GEAR:30

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)RELATED LINKS:Exclusive Offer: Get 50% off OpenSnow w/ code blister23Become a BLISTER+ Member23/24 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide Pre-OrderCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Off The CouchBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastCRAFTEDHappy Hour (for Blister Members) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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)RELATED LINKS:Blister Labs: Learn MoreVIDEO: Blister Labs Summit PanelBecome a Blister MemberCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Off The CouchBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastCRAFTEDHappy Hour (for Blister Members) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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)RELATED LINKS:Episode Sponsor: OpenSnow.comBecome a BLISTER+ Member23/24 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide Pre-OrderCRAFTED: Jason Verlinde on Guitar MakingCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Off The CouchBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastCRAFTEDHappy Hour (for Blister Members) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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)RELATED LINKS:Become a BLISTER+ Member23/24 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide Pre-OrderCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Off The CouchBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastCRAFTEDHappy Hour (for Blister Members) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 & TIMESKim’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)RELATED LINKS:GEAR:30 Ep.79: SCARPA CEO, Kim Miller, Part 1GEAR:30 Ep. 84: SCARPA CEO Kim Miller on the F1 LT & MoreScarpa’s Green Manifesto Become a BLISTER+ Member23/24 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide Pre-OrderCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Off The CouchGEAR:30Blister PodcastCRAFTEDHappy Hour (for Blister Members) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 TestingLearn More about Blister LabsOUR OTHER PODCASTSOff The CouchBlister PodcastBikes & Big Ideas CRAFTEDHappy Hour (for Blister Members) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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:Become a BLISTER+ MemberBlister Summit 2024 RegistrationBlister YouTube ChannelCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Off The CouchBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastCRAFTEDHappy Hour (for Blister Members) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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)RELATED LINKS:Become a BLISTER+ Member23/24 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide Pre-OrderCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Off The CouchGEAR:30Blister PodcastCRAFTEDHappy Hour (for Blister Members) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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)RELATED LINKS:BLISTER+ Membership23/24 Blister Winter Buyer’s GuideBlister Summit RegistrationCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Off The CouchGEAR:30Blister PodcastCRAFTEDHappy Hour (for Blister Members) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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:BLISTER+ Membership23/24 Blister Winter Buyer’s GuideBlister Summit RegistrationVideo: Blister Summit Bindings Panel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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+ Membership23/24 Blister Winter Buyer’s GuideBlister Summit Registration Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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)RELATED LINKS:Blister Summit RegistrationBLISTER+ MembershipThis Week’s Gear GiveawayBikes vs Skis, 4th Edition (2023): Part 1Bikes vs Skis, 4th Edition (2023): Part 2Bikes vs Skis, 3rd Edition (2021): Part 1Bikes vs Skis, 3rd Edition (2021): Part 2Bikes vs Skis, 2nd Edition (2020): Part 1Bikes vs Skis, 2nd Edition (2020): Part 2Bikes vs Skis, 1st Edition (2018): Part 1Bikes vs Skis, 1st Edition (2018): Part 2OUR OTHER PODCASTSOff The CouchGEAR:30Blister PodcastCRAFTEDHappy Hour (for Blister Members) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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)RELATED LINKS Episode Sponsors:Compeed New Image BrewingTown of Mount Crested ButteCrested Butte Mountain Resort Our Blister Recommended ShopsBlister Summit 2024 RegistrationBLISTER+ MembershipBLISTER+ Real World TestimonialsVIDEOS: Blister Summit Panel Sessions & Brand LineupsCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTEDBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchHappy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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)RELATED LINKS Episode Sponsor: Gear WestBlister Summit 2024 RegistrationBLISTER+ MembershipBLISTER+ Real World TestimonialsVIDEOS: Blister Summit Panel Sessions & Brand LineupsSee all of our Blister Recommended ShopsBikes vs Skis, 3rd Edition (2021): Part 1Bikes vs Skis, 3rd Edition (2021): Part 2Bikes vs Skis, 2nd Edition (2020): Part 1Bikes vs Skis, 2nd Edition (2020): Part 2Bikes vs Skis, 1st Edition (2018): Part 1Bikes vs Skis, 1st Edition (2018): Part 2CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTEDBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchHappy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you spend any time — inbounds or in the backcountry — skiing or riding in avalanche terrain or near tree wells, then you need to listen to this episode. Because we’re talking about a new system designed to increase your chances of survival if buried in an avalanche or tree well: the Safeback SBX. Our guest is Tor Berge, the CEO of the Norwegian company, Safeback, and Tor and I have a wide ranging conversation about avy gear in general, while also diving deep into the development