Ski bindings are one of the most important — and least understood — parts of our equipment.

In this episode, I talk with Phil Pugliese from SkiTalk.com to better understand how ski bindings work, where they came from, and how they balance performance with safety. Phil has spent decades reviewing and testing ski equipment, and his depth of knowledge really shows.

We cover the evolution of bindings, the role of elasticity, DIN settings, race vs recreational designs, GripWalk compatibility, and why understanding your equipment matters more than most skiers realise.

This conversation helped me make more informed decisions about bindings for myself and my family, and it’s one I think any skier who enjoys learning about their craft will appreciate.

Want to see the bindings Phil is talking about check the YouTube version of the podcast https://youtu.be/JalwwxcNvts

Want to improve your skiing further?

Check out Big Picture Skiing, my online coaching platform with a huge library of in-depth ski technique and equipment videos designed to help you ski better — and enjoy it more.

Podcast listeners get a 25% off Discount Code. Use code PODCAST when you checkout

Learn more at bigpictureskiing.com

I have to admit that one of my core beliefs about moguls was challenged during this most recent conversation with Olympic Moguls silver medalist Matt Graham. For a long time, I believed that more ski snow contact was the ultimate sign of a good bump skierl. But in this open and honest conversation, Matt explains why the opposite is true when you want speed and rhythm in a mogul course.

I was working with Carv at Hintertux when I met up with him, and he talked me through the key ideas the best bump skiers in the world rely on plus a whole lot more 👇

The Mogul Paradox

One of the biggest concepts he shares is something called bridging. It is the ability to absorb the terrain so well that the skis do not press unnecessarily into the bumps. By bridging at the right moment, the skier reduces friction, avoids braking, and keeps the ideal turn tempo flowing. Once Matt explained it, the whole approach made a lot more sense.

The Boot Alignment Breakthrough

Matt also speaks openly about the long journey he had getting his equipment right. He explains the exact alignment change that finally let him ski with more comfort and less fight. Hearing that from someone at his level shows how important the right setup really is.

Carv

We also talk about Carv’s data in moguls. Matt tried CARV for the first time this November and currently he is the number 1 skier on the global Carv leaderboard. Yes higher than Ted Ligety and some of the best carvers in the world. It’s very cool because Carv now has separate Ski IQs for Moguls, Carving, Short Turns and Powder. We find out that elite mogul skiers have an insanely high tempo or rhythm of turns way above even expert skiers.

A quick note about Big Picture Skiing

If you want help improving your skiing this season, I would love to guide you. The Big Picture Skiing learning platform gives you a clear, structured way to progress instead of trying to piece things together from random YouTube tips. You will find step by step skill progressions, deep dive videos on topics like hip position and outside ski balance, and a learning pathway built from my 20 years of coaching skiers at every level.

Podcast listeners can use code PODCAST for 25 percent off any membership.

Thanks for listening skiers. See you out on the slopes.

This is a remastered release (2018) of one of the most eye-opening conversations I’ve ever had about skiing.

Before I had proper mics or a real podcast setup, I sat down with Jurij Franko - the physicist, former racer, and engineer behind the original shaped-ski revolution at Elan. The audio is now cleaned up, and I’m thrilled to bring this episode back because it genuinely changed how I understand skis.

Jurij’s story starts in the late 80s, when he became the first person to apply mathematics to ski design. His work validated the idea of sidecut and helped spark the carving era we now take for granted. In this episode, he explains the thinking and experiments that shifted skiing from tradition to science — and the breakthroughs that came from asking the questions no one else was asking.

We dive into ski behaviour in a way few people can articulate:

• why a ski carves vs. skids

• how torsional stiffness and center of mass influence grip

• the real physics behind vibration and “feel”

• and why so many long-standing beliefs in skiing were never grounded in science.

What I appreciate most is how Jurij connects design to human movement. He explains how great skiers adapt their body position, predict what the ski will do, and make thousands of small decisions based on feel and repetition. His way of cutting through jargon and simplifying the essentials is refreshing - especially for instructors.

We also challenge a lot of myths: flex, vibration, “performance characteristics,” and the tendency to overteach. Jurij’s view is that skiing improves when people are given the space to explore, develop awareness, and feel how the ski interacts with the snow.

This conversation blends physics, history, technique, and genuine passion. It’s a rare look inside the mind of someone who shaped the modern ski - and for me, it’s still one of the episodes that permanently shifted how I think about skiing. Enjoy.

Improve your skiing with me as your coach. I own an online learning platform that will teach you to become a better skier It’s Called Big Picture Skiing and is my way of being able to share everything I have learnt about ski technique, equipment and becoming a better skier. There are over 250 videos sorted into categories for simple learning. If you’ve enjoyed my YouTube and podcast then I think you would get even more out of the BPS learning platform

Podcast listeners can take 25% off any membership with code: PODCAST

CHECK OUT BIG PICTURE SKIING

If you’ve ever wondered whether tighter, stiffer, more precise ski boots could actually make you a better skier — this episode is for you.

In this conversation, I chat with Brent Amsbury, owner of Park City Bootfit in Utah and one of the most respected boot fitters in the US. Brent and I dive into the world of what he calls “Ultra Performance Ski Boots.”

