New Salomon Dual BOA Ski Boot & New Salomon QST Skis

Today we’re providing some updates and discussing the implications of the initial results of our Blister Labs wheelset testing with Greg Vanderbeek (assistant professor of mechanical engineering at CU Boulder & the Western Colorado University / CU Boulder partnership program here in Gunnison, CO) and Travis Hainsworth (associate director of the Western-CU Boulder Computer Science Program).TOPICS & TIMES:Project Overview (4:19)Carbon vs Aluminum = Complicated (7:13)Preliminary Data / Fancy Squishing Machines (8:42)Lacing Patterns, Impact Loading, & Dynamic Loading (12:12)Marketing Wheelsets (14:43)Challenges (18:58)Next Steps (24:23)Variables (26:38)Learn More (38:32)RELATED LINKS:Video: Blister Labs Wheelset TestingLearn More about Blister LabsOUR OTHER PODCASTSOff The CouchBlister PodcastBikes & Big Ideas CRAFTEDHappy Hour (for Blister Members) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

7 Jul 202341min

When it comes to gear, how do you balance the specific needs of world-class athletes with those of average skiers and riders?In this conversation from Blister Summit 2023, McKenna Petersen (K2 athlete), Drew Peterson (Salomon athlete), Tyler Curle (Moment athlete & ski builder), and Jed Yeiser (K2 engineer) discuss the product development process; the roles that athletes, designers, and product managers play; the weirdest prototypes they’ve tried; what “evolutionary” and “revolutionary” changes we should expect in the future; which discontinued products they’d like to bring back, and more.TOPICS & TIMES:Intros & Backgrounds (2:48)Balancing Needs of Pro Athletes vs the Public (7:31)Are We in an Evolutionary or Revolutionary Stage of Ski Design? (25:15)Weirdest Prototype You’ve Tried? (34:17)How Have Your Responsibilities Evolved? (42:59)Changing Popular Products (47:13)What Product Would You Bring Back? (52:46)RELATED LINKS:Become a BLISTER+ MemberBlister Summit 2024 RegistrationBlister YouTube ChannelCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Off The CouchBikes & Big IdeasBlister PodcastCRAFTEDHappy Hour (for Blister Members) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

30 Jun 20231h

Odds are that just about every piece of clothing you own has been applied with some sort of surface treatment, and those (typically petroleum-based) treatments contribute to a significant portion of the apparel industry’s already massive carbon footprint. With their recent collaboration, Beyond Surface Technologies and WNDR Alpine are changing that.So Luke Koppa got the whole story from BST’s CEO, Matthias Foessel, and WNDR Alpine’s Matt Sterbenz, including the details of WNDR Alpine’s Phase Series apparel collection; how BST’s “miDori bioWick” treatment actually works; how it differs from existing plant-seed-based treatments; why it’s important to take a holistic approach when developing alternative processes and treatments, and more.TOPICS & TIMES:Matthias’ Background (2:53)Fabric Surface Treatments: Background (5:31)Surface Treatments: Environmental Impact (11:15)WNDR Alpine, Beyond Surface Technologies, & Checkerspot (14:42)What does miDori bioWick do? (18:52)WNDR Alpine Phase Series (25:15)Algal Oils vs Plant Seed Oils (29:05)What’s Next? (36:12)Holistic Approach to Surface Treatments (40:59)What We’re Celebrating & Crashes & Close Calls (46:26)RELATED LINKS:Become a BLISTER+ Member23/24 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide Pre-OrderCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Off The CouchGEAR:30Blister PodcastCRAFTEDHappy Hour (for Blister Members) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

23 Jun 202350min

For decades, Kästle has been making high-end skis for everything from racing to Nordic and skimo. But what sparked their recent launch into the ski boot category? It’s far from a simple process, so Kara Williard talked with Alessandro Speranzoni, Kästle’s global ski boot product engineer, and Alex Pritzlaff, their U.S. product manager, to discuss the origins of the project; the design details of their boots, including their mysterious “Secret Mix” plastic composition; the 23/24 Kästle boot lineup; some new projects they have in the works, and more.TOPICS & TIMES:Alessandro & Alex’s Background (3:22)Kästle’s heritage (6:49)The “Ski Boot Challenge” (10:02)Prototyping & Design (13:41)Key Blend / “Secret Mix” Plastics (21:04)Fit & Liners (31:44)Stance & Boot Boards (37:34)“K Release” Buckles (40:08)23/24 Lineup (41:53)Women-Specific Boot & Ski Project (52:25)Crashes & Close Calls (1:05:32)What We’re Celebrating (1:07:15)RELATED LINKS:BLISTER+ Membership23/24 Blister Winter Buyer’s GuideBlister Summit RegistrationCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Off The CouchGEAR:30Blister PodcastCRAFTEDHappy Hour (for Blister Members) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

