This charming photo [courtesy of Head] of kinder overlooking the Alps served as the title photo for Will the Next Generation of Skiers Be the Last?
After I posted what I assumed would be my last Revelation of the 2021/22 season, I realized I had rushed off without leaving a handy reference to the resources created in the past year. While my normal output of 30+ Revelations per season was down to 26, I trust this loss was more than offset by the 45 podcasts posted in the same period.
I want to call out two Revelations of enduring value: The Returning Skier’s Handbook, that can be found under “Gear Guide” on the home page menu, and The Story Behind Jackson’s List. We encourage any and all to share them with fellow skiers.
REVELATIONS:
What’s New for 2021/22? A brand-by-brand breakdown of all that was new in Alpine skis last season, including developments at Realskiers.
The 21/22 Women’s Ski Market An exhaustive overview of both general trends and product specifics in the women’s ski market.
The Skis Americans Don’t See Part One There are seven Alpine ski genres, but the U.S. market keeps three of them under shrouds. Herein I discuss why the Non-FIS Race, Technical and Powder markets are practically invisible on these shores.
The Skis Americans Don’t See Part Two The other large population of skis that you won’t find many of in American ski shops are the products of the dozens of small-batch suppliers who make up a huge chunk of the off-trail market.
The Best Skis of 2021/22 Everyone loves a “best of…” list, but the ski market is so diverse, it makes no sense to pick just one. So, I pick a trio in each of the four major recreational categories.
The All-Resort Skier There’s a new skier type appearing on our slopes, someone who treats our spiritual refuge like any other activity identified by the resort’s app as part of the resort experience. Oy.
Getting Lost in the Details, Part One In which I inspect three areas of ski base prep that require attention, but there’s a limit to how far one needs to go.
Getting Lost in the Details, Part Two I inspect four other areas where it’s possible to over-complicate your life.
The Making of a Skier, Part XIV: My Illustrious Nordic Career I was quite possibly the worst Nordic skier, ever. I appeal to your capacity for empathy with these touching tales of my grotesque incompetence.
Will the Next Generation of Skiers Be the Last? The pressures to discontinue skiing begin to mount the moment one seeing adulthood fast approaching. We’re making it ever harder for skiers to raise another generation of skiers.
The Returning Skier’s Handbook There are enough skiers returning to our sport to constitute their own buyer type. This handbook has been created to facilitate their re-entry to a sport they know, yet don’t know at all. Meant to be shared.
The Story Behind Jackson’s List I wanted a comprehensive list of all the specialty ski shops in America who were competent at the vanishing skill of bootfitting. It didn’t exist, so I created it. Please pass it along.
Ski Buying Tips for Parents This was originally titled, Pity the Children. Children’s gear is not like adult gear, and shouldn’t be selected or fit the same way.
The Skiers Who Changed Skiing Everyone thinks the world began the year they were born, but we wouldn’t have skiing as we know it without the contributions of a generation whose tracks have long since faded from our collective memory.
How You Can Help Save Christmas The Stump-Bertoni Prize for Excellence was created to recognize Realskiers.com breathtaking achievements, even if no one else has. This is a sobering announcement of its cancellation this year and another pitiable appeal for your financial support. Once again, you have all let me down.
Looking Back at 2021 I muse over how well the skier community handled itself under difficult circumstances.
Lessons from the Front Lines I fit boots when the retail frenzy is at its peak, over the holidays. These are the four principal lessons I learned while tending to the needs of the people when they’re at their most stressed.
The Things We Do for Love A detailed explanation of why I tackled the assignment of procuring Greg Stump’s nomination to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and subsequently agreed to fit his mangled feet in new boots. It was a challenge; he still hasn’t skied in them.
Don’t Wait Another Day to Get New Gear Re-supply was slow in coming last season, so those in real need of skis were well advised to act sooner than later.
Calling All Ski Testers! Once again, I explain the hows and whys of ski testing and the limitations of statistics.
When to Buy in 2022, This Spring or Next Fall? A practical guide to finding the best deals left on the 21/22 market.
Taking the Leap of Faith Embarking on a new boot-fitting experience after years of putting it off is a trepidatious trial no matter how you go about it. In this Revelation, I describe the experiences of a couple of recent bootfit clients who each took a huge leap of faith by consigning themselves to my care.
