We talk with Spark R&D; founder, Will Ritter, about the current happenings at Spark; compare the splitboarding and backcountry skiing communities and gear trends; go over design highlights from their current lineup; and more. TOPICS & TIMES:Bozeman backcountry conditions (3:54)Spark R&D;: Background (5:52)Spark’s new building (7:35)Current supply chain & shipping logistics (13:00)Splitboarding State of the Union (19:40)Ski Touring Gear vs. Splitboarding Gear (23:36)Touring gear that never sees the backcountry (28:45)Weight preferences & the “gram race” (32:38)Spark R&D;’s latest product developments (35:41)Biggest improvements across the industry? (40:58)What We're Celebrating (52:00)RELATED LINKS:Videos from our Blister Summit 2022Blister LabsSubscribe to our Newsletter & Gear GiveawaysBecome a Blister Member / Get our Buyer’s GuideGEAR:30 Ep. 27 w/ Spark R&D;GEAR:30 Ep. 28 w/ Spark R&D;CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the Couch
 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spark R&D founder, Will Ritter, on the Current State of Splitboarding

GEAR:30 is the podcast from BLISTER that dives deep into the details of the most interesting and innovative outdoor gear. You'll hear BLISTER reviewers discuss the gear they're testing, as well as product designers, professional athletes, and some of the gear-obsessed folks from our recommended shops weigh in on gear trends and the equipment they’ve been most impressed with. If you love outdoor gear, you're going to love this podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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In part 2 of this GEAR THERAPY mini-saga, Justin Bobb lays out his specific recommendations for boots, bindings, boards, & more to get Jonathan started on his snowboarding journey. They also discuss how many days on a board JE will need before he’s ready to head up to the Headwall at Crested Butte. RELATED LINKS: Blister Rec Shop: Boone Mtn Sports Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+ Listen to Part One CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic CRAFTED Bikes & Big Ideas Blister Podcast Off The Couch TOPICS & TIMES: Next Blister Cinematic episode Snowboard Boots (8:46) Snowboard Bindings (22:07) Snowboards (29:01) Camber Profiles (30:32) Length / Sizing (36:21) Protective Gear (39:36) Common Injuries (43:12) Summary (45:52) Headwall Challenge (47:03) Crashes & Close Calls (53:57) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

GEAR THERAPY: A Skier (Blister’s founder) Learns to Snowboard, Part 2

How much does knowing how to ski help when learning how to snowboard? How do you slam as little as possible while learning to ride? Why don’t snowboards have releasable bindings? These are a few of our Blister founder's questions as he learns to ‘think sideways.’ RELATED LINKS: Blister Rec Shop: Powder Hound Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+ TOPICS & TIMES: Hot Dog…The Movie (4:56) Snowboarding Status Update (8:33) Slam Reduction Program (12:08) Releasable Bindings? (14:32) JE’s Snowboarding Goals (19:38) Stance (21:21) Visualization / “Think Sideways” (23:54) Best Terrain to Begin On? (29:34) Types of Slams (33:25) Speed (35:51) Running Flat Bases? (36:30) Heel vs Toe, Part 1 (38:34) Tips on Crashing (41:36) Timeline (44:22) Heel vs Toe, Part 2 (45:00) Edges (51:31) How to Stop?? (53:05) Speed Scrubbing (1:01:30) JE’s Latest Crashes & Close Calls (1:05:21) CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic CRAFTED Bikes & Big Ideas Blister Podcast Off The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

GEAR THERAPY: A Skier (Blister’s founder) Learns to Snowboard, Part 1

At Blister Summit 2024, we got a state of the union on the present and future of ski boot design from 3 people with a wealth of experience in this world: Eric “Hoji” Hjorleifson, Matt Manser, and Greg Klein. They cover everything from the reception and performance of BOA boots to Hoji’s new Dynafit Ridge Pro boot; cold feet (literal & metaphorical…), and much more. RELATED LINKS: Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+ Blister YouTube Channel Blister Recommended Shops TOPICS: Intro 4:12 BOA Ski Boots: How’s It Gone So Far? 5:36 Weight: Still a Big Factor?13:27 Hoji’s New Dynafit Ridge Pro Boot 25:20 “Welcome Fit” 39:06 Footbeds & Boot Shell Plastic 45:31 Upper-Cuff BOAs? 54:09 Selling Shells w/o Liners? 56:34 Solutions for Cold Feet? 1:02:40 “True” size-22 Shells 1:04:57 Throat / Instep Fit 1:06:47 Canting & Cuff Alignment 1:09:11 “Custom” Boots 1:11:20 CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic CRAFTED Bikes & Big Ideas Blister Podcast Off The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sex & Ski Boots: Hoji, Matt Manser, & Greg Klein on the Present & Future of Ski Boot Design

We’re back with Eric Helmbrecht, co-owner of Powder Hound in Girdwood, AK, to discuss Alaska’s banner El Niño season; the gear he enjoyed most; the gear Kara Williard brought to Girdwood; what’s changed at Alyeska Resort since joining the Ikon pass; the reliability of various AT & alpine bindings, and more. RELATED LINKS: Shop Talk: Powder Hound, Girdwood, AK (Ep.133) Shop Talk: Celebrating 10 Years of Powder Hound in Girdwood, AK (Ep.222) Trends, Favorite Gear, and Most / Least Durable Products, with Eric Helmbrecht of Powder Hound AK (Ep.41)  Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+ Blister Recommended Shops TOPICS & TIMES Alaska’s Epic El Niño (3:07) Eric’s Favorite Gear (4:55) Kara’s Gear for AK (7:05) BOA Boots (10:57) Ski Tuning Upgrade (13:17) Ski Racing in AK (17:03) Alyeska on the Ikon Pass (20:03) Eric’s Trip Recommendations (25:19) Alpine Bindings (28:01) Binding Reliability & Longevity (30:56) Eric’s Preferences (40:53) AT Bindings & Trends (44:40) CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic CRAFTED Bikes & Big Ideas Blister Podcast Off The Couch 
 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alaska’s Epic El Niño Season, Ski Bindings, & More with Powder Hound

Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss some of the new skis they’ve been testing this spring RELATED LINKS: Blister Rec Shop: Powder Hound Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+ TOPICS & TIMES: Intro & Updates (2:36) Blizzard Anomaly 88 (9:50) K2 Omen Team (20:00) Blizzard Anomaly 94 (23:32) Armada Declivity X 102 & Declivity X 108 (33:58) Moment Commander 102 (40:46) Line Pandora 99 & Pandora 106 (49:14) Black Crows Corvus (57:38) Rossignol Sender Free 118 (1:03:57) Crashes & Close Calls (1:10:07) CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic CRAFTED Bikes & Big Ideas Blister Podcast Off The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spark R&D founder, Will Ritter, on the Current State of Splitboarding

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