Gear:30

For this week’s edition of GEAR:30, Scarpa North America’s CEO, Kim Miller, is back to talk about Scarpa’s Green Manifesto and their pathway to B Corp certification. Kim and Kara Williard discuss what measuring and accounting for progress looks like; the tricky balance of sustainably innovating without compromising performance; the process of recycling products and materials; assessing the life cycle of various products; and some of the gear that best exemplifies Scarpa’s commitment to these values (starting with a tele boot back in 2009!).TOPICS & TIMESKim’s Career & Values (4:03)Scarpa’s Business Culture (12:144)Transparency & Accountability (13:18)Measurements & Metrics (16:59)Life Cycle Analysis of Gear (33:52)Service vs. Profit (38:23)Working Together as an Industry (44:21)Gear & the Green Manifesto (45:33)A Sense of Urgency (51:40)All Pillars of Sustainability (55:49)Scarpa as a B Corp (1:02:25)Leading with Passion (1:13:16)Kim’s Crashes & Close Calls Story (1:18:16)What We’re Ce

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.

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 Cha

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

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 Guid

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 Hos

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? (

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 Ski

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 o

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 Rec

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 (5

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 ExchangeBlis

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 Reco

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.

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.

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.

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 Gea

Kara Williard and Jonathan Ellsworth talk with Jeff Colt, Brand Director of ZipFit, to make the case for why liners, or “inner boots” are one of the most overlooked yet most important pieces of gear. We also discuss the legacy of Sven Coomer; the growth of ZipFit as they bring new products to market; the Fischer x ZipFit collab with the RC4 Pro series; and Jeff shares his own ‘Crashes & Close Calls’ story from the Blister Summit. TOPICS & TIMES ZipFit at the Blister Summit (4:08)“Inner Boots” (7:52)“First Fit” vs. “3rd-Day Fit” (12:38)Durability, Consistency, Longevity (23:08)Reviewing Ski Boots (33:49)The Growth of ZipFit (39:33)Sven Coomer’s Legacy (46:33)Low-Volume Liners (51:01)Fischer x ZipFit (59:15)Crashes & Close Calls (1:04:23)What We’re Celebrating (1:11:00)RELATED LINKS Episode Sponsor: skierssportshop.comBecome a Blister + Spot MemberBlister Podcast: Sven Coomer, Founder of Zipfit (Ep. 35) Off The Couch: Jeff Colt on Chasing Western States & More (Ep. 152)Get Your Bl

For this edition of Shop Talk, Kristin Sinnott is back with the owners of the Spokane Alpine Haus, Drew and Rachel Harding, to discuss skiing with kids. We cover how we were introduced to the sport as kids, what it looked like to bring our own kids into the sport, and how it’s going. We also talk about how shops can help facilitate children and families getting into the sport, what it looks like to grow the next generation of skiers and snowboarders, what to look for in kids' gear, the gear that’s helped us get our families out on the hill, and more. TOPICS & TIMES:Drew and Rachels' Background in Skiing as Kids (2:07)Kristin's Background (5:02)Affordability (5:56)Child Care and Traveling with Kids for Skiing (8:05)Drew and Rachel's Kids Intro to Skiing  and Parent Mentorship (10:42)Seasonal Leases (19:31)Parental Advice for Soft Goods and Apparel (23:14)iGrow stitches and Boot Cuff Considerations? (27:48)Boot Considerations and Growth (34:27)Hard Goods and Ski Poles (36:47)Leashes and Harness (41:38)

Luke Koppa is joined by Justin Bobb, Kara Williard, Dylan Wood, and Kristin Sinnott to discuss some of the standout gear they were able to test at last week’s Blister Summit, from skis to snowboards, ski boots, bindings, and even snow blades. Then about halfway through, Jonathan Ellsworth jumps in and adds his thoughts on a couple of the skis he got on, too.TOPICS & TIMES Fischer RC4 BOA Boots (3:06)Moment Countach 110 (6:53)Kristin’s Ski Picks (9:09)Jbobb on Snowboards (10:49)Icelantic Shaman (13:17)Renoun Citadel 106 (17:44)Volkl Revolt 114 (19:45)Majesty Havoc Ti (23:18)Nidecker Supermatic Bindings (26:02)ZipFit Liners (30:46)K2 Mindebender 108 Ti & Nordica Unleashed 108 W (37:37)Deviation Works (39:06)Jonathan Jumps In (41:56)Snow Blades, Tele Skis, Mono Skis, & Compeed (54:36)What We're Celebrating (1:02:06)Crashes and Close Calls (1:06:12)RELATED LINKS:Blister Recommended Shop: Powder7Blister + Spot Membership New Gear Recap from Blister Summit 2023OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Happy HourCRAF