GEAR:30

Latest Episodes:

Shop Talk: Sebastian Steinbach, Black Sheep Sports Oct 02, 2020

Show notes

Black Sheep Sports is a freeride shop in Munich, Germany, and we talk to its founder, Sebastian Steinbach, about this past ski season; his predictions for the upcoming ski season in Europe — and whether we’ll see a backcountry boom in Europe? We then talk about the critical art of customer service; why friends shouldn’t tell friends to just “Go buy this boot”; and more.

Order our 20/21 Winter Buyer’s Guide

TOPICS & TIMES:

Black Sheep Sports: Background (7:25)
Last Season Recap / Pandemic (11:28)
Predictions for the upcoming European season? (17:35)
The crucial art of customer service (31:57)
“Local shops” vs “Great local shops” (47:29)
What We’re Celebrating (1:10:34)

Check out our other GEAR:30 conversation with Sebastian

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Faction Skis: Company History & 20/21 Lineup Sep 25, 2020

Show notes

For some time now, Faction has been one of the hottest brands in skiing. But how much do you actually know about the company? This week we are talking about the history of the brand, some key moments in the company, and some big recent changes; you’ll hear what it’s like to go skiing with anddesign skis for Candide Thovex; and we go over Faction’s lineup for the upcoming season.

We’re joined by Faction engineer, Daniel Tanzer; product manager, Josh Cohen; and North American marketing manager and mono ski advocate, Hank Lampert.

TOPICS & TIMES

How do you describe Faction? (3:05)
Introductions: Hank, Josh, Daniel (4:32)
Changing factories and turning points in Faction’s history (11:21)
Designing skis with Candide (19:38)
20/21 Lineup: Dictator series (33:03)
Agent Series (47:06)
Prodigy and Candide series (51:40)
Le Mono (55:01)
Le Machine (57:45)
Le Mogul (1:00:33)
Final Thoughts (1:05:54)
What We’re Celebrating (1:07:25)

CHECK OUT: blister.getspot.com

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Jason Levinthal & 4FRNT’s New Ownership Group Sep 18, 2020

Show notes

Last week, it was announced that Jason Levinthal had sold 4FRNT Skis. So we talked to Jason about how this deal came about; learn the background of the new leadership group at 4FRNT; ask what the group does and doesn’t intend to change about the brand; and more.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT: blister.getspot.com

TOPICS & TIMES

Sale of 4FRNT (3:33)
4FRNT introductions (5:16)
What are the opportunities for 4FRNT? (32:22)
Pricing of skis (36:14)
4FRNT athletes (42:18)
Jonathan’s new role at 4FRNT (51:24)

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Shaggy’s Skis 20/21 Lineup + Luke & Drew Ski Pow on 9.9.20 Sep 11, 2020

Show notes

We talk to Northern-Michigan-based Shaggy’s Copper Country Skis co-founder & product engineer, Jeff Thompson, about their 20/21 lineup; their unusual “nanoMag” construction; and more. Then Luke Koppa talks about skiing pow this week (??) in Crested Butte.

TOPICS & TIMES

Making Faceshields & Skis (6:21)
Background of Shaggy’s (9:04)
Does your MI location influence your design? (11:16)
General characteristics of Shaggy’s skis (13:07)
Fat Tips (14:27)
Shaggy’s Graphics & Custom Graphics (17:16)
Build Option #1: standard (19:18)
Build Option #2: mid-light (20:12)
Build Option #3: nanoMAG (21:08)
Build Option #4: carbon (28:21)
Ahmeek 95, 105, & 115 (33:47)
Brockway 80, 90, & 100 (40:37)
Belle 80 & 90 (46:01)
Medora 95 & 105 (49:16)
Sarge 95 (51:48)
Tubby 120 (53:25)
Phoenix 105 Carbon (55:46)
What We’re Celebrating (1:02:24)

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT: blister.getspot.com

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What Makes a Face Mask More or Less Effective? Aug 29, 2020

Show notes

Not all bikes or skis are equally good at all things — and the same goes for protective face masks. So we talked with Alex Lauver and Kat Schoewe of Outdoor Research about what type of masks are the most and least effective; how Outdoor Research’s work on medical-grade PPE has influenced their commercially available Essential Face Mask; we make some predictions about the upcoming ski season; and more.

