BLISTER Podcast

Last week, we lost Bill Walton, one of the greatest basketball players of all-time, and a person with an all-time love of bikes. Today, I talk about what Bill meant to me personally, and we’re republishing here the conversation I had with Bill back on our Bikes & Big Ideas podcast. If you didn’t know Bill, you should listen to this conversation. And if you did know Bill, this conversation will make clear why so many people love him, and were inspired by him. RELATED LINKS: Video: Our conversation with Bill Walton Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+ TOPICS & TIMES: Jonathan’s Thoughts on Bill (0:16) Bill’s life-long love of bikes (7:59) Top-5 NBA ‘bike guys’? (21:09) Best cardio guys in the NBA? (25:50) Music, Bob Dylan, & the Dead (27:31) CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic Bikes & Big Ideas GEAR:30 CRAFTED Off The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest is Eric Blehm, author of The Darkest White., a book we think every snowboarder and skier should read. Today, we go behind the scenes with Eric to talk about the legend Craig Kelly; Eric’s extensive research on this project; and why The Darkest White is really (at least) 6 books in 1. RELATED LINKS: Episode Sponsor: bagbalm.com Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+ CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic Bikes & Big Ideas GEAR:30 CRAFTED Off The Couch TOPICS & TIMES: What Inspired The Darkest White? (4:13) The Six Aspects of Craig’s Story (8:11) Avalanche Education (22:45) Early Snowboarding Culture & Companies (27:05) The Darkest White vs. Eric’s Previous Books? (34:54) Keeping Stories Alive (44:24) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you love skiing, snowboarding, trail running, or mountain biking, then why the hell do you need to know about things like short-term rentals, zoning codes, and accessory dwelling units? Because those things will impact whether or not you will be able to continue to ski, snowboard, run, bike, or live in some of your favorite places. So Troy Russ is back for another conversation about what we need to know — and do — re: housing issues and mountain town economics. RELATED LINKS: Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+ Our Previous Housing Conversations: 6) Blister Summit ‘23: Mtn Town Economics 5) Zack Giffin: Tiny Houses, Big Solutions 5) Bjarne Salén: The Fifty Project & Tiny Homes 3) Mtn Town Economics w/ Scott Ehlert 2) Mtn Town Economics w/ Troy Russ 1) Mtn Town Economics w/ Dr. Jenny Stuber TOPICS & TIMES: Troy’s Current Role & Background (5:15) Updates On Previous Mtn Town Economics Conversations (12:17) Short-Term Rentals: Ideal Implementation? (22:37) Housing Stock & Affordability (27:02) Accessory Dwelling Units & Zoning Codes (36:31) Best Ideas Going Forward (43:21) How To Get Involved w/ Local Change? (47:52) CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic Bikes & Big Ideas GEAR:30 CRAFTED Off The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Len Necefer (founder of the Sonoran Avalanche Center & NativesOutdoors) is back to discuss cloud seeding; the passing of the EXPLORE Act; trigger warnings; the most Italian news?; skiing on mushroom moguls; what we’re reading & watching; and more. RELATED LINKS: Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+ Len’s Substack: All At Once TOPICS & TIMES: Len’s Trip Up the CO River (5:04) U.S. College Campus Protests (8:37) Cloud Seeding (30:42) House Passes the EXPLORE Act (42:38) The Most Italian News (46:21) What We’re Reading & Watching (50:36) Graham Zimmerman, A Fine Line John Farella, The Main Stalk Brendan Leonard, Ultra-Something Fantastic Fungi Skiing Mushroom Moguls? (1:11:21) CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic Bikes & Big Ideas GEAR:30 CRAFTED Off The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So who was really behind the creation of BLISTER, how did the whole thing get started, and was it actually due to a misunderstanding over a couple of beers on the weekend of Independence Day, 2010? Today, Jonathan Ellsworth and Michael Clarke discuss all of the above, as well as giant tortoises, some keys to long-lasting friendships, and more. RELATED LINKS: Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+ TOPICS & TIMES: Michael’s Role In Blister’s Existence (and Tortoises) (3:18) Michael’s Skiing Background (10:08) Jonathan’s Intro to Skiing (15:06) Forming Opinions on Skis (20:44) How Blister Started Reviewing Gear (25:46) Outsider’s Perspective on the Ski Industry (31:29) What’s Changed Since Blister Started? (38:12) What Would You Do