Cody and Jonathan discuss the introduction of criminal charges for triggering avalanches; the case against straightlining; ski area news; our media recommendations; & more.TOPICS & TIMES:Criminal charges for Triggering Avalanches (3:01)The Result of the Avalanche Trial (12:23)Straight Lining vs. Turning (14:42)Most US Ski Areas made it through COVID! (19:42)Ski Areas might have to publish injury stats? (24:48)Helicopter Crash in AK (35:17)Media Recommendations (45:52)ZeroZeroZero (45:58)Beartown (Bjarnstad) (47:54)Drive To Survive (51:45)Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer (53:53)How to Avoid a Climate Disaster, by Bill Gates (56:57)Reading books vs. listening to them (58:51) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

BLISTER Podcast

Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend (Mar 2021)

We talk to the skier and adventure photographer, Adam Clark, about how he got started in photography; how he went about making a name for himself and honing his craft; his favorite camera gear; one of his most memorable ski trips; and a whole lot more.TOPICS & TIMES:Dentists + whale watching = photo career (5:06)Adam’s 1st season shooting skiing (13:49)Shooting with film vs digital cameras (23:09)Camera setups & current favorite (25:05)Most memorable ski trip? (34:51)Shooting skiing vs other outdoor activities (40:44)Shooting & moving in the mountains safely (43:13)Skiing with Blister reviewer Paul Forward in Alaska (51:46)Shooting video vs taking photos (58:26)Dream locations to ski & to shoot? (1:04:16) Media & inspiration (1:07:43) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Adventure Photographer, Adam Clark

Last Sunday, Cam Smith and Tom Goth set a new record at the Grand Traverse, which is a point-to-point ski race from Crested Butte to Aspen. Starting at midnight, racers travel 40 miles across the Elk Mountain range, climbing over 6,800 vertical feet. Cam is also a repeat winner of the Triple Crown of The Grand Traverse, so we talked to Cam about his record-setting night; skiing vs. skimo; his World Cup ski goals; and how he specifically trains for skiing and mountain running and mountain biking.TOPICS & TIMES:What is the Grand Traverse? (3:58)Winning the Triple Crown (7:58)Skiing under a full moon (11:41)Suffering during the GT? (14:41)Ski, Bike, Run: where have you most improved? (19:58)Cam’s background (25:22)Cam’s training program (28:45)Gear: how particular are you? (34:34)Current state of Skimo (37:46)Your future plans & goals? (47:05)Living Journeys fundraiser (54:41)RELATED LINKS:LivingJourneys.orgOff The Couch, ep.21: Cam Smith on Moving Through Mountains See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Cam Smith on The Grand Traverse; State of Skimo; & Training for Skiing, Running, & Mtn Biking

Cody and Jonathan discuss the new rule changes re: filming in National Parks; lift-line etiquette; the future of freeride comps; the record number of avalanche fatalities in the U.S. this season; a new development in backcountry skiing; the shocking story of Dean Cummings; and we share some music, tv, and book recommendations.TOPICS & TIMES:The Blister Summit (2:20)Clarification on Nim’s K2 Summit (5:28)Commercial filming in National Parks (6:44)Lift-line etiquette debate (16:21)The future of freeride comps? (23:39)Record avalanche fatalities in the US (31:04)Backcountry skiing & its future (43:49)Dean Cummings (49:03)CT & JE’s music, tv, & book recommendations (57:07) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend (Feb 2021)

Today we’re talking about the science of snow, the art of avalanche forecasting, and what every backcountry traveler can be sending in to their local avy center to help them produce more accurate forecasts.Our guest is Zach Guy, who is the lead forecaster for the Crested Butte Avalanche Center. Zach has a master’s degree in snow science from Montana State University, he’s served as the director of the Flathead Avalanche Center in Northwest Montana; and he returned to Crested Butte in the fall of 2020 to take over as the CBAC’s lead forecaster.TOPICS & TIMESZach’s background in forecasting & snow science (5:40)Some different snowpacks in the USA (13:29)Different snowpacks in Colorado (16:50)How has avalanche forecasting evolved? (20:08)How has snow science evolved? (22:35)Inconsistencies between forecast centers (26:43)Snowpack modeling (34:41)Fracture mechanics (46:44)Zach’s forecasting process (49:52)What we all can / should submit to avy centers (57:39)Life & schedule of a forecaster (1:03:29)RELATED LINKS: BACKCOUNTRY TRAVELEp. 152: On Guide Books & Decision Making in the BackcountryEp. 128: Henry Munter on Avy Forecasting & Decision MakingEp. 119: Rob Coppolillo on Backcountry Travel, Education, & GearEp. 85: AMGA president, Angela HawseEp. 62: Paul Forward on Backcountry Travel & Wilderness Medicine See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Backcountry Travel, Snow Science, & the Art of Avalanche Forecasting