TOPICS & TIMES

Alex & Kat’s backgrounds (3:34)
History of Outdoor Research (6:41)
Current state of PPE? (10:06)
Differences in protective coverings (11:50)
When to wear masks? (35:36)
The future of masks(41:34)
Predictions on this coming ski season (50:59)
What We’re Celebrating This Week (56:37)

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Moment Skis 20/21 Lineup Aug 21, 2020

Show notes

Moment Skis CEO, Luke Jacobson, is back on the show to talk with Jonathan Ellsworth about the 20/21 lineup. Come to learn what’s new, stay for all their arguments and tangents.

[Note: Luke accidentally says in the conversation that the previous (19/20) Commander had a -10 cm mount point; it actually had a -8 cm mount point.]

TOPICS & TIMES

General Update (1:33)
Commander Series Updates (7:25)
Base material nerdery (24:55)
Sidewall nerdy (33:07)
Wildcat Series (35:24)
Interlude: Ski Length (36:57)
Touring Skis (45:56)
Women’s Skis (48:34)
Comi (51:14)
Frankenblade (52:42)
What We’re Celebrating (58:05)

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Voormi: How a ‘Textile Technology’ Company Does Outdoor Apparel Aug 14, 2020

Show notes

Voormi is not interested in being just another outdoor apparel company. They develop their own textiles inhouse; they manufacture in the United States; and they’ve got some big plans. So we sat down in Blister HQ with Timm Smith, their head of materials development, to learn more about the Voormi story and where the brand is heading.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Voormi’s origin story (2:02)
Materials (11:19)
Highlighting some specific products (19:43)
Manufacturing Processes (25:21)
River Run Hoodie (26:17)
Voormi Socks (31:46)
Manufacturing in the USA (36:45)
“Responsible” production (39:04)
Where will Voormi be in 10 years? (47:30)

WATCH THE VIDEO ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL

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WNDR Alpine’s 20/21 Lineup with Matt Sterbenz, Pep Fujas, & Xan Marshland Aug 09, 2020

Show notes

Matt Sterbenz, Pep Fujas, and Xan Marshland came to Crested Butte and sat down with us in Blister HQ to fill us in on WNDR Alpine’s new materials, new updates to the Intention 110, and their brand new ski, the Vital 100. And you’ll also hear some stories about Matt and Pep competing in slopestyle events against each other back in the day, and more.

To learn more about the WNDR Alpine backstory, check out these other conversations we’ve had with them:

TOPICS & TIMES

WNDR Alpine’s background (6:55)
What’s been easy, what’s been hard? (16:54)
Greenwashing (19:47)
Updates to the Intention 110 (30:01)
New Vital 100 (41:27)
Vital 120? (45:57)
Fujas vs. Sterbenz in slopestyle comps (50:40)
More on the Vital 100 (56:55)
The WNDR Roost event (1:01:19)

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Bikes, Forks, & Our 20/21 Winter Buyer’s Guide Jul 31, 2020

Show notes

Jonathan Ellsworth talks to David Golay, Dylan Wood, & Luke Koppa about the Guerrilla Gravity Gnarvana; Manitou Mezzer & RockShox ZEB; Rocky Mountain Instinct BC; our 20/21 Winter Buyer’s Guide (become a Blister Member to reserve your copy + get a ton of other benefits); and … ‘The Year of Ellsworth.’

TOPICS & TIMES

Guerrilla Gravity Gnarvana (5:43)
Manitou Mezzer & RockShox ZEB (8:00)
Rocky Mountain Instinct BC (17:33)
Our 20/21 Winter Buyers Guide (28:10)
2020: The Year of Ellsworth (34:33)
Buyer’s Guide Cover (38:18)

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Aprch, CBD, & the Story Behind an Emerging Category Jul 24, 2020

Show notes

Normally on GEAR:30 we dive deep into the details of specific ski, apparel, or bike equipment. But this week, we’re taking a close look at a massive emerging category — CBD products in general — and one specific company in particular, Aprch. And to walk us through some of the relevant science, regulations, production processes, and the trajectory of this industry, we’re talking with Aprch co-founder, Adam Hunter.

TOPICS & TIMES: