (56:27)

Work Out Gear (59:02)

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Runways, Race Courses, & Riding Gear: Curious Creatures’ Unique Origin Story

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 15:17:08 GMT

Launching your own outdoor apparel company is no small feat, especially if it’s a one-woman operation. But with Curious Creatures, that’s exactly what Tasha Woodworth has done, and Kara Williard sat down with Tasha to hear all about her unique path to where she is today, as well as the ups, downs, and key takeaways from the journey.

We discuss how Tasha’s background in both the fashion industry and ski racing helped her along the way; what it means to be a “curious creature”; how the ski racing “beat down” prepared her for building a small business, and more.

RELATED LINKS:

Blister Summit 2025: Early-Bird Registration

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:

TOPICS & TIMES

High Fashion (2:46)

Working at Patagonia (5:27)

NCAA / Middlebury & US Ski Team (9:12)

Why start a new business? (11:27)

First Steps (13:55)

Products & Problem Solving (16:16)

Curious Creatures (19:49)

Men’s vs. Women’s vs. Unisex (29:17)

Business Ethos (30:17)

What’s Next? (33:35)

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Outdoor Photography: Tips, Tricks, & Gear with Taylor Ahearn

Fri, 24 May 2024 21:39:30 GMT

Taylor Ahearn has been photographing skiing, snowboarding, biking, and day-to-day life in the Gunnison / Crested Butte Valley for many years now, and in this conversation, Luke Koppa chats with him about how he turned that into a career; their favorite camera-related gear; tips to help *you* capture better photos next time you’re outside; the most rewarding, frustrating, and unusual parts of getting these shots; and more. If you’re curious about how people like Taylor create such inspiring photos, or are looking to better capture your own time outside, you’ll definitely want to stick around.

RELATED LINKS:

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:

TOPICS & TIMES:

Taylor’s Photo Background (3:57)

Most Rewarding Aspects? (10:37)

Challenges (16:04)

Photo Myths (22:22)

Shooting Biking vs Skiing (26:02)

Current Setups (30:10)

Camera Accessories (38:43)

Photography Advice (47:20)

Editing & Settings (1:01:08)

Favorite Photos & Photographers (1:11:39)

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Reviewer Reports: Travel Gear, Dinosaurs, & Camcorders

Sat, 18 May 2024 17:28:53 GMT

For this episode, Luke Koppa sat down with Kristin Sinnott to go over some of the products they’ve found useful, surprising, or otherwise noteworthy while on the road or hurtling through the sky. They also discuss extremely relevant things like camcorder storage solutions and dinosaur podcasts, the fact that Luke doesn’t actually like traveling, and more.

RELATED LINKS:

Bag Balm: 20% Off w/ Code: BLISTER

Blister Summit 2025: Early-Bird Registration

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

TOPICS & TIMES:

Kristin & Luke’s Recent Trips (6:29)

Travel Essentials (9:14)

Camcorder Gear (20:09)

Headphones & Dino Podcasts (23:58)

Apparel (29:26)

Surprisingly Useful Gear (45:05)

Products We Wished Existed (47:30)

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GEAR THERAPY: A Skier (Blister’s founder) Learns to Snowboard, Part 2

Fri, 10 May 2024 10:00:46 GMT

In part 2 of this GEAR THERAPY mini-saga, Justin Bobb lays out his specific recommendations for boots, bindings, boards, & more to get Jonathan started on his snowboarding journey. They also discuss how many days on a board JE will need before he’s ready to head up to the Headwall at Crested Butte.

RELATED LINKS:

Blister Rec Shop: Boone Mtn Sports

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

Listen to Part One

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:

TOPICS & TIMES:

Next Blister Cinematic episode

Snowboard Boots (8:46)

Snowboard Bindings (22:07)

Snowboards (29:01)

Camber Profiles (30:32)

Length / Sizing (36:21)

Protective Gear (39:36)

Common Injuries (43:12)

Summary (45:52)

Headwall Challenge (47:03)

Crashes & Close Calls (53:57)

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GEAR THERAPY: A Skier (Blister’s founder) Learns to Snowboard, Part 1

Fri, 03 May 2024 17:51:23 GMT

How much does knowing how to ski help when learning how to snowboard? How do you slam as little as possible while learning to ride? Why don’t snowboards have releasable bindings? These are a few of our Blister founder's questions as he learns to ‘think sideways.’

RELATED LINKS:

Blister Rec Shop: Powder Hound

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

TOPICS & TIMES:

Hot Dog…The Movie (4:56)

Snowboarding Status Update (8:33)

Slam Reduction Program (12:08)

Releasable Bindings? (14:32)

JE’s Snowboarding Goals (19:38)

Stance (21:21)

Visualization / “Think Sideways” (23:54)

Best Terrain to Begin On? (29:34)

Types of Slams (33:25)

Speed (35:51)

Running Flat Bases? (36:30)

Heel vs Toe, Part 1 (38:34)

Tips on Crashing (41:36)

Timeline (44:22)

Heel vs Toe, Part 2 (45:00)

Edges (51:31)

How to Stop?? (53:05)

Speed Scrubbing (1:01:30)

JE’s Latest Crashes & Close Calls (1:05:21)

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Sex & Ski Boots: Hoji, Matt Manser, & Greg Klein on the Present & Future of Ski Boot Design

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 20:32:36 GMT

At Blister Summit 2024, we got a state of the union on the present and future of ski boot design from 3 people with a wealth of experience in this world: Eric “Hoji” Hjorleifson, Matt Manser, and Greg Klein. They cover everything from the reception and performance of BOA boots to Hoji’s new Dynafit Ridge Pro boot; cold feet (literal & metaphorical…), and much more.

RELATED LINKS:

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

Blister YouTube Channel

Shop Talk: Celebrating 10 Years of Powder Hound in Girdwood, AK (Ep.222)

TOPICS:

Intro 4:12

BOA Ski Boots: How’s It Gone So Far? 5:36

Weight: Still a Big Factor?13:27

Hoji’s New Dynafit Ridge Pro Boot 25:20

“Welcome Fit” 39:06

Footbeds & Boot Shell Plastic 45:31

Upper-Cuff BOAs? 54:09

Selling Shells w/o Liners? 56:34

Solutions for Cold Feet? 1:02:40

“True” size-22 Shells 1:04:57

Throat / Instep Fit 1:06:47

Canting & Cuff Alignment 1:09:11

“Custom” Boots 1:11:20

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Alaska’s Epic El Niño Season, Ski Bindings, & More with Powder Hound

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 17:29:03 GMT

We’re back with Eric Helmbrecht, co-owner of Powder Hound in Girdwood, AK, to discuss Alaska’s banner El Niño season; the gear he enjoyed most; the gear Kara Williard brought to Girdwood; what’s changed at Alyeska Resort since joining the Ikon pass; the reliability of various AT & alpine bindings, and more.