Differently? (45:35) Longevity & Assessing Risk (52:48) Maintaining Long-Lasting Friendships (1:04:44) CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic CRAFTED GEAR:30 Bikes & Big Ideas Off The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mountain Gazette owner, Mike Rogge, is back to discuss the ongoing feud I have with him; media coverage of the eclipse; two stories from the soon-to-be-released MG #201; what we’re reading and watching (including Bluey, Road House, and why Rogge often tells people to watch the movie, Cocktail with Tom Cruise), and more. RELATED LINKS: Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+ TOPICS & TIMES: Our Ongoing Feud (3:34) Media Eclipse Coverage (11:17) Last Issue: #200 (15:24) Next Issue: #201 (25:26) Katie Burrell’s piece (27:11) Appalachian Trail piece (34:38) What We’re Reading & Watching (40:25) Blister Cinematic Tease (50:09) How to Get MG issue #201 (51:16) CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic CRAFTED GEAR:30 Bikes & Big Ideas Off The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At our Blister Summit, Angel Collinson, Mallory Duncan, Elyse Saugstad, & Vasu Sojitra shared stories about their all-time favorite days in the mountains; their scariest experiences; times they were the most starstruck; what they wish they could tell their younger selves; and more. Watch on our YouTube Channel. RELATED LINKS: Blister Recommended Shop: Sturtevants Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+ Watch on our YouTube Channel TOPICS & TIMES: How’d You Get into Skiing? (3:31) All-Time Favorite Day or Trip? (10:24) Scariest Experience? (24:26) Most Starstruck Moment? (36:41) Advice For Your Younger Selves? (47:06) Different Forms of Inspiration? (50:32) *Why* Do You Do What You’re Doing? (53:03) CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic CRAFTED GEAR:30 Bikes & Big Ideas Off The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cody and Jonathan discuss the end of The Fifty; the Crankworx riders’ strike; JHMR’s parking lot controversy; the all-drugs-are-legal Olympic Games; the ‘Road House’ remake; & more. RELATED LINKS: Blister Recommended Shop: vpg.no Get Covered: BLISTER+ TOPICS & TIMES: Catching Up, Cody’s Next 3 Months (0:00) The End of The Fifty? (7:35) Crankworx Canceled / Riders’ Strike (16:22) JHMR “Parking Hack” (41:26) The Enhanced Games (55:51) Ullr Sighting (1:10:18) What We’re Reading & Watching (1:23:33) CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic CRAFTED GEAR:30 Bikes & Big Ideas Off The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What should we do to most significantly and quickly improve the current climate situation? Should we all be pooping in buckets? At Blister Summit 2024, I had a conversation with Amie Engerbretson (Atomic); Dr. Len Necefer (Founder, NativesOutdoors & the Sonoran Avalanche Center); and Jake Black (Sr. Director of Programs, Protect Our Winters) to address this and a whole lot more. RELATED LINKS: Blister Recommended Shop: Lone Pine Gear Exchange BLISTER+ Membership: Learn More & Sign Up Videos: Blister YouTube Channel TOPICS & TIMES: Introductions (1:45) “Misplaced Guilt?” (4:01) The Actual Impact of “Perfect” Climate Advocates (14:02) Meaningful Things We Can Do (28:33) Q from Angel Collinson: Reducing Division? (41:05) Individual Behavior & Amie’s film, “The Hypocrite” (54:24) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After they competed in last weekend’s FWT Challenger stop in Crested Butte, Britta Winans, Colton Shaff, Mia Winans, and Tyler Curle sat down with us to peel back the curtain on the current freeride competition scene and discuss how the skiing and riding have evolved; differences between the FWQ and FWT events; their personal favorite moments from this season + personal favorite riders, and much more. RELATED LINKS: Blister Recommended Shop: Gear West BLISTER+ Membership: Learn More & Sign Up TOPICS & TIMES: Intros (3:37) 23/24 Season Highlights (7:38) Different Event Types (15:40) FWQ vs. FWT: Biggest Differences (19L07) Standout comp moments (27:35) Evolution of Freeride & Freestyle (34:57) Your Favorite Riders? (45:30) CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic CRAFTED Bikes & Big Ideas GEAR:30 Off The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we are talking about an often overlooked — and sometimes looked down upon — form of self-expression in freeriding and freeskiing: fashion. Our guests are professional skiers Hadley Hammer and Kellyn Wilson, the founders of TOGS, which is a new project dedicated to widening ski culture and making it more