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
Touring Bindings & the New G3 Zed [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:07
G3 (aka, Genuine Guide Gear) is introducing a new touring binding — the Zed — that they’re calling the lightest fully-featured AT binding on the market. So we talk to G3’s engineers about their design philosophy and deve…
18/19 All-Mountain & Frontside Skis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:03
We just finished testing a bunch of skis at Taos, and because of a closing-week snowstorm, we ended up getting on everything from very heavy, modified race skis, to a new, extremely light big mountain ski. So Blister edi…
New Backcountry Ski Gear & Culture [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:36
We're talking about new backcountry gear and some of the changes to backcountry ski culture with the founder of Bentgate, Greg Floyd. Greg founded Bentgate in Golden, Colorado back in 1994, and Bentgate has become a corn…
Weird Skis & Women's Ski Boots [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:03
We’ve got 2 parts to this episode — first, I talk with Blister reviewer, Sam Shaheen, about the most unusual ski we’ve ever reviewed (and the ski that nearly caused Sam and me to fight), the Renoun Endurance 98. And then…
ON3P Skis 18/19 Lineup [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:09
ON3P is releasing their entire new ski line early next month. So we talk to ON3P founder, Scott Andrus, about this decision, then go over every ski in the 18/19 line, including what’s new, what's unchanged, and what’s so…
Testing in Telluride: 18/19 Ski Gear [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:17
We discuss a bunch of the brand new ski equipment we've been testing at Telluride, including the Line Sakana, ON3P Wrenegade 114, Faction Dictator 4.0, Rossi Soul 7, the new Atomic-Salomon SHIFT binding, and more.TOPICS…
Moment Skis 18/19 Lineup [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:42
We talk to the CEO and head designer of Moment Skis, Luke Jacobson, about Moment's lineup for next season — what’s new, what's unchanged, and what's tweaked — and we cover everything from touring skis, kid's skis, women’…
Testing Pow Skis in Alaska & Japan + Shop Talk [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:48
We talk to blister reviewer, Paul Forward, about some of the powder skis he’s been reviewing recently in Alaska and Japan, including the Faction Prime 4.0, the Black Diamond Helio 116, and the DPS Spoon.And then we talk…
Outdoor Retailer / SIA Highlights [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:00
This episode is a roundtable recap from the Outdoor Retailer / SIA show in Denver with five of our editors and reviewers about some of the most interesting new gear we saw at the show.We hope you’d been following us alon…
Black Crows Skis 18/19 Line [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:45
This is Part 2 of our conversation with Black Crows co-founder, Camille Jaccoux, and head ski designer, Julien Regnier. Here, we get into the topic of women-specific skis, then go over what’s new in the Black Crows 18/19…