Trends, Favorite Gear, and Most / Least Durable Products, with Eric Helmbrecht of Powder Hound AK (Ep.41)

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

Download Aspect Avy for FREE

TOPICS & TIMES

Alaska’s Epic El Niño (3:07)

Eric’s Favorite Gear (4:55)

Kara’s Gear for AK (7:05)

BOA Boots (10:57)

Ski Tuning Upgrade (13:17)

Ski Racing in AK (17:03)

Alyeska on the Ikon Pass (20:03)

Eric’s Trip Recommendations (25:19)

Alpine Bindings (28:01)

Binding Reliability & Longevity (30:56)

Eric’s Preferences (40:53)

AT Bindings & Trends (44:40)

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Whiskey, Murder, and a Bunch of New Skis

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 17:40:11 GMT

Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss some of the new skis they’ve been testing this spring

RELATED LINKS:

Blister Rec Shop: Powder Hound

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

TOPICS & TIMES:

Intro & Updates (2:36)

Blizzard Anomaly 88 (9:50)

K2 Omen Team (20:00)

Blizzard Anomaly 94 (23:32)

Armada Declivity X 102 & Declivity X 108 (33:58)

Moment Commander 102 (40:46)

Line Pandora 99 & Pandora 106 (49:14)

Black Crows Corvus (57:38)

Rossignol Sender Free 118 (1:03:57)

Crashes & Close Calls (1:10:07)

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New Tech to Simplify Decision Making in the Backcountry

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 16:55:37 GMT

After years in the backcountry and a near-death experience, IFMGA Guide, Jeff Banks, wanted to build a tool that could simplify and improve the decision-making of any backcountry user. The result is Aspect Avy.

Kara Williard sat down with Jeff to discuss how this app compares to and complements other backcountry tools; key features such as Adaptive Slop Shading and “No Go Zones”; how it accounts for human factors; different types of risk; the general state of tech in the backcountry; and more.

RELATED LINKS:

Blister Rec Shop: Boulder Orthotics

Get Covered: BLISTER+

VIDEOS: BLISTER YouTube Channel

Invest in Aspect Avy

TOPICS & TIMES:

Jeff’s Background: IFMGA & Nordic (3:10)

Jeff’s Near-Death Experience (6:15)

Intro to Aspect Avy (9:18)

Adaptive Slope Shading (10:31)

No-Go Zones, Coaching Tool, & Runout Zones (13:21)

Human Factors (19:17)

Adaptive Tools (23:20)

Who’s It For? (30:32)

Tech & Backcountry Skiing (46:26)

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Icelantic & Moment Skis on Ski Design & U.S. Ski Manufacturing

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 15:53:49 GMT

What’s in and what’s out in ski design? And how have U.S. ski companies been doing over the past few years? At Blister Summit 2024, we discussed this and much more with Moment Skis CEO, Luke Jacobson, and Icelantic Skis founder, Ben Anderson. We cover notable trends; why skis cost what they do; the challenges of manufacturing skis in the U.S.; whether a core-shot-proof ski is possible, and more.

And, if you’d like to check out the video of this conversation, then head over to the BLISTER YouTube channel to watch this, plus other panel sessions from all of our Blister Summits, plus new brand lineup videos, etc.

RELATED LINKS:

Blister Rec Shop: Lone Pine Gear Exchange

Get Covered: BLISTER+

VIDEOS: BLISTER YouTube Channel

TOPICS & TIMES:

Introductions 3:21

Manufacturing Challenges 8:08

Ski Costs vs. Ski Prices 14:10

Exciting New Ski Materials? 26:01

Audience Questions 35:50

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Reviewer Reports: Taos Ski Valley, Carving Skis, All-Mountain Skis, & Luke’s 3-Day-Old Cheeseburger (Ep.290)

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 22:02:36 GMT

This week, Jonathan, Luke, Kara, Kristin, and JBobb were testing a bunch of skis, boots, snowboards, and apparel in Taos Ski Valley. But it was more than just a review trip, since it was also the first time back at TSV for several of us who previously spent many seasons there — which meant there were a lot of feelings.

So in this conversation, we discuss a number of the carving-oriented and narrower all-mountain skis we were on this week; Luke’s food choices; the heated debate between Taos’ Chair 2 (West Basin) vs Chair 12 (Kachina Peak); and more.

RELATED LINKS:

Blister Recommended Shop: Powder Hound AK

BLISTER+ Membership: Learn More & Sign Up

VIDEOS: Blister YouTube Channel

TOPICS & TIMES:

We’re Back! (5:45)

The Great Debate: Taos’ Chair 2 vs. Chair 12 (11:27)

Luke’s Green-Chile Cheeseburger (25:00)

Morning Groomers & Carving Skis (30:53)

Afternoon Steeps & All-Mountain Skis (44:31)

Crashes & Close Calls: Jonathan’s Latest (1:05:54)

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Standout Backcountry Gear: Past, Present, & Future (ft. Vertical Playground)

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 17:22:37 GMT

Luke Koppa and Kara Williard talk with Trygve Sande, one of the founders of Vertical Playground (VPG), which is our Blister Recommended Shop in Oppdal, Norway, to get a read on the past, present, and future of backcountry gear. We discuss current trends; all-time pivotal pieces of gear; the most durable products; the easiest ones to use; gear that helps break down the barriers to entry; skiing in Norway; and last but not least, Trygve’s involvement and collaboration with Hoji and 4FRNT’s new concept ski.

RELATED LINKS:

Vertical Playground

GEAR:30 Ep.169: Vertical Playground, Oppdal Norway

Get Covered: BLISTER+

VIDEOS: Blister YouTube Channel

TOPICS & TIMES

VPG background (2:19)

Current Backcountry Trends (5:20)

All-Time Pivotal Gear (11:01)

Frame & Tech Bindings (13:09)

Most Durable Products? (20:46)

Helmet Tech, Head Injuries, & Best Practices for Skiers & Snowboarders

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 17:30:13 GMT

Today we’re discussing current helmet technology, head injuries, and best practices for skiers & snowboarders with Blister reviewer (and physician assistant), Sascha Anastas; Sr. Director of R&D at Giro, Steven Kennedy; the CMO of MIPS, Frederik Kjellberg; and pro skier, Drew Petersen.

RELATED LINKS:

Blister Recommended Shop: Boone Mtn Sports

Get Covered: BLISTER+

VIDEOS: Blister YouTube Channel

TOPICS & TIMES:

MIPS Backstory & Purpose (4:28)

Skull Fractures & Concussions (9:10)

Helmet R&D & Various Testing Standards (14:50)

Athlete Perspective on Helmet Testing (19:56)

Advice for Buying Helmets (25:02)

Different Versions of MIPS (28:06)

Drew’s Take: Choosing Helmets (30:36)

Replacing Helmets: When & Why? (32:00)

Audience: Mental Side of Accidents (35:02)

Audience: Concussions & Long-Term Effects (42:57)

Audience: Helmet Replacement Cont. (44:28)

Closing Thoughts (46:20)

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Jeremy Jones on Gear Reviews; Gear Mistakes; Soft vs. Hard Boots; & More

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 19:59:14 GMT

Jeremy Jones was in town last week, so in addition to getting out on snow together, Jonathan and he sat down in Blister HQ in Elevation Hotel to talk about gear reviews; the biggest gear mistakes riders make; full-camber vs. no-camber boards; soft vs. hard boots (including Shane McConkey’s tinkering on that front); and more.

RELATED LINKS:

Blister Recommended Shop: Willi’s

Get Covered: BLISTER+

Jeremy & Xavier Nidecker on Re-Up Tech

TOPICS & TIMES:

Riding CBMR, CBMR Freeride Comp (3:35)

Jonathan Boarding, Jeremy Getting on Skis (6:00)

Gear Reviews / Gear Reviewing (11:56)

Materials, Weight, & Stiffness (25:15)

Full-Camber vs No-Camber Boards (33:17)

Boards for Beginners (35:47)

Soft vs Hard Boots (42:06)

Product Design at Jones (53:34)

ReUptech (55:38)

Blister Cinematic (58:35)

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A Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting, Pt. 6: Ski Boot Flex w/ Pulse Boot Labs

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 18:04:03 GMT

How should you think about ski boot flex patterns, and which one is “right” for you? For the latest installment of our “Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting” series, Kara Williard talks with bootfitter and Pulse Boot Lab’s Revelstoke store manager, Bryn Vickers, to cover the complex and often misunderstood aspects of ski boot flex.

