New DPS Skis & Products with Stephan Drake (Ep.22)
We talk to DPS Skis founder, Stephan Drake, about the new DPS Wailer 110; the DPS Spoon, Lotus 138, and 124; and some big news about DPS Phantom, their new ski and snowboard base treatment.
Podcasts
Bikes vs. Skis, Part 1 (Ep.21)
Which ski company is most like which bike company? Who is the Moment Skis of the bike world? And which ski brand shares the most family resemblance with Yeti or Transition? Jonathan Ellsworth has been having this discussion for years with Blister’s bike editor, Noah Bodman, and we’re now taking it public. So give it a listen, then let us know where you agree, where you disagree, and where you’ve got the better analogies.
Alpenglow Mtn Festival + Stuff We Learned during Spring Ski Testing (Ep.20)
We talk with Blister editors, Luke Koppa and Sam Shaheen, about the recent Alpenglow Mountain Festival and running with our hero, Courtney Dauwalter. Then we discuss some of the key takeaways from our spring ski testing, including Domino’s thin-crust pizza, dumb gear, and some great gear.
Julian Carr on Big Mtn Running & Massive Cliff Jumping (Ep.73)
We talk to Julian Carr about his series of big-mountain “adventure” races, the Cirque Series; on the preparation and state of mind required to send massive cliffs; and how his company, Discrete, has evolved over the past 10 years.
Nik Berry (Ep.13)
Nik Berry is pushing the boundaries of his sport in a direction that many climbers aren’t even looking: his skill and composure on hard and scary trad routes fuel an obsession with freeing big aid lines and seeking out adventurous climbing. In this episode, we talk about his recent stellar season in Yosemite and how he balances a career with all that hard climbing.
John “Verm” Sherman (Ep.12)
John Sherman, one of the godfathers of modern bouldering, discusses the major ways in which the climbing scene has changed since his day; how and why he became a dedicated conservationist; making peace with the changing ethics and arrival of crowds; and much more.
Product Innovation at Patagonia, with Glen Morden (Ep.72)
Glen Morden has an extremely cool job — he’s the head of Product Innovation at Patagonia. So we talked to Glen about his background and how he got this position, then Glen pulls back the curtain on the product design process at Patagonia, what he and his colleagues are currently most concerned with, and what sorts of projects are on the horizon.
Dialing in “The Hammer” + other New Folsom Skis (Ep.19)
Jonathan Ellsworth sits down with Mike McCabe at the Folsom Skis HQ in Denver to (finally) dial in “The Hammer” they’ve been discussing, and to learn about three other brand new Folsom skis.
American Alpine Club CEO, Phil Powers (Ep.11)
We talk to Phil Powers, CEO of the American Alpine Club, about his own relationship to climbing (including summiting K2); the mission of the AAC and why it’s so important; the decision to give Alex Honnold the AAC’s Underhill Award; and much more.
New Skis from Prior, Atomic, K2, and More (Ep.18)
Jonathan Ellsworth and Sam Shaheen discuss a number of skis they’ve been reviewing, including two from Prior Skis, the new Atomic Bent Chetler 100, the K2 Wayback 106, the Scott Super Guide 105, and the Salomon MTN Explore 95.
Bullying in Outdoor Sports: Reactions & Responsibilities (Ep.71)
Last week, professional climber, Sascha Digulian, announced that she has been bullied for years by a fellow pro climber. A firestorm of responses ensued, and sponsorships were terminated. So we discuss why this is more than just some isolated issue in the climbing world; whether the brand sponsors did the right thing; and what constitutes appropriate and inappropriate responses — by each of us — to situations like this.
Tension Climbing’s Will Anglin & Ben Spannuth, Part 2 (Ep.10)
In part 2 of our conversation with Will Anglin and Ben Spannuth of Tension Climbing, we talk about some of the finer points of shaping holds from wood, and what setting routes has to offer as a tool for learning difficult movement.
Climber & Filmmaker, Renan Ozturk, on MOUNTAIN (Ep.70)
We talk to Renan Ozturk, principal cinematographer of MOUNTAIN, about this film, what makes it truly unique, what he hopes the takeaway of the film will be, and his own evolving relationship to the mountains.
Tension Climbing’s Will Anglin & Ben Spannuth, Part 1 (Ep.9)
This week we’re talking with Will Anglin and Ben Spannuth of Tension Climbing. Both have impressive climbing ticklists and volumes of insight into how climbing works. We discuss their “mad scientist” approach to designing holds, and what years of coaching and studying have taught them about how to improve your climbing.
Spring Skiing & Biking in AK (Ep.17)
We talk to Eric Helmbrecht, owner of Powder Hound in Girdwood, Alaska, about spring skiing in AK, what gear works well in AK’s snowpack and terrain, what new gear he’s most intrigued by, and the growing mountain bike scene around Girdwood and Anchorage.
Sego Skis Founders: Tim & Peter Wells (Ep.69)
We talk to Sego Skis’ founders – brothers Tim and Peter Wells – about the backstory of Sego; manufacturing in Victor, Idaho; their 18/19 skis, women’s line, and working with Lynsey Dyer; and Sego snowblades.
Touring Bindings & the New G3 Zed (Ep.16)
G3 is introducing a new touring binding — the Zed — that they’re calling the lightest fully-featured AT binding on the market. So we talk to G3’s engineers about their design philosophy and development process, current trends in AT bindings, and the compromises inherent in any AT binding.
Venture Snowboards: Building in Silverton, CO (Ep. 68)
We went to Silverton, Colorado, to talk to the founders of Venture Snowboards about how & why Venture does things different from most snowboard companies; building boards from scratch in Silverton; “greenwashing” in the snowsports industry; current trends in board design, and more.
Reviewing Portraits of Climbing Legends in “The Climbers” (Ep. 8)
We talk to Jim Herrington about his new award-winning book, “The Climbers,” a compelling collection of portraits of many of the most influential climbers of the 20th century — including Fred Beckey, Yvon Chouinard, John Gill, and many more. We discuss the book, the subjects in the photos, and the book’s important role in the climbing community.
18/19 All-Mountain & Frontside Skis (Ep.15)
We just finished testing a broad range of skis, so Blister’s Sam Shaheen, Luke Koppa, and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss a number of the highlights, including the new Atomic Bent Chetler 100, the HEAD Supershape i.Titan, a new carver from DPS, the Black Crows Orb, and what might be Jonathan’s new personal favorite from Blizzard.