New 2022/2023 Ski Gear

G3 (aka, Genuine Guide Gear) is introducing a new touring binding — the Zed — that they’re calling the lightest fully-featured AT binding on the market. So we talk to G3’s engineers about their design philosophy and development process, current trends in AT bindings, and the compromises inherent in any AT binding.TOPICS & TIMES:Introductions (2:15)When did work begin on this binding, and what was the primary aim? (4:55)The “Dark Swamp of Despair” (8:03)The difficulty of naming products (11:09)The G3 ION as the precursor to the ZED (12:37)Cutting weight on the ZED (17:14)Why choose the ION over the ZED? (26:03)Why choose the Zed over "ultralight" bindings (29:07)Using ultralight bindings on wide skis (30:19)Carbon reinforced plastics (33:51)Current binding trends and U-Spring bindings (37:15)Understanding the inherent compromises in bindings (44:55) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

20 Huhti 201850min

We just finished testing a bunch of skis at Taos, and because of a closing-week snowstorm, we ended up getting on everything from very heavy, modified race skis, to a new, extremely light big mountain ski. So Blister editors Sam Shaheen and Luke Koppa join me to go over a number of the highlights, including the new Atomic Bent Chetler 100, the HEAD Supershape i.Titan, a new carver from DPS, the Black Crows Orb, and what might be my new personal favorite ski from Blizzard.TOPICS & TIMES:Shredding West Basin in a Hello Kitty onesie & snowblades (2:04)Atomic Bent Chetler 100 (5:48)Bent Chetler 100 vs. LINE Sick Day 104 (8:20)Renoun Citadel 106 (13:41)Blizzard Brahma (17:28)Update on the Fritschi Tecton (20:00)Black Crows Orb (22:15)HEAD SuperShape i.Titan (29:10)HEAD i.Speed Pro (33:10)DPS Cassiar 79 - “The Trainer” (35:34) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4 Huhti 201841min

We're talking about new backcountry gear and some of the changes to backcountry ski culture with the founder of Bentgate, Greg Floyd. Greg founded Bentgate in Golden, Colorado back in 1994, and Bentgate has become a cornerstone shop in the front range of Colorado for all things skiing and climbing.TOPICS & TIMES:How Bentgate got its start (2:20)How Greg has watched backcountry skiing culture change (6:05)Bentgate’s Backcountry 101 sessions (7:23)Sam Shaheen’s close call in Japan (19:04)Some of Greg’s favorite AT gear (23:25)Bentgate’s take on the Atomic / Salomon Shift binding (25:47)G3 Zed binding (28:07)Icelantic Skis (29:44)22 Designs bindings (31:04)Arc’teryx outerwear (32:00)Flylow Gear (33:36)Black Crows skis (34:32)Climbing skins: G3 vs. Black Diamond vs. Pomoca vs. Contour (35:31) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

25 Maalis 201841min

We’ve got 2 parts to this episode — first, I talk with Blister reviewer, Sam Shaheen, about the most unusual ski we’ve ever reviewed (and the ski that nearly caused Sam and me to fight), the Renoun Endurance 98. And then Sam and I wrap up with an update on the Scott Scrapper 115.Then I talk with Blister reviewers Sascha Anastas and Kara Williard about women’s ski boots and the problem it can be for good skiers (that happen to have small feet) to find boots that works for them. Having Sascha and Kara weigh in on this is great, since they are both good skiers, and Kara also happens to be very good bootfitter who works at the Boot Doctors in Taos Ski Valley. Sascha has just gone through a pretty extensive process of trying to find a new boot that really works for her, so she and Kara talk a bit about that, and why Sascha ended up going with the Atomic Hawx Ultra 110 W.TOPICS & TIMES:Renoun Endurance 98 (1:42)Scott Scrapper 115 (16:15)Sascha & Kara's backgrounds (19:30)Sascha & Kara on the problem of women's ski boots (24:50)Atomic Hawx Ultra 110 W (30:28) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