acceptable for each of us to be our full selves. RELATED LINKS: Blister Rec Shop: Backcountry Essentials Get Covered: BLISTER+ TOPICS & TIMES: Hadley and BLISTER+ (7:41) What is TOGS? (13:43) Fashion & the Outdoor Space (16:01) Expansion of the Mtn Town Uniform (23:53) Zebras (26:50) Hadley’s Background (28:17) Why the name, “TOGS”? (34:43) How Hadley & Kellyn first connected (36:13) Where to find & read TOGS (43:28) CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic CRAFTED GEAR:30 Bikes & Big Ideas Off The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trevor Kennison, Teton Brown, Cody Townsend, & Hoji swap stories about their experiences in the mountains & more. RELATED LINKS: VIDEO VERSION: Blister YouTube Blister Recommended Shop: Bluebird Mtn Sports OpenSnow Get Covered: BLISTER+ TOPICS & TIMES: The Epic Story of Hoji’s Hat (4:21) Teton Brown’s Story (12:05) Cody: Favorite Day (or Trip) in the Mtns? (18:52) Trevor: Skiing Rambo (22:58) Trevor’s 1st Trip to Japan (24:58) Teton’s Most Memorable Line (25:43) Skiing Big Lines Blind (30:16) Trevor’s Rail-to-Rail Flip (39:32) Trevor: How often do you back off of a line? (46:05) Hoji: Most Starstruck Moment? (48:41) Teton’s Most Starstruck Moment (52:01) Audience Questions (54:10) CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic CRAFTED GEAR:30 Bikes & Big Ideas Off The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Natural Selection Tour, created by Travis Rice, is one of the most innovative competitions out there. Top snowboarders openly covet an invite, and top skiers openly talk about how they’d love to someday compete. And with two Natural Selection Duels events taking place during our recent Blister Summit, it was a perfect chance to talk about Natural Selection and the future of comps with the Olympic & X Games gold medalist, Red Gerard; the legendary T. Bird (Tom Monterosso); and the CEO of Natural Selection, Carter Westfall. Snowboarders are going to love this one; skiers are going to want to pay close attention; and all of us have an opportunity here to think about the past and future of snowsports comps. RELATED LINKS: WATCH: Video Version on Blister YouTube Blister Recommended Shop: Gear West Get Covered: BLISTER+ TOPICS & TIMES: T. Bird & Natural Selection (6:30) Red’s Recent X Games’ Gold (8:01) Comp Landscape Before Natural Selection (9:18) Inviting Riders of Different Backgrounds (15:46) Impact on Next Gen of Riders (20:17) Skiing & Natural Selection? (26:32) Squashing Skier / Boarder Beef (28:27) Audience Questions (32:20) CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic CRAFTED GEAR:30 Bikes & Big Ideas Off The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Natural Selection Tour, created by Travis Rice, is one of the most innovative competitions out there. Top snowboarders openly covet an invite, and top skiers openly talk about how they’d love to someday compete. And with two Natural Selection Duels events taking place during our recent Blister Summit, it was a perfect chance to talk about Natural Selection and the future of comps with the Olympic & X Games gold medalist, Red Gerard; the legendary T. Bird (Tom Monterosso); and the CEO of Natural Selection, Carter Westfall. Snowboarders are going to love this one; skiers are going to want to pay close attention; and all of us have an opportunity here to think about the past and future of snowsports comps. RELATED LINKS: WATCH: Video Version on Blister YouTube Blister Recommended Shop: Gear West Get Covered: BLISTER+ TOPICS & TIMES: T. Bird & Natural Selection (6:30) Red’s Recent X Games’ Gold (8:01) Comp Landscape Before Natural Selection (9:18) Inviting Riders of Different Backgrounds (15:46) Impact on Next Gen of Riders (20:17) Skiing & Natural Selection? (26:32) Squashing Skier / Boarder Beef (28:27) Audience Questions (32:20) CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic CRAFTED GEAR:30 Bikes & Big Ideas Off The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As people who love the outdoors, why can’t we just steer clear of the often gross world of politics and let other people deal with that stuff? Jason Blevins (co-founder, Colorado Sun) discusses this with 3 people who will make the case and are setting the example for the rest of us: Caroline Gleich (professional ski mountaineer & U.S. Senate candidate), Nina Waters (athlete, creative, & Summit County commissioner), & Dr. Len Necefer (founder, Sonoran Avalanche Center & Natives Outdoors). RELATED LINKS: Get Covered: BLISTER+ TOPICS & TIMES: Caroline: Candidacy for Utah Senate (3:54) Nina: Tackling Big Issues in Summit County (6:53) Len: Amplifying Unheard Voices (13:55) Turning Outdoor Passion into Action (22:16) Caroline’s Top Priorities (29:27) Len’s Top Priorities for Caroline if She Wins? (33:16) Local Action & Change (43:06) Audience Questions (49:45) CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic CRAFTED GEAR:30 Bikes & Big Ideas Off The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week at our Blister Summit, Cody and Jonathan recorded their first episode of Reviewing the News in front of a live audience, and it was great. Enjoy! RELATED LINKS: Get Covered: BLISTER+ TOPICS & TIMES: Cody Should Quit the Fifty (7:07) “Underground” Ski Instructors (19:13) Most Canadian News (28:03) Killington & 20+ Lost Skiers (31:14) Mountain Town Advice (40:31) NFL / Super Bowl Talk (45:32) Audience Questions (49:16) CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic CRAFTED GEAR:30 Bikes & Big Ideas Off The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Blister Summit 2024 kicks off this Sunday. So Jonathan talks with our Blister Summit Director, Kristin Sinnott, about the latest details; the things they’re most excited about; and more. If you’re coming to the Summit, listen up. And if you’ve never been, this conversation should help you understand why the Summit is our favorite week of the winter. RELATED LINKS: Powder7 Taos Ski Valley Join Us! Blister Summit 2024 Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+ TOPICS & TIMES: Current Conditions, Etc. (3:31) Broad Range of Product Categories (6:01) Backcountry Portion of the Summit (7:48) Group Meetups for All Ability Levels (12:39) Panel Session Topics (16:43) See You Soon! (24:30) CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic CRAFTED GEAR:30 Bikes & Big Ideas Off The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Blister Summit 2024 kicks off this Sunday. So Jonathan talks with our Blister Summit Director, Kristin Sinnott, about the latest details; the things they’re most excited about; and more. If you’re coming to the Summit, listen up. And if you’ve never been, this conversation should help you understand why the Summit is our favorite week of the winter. RELATED LINKS: Powder7 Taos Ski Valley Join Us! Blister Summit 2024 Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+ TOPICS & TIMES: Current Conditions, Etc. (3:31) Broad Range of Product Categories (6:01) Backcountry Portion of the Summit (7:48) Group Meetups for All Ability Levels (12:39) Panel Session Topics (16:43) See You Soon! (24:30) CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic CRAFTED GEAR:30 Bikes & Big Ideas Off The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cody and Jonathan debate the greatest athletic achievements in outdoor sports in 2023; Caroline Gleich’s run for the U.S. Senate; ski area & ski media business models; mountain town advice, the Most Canadian News; & more. RELATED LINKS: Moment Factory Store (Reno, NV) OpenSnow.com/Blister Join Us! Blister Summit 2024 Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+ TOPICS & TIMES: Live Taping of Reviewing the News (00:30) Cody’s December (6:31) Biggest Athletic Achievements of 2023 (11:08) Ski Areas & Business Models (28:29) Media, Ski Media, & Business Models (40:13) Climate News (52:43) Caroline Gleich Runs for Senator (1:01:50) Most Canadian News (1:09:29) Mtn Town Advice (1:14:02) What We’re Reading & Watching (1:28:12) CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic CRAFTED GEAR:30 Bikes & Big Ideas Off The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many of us have daydreamed about starting our own ski or snowboard company, but what’s it like to actually do it? How much does it cost? How do you find customers? We sat down with Doug Bachand of FullSend Ski Co to answer all of these questions, to learn about Doug’s very unconventional journey to starting a ski company; and more. RELATED LINKS: Episode Sponsor: CARV Join Us! Blister Summit 2024 Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+ TOPICS & TIMES: CARV (1:33) Blister Summit Update (3:22) Doug’s 1st Time in Mt. Crested Butte (5:15) Why Start a Ski Company? (7:17) Studying Engineering (12:28) Timeline: Starting FullSend (15:45) Financials (22:51) Growing Up in South Dakota (25:07) Investing in Equipment (26:37) Your First Ski Designs (29:07) Blister & Doug meeting at A-basin (31:16) Lessons in Ski Design (37:41) Ski Blades (40:48) Getting Customers (42:49) Where to Learn More re: FullSend? (49:00) CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic CRAFTED GEAR:30 Bikes & Big Ideas Off The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.