Cody Townsend and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss the first Winter Summit of K2 by the Sherpa and Nepali team, including Nirmal Purja; TNF x Gucci collab; mountain-town dynamics; Sam Anthamatten vs Cody on the SHIFT binding; our inaugural Blister Summit; and more.TOPICS & TIMES:Surviving Girdwood, going skate skiing (2:59)The 1st Winter Summit of K2 (6:49)TNF | Gucci Collab (12:57)Mountain Town Dynamics & Politics (23:34)Sam Anthamatten on the SHIFT binding (34:27)Ski areas in France vs the US / Blevin’s Corner (42:08)The new Blister Summit (57:02)Our Book & Film Recommendations (1:04:35) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend (Jan 2021)

Andrew Alexander King is an explorer, alpinist, climber, and surfer who was born in Detroit, Michigan. Andrew has climbed over 50 different mountains around the world from Kilimanjaro to the highest mountain in the Atlantic, Indian, and the Pacific Ocean, and is currently training and aiming to become the first African American to climb the highest mountain and volcano on each continent.Andrew’s story is very interesting, and he is currently at work on The Between Worlds Project, which is every bit as interesting and important.TOPICS & TIMES:The Between Worlds Project (2:16)Growing up in Detroit (7:56)Moving to Hawaii, getting into surfing (22:48)Representation in the outdoor space (25:11)Attending college & navigating the corporate world (34:59)Working with brands (46:21)Current status of The Between Worlds Project (59:03) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Andrew Alexander King & The Between Worlds Project

Sam Anthamatten does things in the mountains that very few skiers do, and in this conversation, you’ll get a better sense of the background and the trajectory that helped Sam get to where he is today. We also get an update from Sam on the status of La Liste 2 (watch La Liste if you haven’t seen it); we talk about the process of flashing massive, big-mountain lines; and more.TOPICS & TIMES: Update on skiing in Europe (1:36)Sam’s background in the mountains (6:11)Update: La Liste 2 (17:28)Riding with Jeremie Heitz vs riding with Xavier de le Rue (26:20)Skiing 55° slopes (30:46)Competing on the Freeride World Tour (37:47)Gear (and skiing with Candide) (44:06)Ski Bindings & Binding Choices (50:38) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sam Anthamatten on Steep Skiing, La Liste 2, the FWT, & Gear Choices

For our first Blister Podcast of 2021, we asked a few of our reviewers to share one highlight of the past year; one thing they’re most looking forward to in 2021; and one new year’s resolution. We got quite a range of answers, and apparently Kristin Sinnott and Jonathan Ellsworth will be starting up a new reality TV show?? Please enjoy, and Happy New Year!TOPICS & TIMESKristin Sinnott (1:02)Eric Freson (9:56)Luke Koppa (15:18)Sascha Anastas (19:53)Gordon Gianniny (30:13)Kara Williard (42:44)Dylan Wood (50:01)Paul Forward & Jonathan Ellsworth (57:45) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Reviewers’ 2020 Highlights & 2021 Resolutions

Cody Towsend and Jonathan Ellsworth talk about chess & The Queen’s Gambit; savants & skier savants; ski media; political appointees; avalanche accidents; Cody’s new film, The Mountain Why; and more.TOPICS & TIMESCody versus the people of Girdwood, AK (2:15)The Queen’s Gambit & Savants (4:36)Spoiler Alerts for the Queen’s Gambit (6:29 - 19:21)Magnus Carlsen, & Skier Savants (8:23)Deb Haaland, Interior Secretary (19:25)Ski Media & Powder Magazine (37:31)Gear Shops, Gear Makers, & Crystal Balls (50:31)Who is getting into avalanche accidents? (56:08)Cody & Michelle Parker’s film, The Mountain Why (1:09:20)RELATED LINKSDavid Hill’s excellent article on Walter Tevis See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend (Dec 2020)