We discuss how the ankle joint and an individual’s biomechanics are the most important pieces of the puzzle; what exactly boot “flex” even means when it comes to on-snow performance; the many variables that determine what flex pattern might work best for you; and we also talk about Pulse’s latest tech, including their new foam-injected aftermarket liner.

RELATED LINKS:

Blister Recommended Shop: Pulse Boot Labs

BLISTER+ Membership: Sign Up

A Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting Series

3D Printing & Bootfitting w/ Pulse Boot Lab (Ep.234)

Stance Balancing with Pulse Boot Labs (Ep.217)

TOPICS & TIMES

Ankle Joint = #1 Priority (3:33)

How the Body Moves (6.17)

Custom Insoles (12:49)

What is Boot Flex? (17:50)

Walk Mode Vs. Fixed Cuff (22:49)

Flex Ratings (26:27)

Forward Lean & Calf Size (33:39)

Height, Weight, & Strength (39:17)

Options for Stiffening (42:26)

Options for Softening (45:59)

Final Thoughts on Boot Flex (48:49)

Pulse’s Foam Injected Liner & Other Tech (52:51)

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:

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New Gear from Blister Summit 2024

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 18:02:31 GMT

Luke Koppa sits down with Kristin Sinnott, Jonathan Ellsworth, Kara Williard, and Justin Bobb to do a bit of a recap on our 2024 Blister Summit, which took place in Mt. Crested Butte last week. We go over a few of the MANY highlights of the event, and then dive into a bunch of the standout products they were each able to try at the Summit.

RELATED LINKS:

Blister Recommended Shop: Sturtevants

Blister Summit 2024: A Brief Recap of an Epic Event

BLISTER+ Membership: Sign Up

TOPICS & TIMES:

Catching Up (2:24)

Blister Awards (13:58)

Rossignol Revenant, Never Summer Cougar, & Weston Hatchet (15:35)

Dynastar M-Pro 98 W (19:55)

Rossignol Sender Soul 102 (22:42)

Icelantic Maidens (27:23)

Salomon S/Pro Race 110 (28:56)

Bishop Telemark, Uphillers, & Raide Packs (30:38)

Salomon Stance 96 (36:43)

ON3P Woodsman 100 (38:30)

Salomon QST X (39:28)

ZAG Slap 92 & Slap 112 (42:09)

CARV & Hoji (44:22)

Moment Commander 92 (46:12)

Blister Summit 2025 (53:49)

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Consignment, Gear Repair, & Sustainability w/ Lone Pine Gear Exchange

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 23:01:28 GMT

Kara Williard sits down with Katy Jackson, co-founder and CEO of our Blister Recommended Shop, Lone Pine Gear Exchange, to understand the logistics of running a robust consignment program; how to shop for and sell used gear; the importance of consignment for both accessibility and sustainability in outdoor recreation; gear repair; planting trees; how living off-grid led her and her husband to where they are today; and a whole lot more.

RELATED LINKS:

Lone Pine Gear Exchange | 15% off your first order with code: BLISTER15

BLISTER+: Get Yourself Covered

BLISTER Recommended Shops

TOPICS & TIMES

Off-Grid Living (2:30)

Second Tracks (6:31)

Starting Lone Pine (7:53)

Consignment Program (11:32)

Best Practices for Buying Used (16:32)

Gear Repair Program (25:38)

Sustainability & Community (35:59)

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Blister Labs Update: Ski (and Boot) Flex Test

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 18:31:41 GMT

Dr. Sean Humbert is back to provide an update on our Blister Labs’ ski flex project, and to explain how and why ski boots are becoming an integral part of this project, too.

RELATED LINKS:

Boone Mountain Sports

OpenSnow

Last Chance! Blister Summit 2024

BLISTER+: Get Yourself Covered

TOPICS & TIMES:

Scope of the Project (6:26)

Dynamic Modeling (7:05)

Machine Learning (17:50)

Creating a Profile? (23:28)

The Holy Grail Project & Ski Boots (28:18)

Blister Summit / Blister Labs (41:09)

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Reviewer Reports: Storm Cycles, All-Mountain Skis, 3D-Printed Goggles, & More

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 17:21:04 GMT

Luke Koppa, Dylan Wood, and Eric Freson join Kara Williard to talk about the epic storm cycle we recently had in Crested Butte, and the powder-ski testing that followed. We also discuss several of the new all-mountain skis we’ve been on lately; Dylan’s new favorite ski poles; a standout touring boot; 3D-printed custom goggles; and a bunch of Crashes & Close Calls.

RELATED LINKS:

Episode Sponsor: Spokane Alpine Haus

Join Us at Blister Summit 2024

Become a Member & Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

TOPICS & TIMES:

Pow Skis (4:19)

All-Mountain Skis (20:39)

Other Gear We’ve Been Testing (41:23)

Crashes & Close Calls (55:37)

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Raide: Building a Solutions-Based Backcountry Brand

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 18:24:05 GMT

Luke Koppa sits down with Kyle Siegel, the founder of Raide, which is one of the newest players in the backcountry softgoods category. They launched with a lightweight 40-liter backpack that immediately made a splash when it was released, so we sat down with Kyle to learn about how — and why — he started Raide.

We cover the problems he’s looking to solve; how he went about doing so with the Raide LF 40 pack; we do a deep dive on some of the latest high-end, ultralight pack materials; the challenges and benefits of running a new, small business in the category; what we should expect from Raide in the future, and more.

RELATED LINKS:

Episode Sponsor: Pulse Boot Lab & Ski Co.

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Blister First Look: Raide LF 40L Pack

TOPICS & TIMES:

Kyle’s Background (3:28)

The Problems Raide is Attempting to Solve (6:19)

Prototyping Process & Must-Have Features (12:15)

Deep Dive: Materials (17:00)

Raide LF 40L: Overview (28:07)

Raide’s Future Products (35:57)

Running Lean & Nimble as a Small Business (43:32)

Raide’s Athlete Team (46:17)

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Skier Ability Ratings Revisited; Monoskiing; & More with Powder7’s Jordan Jones

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 19:01:24 GMT

Are you an “expert” skier or rider? Advanced skier? Intermediate? What’s the difference between “advanced” and “expert”? Today, we’re following up on our GEAR:30 conversation with Luke Koppa (episode 277) to revisit these questions — having received a lot of great responses from all of you. Joining Jonathan today to rethink these things is Jordan Jones, co-founder and president of Powder7, to provide a retailer’s perspective on these things. See what you think, and let us know whether you think we ought to change or tweak our 6 ability level categories for Community Reviews.

RELATED LINKS:

OpenSnow.com/Blister

Taos Ski Valley Ski Week

Join Us! Blister Summit 2024

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Ep. 277: Jonathan & Luke on Skier Ability Levels

TOPICS & TIMES:

Meeting Up in Girdwood, AK (8:15)

Technique (12:37)

Is Our Bar Too High for “Expert”?(16:46)

Our “Advanced” Category (25:53)

Advanced & Expert Descriptions (28:56)

Assigning Ability Levels to Skis (32:04)

Skier Weight vs Skier Power (39:13)

Skier Personality / Style (44:29)

Accounting for Different Conditions / Locations (48:10)

Monoskiing (51:27)

Final Thought: The Best Skiers on the Mtn (59:08)

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Gear Predictions, 2024

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 17:41:37 GMT

Today, we’re following up last week’s episode, where we looked back at 2023’s “Gear Of The Year,” and we’re now looking forward to 2024. Jonathan Ellsworth, Kara Williard, Justin Bobb, and Luke Koppa attempt to predict what’s “in” and what’s “out,” what trends will be revived, what categories will see the most change, and spin off into several other tangents.