Everything That Goes into a Ski Matters: Innovation in an Age of Incrementalism We’re living in a period of what you might call “innovative restraint.” Great leaps forward aren’t likely, so product designers have to go deep into the details to perfect what’s already pretty great gear.
On Altitude, from Snowbird Secrets One of the 22 pithy meditations that together comprise the contents of Snowbird Secrets, as far as I know, provides the only metaphysics-based ski instruction that explains the meaning of life.
Where I’ve Been & Where We’re Heading I sketch the outlines of my recent activities before ripping into the proliferation of “Best of…” lists driven solely by affiliate fees. There are some very pretty cesspools festering on the web.
In Case You Missed It You’re reading it.
PODCASTS of REALSKIERS WITH JACKSON HOGEN
NOTE: ALL PODCAST URL’S ARE THE SAME: https://realskiers.com/podcasts/
Realskiers with Jackson Hogen is available on Realskiers.com, Spotify, iTunes, Audible, Soundcloud and other podcast outlets.
Note to Mainstream Media: Stay in Your Lane! 18:44
An alarming number of well-known magazines are publishing “Best Skis” or “Best Boots” lists without the slightest attempt at integrity.
On Altitude, from Snowbird Secrets 9:05
My rendition of Chapter 6 from Snowbird Secrets.
“Dr. Death” Knows How Fast You Ski 45:34
Dr. Jasper Shealy has been studying ski fatalities for his entire career and is the world’s foremost authority on the subject.
Kristen Ulmer Sticks the Landing 54:15
The biggest star in women’s freeskiing throughout the 1990’s, Ulmer chucked it all to pioneer training in how to cope with fear.
Mike Rogan Teaches Us All a Lesson 1:20:10
The 7-time coach of the PSIA “Demo Team,” Rogan is regarded as the best technical skier and instructor of his generation.
On Trust, from Snowbird Secrets 9:14
What state of mind is more intrinsic to skiing than trust? I explore the topic in this rendition of Chapter 10 of Snowbird Secrets.
Taking the Leap of Faith 8:05
All bootfitting experiences involve a leap of faith. For a couple of my bootfit clients, that leap spanned most of the continent.
Scot Schmidt Tells All 44:22
Time has only served to polish the veneer on Schmidt’s remarkable career. The normally reserved Schmidt opens up in this far-reaching interview.
When to Buy in 2022, This Spring or Next Fall? 8:11
As we moved into mid-February, inventories of star products were dwindling, limiting selection. Next fall, prices will be higher. Is there a better time to buy?
Jimmy Petterson, World’s Greatest Ski Bum 58:31
No one has skied in more places than Petterson, a lifelong ski vagabond who has chronicled his travels in a remarkable tome, Skiing Around the World.
Calling All Ski Testers! 7:44
This podcast posted on the eve of the major western trade fairs, where ski performance data is captured on the Realskiers Test Card app.
Why I Don’t Write About Bindings 7:25
Writing about bindings is like writing about religion; it’s a no-win proposition. People have strong beliefs, which they defend with fervor.
Don’t Wait Another Day 4:59
An impassioned appeal to buy whatever you need NOW, as selection was starting to get skinny and re-supply was likely still weeks away.
The Things We Do for Love 8:05
Greg Stump has become one of my dearest friends. One the delights of my recent past was nominating him for the Hall of Fame. Then I had to fit him in boots…
Lessons from the Front Lines 11:11
You learn a lot about people – and what they believe – if you attend to their needs at a ski shop over the holidays. I illuminate four topline trends.
2021/22 Women’s All-Mountain East Category 34:47
It’s the most important genre in the women’s ski market by a mile. What makes it so, and what models are driving this market momentum?
Looking Back at 2021 7:47
Despite prognostications of doom, the ski market in America – and skiing itself – came through the pandemic’s first wave with flying colors.
On Hands and Feet 12:04
In a slavish attempt to stimulate book sales prior to the holidays, I provided this reading of Chapter 12 from Snowbird Secrets.
How You Can Save Xmas 8:05
In a nutshell, either subscribe to Realskiers.com or find some other rationale for sending me as much money as you can spare.
