Jonathan Ellsworth, Author at BLISTER

Best Skis of the Century from Each Brand, Part 1 (Ep.364)

October 21, 2025October 10, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Today, we are kicking off a new series, where we will debate and try to identify the best skis of the 21st Century from over 30 ski brands. Jonathan Ellsworth, Luke Koppa, Paul Forward, and our great friend, Rob Dickinson, kick off the conversation.

On this week’s GEAR:30, Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth talk about our big new book, the Blister 25/26 Winter Buyer’s Guide, including the big takeaways, trends, and controversies. (Plus, stick around to hear Luke’s insane bear story at the end.)

Our 25/26 Winter Buyer’s Guide: Trends, Controversies, & Luke’s Least Favorite Thing In It (Ep.362)

September 26, 2025September 26, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Luke and Jonathan talk about our big new book, the Blister 25/26 Winter Buyer’s Guide, including the big takeaways, trends, and controversies. (Plus, stick around to hear Luke’s insane bear story at the end.)

‘Girl Climber’ w/ Emily Harrington, Amie Engerbretson, & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.52)

September 17, 2025September 16, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Amie & Jonathan talk with Emily Harrington about her fantastic new film, and go behind the scenes of her project to free-climb the Golden Gate route on Yosemite's El Capitan in under 24 hours. This is a must-see movie, and this conversation makes it clear why.

The Cast Iron Comeback: Field Company Co-Founder, Stephen Muscarella (Ep.81)

August 18, 2025August 13, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Eli talks with Stephen Muscarella about how a vintage pan sparked a journey to reimagine cast iron from the ground up. They get into what makes cast iron so special — and so misunderstood; the small design choices that lead to better cooking; and what Field is doing to bring back the use of cast iron in modern cooking.

Ghia’s Journey from ‘Shark Tank’ to the Mainstream (Ep.80)

August 7, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Ghia is a drink brand that isn’t trying to be beer, wine, or spirits — and definitely not a “mocktail.” Eli talks with Ghia founder Mélanie Masarin about building a culinary inspired non-alcoholic option that’s not about sobriety, but about choice, occasion, and great flavors.

Ep. 44: '180° South: Conquerors of the Useless' w/ Luke Koppa & Jonathan Ellsworth

‘180° South: Conquerors of the Useless’ w/ Luke Koppa & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.44)

July 29, 2025July 8, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

What film has had the greatest impact on Blister’s managing editor, Luke Koppa? This one. It details the adventures, friendship, & philosophies of Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tomkins; it documents Jeff Johnson’s attempt to retrace their 1968 trip to Patagonia; & more.

America’s Founding Spirit & the Most Important Distillery You’ve Never Heard Of (Ep.72)

June 4, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Brandy doesn’t get the love that it deserves, given that it was America’s founding spirit, and no category has a bigger folk hero tied to it (Johnny Appleseed, anyone?). Today, we’re talking about all things brandy with Clear Creek Distillery.

Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend, April / May 2025 (Ep.359)

June 2, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Cody and Jonathan discuss Rob Katz’s return as the CEO of Vail; what’s going on with REI; the sale of Pieps; the latest way to speed up Mt. Everest; the Most Canadian News; the return of the Blister Book Club; what we’re reading & watching; and more.

Breaking News: Revel Bikes is Back — and So is Revel Founder, Adam Miller (Ep.275)

May 21, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

After announcing just a few weeks ago that it was shutting down operations, Revel Bikes is back. And Revel’s founder, Adam Miller, is back. So, how did this all happen? And what happens next? Jonathan Ellsworth talks with Adam Miller to get the whole story.

Viticulture, Wine Making, & Karaoke w/ Field Recordings’ Andrew Jones (Ep.68)

May 2, 2025April 30, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Andrew Jones has spent decades planting vines for other people — some of the biggest names in California. But then his side project turned into Field Recordings, and that has grown into one of the most talked-about labels in the country. Here, Andrew talks with us about nursery hustle, breaking the rules, and why wine should be fun, not fussy.

When Sh!t Hits the Fan / How to Recreate Responsibly, with Nick Russell, Bjarne Salen, Drew Petersen, & Dr. Gloria Beim (Ep.354)

April 28, 2025April 28, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Today, an all-star lineup of guests share their stories of times when things went wrong in the mountains, and also share some of their best advice and tips to respond to such moments — or, ideally, avoid them altogether. If you recreate in the mountains, please listen.