process of their SBX system and exactly how it works. There’s lots of good food for thought in this one.TOPICS & TIMES:What sparked the idea? (2:49)Buying More Time while Buried (6:40)Defining the Problem: Trauma & Asphyxia (9:52)Activating the System (15:41)Integration: Backpacks, Vests, & Airbags (17:33)Difficulty of Development (28:55)Which snow type is best for O2 Circulation? (34:45)JE’s Experience in Argentina (38:17)Surprising Findings in Development? (41:31)Certification Process (43:38)Tree Wells (49:19)Price (55:16)Crashes & Close Calls (57:19)What We’re Celebrating (1:02:54)RELATED LINKS Episode. Sponsor: Gear WestBlister Summit 2024 RegistrationBLISTER+ MembershipBLISTER+ Real World TestimonialsVIDEOS: Blister Summit Panel Sessions & Brand LineupsSee all of our Blister Recommended ShopsCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTEDBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchHappy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we’re talking about skis built for the deepest of days, the ones we dream about — and the kind that Mike McCabe and Jonathan Ellsworth were fortunate enough to ski recently in Alaska. And if you’ve ever heard someone say, “All skis are great in pow,” well, they’re here to blow up that notion. So what design elements work best in deep snow? What about low-angle terrain vs. steeper terrain? How wide is too wide? Is a softer flex pattern better? They discuss all of this and more.TOPICS & TIMES What did you learn in Alaska? (4:01)Rethinking Ski Length (8:18)Width (9:32)Misconceptions about Skiing Deep Snow (12:10)Snow Variability (16:59)Steep Terrain & Other Variables (22:19)Folsom G-Wagon (29:47)Folsom Rapture & Low-Angle Deep Snow (38:10)Figuring out Scale in AK (42:40)Slope Angles & Ski Design (46:20)R&D Trip / Pinnacle Conditions (57:00)Mike’s ‘Crashes & Close Calls’ Story (1:03:17)What We’re Celebrating (1:10:22)RELATED LINKS Episode. Sponsor: Outdoor Gear ExchangeBlister Summit 2024 RegistrationBLISTER+ MembershipBLISTER+ Real World TestimonialsVIDEOS: Blister Summit Panel Sessions & Brand LineupsSee all of our Blister Recommended ShopsCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTEDBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchHappy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kara Williard speaks with Coalition Snow founder and CEO, Jen Gurecki, about running a ski and snowboard brand owned and operated by women that designs products for everyone; what the evolution of these business goals has looked like; their brick-and-mortar storefront; “Far Out” trips around the world; inclusive initiatives designed to grow snowsports and build a lasting community; Coalition's 23/24 ski and snowboard lineup; what needs to happen for the ski industry to survive and thrive; Jen’s goals for the future; and more. TOPICS & TIMES:So Much Powder (3:03)Founding Coalition Snow (5:20)Skis by Women, for Anyone (11:45)The Evolution of the Brand (17:09)The Team at Coalition Snow (22:01)Far Out: Retail Space (24:45)Far Out Trips & Jen’s Guiding Experience (28:17)Indigenous Backcountry Scholarship (34:43)Coalition Clubhouse (37:26)The 2024 Ski Lineup (39:08)The 2024 Snowboard Lineup (43:53)Survival of the Industry (46:00)Looking Ahead (52:11)RELATED LINKS:Episode Sponsor: Gear West: Our Blister Recommended Shop Blister Summit 2024 RegistrationBlister + Spot MembershipBlister + Spot Real World TestimonialsVIDEOS: Blister Summit Panel Sessions & Brand LineupsSee our list of Blister Recommended ShopsCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTEDBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchHappy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonathan is currently in AK with Paul Forward, Chugach Powder Guides, and a great crew. So he & Paul talk about the skis they’ve been getting time on (from Heritage Lab, Folsom, DPS, K2); some new skis we’d like to see; crème brûlée crust; and the new Lange Shadow boot.TOPICS & TIMES:Tricky Weather and Epic Powder Day (3:31)Chugach Powder Guides (6:50)Snowpack and Types of Snow (8:34)Heritage Lab FL 113 (13:38)Folsom Rapture & Folsom G-Wagon (24:57)K2 Powabunga (38:38)DPS Lotus 124 (44:49)Breakable Crust & Crème Brûlée (56:05)Ski Boots: Lange Shadow (1:05:40)Crashes & Close Calls (1:08:36)What We're Celebrating (1:11:35)RELATED LINKS:Blister Summit 2024 RegistrationBlister + Spot Membership Blister + Spot Real World TestimonialsVIDEOS: Blister Summit Panel Sessions & Brand Lineups See our list of Blister Recommended ShopsCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Happy HourCRAFTEDBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonathan and Luke talk about closing day at CBMR; the gear JE is bringing to AK; liners; the Rossi Sender Free 110, Armada Declivity 102 Ti, Volkl Revolt 114, Luke’s new stitches, & more.TOPICS & TIMES:Closing Day (2:47)Latest on Luke’s Diet (10:05)JE’s Alaska Trip / Gear (11:56)Zipfit vs Atomic Mimic Professional Liner (18:28)Rossignol Sender Free 110 (27:44)Armada Declivity 102 Ti (48:22)Volkl Revolt 114 (52:44)Luke's Two Crashes (56:04)Blister + Spot Membership What We're Celebrating (1:06:56)Blister Summit 2024 RegistrationRELATED LINKS:Blister Rec Shop: Moment Factory StoreBlister Summit 2024 RegistrationBlister + Spot Membership Blister + Spot Real World Testimonials CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Happy HourCRAFTEDBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonathan talks with Blizzard’s Christian Avery about the overhauled Rustler & Sheeva skis; where their Hustle line of skis slots into the mix; and why we shouldn’t be sleeping on the Cochise.TOPICS & TIMES:From Intern to Product Manager (5:18)History of Blizzard (11:33)Freeride Then & Now (17:22)Don’t Sleep on the Cochise (23:30)Overview of the Lineup (30:33)Rustler 10 (39:47)Rustler 9 (52:29)Rustler 11 (1:00:32)Rustler vs Sheeva (1:09:08)Hustle & Zero G Touring Skis (1:22:06)Black Pearl Series (1:25:16)Crashes & Close Calls (1:29:20)What We're Celebrating (1:39)RELATED LINKS Blister Rec Shop: Willi’s Ski & SnowboardBlister + Spot Membership Blister + Spot Real World Testimonials Get Your Blister x John Fellows Artist Series ShirtCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTEDBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchHappy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this edition of Shop Talk, Kara Williard talks with Jeff Perry and Isabel Berg from Gear West, our Blister Recommended Shop in Long Lake, Minnesota, to learn about how they build a year-round community around Gear West’s “campus”; what it means to provide service for everything from ski racing to park skiing; some gear trends they’re noticing; how new uphill access at their local mountain, Buck Hill, has influenced the community and their gear purchases; what it looks like to train and staff a large year-round specialty shop, and much more. TOPICS & TIMESGear West Campus (4:53)Gear West Community (7:20)Growing the Sport (10:12)30-Year Anniversary (12:00)Staying Relevant Year-Round (14:50)Service & Ski Racing (17:27)Park Skiing (21:36)Gear Trend Follow-up (22:37)Buck Hill Uphill (25:56)Staffing & Training (29:25)Masterfit University (31:51)What We’re Celebrating (37:24)RELATED LINKS Ep 136: Shop Talk: Gear West, Long Lake, MNEp 190: Gear West on Current Trends + New Ski & Snowboard Gear Blister + Spot Membership Blister + Spot Real World Testimonials Get Your Blister x John Fellows Artist Series ShirtCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTEDBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchHappy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kara Williard and Jonathan Ellsworth talk with Jeff Colt, Brand Director of ZipFit, to make the case for why liners, or “inner boots” are one of the most overlooked yet most important pieces of gear. We also discuss the legacy of Sven Coomer; the growth of ZipFit as they bring new products to market; the Fischer x ZipFit collab with the RC4 Pro series; and Jeff shares his own ‘Crashes & Close Calls’ story from the Blister Summit. TOPICS & TIMES ZipFit at the Blister Summit (4:08)“Inner Boots” (7:52)“First Fit” vs. “3rd-Day Fit” (12:38)Durability, Consistency, Longevity (23:08)Reviewing Ski Boots (33:49)The Growth of ZipFit (39:33)Sven Coomer’s Legacy (46:33)Low-Volume Liners (51:01)Fischer x ZipFit (59:15)Crashes & Close Calls (1:04:23)What We’re Celebrating (1:11:00)RELATED LINKS Episode Sponsor: skierssportshop.comBecome a Blister + Spot MemberBlister Podcast: Sven Coomer, Founder of Zipfit (Ep. 35) Off The Couch: Jeff Colt on Chasing Western States & More (Ep. 152)Get Your Blister x John Fellows Artist Series ShirtCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTEDBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchHappy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this edition of Shop Talk, Kristin Sinnott is back with the owners of the Spokane Alpine Haus, Drew and Rachel Harding, to discuss skiing with kids. We cover how we were introduced to the sport as kids, what it looked like to bring our own kids into the sport, and how it’s going. We also talk about how shops can help facilitate children and families getting into the sport, what it looks like to grow the next generation of skiers and snowboarders, what to look for in kids' gear, the gear that’s helped us get our families out on the hill, and more. TOPICS & TIMES:Drew and Rachels' Background in Skiing as Kids (2:07)Kristin's Background (5:02)Affordability (5:56)Child Care and Traveling with Kids for Skiing (8:05)Drew and Rachel's Kids Intro to Skiing  and Parent Mentorship (10:42)Seasonal Leases (19:31)Parental Advice for Soft Goods and Apparel (23:14)iGrow stitches and Boot Cuff Considerations? (27:48)Boot Considerations and Growth (34:27)Hard Goods and Ski Poles (36:47)Leashes and Harness (41:38)Sense of Freedom for Kids (46:33)How Can Ski Shops Play a Roll In Kids Skiing (49:59)Helmets and Goggles (52:21)Kids Join the Conversation (56:01)RELATED LINKS:Blister Recommended Ski Shop: Spokane Alpine HausBlister Recommend ShopsSpokane Alpine HausShop Talk: Spokane Alpine Haus (Ep.160)Shop Talk: Recap of the Season; Skiing with Kids; & Heated Socks (Ep.194)Blister + Spot MembershipGet Your Blister x John Fellows Artist Series ShirtCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTEDBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchHappy Hour (for Blister Members) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luke Koppa is joined by Justin Bobb, Kara Williard, Dylan Wood, and Kristin Sinnott to discuss some of the standout gear they were able to test at last week’s Blister Summit, from skis to snowboards, ski boots, bindings, and even snow blades. Then about halfway through, Jonathan Ellsworth jumps in and adds his thoughts on a couple of the skis he got on, too.TOPICS & TIMES Fischer RC4 BOA Boots (3:06)Moment Countach 110 (6:53)Kristin’s Ski Picks (9:09)Jbobb on Snowboards (10:49)Icelantic Shaman (13:17)Renoun Citadel 106 (17:44)Volkl Revolt 114 (19:45)Majesty Havoc Ti (23:18)Nidecker Supermatic Bindings (26:02)ZipFit Liners (30:46)K2 Mindebender 108 Ti & Nordica Unleashed 108 W (37:37)Deviation Works (39:06)Jonathan Jumps In (41:56)Snow Blades, Tele Skis, Mono Skis, & Compeed (54:36)What We're Celebrating (1:02:06)Crashes and Close Calls (1:06:12)RELATED LINKS:Blister Recommended Shop: Powder7Blister + Spot Membership New Gear Recap from Blister Summit 2023OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Happy HourCRAFTED Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchBLISTER Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this edition of Shop Talk, we are back with Kai Palkeinen, founder of Pulse Boot Lab, to hear about what Kai’s been up to since we last talked, including opening a third location in Collingwood; the evolution of Pulse and what they have in mind for the future; their process for developing and refining some 3D printing technology that is being applied to more than just ski boots; what it means to spend the day fitting race boots; why liners are everything, subjective, and also circular (?); Kai’s thoughts on some recent new boot tech, and more.TOPICS & TIMES New Collingwood Location (2:41)Skiers That Care (5:57)The Race Skillset (7:16)The Evolution of Pulse (9:49)3D Printing & Verticals (14:04)Other Pulse Initiatives? (26:17)BOA Hype (32:06)Liners: Subjective & Circular (40:26)RELATED LINKS:Blister Recommended Ski Shop: Pulse Custom Boot LabEp. 