New DPS Skis & Products with Stephan Drake

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.

12 Mai 20231h 24min

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.

5 Mai 20231h 5min

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.

28 Apr 20231h 15min

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.

21 Apr 202356min

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.

14 Apr 20231h 13min

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.

7 Apr 20231h 18min

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.

31 Mar 20231h 37min

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.

17 Mar 202339min