Gear of the Year, 2023
Jonathan Ellsworth sits down with Luke Koppa, Kara Williard, and Justin Bobb to reflect on some of the standout products and notable trends that defined the past year in ski and snowboard gear. So, what trend does Luke think is “the gear equivalent of superhero movies?” How many BOA dials has JBobb broken in a decade as a self-described BOA convert? What’s Kara’s pick for the “Not New But Still Amazing Award?” Take a listen and find out.RELATED LINKS:Episode Sponsor: Taos Ski ValleyBlister Recommended Shop: Zimmermann’s Skis, Boards & More Become a BLISTER+ MemberTOPICS & TIMES:Biggest Developments & TrendsSki Boots (4:21)Snowboard Boots & Boards (17:56)Snowboard Bindings (22:03)Ski Bindings (26:06)Standout Products (31:54)Best Values (51:36)Not New But Still Amazing Award (1:00:33)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
30 Des 20231h 6min
Blister Community Reviews Launch; How Much Info is Too Much / Too Little; & Other Contentious Topics
We just launched our new Blister Labs project, Blister Community Reviews, so Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss where it is today; how it will evolve; and some big questions like, how much info is too much or too little?; how to best define the difference between an intermediate, advanced, and expert skier; rating scale debates; and more.RELATED LINKS:Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+Join Us! Blister Summit 2024Video: Blister Labs Summit Panel SessionGEAR:30 #257: Previous Labs Convo TOPICS & TIMES:Solstice & World Snowboard Day (1:54)Blister Community Reviews (7:47)Defining Skier Ability Levels (20:03)Rating Scales (32:31)Should Our Reviewers Contribute? (37:55)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
22 Des 202346min
Folsom’s Spar 78, New ‘Rotor’ Pow Ski, & Jonathan’s Custom Touring Ski Project
Jonathan and Folsom Custom Ski’s Mike McCabe discuss the skinniest ski in the Folsom lineup, the Spar 78; Folsom’s new huge pow ski, the Rotor; and then they discuss a new custom touring-ski project for Jonathan, and dive deep into the various layup & core combinations one would use to hit certain weight targets. Our fellow gear dorks, you’re going to dig this one.RELATED LINKS:Episode Sponsor: Powder7.comJoin Us! Blister Summit 2024Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+TOPICS & TIMES:What’s going on at Folsom? (5:30)Folsom Spar 78 (8:08)New: Folsom Rotor (11:58)Backstory: Folsom ‘Giver’ & ‘Primary’ (14:02)Bag Balm x Blister x Folsom (20:55)JE’s Custom Touring Ski Project (34:30)Which Bindings? (38:36)Which Boots? (42:21)Ski Length (52:11)Weight (54:44)The Hammer (1:08:44)Folsom’s Configurations (1:14:53)Mount Point (1:16:44)Camber Profile (1:19:03)Mike’s ‘Crashes & Close Calls’ Story (1:30:26)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
8 Des 20231h 43min
Reviewer Reports: Early-Season Ski Gear Testing, Mtn Biking in Nepal, & More
Luke Koppa, Kara Williard, and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss getting back on snow, the best holiday of the year, ski boots, frontside skis, mountain biking in Nepal, engagement taco parties, and new apparel.RELATED LINKS:Join Us! Blister Summit 2024Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+TOPICS & TIMES:Blister Summit Update (0:00)Back on Snow (3:41)Ski Boots (12:16)Mtn Biking in Nepal (23:49)Frontside Skis (32:02)Apparel (50:01)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 Des 20231h
Biggest Ski Buying Mistakes + Ski Tuning, Ski Wax, & Ski Boots
What are some of the biggest mistakes skiers make when buying gear? And what do regular, recreational skiers & snowboarders need to know about ski tuning and waxing? Jonathan discusses these questions and more with Logan and Riley Boone of Boone Mountain Sports. They also talk about how they all met (it was in Austria), and Jonathan reveals the upcoming ‘Blister 90-Flex Challenge’.TOPICS & TIMES:Blister Summit Update (1:50)How / Where We All Met (8:09)Intros: Logan, Riley, & Boone Mountain Sports (13:44)Kombucha, Music Festivals, & Youth Programs (18:33)Biggest Ski Buying Mistakes? (28:42)The Blister ‘90-Flex Challenge’ (35:11)Ski Tuning (51:00)Waxing (1:08:35)Crashes & Close Calls (1:13:50)The Boone Mountain Sports Logo (1:23:30)RELATED LINKSJoin Us! Blister Summit 2024Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBlister PodcastCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
24 Nov 20231h 28min
The Pro's Gear: Ted Ligety
Jonathan talks with Ted Ligety (2x Olympic Gold Medalist & 5x World Cup champion) about his approach to gear; the specific gear he’s using today; how to best deal with flat light and low-vis conditions; his take on the current state of skiing and ski racing; and more.TOPICS & TIMES:How Do You Prepare & Train for Ski Season? (3:55)Ski Boots (11:25)CARV (18:59)Your Ski Quiver These Days? (35:07)Tuning & Waxing (37:32)Goggle Lenses for Flat Light (46:16)Current State of Skiing & Ski Racing? (57:34)Crashes & Close Calls (1:08:57)RELATED LINKSEpisode Sponsor: Boot MechanicsGet Yourself Covered: BLISTER+Blister Podcast ep. 14: Ted LigetyCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:NEW: Blister CinematicBlister PodcastCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
17 Nov 20231h 14min
Parlor Custom Skis: Building Skis in Boston, Custom vs. Semi-Custom Skis, & the Age-Old Question of Ski Width for East-Coast Skiing
Jonathan was at the Parlor Custom Skis factory in East Boston to check out the factory and talk with Parlor owner & manager, Mark Wallace, about building custom skis in Boston; assessing skiers (and skiers assessing themselves); custom vs. semi-custom skis; and more.TOPICS & TIMES:What is Parlor? (4:46)Parlor’s Ski Building Classes (7:45)Assessing Skiers & Self Assessments (21:17)Fitting skiers into the right skis (23:27)Bringing Back Old Skis (30:15)Custom vs. Semi-Custom Skis (33:11)Ski Width Controversy (38:13)Best Question I Haven’t Asked You? (58:07)Crashes & Close Calls (1:01:12)Where to Learn More about Parlor (1:09:47)RELATED LINKS:Episode Sponsor: Skiboot RxEpisode Sponsor: Taos Ski ValleyGet Yourself Covered: BLISTER+CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Off The CouchBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastCRAFTEDComing soon: Blister Cinematic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
10 Nov 20231h 14min
