Shop Talk: John Weir, Bentgate (Ep.120)

Bentgate's John Weir goes on Blister's GEAR:30 podcast to discuss predictions for the 2020-2021 ski season, how shops are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, and more
Bentgate's John Weir skiing near Vail Pass, CO.


Today we’ve got another edition of Blister Shop Talk, where we check in with one of our Blister Recommended Shops to get their perspective on topics that range from universally applicable, to topics that help us better understand what’s going on in the particular, local communities that they serve.

Bentgate is an outstanding shop located in Golden, Colorado, and our guest today is John Weir. John and I talk about fitting AT boots; the rise of splitboarding; John’s (really good) predictions for this upcoming season; some of the precautions and protocols that Bentgate is taking and putting in place this winter; a lasting (positive) effect that COVID may have on the bootfitting process; and more.

TOPICS & TIMES

  • Background on Bentgate (4:58)
  • “Comfort Performance” fit (7:54)
  • Prediction #1: Upcoming season (10:38)
  • Splitboarding (14:59)
  • Prediction #2: Avalanche courses (19:39)
  • Prediction #3: Snow dynamics (29:33)
  • What Bentgate is doing in these Covid Times? (37:35)
  • What We’re Celebrating (44:51)

RELATED LINKS:

Bentgate's John Weir goes on Blister's GEAR:30 podcast to discuss predictions for the 2020-2021 ski season, how shops are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, and more
Bentgate's COVID-friendly bootfitting station

2 comments on “Shop Talk: John Weir, Bentgate (Ep.120)”

  1. My personal bullet points for this episode :

    I am going to start calling all touring bindings “Dynashifts” and use peoples reactions to gauge their experience / knowledge level. Also , just for the lulz.

    This WILL be THE year of the backcountry. Be cool to each other , remember that we are all there to have fun and maintain sanity , and help out if you see someone struggling. Try to remember that we were all brand new at one point.

    I pray to Ullr that ski boot fittings are by appointment only in the future. It suuuuucks for everyone involved when there is only 1 boot fitter trying to help out 5 people at once that are ALL going different directions and needing different things. Making it by appointment only going forward would be a massive service to the ski world.

    And it is 100% proper and right to toast to coffee with whiskey. Never apologize for that.

  2. Excellent episode. Excellent Shop. John is a great guy. He has been helpful to me, at the shop, several times. “Reverence for the backcountry,” that is a great phrase.

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