GEAR:30

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:Our Blister Recommended ShopsGet Yourself Covered: BLISTER+ Ep. 226 w/ Heritage Lab SkisTOPICS & 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)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 21 March 2025

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+ MemberTOPICS & 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)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 14 March 2025

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 ValleyBlister Rec Shop: Willi’s Ski & Board ShopGet 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)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 7 March 2025

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 OpsJoin us @ Blister Summit 2025Become a BLISTER+ MemberTOPICS & 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)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 21 February 2025

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:CARVBlister Rec Shop: Viking Ski Shop Become a BLISTER+ MemberJoin us @ Blister Summit 2025Mito x Folsom: Case StudyTOPICS & TIMES:CARV (2:10)Viking Ski Shop (3:09)Functionalized Graphene (4:30How 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) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 14 February 2025

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’sBecome a BLISTER+ MemberJoin us @ Blister Summit 2025JE’s Flash Review of Atomic Remedy 130TOPICS & 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)More on the Remedy 130 (51:18)Redster vs Remedy Shells (54:19)Other Elements of the Remedy (56:31)Geometry Changes (1:01:54)Adding Screws & Flex Patterns (1:06:05)New Liners (1:12:58)Q: World’s Greatest Technology? (1:20:00)Fancy Custom Race Boots (1:21:20)Heat Moldable Shells? (1:26:42)Dual BOA (1:30:36)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 7 February 2025

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: SkiBootRXCarv | Use code BLISTER32 for 10% offJoin us @ Blister Summit 2025Become a BLISTER+ MemberTOPICS & 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:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 31 January 2025

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 ShopBLISTER+ Get Yourself CoveredJoin Us! Blister Summit 2025TOPICS & 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) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 24 January 2025

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: blister50Our Blister Rec Shop: Spokane Alpine Haus5850 Fest, Ketchum, IdahoBLISTER+ Get Yourself CoveredJoin Us! Blister Summit 2025TOPICS & 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)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBlister PodcastCRAFTEDBikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 17 January 2025

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. RELATED LINKS:A Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting, Pt. 6: Ski Boot Flex w/ Pulse Boot Labs Our Blister Rec Shop: Pulse Boot Labs and Ski Co.Watch Mountain Joy BLISTER+: Get Yourself CoveredBlister Summit 2025TOPICS & 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)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBlister PodcastCRAFTEDBikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 10 January 2025

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 MechanicsGEAR:30 Ep #327 w/ Boot MechanicsBLISTER+: Get Yourself CoveredBlister Summit 2025TOPICS & 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)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBlister PodcastCRAFTEDBikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 3 January 2025

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 Sports2: Taos Ski Valley3: Blister Summit 2025: Learn More4: 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 85CARV & Our Ski Reviews (21:44)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 27 December 2024

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: BLISTER323: OpenSnow.com/buy, use code: blister504: Blister Summit 2025: Learn More5: 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)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasCRAFTED Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 20 December 2024

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 HoundSubmit your Bootfitting QuestionsBlister Summit 2025Blister Pod: Jonathan on this DPS PrototypeBlister Pod: Ted Ligety on this New SkiTOPICS & 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 ProjectNumerical 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) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 13 December 2024

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 LINKS1: 5850 Fest2: Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+3: Get Our Winter Buyer’s Guide4: Blister Summit 2025: Learn MoreTOPICS & TIMES5850 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)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasCRAFTED Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 6 December 2024

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 LINKS1: Blister Rec Shop: Powder7.com2: GetCarv.com, use code: BLISTER323: Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+4: Get Our Winter Buyer’s Guide5: Blister Summit 2025: Learn MoreTOPICS & TIMESPowder 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 88JE's Skis (26:41)- Armada Declivity 108- Armada Declivity 102Shop Talk: Bangtail’s 1st (32:08)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasCRAFTED Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 2 December 2024

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 LINKS1: Blister Rec Shop: Pulse Boot Lab & Ski Co2: Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+3: Get Our Winter Buyer’s Guide4: Blister Summit 2025: Learn MoreTOPICS & 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)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasCRAFTED Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 22 November 2024

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 LINKSOpenSnow.com/buy (use code Blister50)Blister Rec Shop: Teton Village SportsGet Yourself Covered: BLISTER+Get Our Winter Buyer’s GuideTOPICS & 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)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasCRAFTED Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 15 November 2024

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 LINKSBlister Recommended Shop: Powder7Our Full List of Blister Recommended ShopsGet Yourself Covered: BLISTER+Get Our Winter Buyer’s GuideTOPICS & TIMESMost 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)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasCRAFTED Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 8 November 2024

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 LINKSGet Yourself Covered: BLISTER+Get Our Winter Buyer’s GuideTOPICS & 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)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasCRAFTED Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 1 November 2024

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 LINKSGet Yourself Covered: BLISTER+Get Our Winter Buyer’s GuideVIDEO: Luke J @ the Blister SummitTOPICS & 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)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasCRAFTED Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 25 October 2024

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 LINKSSpokane Alpine HausBlister Recommended Shops Become a BLISTER+ Member24/25 Blister Winter Buyer’s GuideTOPICS & TIMESStore 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)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasCRAFTED Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 18 October 2024

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 ValleyBecome a BLISTER+ Member24/25 Blister Winter Buyer’s GuideTOPICS & 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)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasCRAFTED Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 11 October 2024

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 LINKSOpenSnow.com/buy (code: BLISTER50)Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+Get Our Winter Buyer’s GuideCrafted Podcast: Scott Andrus on KnivesCrafted Podcast: Scott Andrus on CoffeeTOPICS & 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)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasCRAFTED Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 4 October 2024