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Episode Sponsor: OpenSnow.com/Blister

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Join Us! Blister Summit 2024

Ep. 278: Gear of the Year, 2023

TOPICS & TIMES:

2023 Gear Trends (2:26)

What’s “In” for 2024? (8:05)

What’s “Out” for 2024? (15:27)

What Trends are Coming Back? (25:55)

Categories to See the Most Change? (31:11)

Crashes & Close Calls (38:24)

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Gear of the Year, 2023

Sat, 30 Dec 2023 19:47:56 GMT

Jonathan Ellsworth sits down with Luke Koppa, Kara Williard, and Justin Bobb to reflect on some of the standout products and notable trends that defined the past year in ski and snowboard gear.

So, what trend does Luke think is “the gear equivalent of superhero movies?” How many BOA dials has JBobb broken in a decade as a self-described BOA convert? What’s Kara’s pick for the “Not New But Still Amazing Award?” Take a listen and find out.

RELATED LINKS:

Episode Sponsor: Taos Ski Valley

Blister Recommended Shop: Zimmermann’s Skis, Boards & More

Become a BLISTER+ Member

TOPICS & TIMES:

Biggest Developments & Trends

Ski Boots (4:21)
Snowboard Boots & Boards (17:56)
Snowboard Bindings (22:03)
Ski Bindings (26:06)

Standout Products (31:54)

Best Values (51:36)

Not New But Still Amazing Award (1:00:33)

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Blister Community Reviews Launch; How Much Info is Too Much / Too Little; & Other Contentious Topics

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 16:36:11 GMT

We just launched our new Blister Labs project, Blister Community Reviews, so Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss where it is today; how it will evolve; and some big questions like, how much info is too much or too little?; how to best define the difference between an intermediate, advanced, and expert skier; rating scale debates; and more.

RELATED LINKS:

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

Join Us! Blister Summit 2024

Video: Blister Labs Summit Panel Session

GEAR:30 #257: Previous Labs Convo

TOPICS & TIMES:

Solstice & World Snowboard Day (1:54)

Blister Community Reviews (7:47)

Defining Skier Ability Levels (20:03)

Rating Scales (32:31)

Should Our Reviewers Contribute? (37:55)

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Skiing with Your Eyes Closed, Shop Pizza, Egg Beaters, & Ski Boots with Greg Klein

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 16:58:26 GMT

Shane McConkey’s college roommate is back on GEAR:30, and Jonathan talks to Greg Klein (president of Willi’s Ski & Snowboard Shops) about all the stuff in the episode title, plus the $10,000 bet made at our Blister Summit that it looks like he’s won?

RELATED LINKS:

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

Join Us! Blister Summit 2024

TOPICS & TIMES:

Shop Pizza (4:02)

Greg @ the White House / Sustainability (8:17)

Ski Boots, Walk Modes & Winning Bets (22:04)

The Future: Cables, BOAs, or Buckles? (33:57)

90-Flex Boots (41:46)

Ski-Boot Pricing (46:32)

Egg Beaters & Eyes-Closed Skiing (57:57)

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Folsom’s Spar 78, New ‘Rotor’ Pow Ski, & Jonathan’s Custom Touring Ski Project

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 18:19:37 GMT

Jonathan and Folsom Custom Ski’s Mike McCabe discuss the skinniest ski in the Folsom lineup, the Spar 78; Folsom’s new huge pow ski, the Rotor; and then they discuss a new custom touring-ski project for Jonathan, and dive deep into the various layup & core combinations one would use to hit certain weight targets. Our fellow gear dorks, you’re going to dig this one.

RELATED LINKS:

Episode Sponsor: Powder7.com

Join Us! Blister Summit 2024

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

TOPICS & TIMES:

What’s going on at Folsom? (5:30)

Folsom Spar 78 (8:08)

New: Folsom Rotor (11:58)

Backstory: Folsom ‘Giver’ & ‘Primary’ (14:02)

Bag Balm x Blister x Folsom (20:55)

JE’s Custom Touring Ski Project (34:30)

Which Bindings? (38:36)

Which Boots? (42:21)

Ski Length (52:11)

Weight (54:44)

The Hammer (1:08:44)

Folsom’s Configurations (1:14:53)

Mount Point (1:16:44)

Camber Profile (1:19:03)

Mike’s ‘Crashes & Close Calls’ Story (1:30:26)

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Reviewer Reports: Early-Season Ski Gear Testing, Mtn Biking in Nepal, & More

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 15:45:20 GMT

Luke Koppa, Kara Williard, and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss getting back on snow, the best holiday of the year, ski boots, frontside skis, mountain biking in Nepal, engagement taco parties, and new apparel.

RELATED LINKS:

Join Us! Blister Summit 2024

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

TOPICS & TIMES:

Blister Summit Update (0:00)

Back on Snow (3:41)

Ski Boots (12:16)

Mtn Biking in Nepal (23:49)

Frontside Skis (32:02)

Apparel (50:01)

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Biggest Ski Buying Mistakes + Ski Tuning, Ski Wax, & Ski Boots

Fri, 24 Nov 2023 17:25:02 GMT

What are some of the biggest mistakes skiers make when buying gear? And what do regular, recreational skiers & snowboarders need to know about ski tuning and waxing? Jonathan discusses these questions and more with Logan and Riley Boone of Boone Mountain Sports. They also talk about how they all met (it was in Austria), and Jonathan reveals the upcoming ‘Blister 90-Flex Challenge’.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Blister Summit Update (1:50)

How / Where We All Met (8:09)

Intros: Logan, Riley, & Boone Mountain Sports (13:44)

Kombucha, Music Festivals, & Youth Programs (18:33)

Biggest Ski Buying Mistakes? (28:42)

The Blister ‘90-Flex Challenge’ (35:11)

Ski Tuning (51:00)

Waxing (1:08:35)

Crashes & Close Calls (1:13:50)

The Boone Mountain Sports Logo (1:23:30)

RELATED LINKS

Join Us! Blister Summit 2024

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The Pro's Gear: Ted Ligety

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 16:42:23 GMT

Jonathan talks with Ted Ligety (2x Olympic Gold Medalist & 5x World Cup champion) about his approach to gear; the specific gear he’s using today; how to best deal with flat light and low-vis conditions; his take on the current state of skiing and ski racing; and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

How Do You Prepare & Train for Ski Season? (3:55)

Ski Boots (11:25)

CARV (18:59)

Your Ski Quiver These Days? (35:07)

Tuning & Waxing (37:32)

Goggle Lenses for Flat Light (46:16)

Current State of Skiing & Ski Racing? (57:34)

Crashes & Close Calls (1:08:57)

RELATED LINKS

Episode Sponsor: Boot Mechanics

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

Blister Podcast ep. 14: Ted Ligety

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NEW: Blister Cinematic

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Parlor Custom Skis: Building Skis in Boston, Custom vs. Semi-Custom Skis, & the Age-Old Question of Ski Width for East-Coast Skiing

