Avalanche Beacons & Backcountry Safety with BCA Co-Founder, Bruce Edgerly

Avalanche Beacons & Backcountry Safety with BCA Co-Founder, Bruce Edgerly

Author: BLISTER April 5, 2019 Duration: 30:59

Avalanche beacons might not be as sexy as other ski & snowboard gear, but their proper use and design can be the difference between life and death. So we sat down with the co-founder of Backcountry Access, Bruce Edgerly, to talk about avalanche transceiver design, backcountry safety research, and the most important — yet often overlooked — aspects of a rescue.

TOPICS & TIMES:

  • BCA’s transceiver design philosophy + a new Tracker (1:21)
  • Improving backcountry strategy & increasing your safety (7:24)
  • Scenario: multiple burials (13:59)
  • Ski media & backcountry safety (16:28)
  • How old is too old when it comes to transceivers? (18:50)
  • The changing backcountry scene (20:31)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


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: 391

GEAR:30
Podcast Episodes
Kästle Ski Boots: Origins, Design, & 23/24 Lineup [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:26
For decades, Kästle has been making high-end skis for everything from racing to Nordic and skimo. But what sparked their recent launch into the ski boot category? It’s far from a simple process, so Kara Williard talked w…
New Binding Tech: Tyrolia Protector Bindings with Full Heel Release [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:03
Tyrolia’s Protector bindings with “Full Heel Release” is something that every skier ought to know about. Tyrolia calls it “the safest binding we have ever made,” and exactly how it works and how it’s supposed to reduce k…
Ferreol Skis: Reenvisioning Ski Construction [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:24
Ferreol is a relatively new company that designs and builds skis in Quebec, and they are working hard to push beyond conventional ski materials and construction. They created their own “Innovation Lab” to not only test s…
Bikes vs. Skis, 4th Edition (2023): Part 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:50
Ok, you know the drill. Which ski company is most similar to which bike company? What’s the latest incendiary thing that will come out of Dylan Wood’s mouth? This final installment of our 4th edition of Bikes vs Skis is…
Ski Binding Design with Hoji, Lars Chickering-Ayers, & Giray Dadali [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:21
At Blister Summit 2023, we brought together Hoji (Dynafit), Lars Chickering-Ayers (CAST Touring), and Giray Dadali (Daymaker Touring) for an extremely interesting and important discussion on the past, present, and future…
Bikes vs. Skis, 4th Edition (2023): Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:44
Which bike company and which ski company is currently holding the ‘Cool Kids Belt’? Which brand do other companies secretly wish they could trade places with? We debate these questions and more in our latest edition of B…
Safeback SBX: A New Avalanche Survival System [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:53
If you spend any time — inbounds or in the backcountry — skiing or riding in avalanche terrain or near tree wells, then you need to listen to this episode. Because we’re talking about a new system designed to increase yo…
Powder Ski Design w/ Folsom's Mike McCabe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:39
Today we’re talking about skis built for the deepest of days, the ones we dream about — and the kind that Mike McCabe and Jonathan Ellsworth were fortunate enough to ski recently in Alaska. And if you’ve ever heard someo…
Powder Skis in AK with Paul & Jonathan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:36
Jonathan is currently in AK with Paul Forward, Chugach Powder Guides, and a great crew. So he & Paul talk about the skis they’ve been getting time on (from Heritage Lab, Folsom, DPS, K2); some new skis we’d like to see;…