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
The Pro's Gear: McKenna Peterson
This week, we sat down with McKenna Peterson, one of the stars of Matchstick Productions’ new film, The Stomping Grounds, to discuss her personal gear preferences; what ski equipment she’d most like to see get made; the topic of women-specific gear; the best ways to get more women involved in skiing; and more.TOPICS & TIMES:Recommend Shop info: Blacksheep Sports (00:57)Kristin Sinnott on the Blister Summit (3:00)Praise / Roast of K2’s Jed Yeiser (9:01)What gear are you most particular about? (12:53)Skis (25:37)Ski length & which skis are you on most on most? (28:07)Backcountry skis: what are your design priorities (33:15)Telemark interlude (38:00)Women-specific gear (42:55)Bindings (55:14)Ski poles & avy packs (1:04:46)What We're Celebrating (1:08:51)RELATED LINKSRecommended Shop: Blacksheep SportsGetting 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.
8 Okt 20211h 13min
A Very Deep Dive on Ski Boots, Part 7: Atomic’s 21/22 Lineup
Matt Manser is back for a deep dive on Atomic’s new 21/22 lineup, and we also discuss ski boot design and construction in general; the “Frodo Pro”; “Complete Tech” vs. “Hybrid Tech”; Immanuel Kant; Omar Little; and he offers his take on Bode Miller’s recent GEAR:30 thoughts on ski boots.TOPICS & TIMES:Manser on Bode Miller on ski boots (8:24)Atomic ski boots range walkthrough (17:42)Redster Ti & STi (21:44)Redster Club Sport (30:02)Hawx Ultra vs Redster Club Sport (44:25)Atomic’s Mimic Liner & Professional Dualstrap (49:27)Atomic’s Professional Series (53:01)Hawx Ultra XTD & Prime XTD (1:08:10)Hawx Prime XTD “CT” vs “HT” (1:23:32)Crazy thing about tech inserts (1:30:19)What We’re Celebrating (1:47:58)RELATED LINKSGetting to Gunnison-Crested Butte: FlightsBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s GuideA Very Deep Dive on Ski Boots, Part 1: PlasticsA Very Deep Dive on Ski Boots, Part 5: Atomic’s Professional Series Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 Okt 20211h 55min
Eric Pollard on Innovation, Graphics, & Season's Ski Lineup
It is difficult to overstate the innovation that Eric Pollard has brought to modern skiing, and in this conversation, you’ll get to hear more about how Eric sees the world and finds himself pursuing new directions. We also talk about graphics; Season’s all-black topsheets; and each of the models in Season’s ski lineup. TOPICS & TIMES:From ‘Drawn from Here’ to Season (3:27)1st time meeting Austin Smith (8:14)Principles behind Season Eqpt (11:33)Skiers vs Snowboarders - (14:45)Graphics / Season’s black topsheets (18:01)Teams (34:07)Season’s ski lineup (38:50)Aero - design concepts (42:14)Mount points (46:13)Hypothetical: coming up now vs when you did (48:16)More on the Aero (55:57)Ski width (1:01:38)Kin (1:06:35)Nexus and Forma (1:10:52)What else are you working on now? (1:15:40)What We’re Celebrating (1:19:40)RELATED LINKSGetting to Gunnison-Crested Butte: FlightsBlister Summit RegistrationSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s GuideBlister Podcast: Eric PollardBlister Podcast: Season Co-Founder, Austin Smith Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
24 Sep 20211h 22min
The Pro’s Gear: Bode Miller
We had Bode on the Blister Podcast (ep. 154) talking about education, mental preparation, and more, and that is a not-to-be-missed conversation. This time around, we dive deep into gear talk, and Bode makes clear that his different and creative ways of thinking weren’t just hallmarks of his approach to racing, they define his approach to skis, ski boots, bindings, and eyewear, too.TOPICS & TIMES:Race ski design priorities (5:09)Materials & Tennis analogies (10:48)More on race skis (14:02)Ski Boots (18:30)Raichle & Full Tilt boots (23:42)Ski boot flex patterns (35:15)Ski bindings (39:18)Eyewear & Optics (41:24)Update on Crosson skis (57:15)What We’re Celebrating (1:03:37)RELATED LINKSSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s GuideBlister Podcast #154: Bode MillerRevo x Bode Miller Black Collection Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
17 Sep 20211h 6min
Gear Talk, Mic Drops, & Zen Koans with Flylow’s Dan Abrams
Flylow founder (and certified gear nerd) Dan Abrams is back to talk about the skis and ski boots he’s interested in for the coming season; Flylow’s mountain bike apparel; and what’s new in the Flylow lineup for Winter 21/22.TOPICS & TIMES:The skis & ski boots Dan is considering (4:01)Update on Flylow’s mountain bike apparel (14:53)Production logistics & mic drops (19:09)Winter gear, bibs, & a confession(26:25)Koan: “You don’t break in the garment…” (37:37)More gear confessions (43:05)Up & coming athlete on your radar? (44:44)What We’re Celebrating (52:43)RELATED LINKSSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s GuideDan Abrams on Next-Gen MaterialsDan Abrams on How to Start & Grow an Outdoors Brand Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
11 Sep 202157min
Your Questions, Our Buyer’s Guide, & Luke’s Cry for Help
Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth answer listener gear questions; share some info about our new winter buyer’s guide; and Luke shares with us some good news, but also presents new reasons for us to worry about him.TOPICS & TIMES:Info on our new Buyers guide (3:14)Q: What’s your favorite ski ever? (10:24)Q: Best way to communicate with a boot fitter? (15:27)Q: More accessible skis vs. more demanding skis (22:45)Q: Impact of ski mass relative to width? (33:18)Q: Big ski brands & sustainability (41:08)Q: Favorite ski graphics? (48:06)Luke’s cry for help (51:10)What We’re Celebrating (56:31)RELATED LINKSBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
3 Sep 20211h 1min
Shop Talk: Spokane Alpine Haus
We’re talking with Rachel and Drew Harding, the owners of The Spokane Alpine Haus, about the ski scene in Spokane, Washington; the Alpine Haus’ massive equipment leasing program; interesting ways to destroy skis; kid’s gear; and more. TOPICS & TIMES:Rachel & Drew’s origin story (2:10)The ski scene in Spokane (11:38)The 5 ski areas and how they differ (14:44)The shop & the Spokane community (18:36)Their leasing program (22:50)Their damage policy (36:54)Kid’s equipment (43:20)What We’re Celebrating (53:54)RELATED LINKS:The Spokane Alpine HausBlister Summit VideosBecome a Blister Member Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
27 Aug 202156min
