64: Richard Branson in Verbier, Graham Bell 'Dancing on Ice' & Yoda's onesie

On Friday the 10th of April at 11 am BST we are going to be live on our Facebook page answering your questions in an ask Jim or Iain anything Q&A session. If you would like to put a question to Jim &/or Iain, you can email jim@theskipodcast.com before the show, or you can ask us in the live stream comments or request to put your question to us live by joining us in the virtual studio. Join the FB event for a reminder https://www.facebook.com/events/2996209590457404/

7 Huhti 20201min

This week Jim and Iain interview Graham Bell about what inspired him to take on the famous 'Hausenkamm' ski run. Iain finds out about the world's most prolific ski thief in Aspen, as well as the rise and fall and rise of Andermatt.  There's our ski book group chat about 'Aiming High' and travel advice from Dave Froome about that pesky thing called COVID-19. The Ski Podcast would like to thank Switzerland Tourism for their support. Show Notes Ski Sunday presenter Graham Bell recently filmed his ‘Hausenkamm’ demo run…in his own house! Would you buy this Lego snowgroomer? You might get the chance soon. We first covered this in Episode 40. Many thanks to Jason Auslander from The Aspen Times for sharing his time to tell us about notorious ski thief Derek Johnson Jim and Iain wish to confirm that we have never been involved in any ‘dodgy dealing’ during seasons in ski resorts. Thanks to Doug and Christian for their kind words Thanks also to everyone for our new reviews on iTunes… Don’t forget if you leave a review before 15 April then we will put you in the draw to win all this stash Iain interviewed Lars Werner from the Radisson Blu in Andermatt about the history of the Swiss resort Jim and Iain have been reading ‘Aiming High: The Life of Ski and Travel Pioneer Erna Low’ by Mark Frary You can listen to our interview with Mark in Episode 51 Dave Froome from specialist agent ifyouski.com gives his advice about claiming for refunds on cancelled holidays easyJet might not be flying now, but you can book your 2020/21 flights now Friend of the show Alex Irwin is based in Courchevel 1850 Ed Mannix runs Matterhorn Chalets in Zermatt

3 Huhti 20201h 11min

This Ski Podcast Special episode covers avalanche safety in detail as we look into all you need to know to make us safer on the mountain.  Dave Burrows from SnowPros Ski School talks about snow layers; teaches Jim how to use a transceiver properly; and looks at the different types of avalanches you could encounter. Caroline Elliot, an experienced snow patroller talks about working with her Search and Rescue dog, Fjord, who is trained to find people buried in an avalanche.

31 Maalis 202054min

This week your hosts Jim and Iain are joined live by Rob Stewart - organiser of the UK's proposed new Ski Show. There's no elephant in the room as we start off with a deep-dive into the devastating impact the Coronavirus has had on the ski industry. Dave Burrows joins us with some avalanche advice, we interview the author of 'Aiming High' and you can win some stuff by giving us a review.  The Ski Podcast would like to thank Switzerland Tourism for their support. SHOW NOTES The big news: yes, we are on the 7 Best Ski Podcasts list by Rad Season Did you hear about this thing called the Coronovirus? We discuss its impact on the ski industry, last week, right now and in the future In more cheery news the Telegraph Ski & Snowboard Festival and Magazine have both been cancelled But the positive news is that a new ski show is planned, to be held at The Ski Centre in Hemel Hempstead in September Iain enjoyed his last runs of the season in Arosa and Andermatt in Switzerland Jim goes into a hole with Dave Burrows in our Avalanche Feature Watch out for our one-off Avalanche special coming out soon Thanks to Pat MacInnes for your 5-star review Would you like to win all these goodies? Simply give us a review on iTunes to be included in the draw Jim and Iain are reading ‘Aiming High‘ the biography of Erna Low in Ski Book Group Iain interviewed Mark Frary, author of the book Coming up in Episode 52… The World’s Most Prolific Ski Thief The Rise and Fall and Rise of Andermatt Iain and Jim review ‘Aiming High’

20 Maalis 20201h 1min

There's a Swiss theme this week as Iain tests Jim on his Swiss summer knowledge, Jim rhapsodises about his trip to Saint Luc and Iain looks forward to his visit to Arosa and Andermatt.  We also find out which is the most average ski resort in the world and discover a national park in the French Pyrénées. The Ski Podcast would like to thank Switzerland Tourism for their support.   Show Notes Congratulations to us – this is Episode 50 of The Ski Podcast (although thanks to our one-off and Olympic Specials we've actually on no.66) Iain shares his concerns that people are not acknowledging climate change. It’s happening and that’s why he founded Ski Flight Free. Jim put forward an excellent defence of Luchon’s decision to move snow by helicopter just prior to half term The world’s first solar-powered drag lift is in Tenna, Switzerland  By the time of the next podcast, Iain will have been to Arosa and Andermatt, travelling by train via Paris and Basel The yodelling championships are taking place this summer in Basel No, you can't do 'Cow Yoga', but you can do 'Goat Yoga' in Switzerland this summer Iain took a trek in the Pont d’Espagne national park during his recent visit to Cauterets in the French Pyrenees Jim continues his report from Bansko with an interview with Gary, representative for Balkan Holidays Would you like to win stuff? Give us a review on iTunes and we’ll include you in our competition to win stuff. Details coming soon in Episode 51 Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong is playing at the Zermatt Unplugged Festival in Zermatt  Thanks to Jack Hennessy for his emailed re view:  Dave from Ifyouski.com explained why Courmayeur is the most average resort Martina reports on her experiences of living in Courmayeur Iain took part in the City Ski Championships in Courmayeur and was told to take a fall so the City boys could win Iain and Jim are reading ‘Aiming High’ the biography of Erna Low for Ski Book Group Iain interviewed the author Mark Frary and we’ll feature that in Episode 51 If you enjoy The Ski Podcast, you always can buy us a coffee…

