Western Colorado University

Does the Color of Your Jacket Affect Its Performance? Blister Labs Apparel Testing Update (Ep.315)

September 27, 2024September 27, 2024 by Jonathan Ellsworth

For this Blister Labs update, we talk with Dr. Jeni Blacklock about exploding fabrics, microwaving hotdogs, and whether the color of your jacket affects its performance.

Blister Labs: Results from our On-Snow Ski Testing & Dynamic Modeling (Ep.307)

August 2, 2024 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Interested in ski design? Curious about where the next advancements in ski design might come from? Then you need to check out this conversation with Dr. Sean Humbert.

Blister Labs Update: Ski (and Boot) Flex Test (Ep.283)

February 2, 2024 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Dr. Sean Humbert is back to provide an update on our Blister Labs’ ski flex project, and to explain how and why ski boots are becoming an integral part of this project, too.

Blister Speaker Series: Courtney Dauwalter (Ep.290)

December 11, 2023 by Jonathan Ellsworth

We sat down with Courtney Dauwalter to get her thoughts on the limits we tend to place on ourselves; her approach to training and competition; how she goes about setting goals; and more.

The Blister Speaker Series at Western

November 29, 2023November 29, 2023 by Jonathan Ellsworth

NEXT GUEST: On Tuesday, December 5th, Courtney Dauwalter, Salomon athlete and one of the greatest ultrarunners of all time, is coming to Western Colorado University for another installment of our Blister Speaker Series.

Blister Speaker Series: Trevor Kennison & Level 1 director, Josh Berman (Ep.285)

November 6, 2023November 6, 2023 by Jonathan Ellsworth

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?

Blister Speaker Series: Mark Abma (Ep.281)

October 9, 2023 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Last Thursday, Mark Abma came to Western Colorado University for our Blister Speaker Series. He broke down his segment from the MSP film, ALL IN; discussed his part in the new MSP film, Land of Giants; and talked about his preparation for ski season; confidence; staying calm; and more.

Last Thursday, Angel Collinson came to Western Colorado University for our Blister Speaker Series. We talk about her ski career, purpose, passion, and when it might be time to alter the path you're on.

Angel Collinson on Leaving Pro Skiing, Passion, Purpose, & More | Blister Speaker Series Video

September 27, 2023 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Angel Collinson came to Western Colorado University for another edition of our Blister Speaker Series. We talk about her ski career, purpose, passion, and how to think about when it might be time to alter the path you're on. Check out this video of the conversation.

Blister Speaker Series: Angel Collinson (Ep.278)

September 18, 2023 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Last Thursday, Angel Collinson came to Western Colorado University for our Blister Speaker Series. We talk about her ski career, purpose, passion, and when it might be time to alter the path you're on.

On our latest GEAR:30 conversation, Luke and Jonathan discuss apparel testing, show pigs, & the underrated importance of ballpoint pens with our Blister Labs colleague, Melanie Peddle, who is a faculty member in the partnership program between Western Colorado University & the University of Colorado Boulder. We also discuss some takeaways from the compression, abrasion, and UV tests we’ve been running; steps toward developing new standards; and more.

Blister Labs: Technical Apparel Testing Update (Ep.261)

February 1, 2024September 1, 2023 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Apparel testing, show pigs, & the underrated importance of ballpoint pens. Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss these things with our Blister Labs colleague, Melanie Peddle.

Too often, the consumer reviews you find online are incomplete and unhelpful. But through our Blister Labs partnership with Western Colorado University & the University of Colorado Boulder, we’re working to change that. With Blister Community Reviews, we are creating a better method of gathering, synthesizing, and displaying user feedback from people of all shapes, sizes, ability levels, and locations, to produce even more helpful consumer product information for outdoor enthusiasts all around the world. On GEAR:30, Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss the origins of our Blister Community Reviews initiative; the takeaways from our beta testing at Blister Summit 2023; our goals for the future; and more.

Blister Labs: Blister Community Reviews Update (Ep.257)

February 1, 2024August 4, 2023 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Too often, the consumer reviews you find online are incomplete and unhelpful. But through our Blister Labs partnership with Western Colorado University & the University of Colorado Boulder, we’re working to change that.

