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I sat down with Kara Williard, Dylan Wood, Justin Bobb, and Luke Koppa to debrief about our 2023-2024 Winter Buyer’s Guide, discuss what changed this year (and more importantly, what has *not* changed), go over some trends, and more.
Along the way, we dole out our unofficial “RIP,” “Good Riddance,” and new “Best Glow-Up” awards; talk about what we’re most excited to get on this season; and I debate whether Luke isn’t even invited to my funeral, or if he’ll be managing the whole thing…
TOPICS & TIMES:
What’s New, What’s Different, & What’s the Same (5:34)
Most Notable Trends (14:13)
RIP Awards (20:21)
Good Riddance Awards (30:20)
Our Blister ‘Best Of’ Section (36:12)
How to get the Guide (56:25)
Snowboarding Talk w/ Jbobb (59:55)
Crashes & Close Calls (1:18:25)
RELATED LINKS:
Blister Recommended shop: blacksheepsports
Order our 23/24 Winter Buyer’s Guide
Become a BLISTER+ Member
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS (click each to learn more):
It takes a very balanced skier to do that on such an uber short platform.
Love the buyers guide as always. I do gotta say….the ranting against the culture of “best of” lists is a little “old man yells at cloud”. I understand that you want people to read more, dive deeper, and understand why certain products work for some people and not others. But, at the end of the day, people want to read rankings. I also am a firm believer that if you take 20 people, all test the same product, and have them “score” or “rank” via any number ways..you will see a consensus of cream rising to the top.
Glad you enjoyed the guide!
And to be honest, I really don’t care if ‘people want to read rankings.’ Which is why we’ve never done them over the past 13 years. Simplistic rankings carry too much potential to be misleading, and our entire review process is designed to be the opposite of misleading.
(Of course, with our Blister Spectrums, you can see an example of how & where we do think rankings can be helpful.)
I also agree with you that there can be power in consensus. I don’t think consensus always gets you to the truth – or will always tell you everything *you* need to know about whether a product will work for you – but it can certainly be illuminating. And this something we’re excited to see play out with our Blister Community Reviews.
Sender Squad is my daily driver, such a good ski. RIP to the BOSS
Praxis are apparently on the verge of shutting down as well, which is a shame
They’re adding a 194 Devastator?! That wasn’t on their site when I checked a little while ago. Bought a Saba Pro 107 and an Intention 108 over the summer, would it be unreasonable to have three ~108 2100g reverse camber skis?
Nope
Why don’t you just call it “Our favorites” or “Our personal favorites” instead of “best of”. For the record wirecutter does this sometimes as well if I recall.
For the reasons we stated in the episode – they aren’t always *our particular* favorites, but sometimes, clearly excellent options for a broad range of people.
Bottom Line: I think we’ll stick to ‘Best Of’ … people just need to – as always is best practice – read the *why* a product gets the award.
bsavery makes a good suggestion above. RIP to the Nordica Enforcer 115. It’s my go-to powder ski.
On the podcast rating, I am not sure that the rating that those of us outside the US make get counted. When I look in Apple Podcasts I barely see any comments, certainly not the ones you refer to. I have hit ratings lots of times but am thinking those are not getting counted?
In the best of section is the lack of newer products due to newer products not matching up or have you not tested so many touring skis this last season or so? Feels that way (same for frontside) but have not counted so could be wrong.
Great work on the guide as always and please please please stick with not ranking stuff 1-10
One of the things about our ‘Best Of’ section is that – unlike lots of review outlets – we probably tend to favor older products (that we’ve spent lots of time on) over new products that we’ve spent less time on.
It doesn’t always work this way for us – sometimes a newer product is so eye-opening and good, it forces us to highlight it.
But what we like about our approach here is that there is a bit of a ‘stands the test of time’ element to our ‘Best Of’ awards.
Miss typed, should say: …is the lack of newer touring skis
Keeping an eye out for used Sender Squads. Always wanted to try that ski.
You’d dig em I think.
Instead of snowboarding this winter, how about telemark? You can spend all day doing lunges down a hill instead of dragging your knuckles.
Ha, I really don’t know why, but this has very much become for me the winter of snowboarding. GEAR:30 listeners have really stepped up, those GEAR:30 reviews have been coming in. Currently at 662 reviews, just need to get to 750 to seal the deal. I really hope this happens quickly before resuming my life-long stance of being terrified of taking slams on a board.
Maybe for the 24/25 season I’ll catch the telemark bug?
I tried for the Nth time now leaving you a rating on Apple Podcasts, but I can’t seem to find how to do that. Do I need an Apple Account in order to leave a rating there or am I just an 1d10+?