These aren’t full plug race boots, but they sit just below that level — designed for serious skiers who want more precision, better energy transfer, and a stronger connection to their skis. We talk about:

• What defines an ultra performance ski boot

• Why many modern ski boots have swung too far towards comfort at the expense of performance

• How to tell if this style of boot is right for you

• The fitting process: punching, stretching, and fine-tuning for your foot

• Common mistakes skiers make when switching to a closer-fitting boot

• The pros and cons — from control and sensitivity to comfort and practicality

If you’ve been feeling like your current boots are holding you back — or you’re ready to step up to a higher-performing setup — this chat will help you understand what to expect and how to get it right.

🎧 Listen to more interviews on the Big Picture Skiing Podcast

📺 Watch more ski technique and equipment videos at www.bigpictureskiing.com

Podcast listeners can use code: PODCAST to take 25% off

Chapters

00:00 – Intro

00:06 – Ultra Performance Ski Boots

00:11 – The Resurgence of Boot Design

01:48 – Rental Boots vs Performance Boots

03:15 – Customer Feedback and Trends

04:59 – New Models and Boot Innovations

08:42 – Fit and Boot Work Insights

11:21 – Brand Recommendations for 96mm Boots

16:24 – Comfort vs Performance Expectations

22:07 – The Importance of Boot Fitting

33:23 – Investment in Quality Boot Fitting

52:49 – Safety with GripWalk Soles

54:28 – Preparing for Ski Season

Tom Gellie and Joe Dunn (Ski Dad TV) chat about their views on various topics taught in skiing:

- The Float Phase Transition

- Affordances as a concept to focus on with students

- Equipment experiments. Binding ramp angle and boot canting

- When do you teach technique vs skills?

This was a great conversation that was sparked after Tom and Joe spent half a day skiing together in the Australian winter.

Links:

Ski Dad Tv Channel

https://youtube.com/@skidadtv

Joe reacts to Toms podcast with Phil Smith and Snow displacemnt

https://youtu.be/BNrYDrUgu0A?si=k2jppvf5cbVandFT

C shaped turns Suck - Joe explains why

https://youtu.be/rnOQHItyts4?si=aKdRM2U5SQhjzAK4

Ramp angle testing

https://youtu.be/nKiXP7NGJBQ?si=SCZrYRa7chYSZ-jU

Thanks for listening.

25% off Discount code for the Big Picture Skiing learning platform for my Podcast listeners: PODCAST

https://bigpictureskiing.com

‘You can’t out-ski poor movement, bad sleep, and no prep. Kelly Starrett joins me to reveal what skiers really need to do to perform and feel better on snow — and it’s simpler than you think. No fads, no fluff, just clear, actionable steps to build a body that’s ready for skiing. This episode might just be the motivation you’ve been needing to start — and never look back.

🔗 Resources Mentioned

• 📘 Built to Move by Kelly & Juliet Starrett – https://www.amazon.com/Built-Move-Essential-Habits-Freely/dp/0593534808
• 📗 Becoming a Supple Leopard by Kelly Starrett – https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Supple-Leopard-2nd-Performance/dp/1628600837

🎿 Ready to Get Your Body Ski-Ready?

If this episode fires you up to move better and ski stronger, check out Big Picture Skiing — your go-to resource for ski technique tutorials, preseason body prep workouts, and coaching designed to make this your best ski season yet.

As a thank you for listening, you can use the code PODCAST for 25% off your membership.

In this episode of the Big Picture Skiing Podcast, I dive into the world of custom ski design with my friends Demelza Clay and Jason Simpson. We talk about how companies like Original Plus are creating skis built specifically around you — using details like your height, weight, skiing style, and even where you ski most.

I share my own experience switching to custom skis and an interesting chat I had with Siggi Rumpfhuber, one of the founders of Original Plus, about the idea of the “perfect ski.” We unpack how flex patterns, torsional stiffness, and snow conditions all affect how a ski feels — and why the right ski might just be the one that’s designed for you.

👀 If you were intrigued by the Original Plus concept and want a ski designed just for you checkout the Original Plus website here: https://www.original.plus/tomgellie

🛟 Use code TGELLIE15 to take 15% off your ski! I may make a small commission on any sales so thank you for helping support a small company and a group of passionate skiers.

From the legendary Crazy Canucks to the evolution of chairlifts, skiing is full of stories and people who shaped the sport we know today. In this episode, I sit down with Blake (@oldbaldskier on instagram) — a passionate ski history enthusiast — to explore some of the most interesting moments and characters that left their mark on skiing.

We talk about:

• The rise of the Crazy Canucks and their impact on ski racing

• How chairlifts changed skiing forever

• The personalities and events that defined different eras

• How Walt Disney helped shape the green circle to black diamond trail ratings we still use today

• Fun facts and historical quirks every skier will enjoy

If you love skiing and want to understand the roots of the sport, this conversation will give you new appreciation for where skiing has come from and where it’s heading.

👉 Improve your own skiing with my coaching platform: https://www.bigpictureskiing.com

Use Code PODCAST to get 25% off any membership to Big Picture Skiing as a thanks for being a podcast listener.