How are we advancing the state of ski testing? At Blister Summit 2023, we brought together Jeni Blacklock, Sean Humbert, Leo Beuken, and Travis Hainsworth to discuss what we’ve been working on and why it matters, and we announce our latest initiative that we’ll be rolling out soon: Blister Community Reviews.

Blister Labs: the Evolution of Outdoor Gear Testing | Blister Summit 2023 Video

April 26, 2023April 26, 2023 by Jonathan Ellsworth

How are we advancing the state of ski testing? At Blister Summit 2023, we brought together Jeni Blacklock, Sean Humbert, Leo Beuken, and Travis Hainsworth to discuss what we’ve been working on and why it matters, and we announce our latest initiative that we’ll be rolling out soon: Blister Community Reviews.

Blister Labs Mountain Bike Wheel Testing

Next Level Mtn Bike Wheel Testing | Blister Labs

November 1, 2022 by Jonathan Ellsworth

In this video we provide a behind-the-scenes look at our latest testing of various mountain bike wheels' performance characteristics — check it out to see what we've been up to!

Blister Podcast: Jeremy Jones came to Western Colorado University for another installment of our Blister Speaker Series to discuss filming, snowboarding, founding POW, the ‘outdoor state,’ POW’s ongoing and evolving efforts to address climate change, and more.

Blister Speaker Series: Jeremy Jones (Ep.231)

October 17, 2022 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Jeremy Jones came to Western Colorado University for another installment of our Blister Speaker Series to discuss filming, snowboarding, founding POW, the ‘outdoor state,’ POW’s ongoing and evolving efforts to address climate change, and more.

An Update on Blister Labs’ Mountain Bike Wheel Testing

Blister Labs: MTB Wheelset Testing & Establishing Proof of Concept (Ep.211)

February 1, 2024August 26, 2022 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Greg Vanderbeek is back with a Blister Labs update on our mountain-bike-wheels testing. We discuss why the dynamic modeling we’ve been doing in the field is a critical component for ongoing testing back at the lab; what our test results are revealing about carbon vs. aluminum wheels; and more.

Moment Skis CEO, Luke Jacobson, talks about Moment, its growth, and his recommendations for entrepreneurs at the Blister Speaker Series at Western Colorado University. Recorded on the Blister Podcast

Blister Speaker Series 2.3: Moment Skis CEO, Luke Jacobson (Ep.108)

November 11, 2019November 11, 2019 by Jonathan Ellsworth

In our latest BLISTER Speaker Series at Western Colorado University, Moment Skis CEO, Luke Jacobson, talks about managing the significant growth of this indie brand; manufacturing in Sparks, Nevada; crucial decisions he’s had to make; how he would assess those decisions in hindsight; and more.

Jonathan Ellsworth talks with Ming Goetz about her promising Slopestyle mountain biking career on the Blister Podcast.

Up & Coming: Slopestyle Mountain Biker, Ming Goetz (Ep.99)

September 2, 2019 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Aside from her unassuming disposition, everything about Ming Goetz is extraordinary — her name; her background; her favorite discipline; her competing recently in the Crankworx Whip Off Challenge; her participation this season in the 1st ever Women’s Slopestyle Tour; her plans for the future (competing in Red Bull Rampage) and, of course … her abilities on a bike. So ladies & gentlemen, get ready to meet Ming.

Jonathan Ellsworth talks Leadville 100 winner, Duncan Callahan, about running, "burning out" on running, and how to cope with it.

Duncan Callahan on Reaching the Top, Burning Out, & What Comes Next (Ep.9)

January 28, 2020July 18, 2019 by Jonathan Ellsworth

There’s a common narrative in the running world about people who are struggling in life, then they are saved by running. But what happens when you’ve been an endurance athlete for over twenty years, and you then find yourself in search of some answers? We talk to Duncan Callahan — 2-time winner of the Leadville 100 and a number of other ultras — about his story, things he’d do different, and what he’s still hoping to learn.

Jonathan Ellsworth interviews Flylow President & Co-Founder, Dan Abrams, during the Blister Speaker Series at Western Colorado University

Blister Speaker Series 1.3: Dan Abrams, Flylow (Ep.84)

April 1, 2019 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Our 3rd Blister Speaker Series at Western Colorado University was with Dan Abrams, president and co-founder of Flylow. Dan gets into the details of running an outerwear company, and in doing so, offers insight into maintaining perspective while under pressure, how he approaches risky decisions, making the most of bad situations, and more.