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 17:08:15 GMT

Jonathan was at the Parlor Custom Skis factory in East Boston to check out the factory and talk with Parlor owner & manager, Mark Wallace, about building custom skis in Boston; assessing skiers (and skiers assessing themselves); custom vs. semi-custom skis; and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

What is Parlor? (4:46)

Parlor’s Ski Building Classes (7:45)

Assessing Skiers & Self Assessments (21:17)

Fitting skiers into the right skis (23:27)

Bringing Back Old Skis (30:15)

Custom vs. Semi-Custom Skis (33:11)

Ski Width Controversy (38:13)

Best Question I Haven’t Asked You? (58:07)

Crashes & Close Calls (1:01:12)

Where to Learn More about Parlor (1:09:47)

RELATED LINKS:

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Episode Sponsor: Taos Ski Valley

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Coming soon: Blister Cinematic

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Jeremy Jones & Xavier Nidecker on Re-Up Tech: What it Is & Why it Matters

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 15:08:27 GMT

Jeremy Jones is back on GEAR:30, and this time, he brought along with him Xavier Nidecker, global brand director of Jones Snowboards, to talk about Jones’ new Re-Up Tech — what it is, how it works, why it matters, and what it could mean for the greater ski & snowboard industry. We also discuss FIS, POW, and climate change, and Jonathan solicits some advice about which board Jeremy and Xavier think he ought to get on as a never-ever.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Update: Blister Crash Course Video (2:00)

Circularity (4:26)

Re-Up Tech vs. Virgin Materials (7:28)

Shipping & Collecting Dead Snowboards (15:24)

Which Parts of the Dead Boards Get Used? (27:56)

Small Steps & Big Solutions (38:56)

Jones’ Fair Trade Certified Factory (48:22)

FIS, POW, & Climate Change (49:50)

Which Snowboard Should JE Start On? (1:10:09)

Crashes and Close Calls (1:15:10)

RELATED LINKS:

Episode Sponsor: OpenSnow.com/Blister

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

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Coming soon: Blister Cinematic

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Giray Dadali on the new Daymaker Touring TEKDAPTERS

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 17:06:47 GMT

A very intriguing — and extremely affordable — new piece of ski-touring gear has just been released, and you ought to know about it. So on our latest GEAR:30 episode, Jonathan talks with Giray Dadali, a pro skier, engineer, ski designer, and founder of Daymaker Touring, about their new product, TEKDAPTERS, that allow you to ski tour using a pin-tech toe on the way up, then click into your DIN-certified alpine binding of choice on the way down.

Giray and I dive deep into the design, materials, weight, compatibility, and rationale for this new product, and we think you’ll agree that it represents an intriguing new offering in the world of ski-touring gear.

TOPICS & TIMES:

When was this idea born? (6:17)

Giray’s Background (8:59)

Who’s It For? (11:52)

TEKDAPTERS vs Original Daymaker (17:48)

“Field Goal” guide rails (26:52)

Universal Compatibility (31:47)

Materials & Design (35:18)

User-Error-Avoidance Tips (43:48)

Locked-Out Pins & Avalanche Danger

Using the Right Tool for the Job (54:42)

Crashes & Close Calls (1:02:20)

Where & When can you get TEKDAPTERS? (1:12:37)

RELATED LINKS:

Episode Sponsor: Zimmermans Ski & Snowboard

Video: Ski Binding Designs with Giray, Hoji, & Lars Chickering-Ayers

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Our 23/24 BLISTER Winter Buyer’s Guide Recap

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 19:04:26 GMT

Jonathan Ellsworth sat down with Kara Williard, Dylan Wood, Justin Bobb, and Luke Koppa to debrief about our 2023-2024 Winter Buyer’s Guide, discuss what changed this year (and more importantly, what has *not* changed), go over some trends, and more.

Along the way, we dole out our unofficial “RIP,” “Good Riddance,” and new “Best Glow-Up” awards; talk about what we’re most excited to get on this season; and Jonathan debates whether Luke isn’t even invited to his funeral, or if he’ll be managing the whole thing…

TOPICS & TIMES:

What’s New, What’s Different, & What’s the Same (5:34)

Most Notable Trends (14:13)

RIP Awards (20:21)

Good Riddance Awards (30:20)

Our Blister ‘Best Of’ Section (36:12)

How to get the Guide (56:25)

Snowboarding Talk w/ Jbobb (59:55)

Crashes & Close Calls (1:18:25)

Order our 23/24 Winter Buyer’s Guide

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A Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting, Pt. 5: Debunking Bootfitting Myths & Misconceptions

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 17:02:31 GMT

Kara Williard sat down with Jake “Fasa” Nelson from the Moment Factory Store to clear up some of the most common bootfitting myths and misconceptions, including the idea that ski boots have to be cold and uncomfortable; why adding forward lean to a boot might not help someone get more forward over their skis; why *everyone* (not just experts) will benefit from a well-fit ski boot and custom insoles; how picking the “right” boot can’t fix all your problems, and more.

We also discuss why these myths are so prevalent in the first place; provide tips on how to shop for a ski boot this season; realistic expectations you should have for a ski boot, and much more.

TOPICS & TIMES

Where do these misconceptions come from? (3:10)

Myth 1 - Boots = Uncomfortable (6:16)

Myth 2 - Boots = Cold (10:04)

Myth 3 - Body Position & Forward Lean (15:44)

Myth 4 - Boot Stiffness Debunked (28:31)

Myth 5 - Skier Type (34:49)

Myth 6 - Custom Insoles (41:23)

Expectations vs. Reality (59:32)

The Boot, Binding, & Ski equation (1:07:50)

How to Shop for Boots (1:16:21)

Crashes & Close Calls (1:24:27)

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GEAR THERAPY: An Italian Skier in Switzerland

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 16:19:17 GMT

In our latest edition of GEAR THERAPY, Luke and Jonathan talk with Blister Member, Giovanni Saccarola (an Italian living in Switzerland), about his ski quiver, ski boots, and ski boot liner options.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Giovanni: most interesting man in the world? (8:25)

Blizzard Zero G 95 (17:03)

Height / Weight (23:09)

Bindings & Pairing Down His Quiver (26:09)

ATK Free Raiders (28:50)

Giovanni’s Current Quiver (32:27)

Black Crows Atris (36:18

4th ski (38:10)

Tecnica Cochise 130 & Liners (47:20)

Crashes and Close Calls (1:00:28)

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Episode Sponsor: Bag Balm

Episode Sponsor: OpenSnow

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Norrøna Owner & CEO, Jørgen Jørgensen, on Norrøna’s History & Design Philosophy

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 20:25:49 GMT

Norrøna has been making gear since 1929, and this family-owned company aims to make the best outdoor recreation products on the market. But that’s easier said than done, so Jonathan Ellsworth talks with Jørgen Jørgensen — the 4th-generation owner & CEO of Norrøna — about the brand’s approach to product design & testing, and the origins, evolution, and future of the brand.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Origins & Evolution of Norrøna (4:32)

Customer Satisfaction (31:39)

Product Testing (34:03)

Quality Assurance & Durability (41:14)

Making the "Best Products" (47:46)

Blister Labs & Current Standards (51:38)

PFAS (56:20)

Some of Jørgen’s Favorite Norrøna Products (1:01:35)

RELATED LINKS:

Episode Sponsor: OpenSnow

CDC Factsheet on PFAS

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Why All Your Jackets Are Going to Change: Ditching PFAS w/ Outdoor Research

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 15:21:28 GMT

“PFAS” or “Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances” are a hot topic today, especially in the outdoor apparel world, where they’ve been used for decades, most notably in the “DWR” or Durable Water Repellant finishes that are applied to a lot of clothes these days. But that’s going to be coming to an end in the near future.

So, to learn more about why this matters and what it means for manufacturers and consumers alike, Luke Koppa sat down with Alex Lauver, the Senior Director of Materials, Innovation, and Sustainability at Outdoor Research.

They cover why PFAS have been so prevalent in technical apparel for so long; how their use in clothing is just the tip of the iceberg; their downsides and why we’re seeing this recent push to completely eliminate them; the challenges presented by coming up with PFAS-free alternatives; how this shift affects the entire apparel supply chain; how Outdoor Research has approached this transition and worked to stay ahead of the curve; and much more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Alex’s background (3:41)

PFAS vs PFC (8:38)

How long these compounds have been in use (10:41)

Prevalence in the outdoor industry (17:21)

PFAS alternatives (25:28)

Regulatory aspects and timeline (34:08)

What’s next? (50:15)

Crashes and Close Calls (55:42)

RELATED LINKS:

Episode Sponsor: OpenSnow

PFAS FAQs from Outdoor Research

CDC Factsheet on PFAS

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Happy Hour (for Blister Members)

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GEAR THERAPY: A Mother Gets Back into Skiing — Where to Start??

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 15:50:56 GMT

When it comes to gear, we’ve all been there: loads of questions, crippling confusion, severe analysis paralysis. Sometimes you don’t even know where to start. You need some help!

In our 3rd session of GEAR THERAPY, Blister Member, Arika Poulin Weller, joins Blister reviewers Kara Williard and Kristin Sinnott. Arika is a longtime skier with roots in Nordic skiing (Fun Fact: she and Kristin raced together in college) and a mother who wants to spend more time skiing after moving back to CO, but she had no idea where to start.

So in this episode, we break down some basics, define some ski-gear terms and what it all means on snow, and provide some recommendations for a 1-ski and 1-boot resort quiver.

TOPICS & TIMES

How Arika & Kristin met (3:20)

Arika’s background (7:26)

Her Current Setup (9:25)

Why Boots are #1 (16:29)

Tech Terms (29:12)

Ski Recommendations (42:34)

Binding Recommendations (56:30)

Boot Recommendations (1:00:38)

Where to go from here? (1:03:20)

Crashes & Close Calls (1:05:39)

RELATED LINKS:

Blister Summit 2024 Registration

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Happy Hour (for Blister Members)

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BOA & Ski Boot Design with Hoji, K2’s Tom Pietrowski, Fischer’s Christoph Lentz, Dalbello’s Riccardo Bonaiti, and Dynafit’s Ross Herr

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 16:36:35 GMT

At Blister Summit 2023, we brought together ski boot designers, Tom Pietrowski (K2), Christoph Lentz (Fischer), Riccardo Bonaiti (Dalbello), Ross Herr (Dynafit), and pro skier / designer / obsessive tinkerer, Hoji, to discuss ski boot design in general; the hype and skepticism around BOA (are boot buckles dying??); the role that weight plays in the development of boots of all types; the balancing act of designing a walk mechanism; the challenges presented by the boot-binding interface, and more.

TOPICS & TIMES

Intros & Latest Products (4:07)

Weight & Downhill Performance (12:38)

The Rise of BOA (24:28)

Walk Mechanisms (33:13)

Boot-Binding Interface Challenges (44:01)

Evaluating Fit (54:16)

Women-Specific Boots (59:29)

Crashes & Close Calls (1:06:56)

RELATED LINKS:

Episode Sponsor: Bag Balm

Blister YouTube

VIDEO: Blister Labs Summit Panel

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Happy Hour (for Blister Members)

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Blister Labs: Technical Apparel Testing Update

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 17:23:05 GMT

Apparel testing, show pigs, & the underrated importance of ballpoint pens. Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss these things with our Blister Labs colleague, Melanie Peddle, who is a faculty member in the partnership program between Western Colorado University & the University of Colorado Boulder. We also discuss some takeaways from the compression, abrasion, and UV tests we’ve been running; steps toward developing new standards; and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Mel’s Background (1:47)

Apparel Testing: Quick Overview (10:55)

What We’ve Been Doing & What’s Next (15:07)

Notable Takeaways (24:35)

Real-World Applicability (40:31)

Crashes & Close Calls (43:11)

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Blister Labs: Learn More

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A Guide to Skiing in New Zealand with Outside Sports

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 15:10:01 GMT

Have you ever dreamt about skiing in New Zealand? Well, in this episode, Kara Williard talks with local Kiwi experts, John Knight and Darren Grimmett, from our Blister Recommended Shop, Outside Sports, to give us the rundown on what skiing in this Southern Hemisphere destination entails, and how to make the most of it.

We discuss the best gear for the conditions and terrain in NZ; the difference between ski fields and club fields; backcountry skiing and heliskiing; plus all the other things you can enjoy while in New Zealand, including eating the best meat pies, biking, hiking, and being around some of the genuinely nicest people.

TOPICS & TIMES

John and Darren’s backgrounds (5:02)

Outside Sports’ humble beginnings (11:15)

Gear Trends in NZ (18:18)

Skis for Variable Conditions (24:50)

Getting to New Zealand & Ski Fields vs. Club Fields (27:04)

Backcountry Skiing & Heliskiing (33:18)

Getting Around (40:04)

More than just skiing (42:51)

Best Gear for NZ (47:22)

Heavier BC Gear for a Reason (48:51)

Ski Season Itch (54:26)

Crashes & Close Calls (56:56)

See our Blister Recommended Shops

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Happy Hour (for Blister Members)

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GEAR THERAPY: A Ski Patroller's Most-Pressing Gear Questions

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 21:22:02 GMT

When it comes to gear, we’ve all been there: loads of questions, crippling confusion, severe analysis paralysis. You need some help! So in our 2nd episode of GEAR THERAPY, Blister Member & Spokane-based ski patroller, Kam Smith, poses his most-pressing gear questions to Jonathan and Luke, and gets their best recommendations (and a bit of a tongue-lashing from Jonathan). Enjoy!

TOPICS & TIMES:

Meet Kam, Ski Patroller (4:10)

Kam’s Ski Boot Situation (9:45)

Our Suggestions (15:27)

Spokane Alpine Haus (21:51)

Kam’s Ski Quiver (27:12)

Our Recommendations (34:03)

Metal vs Non-Metal Skis (40:03)

Folsom (47:04)

Session Wrap Up (52:27)

Kam’s Crashes & Close Calls Story (56:18)

RELATED LINKS:

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G3’s Recyclable R3 Skis & Boards with G3 Founder, Oliver Steffen

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 15:53:37 GMT

Oliver Steffen founded Genuine Guide Gear (G3) many years ago because of his passion for innovation and problem-solving, and while this has largely been aimed at creating solutions related to gear and backcountry touring, most recently, he turned his focus to the environmental impacts and life cycles of G3’s skis and snowboards.

