Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend, November 2023 (Ep.289)
Cody and Jonathan discuss the *trillion* dollar outdoor industry; e-bike bans?; the business of retro sneakers / retro skis; Cody snowboarding; mtn town relationship advice; & more.
Podcasts
Reviewer Reports: Early-Season Ski Gear Testing, Mtn Biking in Nepal, & More (Ep.274)
Luke, Kara, and Jonathan discuss getting back on snow, ski boots, frontside skis, mountain biking in Nepal, engagement taco parties, and new apparel.
Albatross Bikes on the Super-Adaptable Apogee Module (Ep.198)
There are lots of custom hardtail builders out there, but the constraints of pivot locations, maintaining frame alignment, and the tooling needed to make it all work means that fully-customizable full-suspension bikes are a lot rarer. Albatross Bikes has taken a very creative approach to offering customizable full-suspension bikes with their Apogee Module, and we brought them on to hear all about it.
‘Apocalypse Snow’ with Mike Rogge, Justin Bobb, & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.3)
We discuss the craziest and probably the greatest snowboard / ski / monoski / snowblade film of all time. The film was seen by millions of people when it came out, and nearly 40 years later, it still feels wildly innovative and fresh.
Last Season’s Historic Snowfall, El Nino / La Nina Predictions, & More with OpenSnow’s Bryan Allegretto and Evan Thayer (Ep.288)
Today we are talking about weather forecasting — and finding your people in this dark, cold, and sometimes lonely universe — with two of the weather forecasters from OpenSnow, Bryan Allegretto and Evan Thayer. We discuss last season’s historic winter; how much stock you ought to put into the whole ‘El Nino or la Nina thing’; whether the stated snowfall amounts at various ski areas are fake news; all the ingredients that go into the creation of snowfall; and more.
Biggest Ski Buying Mistakes + Ski Tuning, Ski Wax, & Ski Boots (Ep.273)
What are some of the biggest mistakes skiers make when buying gear? And what do regular, recreational skiers & snowboarders need to know about ski tuning and waxing? Jonathan discusses these questions and more with Logan and Riley Boone of Boone Mountain Sports. They also talk about how they all met (it was in Austria), and Jonathan reveals the upcoming ‘Blister 90-Flex Challenge’.
Katy Winton on Burnout, Recovery, & Returning to Racing (Ep.197)
Katy Winton has had a challenging last couple of years, from a protracted concussion recovery to having to put together her own privateer program at the last minute to even race in 2021. And then two races into the 2022 EWS season, she was so severely burned out that she pulled out of the rest of the season to recover. Now, she’s ready to tell the whole story, so we brought her back on Bikes & Big Ideas to share it.
Amateur Hour: Paul Forward on Arrows (Ep.37)
Last year we talked with Blister reviewer, Paul Forward, about the art, ethics, and craftsmanship of traditional bows (episode #8). And today, we’re talking about arrows.
‘The Blackcountry Journal’ with Mallory Duncan & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.2)
The Blackcountry Journal is a new, truly different, 10-minute-long film by Mallory Duncan that packs a lot into its short running length, bringing together the worlds of jazz and skiing, and incorporating ideas, words, and scenes that you won’t soon forget.
Paul Forward on His 1st Ski Day of the Season; Ski Movies; Hunting; & Cooperation Across the Outdoors Community (Ep.287)
Jonathan and Blister reviewer (and guide, doctor, & bow hunter), Paul Forward, discuss Paul’s 1st day of the ski season; his favorite ski movies; why we need to broaden the tent of who — and what — counts as, “the outdoor community,” and some ideas that the broader outdoor industry should adopt.
The Pro’s Gear: Ted Ligety (Ep.272)
We talk with Ted Ligety (2x Olympic Gold Medalist & 5x World Cup champion) about his approach to gear; the specific gear he’s using today; how to best deal with flat light and low-vis conditions; his take on the current state of skiing and ski racing; and more.
‘G.N.A.R.’ with Cody Townsend & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.1)
Cody and Jonathan dissect the 2011 film, G.N.A.R., and discuss the significance of the film; what’s aged the best; what’s aged the worst; who won the movie; and more.
Cornelius Kapfinger on Founding Intend, Inverted Forks, and Doing Things Differently (Ep.196)
It can be hard to stand out as a smaller component manufacturer, but Intend BC isn’t shy of doing things differently, and their forks, shocks, brakes, and other components don’t look like much else out there. Founder Cornelius Kapfinger is here to tell us all about it.
Bag Balm President, Libby Parent, on the Origins & Surprising Evolution of a 125-Year-Old American Company (Ep.36)
Based in Vermont, where they still make their products, Bag Balm is an American company with a 125-year history and one very remarkable story. Bag Balm’s president, Libby Parent, joins us to tell us about it all, from cow udders to celebrity endorsements.
Introducing: Blister Cinematic Podcast
Blister Cinematic is our new movie podcast that brings on your favorite skiers, snowboarders, climbers, runners, filmmakers, and outdoor personalities to revisit and dissect the most iconic ski, snowboard, and outdoor films of all time; discuss their personal favorites; reassess the underappreciated movies of the past; and highlight new and upcoming projects that ought to be on your radar.
Our first episode drops November 16th, where Cody Townsend & Jonathan Ellsworth will be revising the 2011 film, G.N.A.R.
Deep Dives with Angel, November 2023 (Ep.286)
Angel Collinson and Jonathan discuss a subject that we don’t talk much about in the outdoor community, and yet, it’s an experience that every single one of us will deal with at some point in our lives: grief
Parlor Custom Skis: Building Skis in Boston, Custom vs. Semi-Custom Skis, & the Age-Old Question of Ski Width for East-Coast Skiing (Ep.271)
Jonathan was at the Parlor Custom Skis factory in East Boston to check out the factory and talk with Parlor owner & manager, Mark Wallace, about building custom skis in Boston; assessing skiers (and skiers assessing themselves); custom vs. semi-custom skis; and more.
Neko Mulally on Selling the Frameworks DH Bike, Signing Asa Vermette, and More (Ep.195)
Neko Mulally’s Frameworks DH bike is now available for pre-order, and we sat down with Neko to chat about its development, the production version of the bike, his experimentation with different frame materials, and much more.
Blister Speaker Series: Trevor Kennison & Level 1 director, Josh Berman (Ep.285)
Trevor Kennison & Level 1 founder, Josh Berman, came to Western Colorado University for our Blister Speaker Series for a follow-up conversation about their new film, Full Circle. We discussed what life’s been like for both of them since the film premiered; we take questions from the audience; and Trevor answers the big question: is he glad his injury happened?
Jeremy Jones & Xavier Nidecker on Re-Up Tech: What it Is & Why it Matters (Ep.270)
We talk to Jeremy Jones and Xavier Nidecker about Jones’ new Re-Up Tech — what it is, how it works, and what it could mean for the greater ski & snowboard industry. We also discuss FIS and POW, and which board Jonathan ought to start on.