Alaska’s Epic El Niño Season, Ski Bindings, & More with Powder Hound
·1 hr 1 min·5 clips
A six-foot storm knocked out power to Girdwood, forcing everyone to use snowmobiles just to get around.
Host Tara Williard introduces the episode from Blister headquarters in Mount Crested Butte, Colorado. Guest Eric Helmbrecht, co-owner of Powderhound in Girdwood, Alaska, joins to discuss the exceptional El Niño winter, starting with a huge storm in November that knocked out power. Eric shares his personal gear for the season, including the Rustler 10 and Enforcer 89 skis. Tara recounts her recent trip to Alaska, skiing conditions from slush to powder and testing skis like the K2 Mindbender 116 and Armada ARW 112. Eric discusses boot preferences, noting he hasn't seen any broken BOA systems returned. The conversation shifts to Powderhound's operations, highlighting a new automated tuning machine that applies performance patterns to skis and snowboards. Eric talks about the strong ski racing and freeride community in Alaska, with the local club growing to 120 athletes. They analyze the impact of Alyeska Resort joining the Ikon Pass, noting increased rentals but minimal crowding. Tara asks for trip-planning advice for Alaska, and Eric recommends staying in Girdwood and considering heli or cat skiing. The episode then focuses extensively on bindings. Eric discusses improvements in boot compatibility and binding weight. He shares shop insights on binding reliability, DIN settings, and spring longevity, advising against using old bindings on new skis. Eric highlights the Tyrolia Protector binding as a knee-safety advancement. He explains personal binding preferences and the importance of matching bindings to skis, using the example of Pivot bindings on lightweight skis. The discussion covers touring bindings, noting a decline in sales after a boom, and mentions options like the Shift, Duke PT, CAST, and Atomic Backland. Eric praises the Dynafit Rotation for safety and durability. The episode concludes with Eric's plans for the spring transition to biking and thanks to the producer and audience.