16 Jun 20231h 8min

Tyrolia’s Protector bindings with “Full Heel Release” is something that every skier ought to know about. Tyrolia calls it “the safest binding we have ever made,” and exactly how it works and how it’s supposed to reduce knee injuries is the topic of this conversation with Andrew Couperthwait, VP of Winter Sports for HEAD / Tyrolia.TOPICS & TIMES:Overview of Protector Bindings (4:10)How Traditional Alpine Bindings Release (5:51)Protector Technology (8:19)Backwards Twisting Falls (10:57)Two Distinct Movements (16:12)Why 7mm? (20:22)Retention (25:24)Knee Bindings vs. Protector Bindings (32:17)ISO Norms & Boot Soles (36:07)Look Pivot vs Protector Bindings (40:44)Priorities: Release or Retention? (46:49)Development of Protector Technology (49:22)Product Evolution (52:24)Where to Find Protector Bindings (58:56)Crashes & Close Calls (1:00:59)What We're Celebrating (1:12:37)RELATED LINKS:BLISTER+ Membership23/24 Blister Winter Buyer’s GuideBlister Summit RegistrationVideo: Blister Summit Bindings Panel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

9 Jun 20231h 17min

Ferreol is a relatively new company that designs and builds skis in Quebec, and they are working hard to push beyond conventional ski materials and construction. They created their own “Innovation Lab” to not only test skis but also develop new materials — and they’re not keeping it to themselves. Instead, they’re collaborating with other brands in order to move things forward at a greater scale.So Luke Koppa sat down with Ferreol co-founder, Jonathan Audet, to discuss all of that, including the development of their own alternative to titanal alloy; fully replacing fiberglass with natural flax fibers; their 23/24 ski lineup, and more.TOPICS & TIMES:Origins of Ferreol (3:38)Blindspots in the Market (7:00)Replacing Fiberglass w/ Flax (8:45)Life Cycle Analysis (11:24)Ferreol’s 23/24 Lineup: (19:18)Surfer 112 (19:18)Pioneer 104 (23:19)Explo 96 (28:26)ZigZag 92 (30:43)Ferreol Innovation Lab: Background (34:01)Developing an Alternative to Titanal (36:49)Ski Design App (50:13)Ferreol Skis: Who Should Get Them? (51:45)What We’re Celebrating / Crashes & Close Calls (59:37)RELATED LINKS:BLISTER+ Membership23/24 Blister Winter Buyer’s GuideBlister Summit Registration Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2 Jun 20231h 1min

Ok, you know the drill. Which ski company is most similar to which bike company? What’s the latest incendiary thing that will come out of Dylan Wood’s mouth? This final installment of our 4th edition of Bikes vs Skis is definitely another fun one.TOPICS & TIMES:Yeti (5:53)Black Crows vs Revel (9:36)Line Skis (12:10)Propain Bikes vs. Line Skis (18:54)Season Skis & Snowboards (20:08)DPS (22:11)Ibis (28:07)Commencal (35:22)Kids Gear (40:11)Elan (41:51)Icelantic (43:50)Evil (49:45)4FRNT (52:03)RMU (54:00)Rocky Mountain Bikes (59:10)Norco (1:01:20)Scott (1:04:49)Orbea (1:06:51)Heritage Lab Skis (1:07:33)Crashes & Close Calls (1:15:15)What We're Celebrating (1:19:41)RELATED LINKS:Blister Summit RegistrationBLISTER+ MembershipThis Week’s Gear GiveawayBikes vs Skis, 4th Edition (2023): Part 1Bikes vs Skis, 4th Edition (2023): Part 2Bikes 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 2OUR OTHER PODCASTSOff The CouchGEAR:30Blister PodcastCRAFTEDHappy Hour (for Blister Members) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

26 Mai 20231h 22min

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)RELATED LINKS Episode Sponsors:Compeed New Image BrewingTown of Mount Crested ButteCrested Butte Mountain Resort Our Blister Recommended ShopsBlister Summit 2024 RegistrationBLISTER+ MembershipBLISTER+ Real World TestimonialsVIDEOS: Blister Summit Panel Sessions & Brand LineupsCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTEDBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchHappy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

19 Mai 20231h 20min