GEAR:30

Latest Episodes:

Ski Binding Design with Hoji, Lars Chickering-Ayers, & Giray Dadali May 19, 2023

Show notes

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

TOPICS & TIMES:

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

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Bikes vs. Skis, 4th Edition (2023): Part 1 May 12, 2023

Show notes

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

TOPICS & TIMES:

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

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

Most Dialed & Complete Lineup? (14:51)

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

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

Most Coveted Bikes & Skis (31:11)

Flying Under The Radar? (41:32)

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

Most Overhyped? (55:40)

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

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

Crashes and Close Calls (1:19:15)

What We’re Celebrating (1:22:31)

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Episode Sponsor: Gear West

Blister Summit 2024 Registration

BLISTER+ Membership

BLISTER+ Real World Testimonials

VIDEOS: Blister Summit Panel Sessions & Brand Lineups

See all of our Blister Recommended Shops

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Safeback SBX: A New Avalanche Survival System May 05, 2023

Show notes

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)

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Powder Ski Design w/ Folsom's Mike McCabe Apr 28, 2023

Show notes

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)

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Coalition Snow: 10 Years of Skis & Snowboards, 23/24 Lineup, & More w/ Founder & CEO, Jen Gurecki Apr 21, 2023

Show notes

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)

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Powder Skis in AK with Paul & Jonathan Apr 14, 2023

Show notes

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)

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Jonathan’s Gear for AK, Luke’s Latest Crash, & More Apr 07, 2023

Show notes

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 Registration

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Diving into Blizzard’s 23/24 Ski Lineup Mar 31, 2023

Show notes

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)

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Shop Talk: Gear West on Year-Round Relevance, Community, & Specialty Service Mar 17, 2023

Show notes

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 & TIMES

Gear 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)

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ZipFit “Inner Boots”; the Growth of ZipFit; Reviewing Ski Boots; & More with Jeff Colt Mar 10, 2023

Show notes

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