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 LINKSGet Yourself Covered: BLISTER+Get Our Winter Buyer’s GuideCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasCRAFTEDTOPICS & 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) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 27 September 2024

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 LINKSGet Yourself Covered: BLISTER+Get Our 24/25 Winter Buyer’s GuideCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasCRAFTEDTOPICS & 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) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 20 September 2024

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 LINKSGet Yourself Covered: BLISTER+Get Our 24/25 Winter Buyer’s GuideBoulder Orthotics A Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting SeriesTOPICS & TIMESCustom 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)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasCRAFTED Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 13 September 2024

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 LINKSGet Yourself Covered: BLISTER+Get Our 24/25 Winter Buyer’s GuideCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasCRAFTEDTOPICS & 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) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 6 September 2024

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 LINKSGet Yourself Covered: BLISTER+Get Our 24/25 Winter Buyer’s GuideCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasCRAFTEDTOPICS & 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) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 30 August 2024

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 LINKSGet Yourself Covered: BLISTER+Pre-Order: Our 24/25 Winter Buyer’s GuideTOPICS & 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:Blister CinematicBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasCRAFTED Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 23 August 2024

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 LINKSGet Yourself Covered: BLISTER+Pre-Order: Our 24/25 Winter Buyer’s GuideTOPICS & TIMES:Niko’s StylePin 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:Blister CinematicBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasCRAFTED Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 16 August 2024

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.RELATED LINKS:Pre-Order: Our 24/25 Winter Buyer’s GuideBecome a Member: BLISTER+TOPICS & TIMESZack’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:Blister CinematicBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasCRAFTED Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 9 August 2024

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:The Published Paper on this ProjectBLISTER+: Get Yourself CoveredTOPICS & 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:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 2 August 2024

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. RELATED LINKS:Pre-Order: Our 24/25 Winter Buyer’s GuideBecome a Member: BLISTER+Gnara’s GoFly TechnologyTOPICS & 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:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 26 July 2024

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.RELATED LINKS:Pre-Order: Our 24/25 Winter Buyer’s GuideBecome 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)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 19 July 2024

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 SportsA Guide to Skiing in New Zealand, Ep.260Blister Recommended ShopsBLISTER+: Become a MemberTOPICS & TIMESSeason 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)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 12 July 2024

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% offBLISTER+: Become a MemberCamille Jaccoux on Blister Podcast Ep.144Camille & Julien Regnier on GEAR:30 Ep.64TOPICS & 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)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 28 June 2024

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% offBLISTER+: Become a MemberBlister Summit 2025: register before July 1st to save $150 Reviews: Line Pandoras, K2 Reckoners, K2 OmensTOPICS & 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)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 21 June 2024

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: BLISTERGet Yourself Covered: BLISTER+Blister Summit 2025: Early-Bird RegistrationTOPICS & 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)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 14 June 2024

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 RegistrationGet Yourself Covered: BLISTER+CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The CouchTOPICS & TIMESHigh 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) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 7 June 2024

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:Our Blister Recommended ShopsGet Yourself Covered: BLISTER+CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastTOPICS & 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) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 24 May 2024

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: BLISTERBlister Summit 2025: Early-Bird RegistrationGet 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)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 18 May 2024

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 SportsGet Yourself Covered: BLISTER+Listen to Part OneCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The CouchTOPICS & TIMES:Next Blister Cinematic episodeSnowboard 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) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 10 May 2024

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 HoundGet 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)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 3 May 2024

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 ChannelBlister Recommended ShopsTOPICS:Intro 4:12BOA Ski Boots: How’s It Gone So Far? 5:36Weight: Still a Big Factor?13:27Hoji’s New Dynafit Ridge Pro Boot 25:20“Welcome Fit” 39:06Footbeds & Boot Shell Plastic 45:31Upper-Cuff BOAs? 54:09Selling Shells w/o Liners? 56:34Solutions for Cold Feet? 1:02:40“True” size-22 Shells 1:04:57Throat / Instep Fit 1:06:47Canting & Cuff Alignment 1:09:11“Custom” Boots 1:11:20CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 26 April 2024

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.RELATED LINKS:Shop Talk: Powder Hound, Girdwood, AK (Ep.133)Shop Talk: Celebrating 10 Years of Powder Hound in Girdwood, AK (Ep.222)Trends, Favorite Gear, and Most / Least Durable Products, with Eric Helmbrecht of Powder Hound AK (Ep.41) Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+Blister Recommended ShopsTOPICS & TIMESAlaska’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)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 19 April 2024

Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss some of the new skis they’ve been testing this springRELATED LINKS:Blister Rec Shop: Powder HoundGet 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)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 12 April 2024

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:Download Aspect Avy for FREEBlister Rec Shop: Boulder OrthoticsGet Covered: BLISTER+VIDEOS: BLISTER YouTube ChannelInvest in Aspect AvyTOPICS & 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)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 5 April 2024

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 ExchangeGet Covered: BLISTER+VIDEOS: BLISTER YouTube ChannelTOPICS & TIMES:Introductions 3:21Manufacturing Challenges 8:08Ski Costs vs. Ski Prices 14:10Exciting New Ski Materials? 26:01Audience Questions 35:50CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 29 March 2024

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 AKBLISTER+ Membership: Learn More & Sign UpVIDEOS: Blister YouTube ChannelTOPICS & 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)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 22 March 2024