Reviewer Reports: Palisades Tahoe; New Skis & Snowboards; & the Hunt for Red October

In this episode that we’re dedicating to JBobb, Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth talk frontside carvers; metal freestyle skis; and for the first time in Blister history, we’re reviewing a competition mogul ski.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 those to us here.RELATED LINKS:Palisades TahoeGet Yourself Covered with BLISTER+Join Us! Blister Summit 2026BLISTER+ Members: Blister Summit DiscountEnter Our Weekly Gear GiveawaySee Our Blister Recommended ShopsCHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:Blister Studios (our new channel)Blister Review (our original channel)TOPICS & TIMES:Palisades Tahoe (1:35)Blister Summit (2:46)Shoutout: BLISTER+ Members (3:50)Atomic Carving Skis: (7:36)Redster Q9.8 (9:07)Redster X9S (12:37)Redster S9 & G9 (14:42)Faction Le Mogul Pro (21:42)Fischer Carving Skis: (28:23)The Curv Noize GT 85 (29:05)The Curv Noize GTX (31:30)RC4 Noize (33:14)Armada ARV 106 Ti (36:05)Faction Prodigy 3 (39:17)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week at Palisades Tahoe, Jonathan Ellsworth & JBobb stopped by the The Ledge Boardshop to talk about snowboard culture & the current state of snowboard gear w/ a rather legendary figure in the snowboard world, Suge (aka, Brett Scott). We talk 90’s Hip-Hop; the history of snowboarding (and its influence on ski gear); and innovation in snowboard gear itself.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 those to us here.RELATED LINKS:The Ledge BoardshopPalisades TahoeGet Yourself Covered: BLISTER+Join Us! Blister Summit 2026BLISTER+ Members: Blister Summit DiscountEnter Our Weekly Gear GiveawaySee Our Blister Recommended ShopsCHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:Blister Studios (our new channel)Blister Review (our original channel)TOPICS & TIMES:‘Know The Ledge’ (3:50)Hip-Hop & Snowboarding (7:29)BOA (17:42)Customization of Snowboard Boots? (18:22)‘Convenience’ Bindings (23:12)Indemnified Gear (36:04)Snowboard Design Updates (43:34)Shop Culture (48:23)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

JBobb, Luke, Koppa, Kristin Sinnott and Jonathan Ellsworth just wrapped up a week at Palisades Tahoe, and today, they’re sharing lots of stories and impressions, and talking about the gear they reviewed — but didn’t bring with them. Thanks to everyone who made this a truly unforgettable trip.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 those to us here.RELATED LINKS:Palisades TahoePalisades Demo CenterGet Yourself Covered with BLISTER+Join Us! Blister Summit 2026BLISTER+ Members: Blister Summit DiscountEnter Our Weekly Gear GiveawaySee Our Blister Recommended ShopsCHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:Blister Studios (our new channel)Blister Review (our original channel)TOPICS & TIMES:Getting There w/o Skis & Boards (1:34)How Jonathan Jinxed Us (6:06)What Luke’s Reading (10:22)Day 1:- Demo Center & People We Met Up With (14:23)- Favorite Runs of the Day (17:31)- Skis & Boards (19:23)- Palisades Patrol Shreds Harder Than You (23:10)- Slot Bar Sneak Attack (26:33)Day 2:- Armada Declivity 102 & Antimatter 100- Day 2 Favorite Runs (37:00)- Day 2 Equipment Picks (41:12)Day 3:- Rakim & Alpine Meadows (48:55)- Connery Lundin (54:44)- Wildfour & Rocker (59:35)Day 4: (1:02:36)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you tell if you’re working with a good bootfitter? Are all ski boots getting bigger? Where are BOA dials most effective, or, are they actually just ruining the industry? Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth dive into these topics — and present some valuable tips and tricks — with the help of our longtime friend and boofitter, Hunter Dagnon.