Blister Reviewer BadgeJonathan Ellsworth

Support Robb Gaffney

Support Robb Gaffney

by
Robb Gaffney is a historic figure in the ski world, and he & his family need our help. Robb (who wrote the book Squallywood, created the Game of GNAR, and produced GNAR The Movie) was diagnosed with a rare form of bone-marrow cancer that he's fighting hard against. But that has left him unable to work for the foreseeable future, and this has created a very significant financial burden for his family. A GoFundMe page has been started for Robb, and we would ask you to please make a donation.
Mike McCabe of Folsom skis goes on Blister's GEAR:30 podcast to discuss Folsom's new pop-up shop in Aspen, their 19/20 ski line, and the new Folsom Blister Pro 104 ski.

Folsom Skis & the New Blister Pro 104 (Ep.66)

by
We’ve been working on a special project with Folsom Skis, and it’s finally time to discuss the details with Folsom’s Mike McCabe. We also talk about Folsom’s (insane?) new plan to build and deliver custom skis in 2-3 days; go over a few highlights from the 19/20 Folsom lineup; and we ask Mike how much of a nightmare it was to work with us on this project.
Maddie Hart, Gordon Gianniny, Luke Koppa, and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss Blister's running shoe Brand Guides on the Off The Couch podcast.

Why We Built a Running-Shoe Brand Guide (Ep.17)

by
Finding the right running shoe can be extremely complicated and confusing. So reviewers Luke Koppa, Jonathan Ellsworth, Maddie Hart, and Gordon Gianniny discuss our new BLISTER Brand Guide to Running Shoes; why we saw a need for it; what we hope it accomplishes for runners everywhere; and the trends and takeaways we’ve seen in the process of building it.
Claudio Caluori talks at the Blister Speaker Series at Western Colorado University about his career, the 2019 World Cup Downhill season, Velosolutions, pumpforpeace, and more.

Blister Speaker Series 2.1: Claudio Caluori (Ep.101)

by
Last week, we kicked off season #2 of our monthly Blister Speaker Series at Western Colorado University, where we invite influential figures to come talk about how they are shaping the outdoor industry. Our first guest of the new season was Claudio Caluori, the announcer for the World Cup Downhill series, a former pro XC and DH racer, the founder of Velosolutions, and the initiator of #pumpforpeace. We touch on all of these things in our conversation, and get Claudio’s perspective on a wide range of topics and questions.
Jonathan Ellsworth talks with Claudio Caluori on Blister's Bikes & Big Ideas podcast about the 2019 UCI World Cup Downhill Season

Claudio Caluori on the World Cup DH Season (Ep.9)

by
Coming straight to Crested Butte after the amazing World Cup season finale, Claudio Caluori sits down with Jonathan Ellsworth in BLISTER HQ to discuss whether this was the best WC DH season ever; Loic Bruni & Amaury Pierron’s epic battle; his biggest takeaways from the men’s and women’s seasons; and what, if anything, could be done to make the series even better.
Jackson Brill goes on Blister's Off The Couch podcast to discuss his young but very successful running career, being teammates with Killian Jornet, how he balances school and professional running, and more.

Jackson Brill: Full-Time Student, Full-Time Runner (Ep.16)

by
Salomon athlete, Jackson Brill, is a 21-year old senior in college at CU Boulder, but given his approach to running, the way he talks about the sport, and his race results, you’d be forgiven for assuming that he was twice as old as he is. So we talked to Jackson about his studies and his work in CU’s Locomotion Lab; being teammates with Kilian Jornet; his experience with the Golden Trail Series; and his strong interest in coaching.
Pep Fujas goes on the Blister Podcast to discuss his ski career, time with K2 skis, and his new role as VP of marketing and product development at WNDR Alpine

Pep Fujas: from the Farm to K2 to WNDR (Ep.100)

by
Pep Fujas has always been at the forefront of freeskiing, and he is now looking to move things forward once again. So we talk to Pep about growing up on his family farm in Oregon; his remarkable film career; his favorite Seth Morrison story; his long relationship with K2 and his favorite K2 skis; his decision to go back to school; and his even bigger decision to join the team at WNDR Alpine.
Zach Bitter goes on Blister's Off The Couch podcast to discuss how and why he broke the world record for the fastest 100 mile run

Zach Bitter on His New 100-Mile World Record (Ep.15)

by
On Saturday, August 25th, Zach Bitter set an incredible world record for the fastest time in which a human being has run 100 miles: 11 hours, 19 minutes, 13 seconds. And for an encore, he kept running … and also set the 12-hour distance world record. So we talked to Zach after his big day about the logistics of the event; training for it; why he considers it his masterpiece; his perspective on this world record and others; and a whole lot more. Whether you are a runner or not, you should not miss this one.
Jonathan Ellsworth talks with Ming Goetz about her promising Slopestyle mountain biking career on the Blister Podcast.