This year, G3 is launching their recyclable “R3” ski and snowboard program, guaranteeing that products manufactured going forward can be broken down, reused, and recycled. So Kara Williard talked to Oliver about this process, what it entails, and how it can be more widely applied to the outdoor industry. Plus, we get the details on the 23/24 R3 ski and snowboard lineup, and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Founding G3 (3:43)

Innovation over the years (7:12)

“Right to Repair” and R3 Introduction (10:47)

The Life Cycle Problem (27:11)

Ride, Reuse, Recycle (32:51)

R3 lineup (45:06)

Scaling & Working Together (50:56)

Crashes and Close Calls (58:13)

What We’re Celebrating (1:00:20)

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Blister Labs: Blister Community Reviews Update

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 17:38:00 GMT

Too often, the consumer reviews you find online are incomplete and unhelpful. But through our Blister Labs partnership with Western Colorado University & the University of Colorado Boulder, we’re working to change that. With Blister Community Reviews, we are creating a better method of gathering, synthesizing, and displaying user feedback from people of all shapes, sizes, ability levels, and locations, to produce even more helpful consumer product information for outdoor enthusiasts all around the world.

Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss the origins of our Blister Community Reviews initiative; the takeaways from our beta testing at Blister Summit 2023; our goals for the future; and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Blister Community Reviews: Background & Origins (4:17)

Takeaways from Beta Testing (16:58)

Going Forward: Goals & Timeline (22:10)

Crashes & Close Calls (29:34)

What We’re Celebrating (40:20)

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Blister Labs: Learn More

Become a Blister Member

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Happy Hour (for Blister Members)

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GEAR THERAPY: A Guitarist's Ski Gear Questions

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 21:38:39 GMT

When it comes to gear, we’ve all been there: loads of questions, crippling confusion, severe analysis paralysis. You need some help! So in this inaugural edition of GEAR THERAPY, Jason Verlinde — a self-described “average / normal / non-industry / non-pro Blister member” — poses some gear questions and conundrums to Jonathan Ellsworth & Luke Koppa, and “gets to confess my ignorance and state my real-world situation, with the experts weighing in, straightening me out, and steering me toward some products I might love.” Enjoy!

TOPICS & TIMES:

Gear Therapy Explained (3:36)

Why It’s Hard Out There for a GearHead (10:05)

Meet the Patient: Jason Verlinde (12:10)

Jason’s Ski Quiver (14:33)

Putting On Cold Ski Boots & Liners (20:35)

The Blister Approach to Reviews (33:00)

Line Blade & Steep Terrain (44:10)

"Loose and Surfy"? (52:55)

Crashes & Close Calls (1:00:08)

What We're Celebrating (1:07:28)

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CRAFTED: Jason Verlinde on Guitar Making

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Magnus Granér & Peyben on 1000 Skis & Moving the Culture Forward

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 16:21:45 GMT

Two years ago, a group of pro skiers, photographers, filmmakers, and friends launched 1000 Skis. They did this because they wanted to “move the culture forward,” make skis they weren’t seeing on the market, and because they just flat-out love skiing.

Magnus Graner and Pär “Peyben” Hägglund were two of those founding members, and Luke Koppa sat down with them for a wide-ranging conversation that covers everything from the origins of the brand to their prototyping process; how they’ve prioritized — and acted on — sustainability from the start; the challenges and rewards of the unique ways in which they’ve been filming The Bunch’s upcoming film; why they like what’s currently happening in freesking; what they hope to see from the industry in the future, and more. We also touch on why Peyben had to break into a French villa to record this conversation…

As is illustrated by their wide-ranging personal careers in the snowsports world, Magnus and Peyben are thinking a LOT about all sorts of this world’s different elements and aspects, so it was really fun to get their thoughts on a whole bunch of them.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Intros & 1000 Skis Background (2:35)

Design Philosophy & Brand Values (6:15)

Making Skis for Yourselves & for Consumers (10:23)

Prototyping Process (14:14)

Life Cycle Analysis & Sustainability Efforts (22:28)

Why the All-Red Graphics? (34:27)

The 1000 Skis Lineup (42:23)

Mount Points (47:50)

The Bunch & Media Recs (53:30)

Current State & Future of Freesking (1:05:26)

Crashes & Close Calls (1:12:18)

What We’re Celebrating (1:14:55)

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GEAR:30 Ep. 84: SCARPA CEO Kim Miller on the F1 LT & More

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SCARPA CEO, Kim Miller, on Their ‘Green Manifesto’ & B Corp Status

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 18:19:05 GMT

For this week’s edition of GEAR:30, Scarpa North America’s CEO, Kim Miller, is back to talk about Scarpa’s Green Manifesto and their pathway to B Corp certification. Kim and Kara Williard discuss what measuring and accounting for progress looks like; the tricky balance of sustainably innovating without compromising performance; the process of recycling products and materials; assessing the life cycle of various products; and some of the gear that best exemplifies Scarpa’s commitment to these values (starting with a tele boot back in 2009!).

TOPICS & TIMES

Kim’s Career & Values (4:03)

Scarpa’s Business Culture (12:14)

Transparency & Accountability (13:18)

Measurements & Metrics (16:59)

Life Cycle Analysis of Gear (33:52)

Service vs. Profit (38:23)

Working Together as an Industry (44:21)

Gear & the Green Manifesto (45:33)

A Sense of Urgency (51:40)

All Pillars of Sustainability (55:49)

Scarpa as a B Corp (1:02:25)

Leading with Passion (1:13:16)

Kim’s Crashes & Close Calls Story (1:18:16)

What We’re Celebrating (1:21:33)

Scarpa’s Green Manifesto

Learn More about Blister Labs

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Blister Labs: Wheelset Testing — Updates & Initial Results

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 17:58:36 GMT

Today we’re providing some updates and discussing the implications of the initial results of our Blister Labs wheelset testing with Greg Vanderbeek (assistant professor of mechanical engineering at CU Boulder & the Western Colorado University / CU Boulder partnership program here in Gunnison, CO) and Travis Hainsworth (associate director of the Western-CU Boulder Computer Science Program).

TOPICS & TIMES:

Project Overview (4:19)

Carbon vs Aluminum = Complicated (7:13)

Preliminary Data / Fancy Squishing Machines (8:42)

Lacing Patterns, Impact Loading, & Dynamic Loading (12:12)

Marketing Wheelsets (14:43)

Challenges (18:58)

Next Steps (24:23)

Variables (26:38)

Learn More (38:32)

RELATED LINKS:

Video: Blister Labs Wheelset Testing

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Athletes & Product Design

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 15:37:27 GMT

When it comes to gear, how do you balance the specific needs of world-class athletes with those of average skiers and riders?

In this conversation from Blister Summit 2023, McKenna Petersen (K2 athlete), Drew Peterson (Salomon athlete), Tyler Curle (Moment athlete & ski builder), and Jed Yeiser (K2 engineer) discuss the product development process; the roles that athletes, designers, and product managers play; the weirdest prototypes they’ve tried; what “evolutionary” and “revolutionary” changes we should expect in the future; which discontinued products they’d like to bring back, and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Intros & Backgrounds (2:48)

Balancing Needs of Pro Athletes vs the Public (7:31)

Are We in an Evolutionary or Revolutionary Stage of Ski Design? (25:15)

Weirdest Prototype You’ve Tried? (34:17)

How Have Your Responsibilities Evolved? (42:59)

Changing Popular Products (47:13)

What Product Would You Bring Back? (52:46)

RELATED LINKS:

Blister Summit 2024 Registration

Blister YouTube Channel

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Rethinking Apparel: WNDR Alpine & Beyond Surface Technologies

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 14:42:55 GMT

Odds are that just about every piece of clothing you own has been applied with some sort of surface treatment, and those (typically petroleum-based) treatments contribute to a significant portion of the apparel industry’s already massive carbon footprint. With their recent collaboration, Beyond Surface Technologies and WNDR Alpine are changing that.