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 those to us here.RELATED LINKS:Palisades TahoeJoin Us! Blister Summit 2026For BLISTER+ Members: Discounted Blister Summit RegistrationGet Yourself Covered with BLISTER+Enter Our Weekly Gear GiveawaySee Our Blister Recommended ShopsCHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:Blister Studios (our new channel)Blister Review (our original channel)TOPICS & TIMES:Boot-Fitters vs Boot-Sellers (5:43)Higher-Volume Boots (8:50What is an “Average” Foot? (9:29)Bootfitting Red & Green Flags (12:25)Shell Fit (18:07)Concept of Comfort (20:45)BOA (29:41)“Pinner” Fit (36:00)Boot Geometry Changes (43:44)Volume Shifts & Performance (59:30)Plastic Types (1:06:38)JE's Case for Lower Volume (1:34:10)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AlpenFlow Design spent nearly six years developing their flagship AlpenFlow89 hybrid binding, and today, Jonathan talks with AlpenFlow co-founder, Steven Waal, about that development process. Then they compare / contrast the AlpenFlow 89 to all the major players in the hybrid binding space. You’re guaranteed to learn a lot about the “Do-It-All” category of ski bindings.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 those to us here.RELATED LINKS:Lone Pine Gear ExchangeSnowbirdEnter Our Weekly Gear GiveawaySee Our Blister Recommended ShopsJoin Us! Blister Summit 2026For BLISTER+ Members: Discounted Blister Summit RegistrationGet Yourself Covered with BLISTER+GEAR:30 ep 357: AlpenFlow Founders’ StoryGEAR:30 ep 345: What’s New in Binding DesignCHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:Blister Studios (our new channel)Blister Review (our original channel)TOPICS & TIMES:Sale: Lone Pine Gear Exchange (2:46)Overview of AlpenFlow (5:32)The AlpenFlow 89 Binding (8:05)What’s Changed Since the Blister Summit? (13:38)Pin Toes vs Non-Pin Toes (23:44)Release Characteristics & ISO 13992 (33:20)Product Comparisons:Marker Kingpin (39:00)Marker Duke PT (42:35)Atomic / Salomon Shift 2.0 (45:00)ATK Freeraider 15 (46:26)Cast 2.0 Touring System (49:05)ATK Hy 13 (51:22)Tyrolia Attack Hybrid 14 (52:46)Best Question I Haven’t Asked You?(53:40)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When it comes to the question of ski width, there are some very strong opinions held by skiers, and lots of them aren’t true. Are lots of people on skis that are too wide? Will a skinnier ski always carve better than a wider ski? What’s the ideal width for mogul skiing? And is there any real difference in bottomless powder between a 120mm-wide and a 135mm-wide ski? Today, Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth walk through the entire range of skis from 65mm to 135mm wide, and hope to clear up a number of confusions and debunk some myths about ski width.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 those to us here.RELATED LINKS:CARVPalisades TahoeEnter Our Weekly Gear GiveawaysOur Blister Recommended ShopsJoin Us! Blister Summit 2026For BLISTER+ Members: Discounted Blister Summit RegistrationGet Yourself Covered with BLISTER+CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:Blister Studios (our new channel)Blister Review (our original channel)CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:Blister Studios (our new channel)Blister Review (our original channel)TOPICS & TIMES:Test Our Opinions Yourself w/ Carv (1:80)Blister to Palisades Tahoe (2:34)This Week’s Gear Giveaway (3:12)Blister Summit 2026 (3:45)The Question of Ski Width (4:53)Ski Width Ranges65mm - 71mm (11:49)72mm - 78mm (16:48)79mm - 85mm (27:41)86mm - 92mm (38:08)Q: Width / Getting a Ski On Edge (39:48)93mm - 99mm (45:06)100mm - 106mm (53:19)107mm - 113mm (53:34)114mm - 120mm (57:21)Coastal Snowpack (1:07:17)Significant Width Breaks (1:14:14)What's Optimal? (1:16:45)Ideal Width for Skiing Moguls? (1:20:38)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luke, Koppa, Paul Forward, and Jonathan talk about some of the gear they've been reviewing; discuss topics related to that gear; and dive deep into the ideas behind a new pow ski design that Paul has been thinking about for years, and are now being incorporated into a brand new ski.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 those to us here.RELATED LINKS:Episode Sponsor: OpenSnowEpisode Sponsor: SnowbirdEnter Our Weekly Gear GiveawaysOur Blister Recommended ShopsJoin Us! Blister Summit 2026For BLISTER+ Members: Discounted Blister Summit RegistrationGet Yourself Covered with BLISTER+CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:Blister Studios (our new channel)Blister Review (our original channel)TOPICS & TIMES:Hallelujah! Check the Forecast! (2:58)Snowbird (4:03)Our Very Unique Gear Giveaway (5:24)Paul Back in AK (6:47)Paul’s Boot Surprise: Atomic Remedy 130 (13:08)Luke on the 1000 Skis Carve (22:57)Carving (28:12)Jonathan’s Mistake / PSA (38:02)Paul’s New Pow Ski Design (41:15)The Heritage Lab HB 135 (53:47)Flex Pattern vs Shape (1:04:50)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

