Athletes & Product Design

Athletes & Product Design

Author: BLISTER June 30, 2023 Duration: 1:00:56

When it comes to gear, how do you balance the specific needs of world-class athletes with those of average skiers and riders?

In this conversation from Blister Summit 2023, McKenna Petersen (K2 athlete), Drew Peterson (Salomon athlete), Tyler Curle (Moment athlete & ski builder), and Jed Yeiser (K2 engineer) discuss the product development process; the roles that athletes, designers, and product managers play; the weirdest prototypes they’ve tried; what “evolutionary” and “revolutionary” changes we should expect in the future; which discontinued products they’d like to bring back, and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Intros & Backgrounds (2:48)

Balancing Needs of Pro Athletes vs the Public (7:31)

Are We in an Evolutionary or Revolutionary Stage of Ski Design? (25:15)

Weirdest Prototype You’ve Tried? (34:17)

How Have Your Responsibilities Evolved? (42:59)

Changing Popular Products (47:13)

What Product Would You Bring Back? (52:46)

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Blister Summit 2024 Registration

Blister YouTube Channel

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:

Off The Couch

Bikes & Big Ideas

Blister Podcast

CRAFTED

Happy Hour (for Blister Members)


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For anyone who has ever stood in a shop debating the merits of a new jacket or stared at a trail map while thinking about their skis, GEAR:30 is that conversation. This BLISTER podcast goes far beyond basic specs and marketing claims, offering a nuanced, often technical look at the equipment that defines our time outside. The discussion is driven by the people who live with these products: our own reviewers who are putting gear through its paces in real conditions, the designers who obsess over materials and intent, and the athletes whose livelihoods depend on performance. We also check in with the seasoned folks from our network of recommended shops, who see what works and what doesn’t after a season of hard use. Episodes dig into specific items, broader trends in innovation, and the sometimes-surprising realities of long-term testing. It’s a deep, authentic resource for anyone who appreciates the intersection of sports, design, and technology, and who believes the right tool can transform an experience. Tune in for honest, detailed talk that treats outdoor gear with the seriousness and curiosity it deserves.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 398

GEAR:30
Podcast Episodes
Reviewer Reports: Backcountry Ski Touring Gear w/ Paul Forward [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Paul Forward and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss some of the backcountry gear Paul’s been testing around Girdwood, Alaska, including skis from Moonlight and Movement; bindings from Moment and Dynafit; skins from G3 and Pomoca…
Shop Talk: Backcountry Skis, Boots, & Bindings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:39
John Weir from Bentgate in Golden, CO, is back to discuss advances in backcountry skis; draw comparisons between some high-profile touring boots; and reassess the pros, cons, & compromises of various AT bindings.TOPICS &…
The Pro's Gear: Hadley Hammer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:29
We talk to professional skier, Hadley Hammer, about the gear she’s most & least picky about; her own gear preferences; some of the keys to happiness; and we fight about The Queen’s Gambit.TOPICS & TIMES:The Queen’s Gambi…
Shop Talk: Pulling Back the Curtain on Gear Testing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:58
We’re pulling back the curtain on ski testing, and to provide their wealth of experience in this arena are The Ski Monster co-founder & CEO, George Michaelsen, and Matt Berkowitz, who is now the brand director of The Ski…
Our 21/22 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:22
Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss our 21/22 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide and some corresponding industry trends and category highlights. They also talk snowblades, clarify our Buyer’s Guide ‘Best Of’ Awards, and…
Moment Skis 21/22 Lineup with Luke Jacobson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:17
Moment Skis CEO, Luke Jacobson, is back on GEAR:30 to talk about Moment’s 21/22 lineup of skis; the new Moment factory; the new Deathwish 104; snowblading; & more.TOPICS & TIMES:Moment’s new factory (4:51)Supply chain is…
Shop Talk: Vertical Playground, Oppdal Norway [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:12
Once upon a time, a couple of friends who were scheming to get some gear for their own adventures ended up creating a phenomenal outdoor shop. We talk to Trygve Sande and Rune Kvalsnes about the origins of Vertical Playg…
Shop Talk: Willi's Ski and Snowboard Shops [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:24
We talk with Greg Klein, president of Willi’s Ski and Snowboard Shops, which is family owned and operated with several locations in the greater Pittsburgh area of Pennsylvania. We talk about what brought Greg’s father (W…