17 Maalis 201839min

ON3P is releasing their entire new ski line early next month. So we talk to ON3P founder, Scott Andrus, about this decision, then go over every ski in the 18/19 line, including what’s new, what's unchanged, and what’s so new and experimental that Scott didn’t want to talk about it. (But we got him to anyway.) And you can also see all the new 18/19 ON3P graphics in the show notes to this episode on blister.TOPICS & TIMES:Why release the new line next month? (03:20)Kartel 96, 108, & 116 (05:06)Magnus 90 & 102 (08:16)Wrenegade 96, 108, & 114 (12:41)New *Metal* Wrenegades (15:59)Jessie 96 & 108 (20:47)Women’s Billy Goat? (22:34)Billy Goat - and the 2 skis that originally inspired it (24:24)Graphics & Scott’s all-time favorite ON3P graphic (26:26)ON3P Kid’s Ski: the Charlie Murphy + Scott’s cats (31:45)ON3P snowblades & ON3P monoski? (34:15)Cease & Desist (35:36)The Super Goat (37:25)Experimental New Project - The St. Lucas (39:46)Touring Skis: available “Tour” layups of the Kartels, Wrens, and Billy Goats (46:58) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

9 Maalis 201850min

We discuss a bunch of the brand new ski equipment we've been testing at Telluride, including the Line Sakana, ON3P Wrenegade 114, Faction Dictator 4.0, Rossi Soul 7, the new Atomic-Salomon SHIFT binding, and more.TOPICS & TIMES: A recap of Telluride, plus JE getting back on snow - and heli skiing (1:23)Rossignol Soul 7 HD & Blizzard Rustler 11 (5:00)Line Sakana (10:30)ON3P Wrenegade 114 (12:45)Faction Dictator 4.0 (15:00)Atomic / Salomon SHIFT MNC binding (18:55)Black Crows Daemon (23:20)Volkl Mantra M5 & Blizzard Bonafide (26:30)Renoun Endurance 98 (29:31)ON3P Kartel 108 (35:55) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2 Maalis 201840min

We talk to the CEO and head designer of Moment Skis, Luke Jacobson, about Moment's lineup for next season — what’s new, what's unchanged, and what's tweaked — and we cover everything from touring skis, kid's skis, women’s skis and even … the Chief Commander.TOPICS & TIMES:On Moment athlete - and current Olympian - David Wise winning X Games SuperPipe (1:12)The 18/19 Moment lineup: the revised Deathwish (4:55)Meridian 107 & 117 (10:18)PB&J - “unchanged but changed” (10:42)Wildcat & Wildcat Tour (13:08)Commander 98 and Commander 108 (17:06)“Women’s” skis - Hot Mess, Sierra, Bella (28:58)The Carson (and Zephyr) - Moment’s kid's ski (31:34)Touring Skis - Deathwish Tour 106 & Wildcat Tour (35:40)Meridian Tour (37:25)The Chief Commander! (40:30) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

16 Helmi 201842min

We talk to blister reviewer, Paul Forward, about some of the powder skis he’s been reviewing recently in Alaska and Japan, including the Faction Prime 4.0, the Black Diamond Helio 116, and the DPS Spoon.And then we talk to Jeremy Cole, owner of Alpine Sports, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which is one of our Blister Recommended Shops. Jeremy and I cover 3 topics: new gear; some of his favorite price-point boots & skis, and some real-world issues surrounding boots, bindings, and bench test results.TOPICS & TIMES:Join us in Telluride the weekends of February 24, March 10, March 17 (2:11)Paul Forward on the DPS Spoon, Faction Prime 4.0, Black Diamond Helio 116 (3:01)Jeremy Cole, owner of Alpine Sports, Santa Fe, New Mexico (20:31)As a buyer, what were some of the most intriguing new products you saw at OR/SIA (21:52)Bang for the Buck: some of Jeremy’s favorite price-point boots & skis (27:02)Bench Test Results: real-world issues around boots + binding compatibility (32:41) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

12 Helmi 201842min