35: New Innovations in Bootfitting with Pulse Boot LabEp 217: A Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting, Pt. 3: Stance Balancing with Pulse Boot Labs Blister Summit 2023 Registration Blister + Spot Membership OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Happy HourCRAFTED Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchBLISTER Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Sean Humbert is back to provide an update on our ski testing at Blister Labs; discuss the potential of artificial intelligence and machine learning for product reviewing and ski recommendation engines; and more.TOPICS & TIMES:Skier, Biker, Mechanical Engineer (4:00)Update on Blister Labs Ski Testing (5:35)Artificial Intelligence & Ski Testing (9:48)Ski Recommendation Engines (16:20)Other Labs Initiatives + AI Engine Compatibility (21:42)Crashes & Close Calls (26:00)What We’re Celebrating (29:51)RELATED LINKS:GEAR:30 ep.198: Sean Humbert on Ski Testing & Dynamic ModellingGEAR:30 ep.213: Manufacturers vs. Researchers & ReviewersBlister + Spot MembershipBlister Summit 2023 RegistrationOUR OTHER PODCASTSHappy HourBlister PodcastBikes & Big Ideas CRAFTEDOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Manser is back to go deep on the just-unveiled 23/24 Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD (and Hawx Ultra XTD BOA GW); the new Hawx Ultra XTD Mimic Professional liner; the all-new Atomic Backland XTD; and why we’re suddenly seeing the proliferation of the BOA system on ski boots. We also discuss ponies, children’s cough syrup, and Matt shares his own ‘Crashes & Close Calls’ story.TOPICS & TIMES:Scotch, Kid’s Cough Syrup, & Happy Hour (9:22)BOA Teaser (16:01)23/24 Hawx Ultra XTD (17:42)Last Width and Plastics Used (19:59)Measured Weights (29:44)Comparisons to Other Boots (32:47)Glued-On Sole (36:21)23/24 Liner Improvements with Mimic (39:33)Gnar Bar & Walk Mechanism (45:25)The BOA in The Room (51:49)Fit / Importance of Fit (1:01:56)Durability & Repairability (1:03:26)Why BOA now? (1:10:02)Boot Out? (1:16:32)23/24 Women’s Hawx Ultra XTD (1:19:01)23/24 Hawks Ultra XTD Mimic Professional Liner (1:21:57)Consumer Options for Liners (1:23:42)Backland (1:29:51)23/24 Backland XTD 120 construction (1:38:23)Why Still Call It a “Backland”?(1:41:54)Crashes & Close Calls (1:45:18)What We're Celebrating (1:50:56)RELATED LINKS:Blister Rec. Shop: The Skier’s Sport ShopOpenSnow.com/BlisterBlister + Spot MembershipBlister Summit 2023 RegistrationAmateur Hour: Matt Manser on ScotchOUR OTHER PODCASTSHappy HourBlister PodcastBikes & Big Ideas CRAFTEDOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonathan talks about shop life, gear, the price of single-day lift passes, and more with Alex and Matt from Powder7 in Golden, Colorado. Then Blister bike editor, David Golay, joins Jonathan to tell his Crashes & Close Calls story.TOPICS & TIMES:What is Powder7 + Origin Story (3:57)Defining Ski Days (10:58)Lift Ticket Day Passes (16:59)Powder7 Test (32:07)Gear & Ski Width (37:48)Boot Fitting (48:53)Ski Trade-In Program (51:44)Crashes & Close Calls (1:00:42)What We're Celebrating (1:13:00)RELATED LINKS:Blister + Spot MembershipBlister Summit 2023 RegistrationOUR OTHER PODCASTSHappy HourBlister PodcastBikes & Big Ideas CRAFTEDOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we’ve got a masterclass on the history and evolution of snowboard design with Jeremy Jones, as well as Jeremy’s own philosophy behind product creation and refinement at Jones Snowboards. Jeremy and I discuss “progression bumps”; a new Jones board coming out this spring; prototyping; finding design inspiration in unexpected places; a number of the boards in the current Jones lineup; and more.TOPICS & TIMES:Splitboards: why did you start with splits? (6:36)Making gear work vs. dialing in gear (11:25)Progression Bumps: Evolutions & Revolutions (13:55)Jones Tweaker & Nose Shape (17:10)New Board: the Jones Butterfly (19:55)Philosophy of Product Changes (21:54)Storm Chaser & Inspiration from Surfing (30:08)Design evolution since the early 80's (32:11)Are you more picky about shape or flex? (39:14)Manufacturing errors? Tolerances & Variations (43:32)Supply Chain update (49:05)Project X Boards (52:10)Product Name Changes & ‘Know Thyself’ (54:06)Jones Apparel (1:01:40)Crashes & Close Calls (1:08:22)What We’re Celebrating (1:16:14)RELATED LINKS:Blister Recommended Shop: Pulse Boot LabBlister + Spot MembershipBlister Summit 2023 RegistrationBlister Pod ep.231: Speaker Series, Jeremy Jones YouTube: Blister Speaker Series, Jeremy JonesOUR OTHER PODCASTSBlister PodcastBikes & Big Ideas CRAFTEDOff The CouchHappy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re talking ski gear, customer trends, & sustainability initiatives (from the POV of a shop owner) with Mike Donohue of Outdoor Gear Exchange, our Blister Recommended Shop in Burlington, Vermont. And we have a great listener-submitted story for “Crashes & Close Calls.”TOPICS & TIMES:Outdoor Gear Exchange History & Consignment (4:11)Mike’s History & OGE Today (7:15)Telemarking Roots, Splitboarding, & Gear (9:56)Ski Boots & Mike’s Touring Gear (12:57)Shift Bindings (16:29)Skis (20:25)Customer Trends (22:48)Buying New vs Used Gear (29:01)Sustainability: Shop Owners & Manufacturers (31:11)Crashes & Close Calls (41:16)What We’re Celebrating: Relationship Questions! (48:14)RELATED LINKS:Blister + Spot MembershipBlister Summit 2023 RegistrationOUR OTHER PODCASTSBlister PodcastBikes & Big Ideas CRAFTEDOff The CouchHappy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonathan Ellsworth, Luke Koppa, Kara Williard, and Dylan Wood discuss some of the notable gear they’ve been reviewing this season. They also discuss Christmas quesadillas; whether it’s okay to put sweaty ski socks on boot dryers; and we launch a new segment: Crashes & Close Calls.TOPICS & TIMESChristmas Quesadillas (6:09)Wagner Custom 104 & Summit 106 (11:29)Scarpa 4-Quattro XT (21:03)Happy Hour! (25:26)Our New Boot Dryer (27:45)Fischer Ranger 115 W (34:36)Head Supershape e-Rally (39:17)Our Alpine Binding Test (42:45)Folsom Cash 93 & Spar 88 (44:48)Insulated Flylow Jackets and Another Anorak Debate (51:50)Crashes & Close Calls (56:14)RELATED LINKS:Blister Recommended Shop: Willi’s Ski & BoardNEW: Blister + Spot MembershipBlister Summit 2023 RegistrationOUR OTHER PODCASTSOff The CouchBlister PodcastBikes & Big Ideas CRAFTEDHappy Hour (for Blister Members) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Travis Hainsworth is a whole lot of fun. And when he’s not out on his highly questionable one-ski quiver, he’s busy being the associate director of the  Western-CU Boulder Computer Science Program here in Gunnison, CO, and an integral member of our Blister Labs team. So in this conversation, we’re talking “SoRo”;” MoCap”; wheelset testing; his dream of becoming the first Red-Bull-sponsored mathematician; and more.TOPICS & TIMES:Subarus, Bourbon, & Travis’ One-Ski Quiver (7:29)“Soft Robots” (11:37)Dirt Biking, Broken Bones, & Mechanical Engineering (18:47)Fur-Lined Hoods & Travis's Ski Set Up (24:45)Blister Labs Wheel Testing (28:48)Extracting the Data & What We're Trying To Learn (43:33)Red Bull Sponsored Mathematicians (46:24)System Dynamics & Intro To Robotics Courses (49:03)When Results? (57:51)What We're Celebrating (1:00:21)RELATED LINKS:NEW: Blister + Spot MembershipVideo: Blister Labs Wheelset TestingBlister Summit 2023 RegistrationGet Your Blister x John Fellows Artist Series ShirtOUR OTHER PODCASTSOff The CouchBlister PodcastBikes & Big Ideas CRAFTEDHappy Hour (for Blister Members) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Too often, passionate skiers have to mourn the discontinuation of our all-time favorite ski designs. So Marshal Olson started Heritage Lab Skis to fix that. In this conversation, we talk with Marshal about all things Heritage Lab, including how it got started; how it’s going; their ‘smokin’ rocks’ warranty policy; order updates; and what’s next.TOPICS & TIMES:What is Heritage Lab Skis? (4:34)How did you get it started? (11:25)Shapes & Designs (17:15)Testing & Production (21:48)Who are They For? (26:46)Warranty, Returns, & Smokin’ Rocks (28:06)Where are the Skis Built? (30:13)Build Types & Talking about ‘Classic Designs’ (32:52)Stated Radius Numbers (37:29)Biggest Surprises So Far? (39:13)What's Next? (40:27)Orders & Current Status (42:05)Where to Learn More (46:07)RELATED LINKS:Blister Recommended Shop: Hickory & TweedExclusive Offer: OpenSnow.com/BlisterNEW: Blister + Spot MembershipBlister Summit 2023 RegistrationGet Your Blister x John Fellows Artist Series ShirtOUR OTHER PODCASTSOff The CouchBlister PodcastBikes & Big Ideas CRAFTEDHappy Hour (for Blister Members) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Manser, Atomic’s ski boots product manager, is back to discuss the current lineup of Atomic ski boots and what’s new for this season; running through airports in ski boots; Tom Cruise; the Atomic Redster CS vs. the Hawx Ultra Professional; and more.TOPICS & TIMES: Scotch & our upcoming CRAFTED episode (5:06)Overview of Atomic’s current boot lineup (8:28)Redster talk (12:19)Redster Club Sport (17:46) Hawx Ultra (30:48)Professional Series (36:18)Ski Boots & Temperature Stability (43:41)New Hawx Ultra (46:05)Hawx Prime (47:36)Hawx Magna (50:31)Hawx XTD (53:23)Differences in Women’s boots? (55:58)Cuff Heights, Etc (1:00:40)Backland (1:03:20)Airport Sprint Test (1:07:31)What We're Celebrating (1:13:34)RELATED LINKS:Blister Recommended Shop: Powder7.comBlister Summit 2023 RegistrationGet Your Blister x John Fellows Artist Series ShirtOUR OTHER PODCASTSOff The CouchBlister PodcastBikes & Big Ideas CRAFTED Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kristin Sinnott and Kara Williard caught up with Kjerstin Klein, co-owner of Willi’s Ski and Board. They dove into Kjerstin’s adventurous background as a model and sponsored snowboarder (among several other amazing things); and what it looked like for Kjerstin and her husband Greg to take on Willi’s and maintain it as a family-owned ski shop. Kjerstin explains how to successfully jump into a family business; techniques for how to stay innovative; what it means to truly grow the sport; why ski shops are “conduits” within the ecosystem that is the ski industry; and we learn a lot about the Winter Divas program, a women’s focus group that Kjerstin founded to grow women’s presence and leadership in the industry, plus a whole bunch more.TOPICS & TIMES: Kjerstin’s Background (4:18)Being a Model & Sponsored Snowboarder (9:31)Jumping into a family business (13:12)Staying Innovative (19:01)Advice for family-run small businesses (21:50)Ski shops as conduits (23:19)Families that ski together stay together (26:55)Women-specific gear taking shape (33:07)Winter Divas (49:40)Specialty Retail (1:01:40)Skiing Meets Our Basic Needs (1:04:54)RELATED LINKS:Ep. Sponsor + Exclusive Offer: OpenSnow.com/BLISTERBlister Recommended Shop: Willi’s Ski and BoardBlister Summit Panel Video: Women in the Ski IndustryKjerstin's Music Video AppearanceEp.223: Blizzard-Tecnica’s Women2Women Program with Leslie Baker-Brown Ep.167: Willi’s Ski and Snowboard ShopsBlister Summit 2023 RegistrationOUR OTHER PODCASTSOff The CouchBlister PodcastBikes & Big Ideas CRAFTED Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kristin Sinnott and Kara Williard talk with Blizzard-Tecnica’s Women2Women program founder and ski legend, Leslie Baker-Brown, about her background in ski racing, and her remarkable 32 years of work for Blizzard-Tecnica. They