(1) Why is it that typically, only the stiffest ski boots have all the best features and get the best liners and all the bells and whistles? (2) What are boot manufacturers doing about the fact that many of the best skiers on the mountain also have the least amount of money in their bank accounts? And (3) did K2 just create the first ski boot that was truly designed for women, from the ground up? To address these questions, we’re talking with Tom Pietrowski, the global product line manager for K2 ski boots.Note: We Want to Hear From You!We’d love for you to share with us the questions, topics, or stories you’d like us to cover on GEAR:30. You can email those to us here.RELATED LINKS:Episode Sponsor: CarvEpisode Sponsor: SnowbirdEpisode Sponsor: OpenSnowEnter Our Weekly Gear GiveawaysOur Blister Recommended ShopsJoin Us At Blister Summit 2026For BLISTER+ Members: Discounted Blister Summit RegistrationGet Yourself Covered with BLISTER+CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:Blister Studios (our new channel)Blister Review (our original channel)TOPICS & TIMES:Blister Summit (2:30)This Week’s Gear Giveaway (3:49)Tom’s Super Hot Take (5:02)K2 Cortex 140 (12:49)Boa Cable Length (15:41)K2 Cortex Team 120 (18:23)Flex Rating vs Price of Ski Boots (21:30)New Recon (28:15)K2 Anthem: the 1st True Women's Ski Boot? (30:48)K2 Boot Collection Upgrades (47:06)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why is reviewer and heli-skiing guide Paul Forward in Crested Butte testing skinny skis? How did Luke Koppa end up being the one in a helicopter? And why have Luke and Jonathan been able to test the same new ski boot? Today we discuss it all, as well as a bunch of new freeride skis from 4FRNT and Heritage Lab; Jonathan swapping skis with Daron Rahlves; Luke face-planting in front of some other pro skiers, and more.RELATED LINKS:Episode Sponsor: CarvEpisode Sponsor: SnowbirdEpisode Sponsor: OpenSnowEnter Our Weekly Gear GiveawaysOur Blister Recommended ShopsJoin Us At Blister Summit 2026For BLISTER+ Members: Discounted Blister Summit RegistrationGet Yourself Covered with BLISTER+CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:Blister Studios (our new channel)Blister Review (our original channel)TOPICS & TIMES:Carv (1:38)Snowbird & Giveaway (2:23)Luke’s Trip Report (5:39)Jonathan’s Trip Report (15:43)Salomon S/Pro Alpha C BOA (21:24)4FRNT Sinister (32:28)Heritage Lab Skis (37:08)Part 2: Jonathan & Paul Forward (41:05)Testing Ski Boots, Skis, & Carv (45:35)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonathan shares his thoughts on the stated return of Bode Miller & Peak Skis, then Powder Hound Ski & Bike Shop owner, Eric Helmbrecht, joins us to discuss several big new product announcements; review some current ski & snowboard gear; and then Eric shares his top 10 list of the most important developments in snowboard gear of the 21st century.RELATED LINKS:Enter Our Weekly Gear GiveawaysSee Our Blister Recommended ShopsJoin Us @ Blister Summit 2026For BLISTER+ Members: Discounted Summit RegistrationGet Yourself Covered with BLISTER+CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:Blister Studios (our new channel)Blister Review (our original channel)TOPICS & TIMES:Why My Voice is Gone (0:04)Blister Summit 2026 (2:59)Peak Skis is Back?? (4:11)The ‘New New’ Gear (16:27)- Nordica Nordica Promachine 3 (16:59)- Salomon S/Pro Alpha C BOA (27:49)- Atomic / Salomon Shift² 16 (35:33)- Armada Snowboards (41:48)- Current Ski & Snowboard Gear Reviews (44:38)- 4FRNT MSP 99 (45:55)- Marker X binding (47:04)- Armada Ski Boot (49:13)- Atomic Remedy (51:22)- Rossignol XV Sashimi ( 52:48)JE's Snowboard Questions (54:07)Top 10 Snowboard Gear of the Century (58:00)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.