Shop Talk: Backcountry Skis, Boots, & Bindings
John Weir from Bentgate in Golden, CO, is back to discuss advances in backcountry skis; draw comparisons between some high-profile touring boots; and reassess the pros, cons, & compromises of various AT bindings.TOPICS & TIMES:Update on Bentgate (3:29)Boots: Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro vs Dynafit Radical Pro (8:41)Scarpa F1 LT (19:03)Advances in backcountry skis (22:29)AT Bindings (26:49)“Low Tech” bindings (29:48)Dynafit Rotation bindings (35:21)CAIC fundraiser (39:06)Supply chain realities (42:19)What We’re Celebrating (45:19)RELATED LINKSJohn Weir, GEAR:30, Ep. #120Getting Here: Gunnison & Crested ButteBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
10 Dec 202150min
The Pro's Gear: Hadley Hammer
We talk to professional skier, Hadley Hammer, about the gear she’s most & least picky about; her own gear preferences; some of the keys to happiness; and we fight about The Queen’s Gambit.TOPICS & TIMES:The Queen’s Gambit (3:04)Binge-listening to GEAR:30 (11:55)What gear are you the pickiest about? (18:03)Inclusion, Diversity, & Ski Boots (22:36)Inbounds skis & ski length (29:56)Hadley’s background (34:12)Backcountry skis: design priorities (38:20)Line Pandora 104 & 110 (42:26)Mount points (47:55)Least picky about? (53:48)What We're Celebrating (1:08:51)RELATED LINKSGetting Here: Gunnison & Crested ButteBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
3 Dec 20211h 7min
Shop Talk: Pulling Back the Curtain on Gear Testing
We’re pulling back the curtain on ski testing, and to provide their wealth of experience in this arena are The Ski Monster co-founder & CEO, George Michaelsen, and Matt Berkowitz, who is now the brand director of The Ski Monster and who has participated in too many ski tests to count. We discuss good ways and bad ways to conduct gear tests; how and why The Ski Monster has been able to ramp up the amount of gear testing they’re doing; and why not all gear tests are created equal.TOPICS & TIMES:George Michaelsen’s questionable life decision (6:21)Matt Berkowitz’s ski industry background (10:28)Ski Monster update (17:05)How industry ski tests work (19:06)Ski tuning & ski testing (42:00)Different reviewers & reviewing (53:58)What We’re Celebrating (1:10:00)RELATED LINKSEpisode Sponsor: AvocadoJonathan’s Sleep ExperimentGetting Here: Gunnison & Crested ButteBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
26 Nov 20211h 12min
Our 21/22 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide
Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss our 21/22 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide and some corresponding industry trends and category highlights. They also talk snowblades, clarify our Buyer’s Guide ‘Best Of’ Awards, and go on a rant or two.TOPICS & TIMES:Early-season turns & the new Nordica Enforcer 104 Unlimited (6:21)Our new glossy Buyers guide (11:27)Weight Trends (13:25)Unisex vs. ‘women-specific’ trend? (21:56)Alpine ski boots (22:54)Rant: ski stiffness & stability (29:52)Grip Walk soles (34:11)‘Best Of’ awards clarification (36:58)What We’re Celebrating (43:48)RELATED LINKSEpisode Sponsor: AvocadoJonathan’s Sleep ExperimentBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
19 Nov 202153min
Moment Skis 21/22 Lineup with Luke Jacobson
Moment Skis CEO, Luke Jacobson, is back on GEAR:30 to talk about Moment’s 21/22 lineup of skis; the new Moment factory; the new Deathwish 104; snowblading; & more.TOPICS & TIMES:Moment’s new factory (4:51)Supply chain issues? (11:35)New Deathwish 104 (15:25)Deathwish (22:12)Wildcat skis (25:23)Commander skis (29:16)Touring Skis (35:14)Deathwish Tour vs Wildcat Tour (37:56)Sales of standard vs touring skis (39:44)Voyager binding on which skis? (41:27)Women’s Sierra Tour & Bella Tour (48:53)Women’s Hot Mess, Sierra, Bella (52:04)Frankenblade (54:54)Blister ‘Crash Course’ Snow blade video (57:27)Chipotle Banana (1:04:17)What We’re Celebrating (1:09:21)RELATED LINKSOff The Couch podcast: Tessa ChesserGetting to Gunnison-Crested Butte: FlightsBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
12 Nov 20211h 12min
Shop Talk: Vertical Playground, Oppdal Norway
Once upon a time, a couple of friends who were scheming to get some gear for their own adventures ended up creating a phenomenal outdoor shop. We talk to Trygve Sande and Rune Kvalsnes about the origins of Vertical Playground; their trip with Hoji where the idea of the 4FRNT Raven was born; the ski touring and mountain biking scene in central Norway; some of their favorite gear; and more.TOPICS & TIMES:Vertical Playground today (4:23)Origins story (8:40)Ski touring culture in central Norway (14:08)Hoji, Sterbenz, & the birth of the 4FRNT Raven (19:07)Touring bindings (35:35)Mountain biking & summers in Oppdal (43:46)The future of Vertical Playground? (49:08)What We’re Celebrating (56:00)RELATED LINKS:Vertical PlaygroundEpisode Sponsor: AvocadoJonathan's Sleep ExperimentGetting to Gunnison-Crested Butte: FlightsBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
5 Nov 202159min
Pete Wagner on Wagner’s new Summit Skis, Avalanche Cores, & Niehues Collab
We talk to Pete Wagner about three big new things happening at Wagner Custom Skis, where everything is built right in Telluride, Colorado.TOPICS & TIMES:Wagner’s new “Summit” skis (4:45)Summit 106 (15:56)Summit 107 (19:42)Summit 97 (21:30)Factory skis vs. the full custom process (22:49)Current consumer trends? (25:18)Avalanche cores (27:13)New James Niehues collab (33:42)Next Level Skiing podcast & Jonathan’s neck (35:36)What will you do for the next Blister Summit? (43:19)RELATED LINKSSee Wagner’s “Summit” skisVideo: Wagner’s “Avalanche CoresWagner’s Niehaus Collab SkisGetting to Gunnison-Crested Butte: FlightsBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
29 Okt 202148min
Shop Talk: Willi's Ski and Snowboard Shops
We talk with Greg Klein, president of Willi’s Ski and Snowboard Shops, which is family owned and operated with several locations in the greater Pittsburgh area of Pennsylvania. We talk about what brought Greg’s father (Willi) to PA; Seven Springs Mountain Resort; the key ingredients of a great ski shop; ski length & ski width; Willi’s women’s program; shop beer vs. shop pizza; & more.TOPICS & TIMES:Greg’s father, Willi (4:47)The mid-Atlantic ski scene (8:20)Willi’s women’s program (13:03)How else are you making skiing more accessible? (15:30) The *actual* business of a ski shop (21:35)Kickball (24:02) The culture at Willi’s (25:56)Ski length & ski width (32:53)City shops vs. Mtn Town shops (49:03) Final Thoughts + Shop Pizza (57:22)What We’re Celebrating (1:00:30)RELATED LINKSRecommended Shop: Willi’s Ski ShopsGetting to Gunnison-Crested Butte: FlightsBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
22 Okt 20211h 3min
