Ski Design & Your Questions

Ski Design & Your Questions

Author: BLISTER May 30, 2026 Duration: 53:19

At our Blister Summit, we asked our Blister Summit attendees to pose their questions about ski design to Max Smith (vice president & ski designer at Moment Skis); Stu Gleason (senior designer at DPS Skis); and Mike McCabe (senior designer & owner at Folsom Custom Skis).

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

Please share with us the questions, topics, or stories you’d like us to cover on GEAR:30. You can email us at: info@blisterreview.com

RELATED LINKS:

Get Covered: BLISTER+

Enter Our Weekly Gear Giveaway

See Our Blister Recommended Shops

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:

Blister Studios (our new channel)

Blister Review (our original channel)

TOPICS & TIMES:

Blister Plus Members (1:00)

What Needs To Be Cleared Up With Customer Questions (5:24)

What's A Problem You Wish You Could Solve (8:00)

Trend To Ski Design:  Do it All or Specifics (10:35)

Balancing Ski Design With Conditions and Geography (13:46)

Torsional Stiffness (16:20)

Prototype Fails (23:06)

Taper Angles and Reverse Sidecut (27:06)

What will define the next decade of ski design 

Which Modern Day Material Has Had The Most Impact (35:51)

Feedback Sources (37:30)

No One Layer Skis (41:54)

Exothermic Epoxy Accidents (45:03)

What Hasn't Been Asked Yet? (46:30)

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:

Blister Cinematic

CRAFTED

Bikes & Big Ideas

Blister Podcast


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: 398

GEAR:30
Podcast Episodes
GEAR THERAPY: An Italian Skier in Switzerland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:28
In our latest edition of GEAR THERAPY, Luke and Jonathan talk with Blister Member, Giovanni Saccarola (an Italian living in Switzerland), about his ski quiver, ski boots, and ski boot liner options.TOPICS & TIMES:Giovann…
GEAR THERAPY: A Mother Gets Back into Skiing — Where to Start?? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:21
When it comes to gear, we’ve all been there: loads of questions, crippling confusion, severe analysis paralysis. Sometimes you don’t even know where to start. You need some help! In our 3rd session of GEAR THERAPY, Blist…
Blister Labs: Technical Apparel Testing Update [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:55
Apparel testing, show pigs, & the underrated importance of ballpoint pens. Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss these things with our Blister Labs colleague, Melanie Peddle, who is a faculty member in the partnershi…
A Guide to Skiing in New Zealand with Outside Sports [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:01
Have you ever dreamt about skiing in New Zealand? Well, in this episode, Kara Williard talks with local Kiwi experts, John Knight and Darren Grimmett, from our Blister Recommended Shop, Outside Sports, to give us the run…
GEAR THERAPY: A Ski Patroller's Most-Pressing Gear Questions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:06
When it comes to gear, we’ve all been there: loads of questions, crippling confusion, severe analysis paralysis. You need some help! So in our 2nd episode of GEAR THERAPY, Blister Member & Spokane-based ski patroller, Ka…
G3’s Recyclable R3 Skis & Boards with G3 Founder, Oliver Steffen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:16
Oliver Steffen founded Genuine Guide Gear (G3) many years ago because of his passion for innovation and problem-solving, and while this has largely been aimed at creating solutions related to gear and backcountry touring…
Blister Labs: Blister Community Reviews Update [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:28
Too often, the consumer reviews you find online are incomplete and unhelpful. But through our Blister Labs partnership with Western Colorado University & the University of Colorado Boulder, we’re working to change that.…