Up & Coming: Slopestyle Mountain Biker, Ming Goetz (Ep.99)

by
Aside from her unassuming disposition, everything about Ming Goetz is extraordinary — her name; her background; her favorite discipline; her competing recently in the Crankworx Whip Off Challenge; her participation this season in the 1st ever Women’s Slopestyle Tour; her plans for the future (competing in Red Bull Rampage) and, of course … her abilities on a bike. So ladies & gentlemen, get ready to meet Ming.
Jonathan Ellsworth talks with WNDR Alpine founder, Matt Sterbenz about the brand's background, goals, and its new ski, the Intention 110, on Blister's GEAR:30 podcast

WNDR Alpine’s New Skis (Ep.63)

by
We talk to WNDR Alpine’s founder, Matt Sterbenz, and brand manager, Xan Marshland, about the creation of and the future plans for WNDR Alpine; its relation to the biotech company, Checkerspot; and we dive deep into the details of their new ski, the Intention 110.
IMBA executive director, David Wiens, talks with Jonathan Ellsworth about e-bikes and how to have a constructive conversation about them on Blister's Bikes & Big Ideas podcast.

How to Have a Constructive Conversation about e-Bikes (Ep.8)

by
Like politics and religion, e-bikes are a topic that get people extremely worked up, often result in name calling, and rarely are productive. And this needs to change, because e-Bikes are not going away. So we talked to Dave Wiens, the executive director of the International Mountain Biking Association, to help clarify what all the fuss is about; identify what the biggest issues are with e-mountain bikes; present the concerns that the advocates of — and the opponents of — e-bikes need to understand; and lay out what the best way forward looks like.
David Roche talks with Jonathan Ellsworth about his SWAP coaching program on Blister's Off The Couch podcast.

David Roche on the Philosophy Behind His Coaching (Ep.14)

by
David Roche is one of the most successful running coaches out there, but he is definitely not the most conventional running coach out there. So we explore with David the philosophy and principles that undergird his coaching; how he went from being a 200 lb. football & baseball player to two-time national champion in the 10k; what new training ideas seem most promising to him; and more.
Jonathan Ellsworth talks with Checkerspot's Charlie Dimmler and Matt Sterbenz about the brand's background, goals, and its new ski brand, WNDR Alpine on the Blister Podcast.

Biotech hits the Backcountry: Checkerspot & WNDR Alpine (Ep.98)

by
What does biotech have to do with backcountry skiing? And what does microalgae have to do with skis? And why did the founder of 4FRNT Skis, Matt Sterbenz, agree to get involved with a new startup ski brand, WNDR Alpine? We sat down in Blister HQ with Checkerspot co-founder and CEO, Charlie Dimmler, and WNDR Alpine founder, Matt Sterbenz, to talk about the creation of WNDR Alpine; its relation to and the mission of Checkerspot; and more.
Jonathan Ellsworth talks with Mad Moose Events Director, Justin Ricks, on Blister's Off The Couch podcast

Runner, Cat Herder, Garbage Man, & Mad Moose Events Director, Justin Ricks (Ep.13)

by
We talk to Mad Moose race director, Justin Ricks, about walking away from running; returning to running — and leaving a secure corporate job and moving his family into a camper to do so; putting on 20+ race events a year with his family; scoring impressive results when he himself decides to race; and how running is very much a whole family affair for the Ricks’.
Jonathan Ellsworth talks with World Bicycle Relief CEO, Dave Neiswander on Blister's Bikes & Big Ideas Podcast

How to Change the World with Bikes: World Bicycle Relief (Ep.97)

by
For many of us, bikes are primarily fun. But for many others, bikes are major drivers of economic development, educational opportunity, health care, and equality. World Bicycle Relief was started by the founder of SRAM to provide bikes to developing countries, and we talk with WBR’s CEO, Dave Neiswander, about the origins of World Bicycle Relief; its trajectory and challenges; all the product design that goes into their bikes; and what each of us can do to support the WBR mission.
On Blister's GEAR:30 podcast, Jonathan Ellsworth talks with Crosson Skis founder, Chase Englehart about the brand and how it does things differently.

Crosson Skis founder, Chase Englehart (Ep.61)

by
Crosson Skis is a small, new company that’s making some very big claims. So we talk to their founder, Chase Englehart, about the origins of Crosson; what makes their skis different — and better; building skis outside of Seattle; working with athletes like Bobby Brown and Banks Gilberti; and their 19/20 lineup.
Jonathan Ellsworth talks with World Bicycle Relief CEO, Dave Neiswander on Blister's Bikes & Big Ideas Podcast

World Bicycle Relief: Making a Better World with Bikes (Ep.7)

by
For many of us, bikes are primarily fun. But for many others, bikes are major drivers of economic development, educational opportunity, health care, and equality. World Bicycle Relief was started by the founder of SRAM to provide bikes to developing countries, and we talk with WBR’s CEO, Dave Neiswander, about the origins of World Bicycle Relief; its trajectory and challenges; all the product design that goes into their bikes; and what each of us can do to support the WBR mission.
+ More