dive into the origins story of the W2W program, including how it spans beyond women-specific gear via community-building, scholarship programs, and more. Leslie explains Blizzard-Tecnica’s design process for women’s gear, including designing the #1 selling ski in the world; she talks about what it looks like to work with women through the iterative prototyping process; what gives her hope and inspiration for the future; and where we can still work to improve the industry.TOPICS & TIMES Leslie’s Background in Ski Racing (4:17)Competing for Middlebury (4:41)32 years with Tecnica! (7:45)Where women-specific gear started (9:35)How the idea of W2W was born (14:36)The Four Pillars (20:00)How W2W has Evolved (22:52)The #1 Ski in the World (27:22)Women-Specific Ski Boots (34:38)What’s hopeful and inspirational right now? (39:14)Where can the industry do better? (41:59)What We’re Celebrating (48:12)RELATED LINKS:Women2Women 2022 Scholarship Opportunities: US: W2W Hilaree Nelson ScholarshipCanada: English: W2W Hilaree Nelson ScholarshipCanada: French: W2W Hilaree Nelson ScholarshipBecome a Blister MemberBlister Summit 2023 RegistrationOUR OTHER PODCASTSOff The CouchBlister PodcastBikes & Big Ideas CRAFTED Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just in time for our Blister Recommended Shop, Powder Hound, to celebrate its 10-year business anniversary, Kara Williard chatted with the owner and founder, Eric Helmbrecht. They dove into a bunch of topics as a reflection of the 10 years Powder Hound has been a staple shop in Girdwood, AK, including how skis, boots, and bindings have progressed; the ways in which the industry has changed; what it looked like to be adaptable during a global pandemic; accomplishments they’re proud of; getting their start at the Palmer State Fair; what it feels like to ski on skis that are over 140 mm underfoot; snowboarding trends; and more.TOPICS & TIMES:AT Boots & 50/50 Boots (4:22)Weight Trends (8:55)Macro Industry Trends (16:15)Global Pandemics & Adaptability (23:40)Influx of Skiers and Industry Growth (25:07)Employment Challenges (28:36)Things you’re Proud of (31:14)Palmer State Fair (32:11)Year-Round Stable Shop (36:26)Season Lease Program (39:25)Fat Skis (44:00)Breathable & Waterproof Gear (46:12)Binding Improvements (48:56)Don’t Forget SNOWBOARDING! (50:50)RELATED LINKS:Our Blister Recommended Shop: Powder HoundEp.133: Shop Talk: Powder Hound, Girdwood, AKEp.41: Trends, Favorite Gear, and Most / Least Durable Products, with Eric Helmbrecht of Powder Hound AKEp. 17: Spring Skiing & Biking in AKBlister Summit 2023 Registration OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTED Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchBLISTER Podcast  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the fourth installment of our Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting, we talked with Jake "Fasa" Nelson, who not only works at the Moment Ski Factory, but also happens to run one of the best bootfitting shops in the Reno area. Fasa runs us through what a “big-mountain freeride” approach to bootfitting looks like; how his background in running informs his understanding of feet and biomechanics, how to work with the unique preferences of athletes (and some of the insanity that athletes can tolerate); what it means to be a “tour guide” rather than a bootfitter; and much more.TOPICS AND TIMES Self-taught bootfitting & mentorship (1:59)Moment Factory Showroom & Store (4:58)Big-mountain freeride approach to bootfitting (8:18)Suspension and shock absorption in the system (14:03)Running vs. skiing (20:13)Feet are adaptive and can be trained (24:27)Custom Insoles (32:11)Fitting preferences for athletes (38:42)Circulation & gauging tolerance (45:42)Touring or 50/50 boots (53:06)Bootfitting is subjective (1:00:47)A tour guide, not a bootfitter (1:06:12)RELATED LINKS:A Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting, Pt 1: The BasicsA Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting, Pt. 2: Your Questions by Sam and KaraA Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting, Pt. 3: Stance Balancing with Pulse Boot LabsA Very Deep Dive on Ski BootsBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s GuideSubscribe to our Gear Giveaways & NewsletterOUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTED Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchBLISTER Podcast  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eric Hjorleifson is back on GEAR:30 to answer questions from our Blister Members about gear; his tinkering process; coming to the Blister Summit; how he trains for an upcoming season; mental preparation, and … we get some bonus questions from Markus Eder, too. (We also announce our new “Blister After Hours” sessions — that’s our working title — so learn about that and let us know if you have better ideas for what we ought to call the new show.)TOPICS & TIMES:Catching Up / Coming to the Blister Summit (3:34)What gear is going to change most in the next 10 years? (13:03)Our Alpine Bindings Test (16:19)What gear do people obsess over that doesn’t really matter? (18:19)How has your skiing changed as you’ve gotten older? (19:46)When are you moving to Austria? (27:26)Golden Alpine Holidays lodges (30:07)Touring binding priorities? (35:45)What would you like to design from scratch? (43:04)Mental Prep for something challenging? (46:14)The Bec des Rosses (55:31)Which element of your setup gets you the most excited to tinker with? (57:10)Bode Miller & Hoji on 3-piece boots (59:29)Training to perform at a high level? (1:11:37)Dumbest thing you've seen Markus Eder do? (1:20:28)What’s your process like for gear modification? (1:29:21)Do I really get to ski with Hoji at the Blister Summit? (1:44:02)What’s up next for you? (1:44:31)What We're Celebrating (1:47:11)RELATED LINKS:Become a Blister MemberBLISTER SUMMIT INFO & REGISTRATIONSubscribe to our Gear Giveaways & NewsletterOur Other Conversations with HojiBlister Summit Video: Hoji on the