Realskiers.com Opens a Vault of Timeless Wisdom 14:33
While trolling through dusty files, I uncovered a cache of Revelations I had penned in 2013-15. They remain remarkably relevant and are now in the Archives.
The Skiers Who Changed Skiing 12:52
In collaboration with the folks at Skiing History, I extol the achievements of the pioneers who made modern skiing possible.
Lycra, Lace & Leather 14:30
In the glorious days – and nights – when the SIA show convened in Las Vegas, I would host a sushi feast in honor of the female gear testers at Snow Country.
Ski Buying Tips for Parents 7:33
Kids aren’t the same as adults, and neither is their gear. How to buy wisely for the little people in your life.
The Returning Skiers Handbook Published 2:55
This audio announcement is brief, but it’s important couldn’t be bigger: The Returning Skier’s Handbook is tailored for those who haven’t skied in years.
Notable Listeners Respond to Recent Revelation 11:55
Listeners worth listening to respond to Will the Next Generation of Skiers be the Last?
Will the Next Generation of Skiers be the Last? 6:48
In which I ponder the forces that may hinder the current generation of skiers’ ability to raise their kids as skiers.
Why Listen to Me? 19:42
There seems to be an endless supply of self-anointed pundits pawning off their opinions in order to reap an affiliate fee. I explain why skiers should listen to me.
The Making of a Skier: My Illustrious Nordic Career 7:52
I was quite possibly the worst Nordic skier, ever. I appeal to your capacity for empathy with these touching tales of my grotesque incompetence.
Understand the Brand 19:46
Every major brand has its own identity, guided by a philosophy and married to its machinery. The better you understand the brand, the more you know about its skis.
Getting Lost in the Details, Part 2 8:28
What you should know about boot sole designs, standheight, ramp angle, shims and pole length.
Preview of The Returning Skier’s Handbook 16:16
The Returning Skier’s Handbook isn’t a Revelation, but a stand-alone pamphlet meant to help the returning skier understand the current market.
Getting Lost in the Details, Part 1 7:43
Waxing, base structure and edge beveling are all important parts of ski maintenance. What you need to know and what you don’t, explained.
Revisiting Past Bootfitting Adventures 12:49
Case studies of real ski boot buyers reveal how little most skiers know about boots and how best to procure them.
The All-Resort Skier 9:13
I was raised as a skier, so whenever I went to a resort, all I wanted to do was ski. Many of the latest wave of skiers treat skiing as just another option on the resort app. Oy.
Training Matters 15:55
You don’t become a good bootfitter just by selling boots. To be any good takes some serious training. Thank heaven for the likes of Masterfit University.
Best Skis of 2021/22 13:50
Everyone loves a “best of…” list, but the ski market is so diverse, it makes no sense to pick just one. So, I pick a trio in each of the four major recreational categories.
Coming Attractions 18:43
In which I tease my Dear Listeners with coming attractions on Realskiers.com.
The Skis Americans Don’t See, Part 2 8:08
The other large population of skis that you won’t find many of in American ski shops are the products of the dozens of small-batch suppliers who make up a huge chunk of the off-trail market.
The Skis Americans Don’t See, Part 1 12:54
There are seven Alpine ski genres, but the U.S. market keeps three of them under shrouds. Herein I discuss why the Non-FIS Race, Technical and Powder markets are practically invisible on these shores.
Snowbird Secrets, On Vibrations 12:12
Skiing, like life itself, is all about vibrations. In this chapter from Snowbird Secrets, I explain the link between particle physics and the forces involved in skiing.
2021/22 Women’s Ski Market 22:10
An exhaustive overview of both general trends and product specifics in the women’s ski market.
Understanding Ski Category Trends 37:13
This is a big-picture piece about the currents roiling the ski market. If you want the inside skinny on what lies ahead, this is the place to start.
What’s New in 21/22? 16:41
A brand-by-brand breakdown of all that was new in Alpine skis last season, including developments at Realskiers.
The Stump Chronicles, Part 1 55:41
The first of four entries in The Stump Chronicles, Part 1 is the most extensive and revealing. Stump is one of the ski world’s great personalities and a recent inductee into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame.
