The 2021 Blister Summit

THE BLISTER SUMMIT AT MT. CRESTED BUTTE IS:

(1) A new, annual event that will bring passionate skiers like you to Mt. Crested Butte each year to get on a mix of current and new-for-next-year inbounds and backcountry equipment from some of the most interesting brands in the ski world.

(2) But this isn’t just a ski demo, it is the first consumer-focused ski test in the world. Participants who would like to share their thoughts on the gear they demo at the Summit will have that feedback collected and shared with other Blister members, so you’ll be able to see what your fellow Summit participants thought, and also see how that compares to our Blister reviewers’ assessments.

(3) There will be opportunities for both inbounds skiing at Crested Butte Mountain Resort and backcountry skiing (with the support of Irwin Guides) in the Crested Butte backcountry. We suspect that many will want to ski inbounds only; some will want to do a mix of inbounds and backcountry skiing; and a few will want to ski the backcountry exclusively.

We are planning to offer safe, introductory opportunities for anyone who has never clicked into a backcountry ski setup, but would like to gain some familiarity with climbing skins, stepping into tech toes, etc. (No avalanche training will be required for this.)

(4) You will have the opportunity to meet and interact with a number of the company founders, CEOs, product designers, athletes, and artists that you have likely heard us refer to in our reviews or talk with on our various podcasts.

(5) The Blister Summit also aims to elevate the conversation in the snowsports world every year by curating interesting and informative panel discussions with prominent product designers, materials experts, athletes, and artists and get them talking with one another.

Many of you will remember the Special Summit on Ski Design panel we put together several years ago. Picture that, but with more panel conversations covering a broader range of topics. Panel sessions will be virtual this year, but attendees of the Blister Summit will be able to stream them live and submit questions prior to or during each panel session.

(6) Of course, you will also get to check out BLISTER HQ and meet a number of our Blister reviewers including me, Luke Koppa, Paul Forward, Kristin Sinnott, Eric Freson, Sascha Anastas, Sam Shaheen, Kara Williard, Drew Kelly — and maybe even the strikingly handsome Justin Bobb.

(7) Men and women are welcome. The event is probably best suited for low intermediate to highly advanced skiers, and we will learn more about your terrain preferences and experience level long before the event to help you have the best possible time at the Summit.

Unfortunately, for this first year, we will not have snowboard-specific brands. We aren’t happy about this, but for this initial Summit “0”, we need to limit the scope of the event. But we intend to expand the scope of the Summit next year.

That said, snowboarders and split boarders are absolutely welcome to attend the Summit and ride with us inbounds and in the backcountry. We’re just sorry that we likely won’t have boards & bindings for you to test this year.