Elena Hight is an X Games Gold Medalist, two-time Olympian, and a person who everyone in our world describes first and foremost as … a badass.We talked with Elena about her new film project, Blank Canvas; competitive drive; how similar or different it is preparing to ride a big backcountry line versus a half-pipe contest run; her time in the mountains with the likes of Hana Beaman, Travis Rice, and Danny Davis; the importance for all of us to get better at dealing with the changes and transitions that are an inevitable part of life; and more.TOPICS & TIMESOffseason training & habits (4:49)Competitive Background (9:35)Mental preparation: contests vs. the backcountry (15:18)Shifting from halfpipe riding (22:21)Practices to help with moments of transition (33:40)Filming with Travis Rice (39:55)Current favorite books & music (43:26)2021 plans (44:50)Where to watch Blank Canvas (50:15) RELATED LINKSSurvivor Endurance phone case Jonathan’s experience with the Survivor Endurance See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Snowboarder Elena Hight on Competition, Transitions, & Blank Canvas

Bode Miller is not only one of the greatest ski racers of all time, he’s also working on a number of interesting projects. So we have a very wide-ranging conversation with Bode about his involvement in rethinking education with the Institute for Civic Leadership; the use of technology and data to make skiing easier (SKEO); the crucial lesson his grandmother taught him at a young age; his greatest competitive advantage as a ski racer; his interest in reenvisioning advertising (DTX); what he aims to do in terms of ski design with Crosson Skis; and more. TOPICS & TIMESRethinking Education: ICL: Institute for Civic Leadership (2:40)Tech, Data, & Skiing: SKEO (11:52)Benefits & dangers of new technologies (17:46)Lesson from Bode’s grandma (24:36)Various factors of ski racing (30:12)Bode’s greatest competitive advantage (33:43)Rethinking Advertising: DTX & Flowcode (43:33)Bode on ski design: Crosson Skis (56:45) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Bode Miller on Education, Mental Preparation, Technology, Ski Design, & More

We talk with Moosejaw CEO, Eoin Comerford, about how to increase diversity and inclusivity in the outdoor industry; the Moosejaw Outdoor Accelerator — which we hope that a number of you will apply for; what Moosejaw’s aims are today, and how those aims are informed by Moosejaw’s parent company, Walmart; and more.TOPICS & TIMESMoosejaw’s history (3:18)Being backed by Walmart (9:24)The Moosejaw Outdoor Accelerator (18:46)Inclusivity in the outdoor space (22:51)Large online retailers & indie brick & mortar shops (30:57)The current state of the outdoor industry (38:33)More details re: the Moosejaw Outdoor Accelerator (49:58)RELATED LINKSMoosejaw Outdoor Acceleratorblister.getspot.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Inclusivity & Innovation in the Outdoor Industry: Moosejaw CEO, Eoin Comerford

Sales of backcountry guide books are up, and more and more people are venturing out. So we talked with Beacon Guide Books founder, Andy Sovick (who Cody Townsend and I recently talked about on episode #150), about how he got into publishing guide books; why he actually dislikes the term “guide books”; whether or not backcountry guide books should even exist; the responsibilities that come with publishing them; why Andy is an advocate of the “ATES” system (Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale); and more. TOPICS & TIMESAndy’s ‘back-to-the-land’ upbringing (4:39)Mentorship (9:30)The responsibility of publishing guidebooks (33:28)ATES: The Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (47:45)Updating the atlases (55:35)Beacon Guide Books Rakkup app (59:34)Steamboat lawsuit (1:04:52)Where to find Beacon Guidebooks (1:22:12) RELATED LINKS:blister.getspot.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On Guide Books & Decision Making in the Backcountry

Athletic Brewing Company is a fast-growing brand in an emerging category that is about to blow up: non-alcoholic craft beer. So we talked to Athletic Brewing’s founder about why he started the company; the stigma of not drinking; why “near beer” has been so bad; why there’s such a need for products like this in the outdoors community; Athletic’s brewing process; how he feels about the emerging competition in the space; and more.TOPICS & TIMES:When / why did start thinking about starting Athletic? (2:17)Stigmas around not drinking (5:06)Stigmas around “N/A” beer (8:31)Why didn’t N/A beer take off sooner? (12:45)Parallels: N/A beer & the plant-based meat industry (28:17)Two For the Trails program (31:02) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Athletic Brewing Company Founder, Bill Shufelt

The Blister Podcast is Blister's series of weekly conversations with the most fascinating and passionate people in the outdoor sports world. We’ll talk with top-level skiers, climbers, mountain bikers, snowboarders, product designers, and various Blister reviewers about their sport, their industry, and whatever else is on their minds— or ours.

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