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

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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)

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Blister Cinematic

CRAFTED

Bikes & Big Ideas

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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
Folsom Custom Skis: 22/23 Updates [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Optics & the Eyewear Industry with Julbo CEO, Dave Crothers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Reviewing the Reviewer: Kara Williard [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:28
On the latest edition of our Reviewing the Reviewer series, our resident ski reviewer, bike tester, boot fitter, and sustainable farmer, Kara Williard, is in the hot seat. We cover everything from ski and bike gear prefe…
Our (Massive) Ski Binding Shootout + Wildlife Encounters [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Luke Koppa, Kara Williard, and Jonathan Ellsworth talk about our upcoming test, where we’ll be mounting up more than 20 pairs of the same ski with more than 20 different alpine bindings in the attempt to find out what re…
Domestic Apparel Manufacturing, Supply-Chain Logistics, & More [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:55
A few years ago, Kitsbow undertook an incredibly ambitious plan to move to Old Fort, North Carolina, and bring all of their apparel production to the United States, after years of working with overseas factories. In doin…