Updated 4FRNT HojiEp.141: Radical Pro, Hoji Hole & MoreEp.100: Skins, Michael Jordan, & Mono SkisEp.29: Hoji Free & 4FRNT RenegadeBlister Pod Ep. 75: Hoji on “HOJI”Ep.1: Hoji on the new Dynafit Hoji Boots Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk with Skip and Mac Beitzel, the owners — and father / son duo — from Hickory & Tweed, located in Armonk, New York. We go over the history of the shop; Skip’s background of ski ballet and hot dogging; seasonal lease programs; personal ski quivers; & more.TOPICS & TIMES Hickory & Tweed story (3:21)Ballet & hot dogging (11:12)Seasonal lease program (19:07)East Coast Skiing (30:34)Narrow and Deep (35:36)Soft Goods and Custom Top Sheets (50:57)Blow your mind guarantee (1:03:34)What We’re Celebrating (1:07:38)RELATED LINKS:Hickory and Tweed: BLISTER Recommended Shop SPECIAL OFFER: OpenSnow.com/BlisterBecome a Blister Member / Get Our Buyer’s GuideSubscribe to our Gear Giveaways & Newsletter2023 Blister Summit 22/23 BLISTER Winter Buyer’s GuideOUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTED Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchBLISTER Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A bunch of our reviewers discuss why our 22/23 Winter Buyer’s Guide is still unique and still the best resource for your winter gear; what’s new & different this year; some of our personal favorite gear of the season; some industry trends and speculation; and why pumpkin-flavored pastries make Drew Kelly sweat.TOPICS & TIMES What makes the Blister Buyer’s Guide unique? (3:36)What’s New (10:23)Our Women-Specific Sections & Unisex Skis (12:16)Gear Trends (14:40)Leveling Out (21:41)More Specified Gear (23:31)Groomer Skiing (29:47)Insulated Apparel (33:23)Specific Gear Shoutouts (35:12)Our BLISTER Spectrums & Quivers (45:50)What We’re Celebrating (52:23)RELATED LINKS:Hickory and Tweed: BLISTER Recommended Shop Become a Blister Member / Get Our Buyer’s GuideSubscribe to our Gear Giveaways & Newsletter2023 Blister Summit 22/23 BLISTER Winter Buyer’s GuideOUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTED Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchBLISTER Podcast  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For Part 3 of our Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting series, Kara Williard and Kai Palkeinen, Founder of Pulse Boot Labs, dive into the intricate topic of stance balancing and canting ski boots. Kai explains Pulse Boots Labs’ analytical approach to getting it right, his refined methodology of “red light, green light”; the multi-step process of looking at the foot, insole, liner, shell, and then potentially cuff alignment and canting; and all the intricate variables that can play into this process, including snow surface, attitude, and communication.TOPICS & TIMESHow does this process start? (3:22)The Foundation (4:57)Red Light, Green Light (6:50)Pulse Methods (10:53)Binding Ramp Angle (17:06)Why Liners Matter (24:37)Cuff Alignment (26:14)Canting Schools of Thought (35:06)Rigid vs. Flexible (41:33)Communication and Stopping Points (47:47)Snow Surface (49:32)What We’re Celebrating (54:00)RELATED LINKS:Blister Recommended Ski Shop: Pulse Custom Boot LabEp. 35: New Innovations in Bootfitting with Pulse Boot LabA Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting, Pt 1: The BasicsA Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting, Pt. 2: Your Questions by Sam and KaraA Very Deep Dive on Ski BootsBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s GuideSubscribe to our Gear Giveaways & NewsletterOUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTED Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchBLISTER Podcast  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Folsom builds custom skis in Denver, Colorado, and they have a LOT going on these days. So we discussed it all with their head ski builder / owner / CEO, Mike McCabe, including their 22/23 lineup; new shapes; new construction materials; their very cool Junior Skis Trade-In Program; Blister Labs; and more.TOPICS & TIMES:Folsom & Fatherhood (3:25)Folsom Spar series (11:26)Completo, Cash, & Primary series (17:21)Cash family (20:12)Folsom Rapture (26:00)New Model: G-Wagon (32:15)New Model: Cash 93 (37:42)UltraLITE construction (39:00)Orders & Production Cycle (45:30)Folsom’s Aspen shop (49:32)Folsom’s Denver shop (51:36)Blister Labs (52:41)Junior Skis Trade-In Program (58:15)What We’re Celebrating (1:08:10)RELATED LINKS:Become a Blister Member / Get Our Buyer’s GuideMore on Blister LabsSubscribe to our Gear Giveaways & NewsletterSEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTED Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchBLISTER Podcast  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Those waterproof & breathability ratings on the tags of that rain jacket or those ski pants you’re about to buy: where did they come from? What’s the history? And how relevant are those standards? We discuss all of this and more with Dr. Lauren Cooper, who heads up our Blister Labs work on technical apparel.TOPICS & TIMES:Dr. Cooper’s background (3:37)History of standards & ratings (7:23)Current Standards (11:11)What does the ISO standard tell us? (17:08)What doesn’t the ISO standard tell us? (18:05)Next Steps (22:36)RELATED LINKS:Become a Blister Member / Get Our Buyer’s GuideMore on Blister LabsVIDEO: Blister Labs Panel SessionSubscribe to our Gear Giveaways & NewsletterOUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTED Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchBLISTER Podcast  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second installment of our “Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting” series, Blister reviewer (and bootfitter) Kara Williard is joined again by Master Bootiftter, Sam Tischendorf. But this time it is all about you, the audience, as we make our way through a bunch of your questions. Sam and Kara explain some of the technical mysteries — and at times, controversies — within bootfitting, such as forward lean and ramp angle; provide a deeper explanation of why custom insoles are so imperative as the foundation to a boot’s fit; the differences between rigid and flexible feet; they make a case for women-specific ski boots; and they end on some horror stories and Sam’s true feelings about DIY bootfitting. TOPICS AND TIMESCustom insoles (4:40)Socks & Shell Fit (13:12)Forward Lean / Ramp Angle (18:51)Fore / Aft Balance (30:20)Binding Delta? (32:26)“The old skinny heel” (34:11)Aftermarket Liners (41:23)Time to Upgrade? (44:32)Flat Feet and Foot Flexibility (51:47)Rigid Feet Need Love (56:33)Women-Specific Boots (57:38)Horror Stories & DIY Bootfitting and Cool Stuff and Gross Stuff (1:07:28)RELATED LINKS:Part 1: A Very Deep Dive on BootfittingA Very Deep Dive on Ski BootsBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s GuideSubscribe to our Gear Giveaways & NewsletterOUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTED Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchBLISTER Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can engineering actually help us discover real-world characteristics about products that will be meaningful to end users? Or, when we incorporate quantitative data, do we mostly run the risk of having that data leading people astray? To lay out the concerns, stakes, and potential rewards, Jonathan Ellsworth talks with Thomas Laakso, the vice president of product and operations at DPS Skis, and Dr. Sean Humbert of Blister Labs.TOPICS & TIMES:Will Data Set Us Free? (6:12)Variability & Defining Uncertainty (14:05)Data & Real-World Applicability (16:58)DPS Pagoda Tour Update (29:03)Quantifying the User Experience? (34:34)Interrogating Engineering (37:42)RELATED LINKS:Become a Blister Member / Get Our Buyer’s GuideGEAR:30: Thomas Laakso on DPS SkisGEAR:30: Ski Testing & Dynamic Modeling w Sean HumbertVIDEO: Blister Labs Panel SessionSubscribe to our Gear Giveaways & NewsletterOUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTED Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchBLISTER Podcast  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Few things in the world of ski gear are as complex, important, or misunderstood as bootfitting. So in this 1st episode of our new series on bootfitting, we dive into the basics with Sam Tischendorf, Masterfit University instructor, former clinical podiatrist, and lead bootfitter.TOPICS & TIMES:Sam Tischendorf’s background in Clinical Podiatry (4:56)How She Got into Skiing (8:41)Her Current Work as a Bootfitter (16:40)Masterfit University (21:41)Tecnica’s Women 2 Women & P165 (30:05)Bootfitting is Feelings (37:47)Communication with your Bootfitter (58:10)The Customization Process (1:04:29)Boot Longevity (1:10:58)What We’re Celebrating (1:22:23)RELATED LINKS:A Very Deep Dive on Ski BootsBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s GuideSubscribe to our Gear Giveaways & NewsletterOUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTED Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchBLISTER Podcast  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Greg Vanderbeek is back with a Blister Labs update on our mountain-bike-wheels testing. We discuss why the dynamic modeling we’ve been doing in the field is a critical component for ongoing testing back at Western Colorado University; what our test results are revealing about carbon vs. aluminum wheels; and we talk about the joy of new tires, the magic of espresso, and more.TOPICS & TIMES:The Joys of New Tires (4:21)Wheelest Testing Update (7:49)Age-Old Question: Carbon vs. Aluminum Wheels (13:34)What We're Celebrating (21:14)RELATED LINKS:GEAR:30 ep. 204: Blister Labs / Greg VanderbeekAll Blister Labs Current ProjectsCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister PodcastCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasOff the Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You do your research when it comes to your ski & bike & trail gear. But what about your eyewear? Julbo CEO, Dave Crothers, makes the case that there’s a whole lot more to lens technology that everyone ought to be considering, and that lenses are not all pretty much the same. Hear him out.TOPICS & TIMES:Julbo & Dave’s background (4:08)The Eyewear Industry Today (17:55)Differences in Lenses (20:10)Photochromic or Photochromatic? (30:51)Evolution of photochromic lenses - (33:06)“Categories” (36:23)Polarized lenses (38:43)Forte of photochromic lenses?“High Contrast” vs “Light Amplifier”Closing Remarks: DYR (50:27)What We’re Celebrating (53:03)RELATED LINKS:Subscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s GuideCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTEDBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the latest edition of our Reviewing the Reviewer series, our resident ski reviewer, bike tester, boot fitter, and sustainable farmer, Kara Williard, is in the hot seat. We cover everything from ski and bike gear preferences to scorpion-eating chickens; Kara’s stint as a Tall-Tee-clad park rat; whether goalie gloves smell worse than sweaty ski boots; and much more.TOPICS & TIMES:Kara’s background (4:39)Worst thing she did during high school? (12:18)College days (14:02)Kara’s family of goalkeepers (16:17)Gross goalie gloves (18:25)Kara’s skiing & bootfitting background (20:31)First time she met Jonathan (31:26)Mountain biking & gear preferences (36:26)Her favorite reviewers (46:06)Her favorite skier & bikers (47:21)Jungle farming with scabies & scorpion-eating chickens (50:06)What she’s better at than Sam Shaheen (54:28)Favorite books, movies, & musicians (57:21)Random review: her own red chile (1:03:05)Best question we haven’t asked you? (1:07:38)What We're Celebrating (1:12:04)RELATED LINKS:Kara discusses food systems & farming (Blister Pod Ep.221)Subscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s GuideCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTEDBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.