My guest today is Dave Bertoni, a curious choice, in that Dave currently has nothing whatsoever to do with the ski business, but today’s podcast isn’t about today’s ski trade, but explores its roots in the not-so-distant past. Did you ever wonder what became of the legendary Salomon rear-entry boot design that drove the two-piece overlap to the brink of extinction? Dave Bertoni knows, for he was at the meeting where the nails were driven into its coffin. Want to know the backstory behind the Salomon Spheric and Propulse binding designs or the creation of the first integrated ski/binding system, the Pilot?

Bertoni’s career would be notable for his achievements at Salomon alone, but his career in skiing didn’t begin or end there. Beforehand, he ran the Mary Jane Ski School on the backside of Winter Park, Colorado, and later ran the show at The Buyer’s Guide, the first internet interface between U.S. ski retailers and wholesalers, and co-created, along with yours truly, the comprehensive ski retail training program, Desperate Measures.