On our CRAFTED podcast, Jonathan talks with Blister reviewer & Blister Summit director, Kristin Sinnott, about her lifelong love of ice cream; what we should know about making ice cream at home; and why she always hunts for small-batch ice cream when she’s traveling.

Amateur Hour: Blister reviewer, Kristin Sinnott, on Making Homemade Ice Cream (Ep.67)

April 23, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Jonathan talks with Blister reviewer & Blister Summit director, Kristin Sinnott, about her lifelong love of ice cream; what we should know about making ice cream at home; and why she always hunts for small-batch ice cream when she’s traveling.

Mountain Gazette’s Mike Rogge on the Natural Selection Ski Comp; Old Gear; “Outdoor” Movies; & More (Ep.353)

April 23, 2025April 21, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Mountain Gazette owner & editor, Mike Rogge, is back to talk about Travis Rice’s Natural Selection SKI comp; the virtues of crappy old gear; Jim Morrison’s trip report in the new issue of Mountain Gazette; Mike’s unorthodox picks for movies to cover on Blister Cinematic; & more.

2025-2026 Völkl Mantra 84

September 3, 2025April 2, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the brand-new Völkl Mantra 84.

Highlights from Blister Summit 2025 w/ Jonathan Ellsworth & Kristin Sinnott (Ep.348)

March 4, 2025March 4, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

We just wrapped up another outstanding Blister Summit, so Blister Summit Director, Kristin Sinnott, and Jonathan Ellsworth caught up to share a few of their favorite moments, discuss the new things that took place this year (including the DJ set / dance party that broke out in Blister HQ); and talk about the future of the event.

The Future of the Outdoors, Outdoor Recreation, & the Outdoor Industry with Paul Forward (Ep.342)

January 21, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

In the future, will we still have public lands? Will new economic policies crash the outdoor industry? Will a popular drug actually get more people outside? And will we all soon be ski touring on e-skis (just as more and more people are riding e-bikes)?

After a great day of skiing together, Jonathan recorded a GEAR:30 conversation with Jake Stevens (Rossignol’s Winter Sports Equipment Director for North America) about world-cup race skis vs. recreational skis: what do they have in common; how do they incorporate technological advances; and what are the available options between skis designed to win gold medals and those designed to have fun on the weekends with your family and friends? It’s a conversation that is guaranteed to get you thinking about various approaches to the mountain — and your own approach to sliding around on snow.

From World-Cup Race Skis to Recreational Skis & Everything In Between w/ Rossignol’s Jake Stevens (Ep.331)

January 17, 2025January 17, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Jonathan talks with Jake Stevens (Rossignol’s Winter Sports Equipment Director for North America) about world-cup race skis vs. recreational skis: what do they have in common; how do they incorporate technological advances; and what are all the options out there?

Blister reviews the updated Nordica Enforcer 94.

2024-2025 Nordica Enforcer 94

January 6, 2025December 30, 2024 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the updated Nordica Enforcer 94.

On our latest GEAR:30 podcast, Luke and Jonathan discuss some of the frontside skis they’ve been on recently; why choosing the right frontside ski requires as much consideration as any other type of ski; and they give an update on how they’ve been using the CARV system (so far) to enhance their ski reviews.

Reviewer Reports: Luke Koppa & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.328)

December 27, 2024December 27, 2024 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Luke and Jonathan discuss some of the frontside skis they’ve been on; why choosing the right frontside ski requires as much consideration as any other type of ski; and they give an update on how they’ve been using the CARV system (so far) to enhance their ski reviews.

Jet lag, losing his passport (and advice for how to replace a lost passport), skiing in Switzerland, updates for THE HUNDRED, pizza reviews, and more — that’s what we’ve got for you in Jonathan Ellsworth’s latest edition of ‘10 Quick Things.’

10 Quick Things: ‘Jet Lag & Lost Passport’ Edition (Ep.338)

December 27, 2024December 26, 2024 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Jet lag, losing his passport (and advice for how to replace a lost passport), skiing in Switzerland, updates for THE HUNDRED, pizza reviews, and more — that’s what we’ve got for you in Jonathan Ellsworth’s latest edition of ‘10 Quick Things.’