So Luke Koppa got the whole story from BST’s CEO, Matthias Foessel, and WNDR Alpine’s Matt Sterbenz, including the details of WNDR Alpine’s Phase Series apparel collection; how BST’s “miDori bioWick” treatment actually works; how it differs from existing plant-seed-based treatments; why it’s important to take a holistic approach when developing alternative processes and treatments, and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Matthias’ Background (2:53)

Fabric Surface Treatments: Background (5:31)

Surface Treatments: Environmental Impact (11:15)

WNDR Alpine, Beyond Surface Technologies, & Checkerspot (14:42)

What does miDori bioWick do? (18:52)

WNDR Alpine Phase Series (25:15)

Algal Oils vs Plant Seed Oils (29:05)

What’s Next? (36:12)

Holistic Approach to Surface Treatments (40:59)

What We’re Celebrating & Crashes & Close Calls (46:26)

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Kästle Ski Boots: Origins, Design, & 23/24 Lineup

Fri, 16 Jun 2023 15:12:22 GMT

For decades, Kästle has been making high-end skis for everything from racing to Nordic and skimo. But what sparked their recent launch into the ski boot category? It’s far from a simple process, so Kara Williard talked with Alessandro Speranzoni, Kästle’s global ski boot product engineer, and Alex Pritzlaff, their U.S. product manager, to discuss the origins of the project; the design details of their boots, including their mysterious “Secret Mix” plastic composition; the 23/24 Kästle boot lineup; some new projects they have in the works, and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Alessandro & Alex’s Background (3:22)

Kästle’s heritage (6:49)

The “Ski Boot Challenge” (10:02)

Prototyping & Design (13:41)

Key Blend / “Secret Mix” Plastics (21:04)

Fit & Liners (31:44)

Stance & Boot Boards (37:34)

“K Release” Buckles (40:08)

23/24 Lineup (41:53)

Women-Specific Boot & Ski Project (52:25)

Crashes & Close Calls (1:05:32)

What We’re Celebrating (1:07:15)

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Happy Hour (for Blister Members)

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New Binding Tech: Tyrolia Protector Bindings with Full Heel Release

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 17:00:43 GMT

Tyrolia’s Protector bindings with “Full Heel Release” is something that every skier ought to know about. Tyrolia calls it “the safest binding we have ever made,” and exactly how it works and how it’s supposed to reduce knee injuries is the topic of this conversation with Andrew Couperthwait, VP of Winter Sports for HEAD / Tyrolia.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Overview of Protector Bindings (4:10)

How Traditional Alpine Bindings Release (5:51)

Protector Technology (8:19)

Backwards Twisting Falls (10:57)

Two Distinct Movements (16:12)

Why 7mm? (20:22)

Retention (25:24)

Knee Bindings vs. Protector Bindings (32:17)

ISO Norms & Boot Soles (36:07)

Look Pivot vs Protector Bindings (40:44)

Priorities: Release or Retention? (46:49)

Development of Protector Technology (49:22)

Product Evolution (52:24)

Where to Find Protector Bindings (58:56)

Crashes & Close Calls (1:00:59)

What We're Celebrating (1:12:37)

RELATED LINKS:

Video: Blister Summit Bindings Panel

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Ferreol Skis: Reenvisioning Ski Construction

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 16:11:58 GMT

Ferreol is a relatively new company that designs and builds skis in Quebec, and they are working hard to push beyond conventional ski materials and construction. They created their own “Innovation Lab” to not only test skis but also develop new materials — and they’re not keeping it to themselves. Instead, they’re collaborating with other brands in order to move things forward at a greater scale.

So Luke Koppa sat down with Ferreol co-founder, Jonathan Audet, to discuss all of that, including the development of their own alternative to titanal alloy; fully replacing fiberglass with natural flax fibers; their 23/24 ski lineup, and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Origins of Ferreol (3:38)

Blindspots in the Market (7:00)

Replacing Fiberglass w/ Flax (8:45)

Life Cycle Analysis (11:24)

Ferreol’s 23/24 Lineup: (19:18)

Surfer 112 (19:18)

Pioneer 104 (23:19)

Explo 96 (28:26)

ZigZag 92 (30:43)

Ferreol Innovation Lab: Background (34:01)

Developing an Alternative to Titanal (36:49)

Ski Design App (50:13)

Ferreol Skis: Who Should Get Them? (51:45)

What We’re Celebrating / Crashes & Close Calls (59:37)

RELATED LINKS:

Blister Summit 2024 Registration

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Bikes vs. Skis, 4th Edition (2023): Part 3

Fri, 26 May 2023 17:23:52 GMT

Ok, you know the drill. Which ski company is most similar to which bike company? What’s the latest incendiary thing that will come out of Dylan Wood’s mouth? This final installment of our 4th edition of Bikes vs Skis is definitely another fun one.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Yeti (5:53)
Black Crows vs Revel (9:36)
Line Skis (12:10)
Propain Bikes vs. Line Skis (18:54)
Season Skis & Snowboards (20:08)
DPS (22:11)
Ibis (28:07)
Commencal (35:22)
Kids Gear (40:11)
Elan (41:51)
Icelantic (43:50)
Evil (49:45)
4FRNT (52:03)
RMU (54:00)
Rocky Mountain Bikes (59:10)
Norco (1:01:20)
Scott (1:04:49)
Orbea (1:06:51)
Heritage Lab Skis (1:07:33)
Crashes & Close Calls (1:15:15)
What We're Celebrating (1:19:41)

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Ski Binding Design with Hoji, Lars Chickering-Ayers, & Giray Dadali

Fri, 19 May 2023 16:51:12 GMT

At Blister Summit 2023, we brought together Hoji (Dynafit), Lars Chickering-Ayers (CAST Touring), and Giray Dadali (Daymaker Touring) for an extremely interesting and important discussion on the past, present, and future of ski bindings. We get their thoughts on “acceptable use” for certain bindings; the “Age of Confusion” surrounding different binding designs; being “handcuffed by standards” and thinking about the binding / boot / ski interface as a whole; what we should (or should hope to) expect from bindings in the future, and much, much more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Intros & Backgrounds (5:56)
“Acceptable Use” for Certain Bindings (12:49)
“Age of Confusion” re: Designs & Standards (21:58)
Boot / Binding Interface Challenges & Future (34:22)
Release & Retention: Alpine vs. Touring Bindings (43:40)
“Ideal Systems” for Bindings, Boots, & Skis? (1:00:25)
Advice re: Wear, Tear, & Icing (1:09:07)
What We’re Celebrating (1:17:22)

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Bikes vs. Skis, 4th Edition (2023): Part 1

Fri, 12 May 2023 16:31:44 GMT

Which bike company and which ski company is currently holding the ‘Cool Kids Belt’? Which brand do other companies secretly wish they could trade places with? We debate these questions and more in our latest edition of Bikes vs. Skis. Check it out, and let us know your current answers to these questions.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Best Bang for The Buck: Bike (7:22)

Best Bang for The Buck: Skis (10:39)

Most Dialed & Complete Lineup? (14:51)

Who Holds the ‘Cool Kids’ Belt? (22:52)

Specific Bike the Cool Kids are On? (28:35)

Most Coveted Bikes & Skis (31:11)

Flying Under The Radar? (41:32)

Brand that Other Co’s Would Switch Places With (47:51)

Most Overhyped? (55:40)

Who Has the Most Brand Loyalty? (1:01:04)

Who Would You Buy Stock in Today? (1:05:04)

Crashes and Close Calls (1:19:15)

What We’re Celebrating (1:22:31)

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Episode Sponsor: Gear West