11 Maalis 202058min

In this episode Jim has been busy and reports from Anzère in Switzerland as well as part two of his trip to Bulgaria. Iain is out in Cauterets in the French Pyrénées, we hear about Jamie Barrow's new world record and friend of the pod Dave Burrows joins us live to talk about an exciting new trip for next winter.  The Ski Podcast would like to thank Switzerland Tourism for their support.  Snow Aid Australia was a superb idea, originated by Rachael Oakes-Ash and which raised over AUD200,000 for bushfire relief/recovery and wildlife rescue/rehabilitation President Macron was in Chamonix viewing the melting Mer de Glace and launching new climate change policies It was also announced that there would be limits on the number of climbers on Mont Blanc (which would stop the rowing machine incident we discussed in Episode 40) Jim visited Anzère in the Swiss Valais region with Dave from Snowpros Iain was recording live from Cauterets in the French Pyrénées, where he also skied in Grand Tourmalet and visited the Pic du Midi It’s not great snow cover, but unlike in Luchon no helicopters were used to ship in snow Why do most skiers turn one direction more easily than another? Dave shared his thoughts Jim gave an insight into the rise of Bansko, where he was a guest of Balkan Holidays Thanks to all our listeners for helping us reach record audience numbers Thanks to Matt Hayes for his kind comments: “One of my favourite episodes yet! Great banter, insight and potential for legal action.” Also to Carolyn as she works on her 'big ski wear project' Thanks also to Craig for his 5-star review and we recommend Craig heads to Baqueira Beret in the Spanish Pyrénées on his short break from Barcelona Jamie Barrow set a new speed record for a snowboarder, towed behind a Tesla 3 EV at 183 kph We previous interviewed Jamie about his trip to North Korea back in Episode 4.  Also generating zero emissions are the lifts in Les Arcs, which are all powered by renewable electricity Dave revealed details of The Ski Podcast’s first hosted trip. Join us in Morgins in March 2021. Details coming soon… Don't forget we are reading 'Aiming High' in Ski Book Group. Feel free to read as well and we'll discuss it in Episode 51 or 51 If you enjoy The Ski Podcast, you always can buy us a coffee…

26 Helmi 202056min

In this episode Jim reports from his travels to Switzerland and Bulgaria and Iain has been to Courchevel by train.  We discuss the merits of Ski Sunday and pick a new book for our 'Ski Book Group. The Ski Podcast would like to thank Switzerland Tourism for their support.  Show Notes Chamonix has recorded its warmest winter on record so far  We discussed how to ski on ice in Episode 46 Jim visited Val d'Hérens in the Valais region of Switzerland Jim is making full use out of his Magic Pass, which we discussed back in Episode 35 The Patrouille des Glaciers race takes place in April Pippa Middleton took part in this race. Iain interviewed her about it way back in Episode 6 Iain travelled out to Courchevel via Eurostar and SNCF, booked direct with each company, as part of his work on the Ski Flight Free campaign  https://www.facebook.com/skiflightfree/videos/265879281051218/  Courchevel is hosting the 2023 World Ski Championships in partnership with Meribel The downhill course will start from the Col de la Loze, travel down via a new piste cut from the trees, join Jockeys piste and finish in Le Praz  Jim visited Bansko ski resort in Bulgaria as a guest of Balkan Holidays  Is Ski Sunday worth watching? You’ve got one episode left if you want to find out  They did show us this shocking and gripping accident from the bad old days of the Hahnenkamm  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEGIyL_WoBk  Ski Sunday did give the World Youth Games in Lausanne excellent coverage And there was an interview with Katie Ormerod, who is having a cracking season and leads the World Cup in Snowboard Slopestyle after a 3rd successive podium Dave Ryding took a 7th in the slalom in Schladming It’s Ski Book Group time again – this time around Jim and Iain will be reading 'Aiming High' - life of Miss Erna Low, founder of…Erna Low Thanks to Stella Coton for her kind words: “It's a really good listen!” If you’d like to give us a review, then please pop along to iTunes and share your thoughts  Don’t forget that if you’d like some The Ski Podcast stickers, then please email jim@theskipodcast.com with your address and we’ll get some sent out to you Don’t forget to subscribe to The Ski Podcast wherever you download your podcasts so you never miss another episode If you enjoy The Ski Podcast, you always can buy us a coffee…

12 Helmi 202052min

In Episode 47, Jim and Iain discuss cancelled flights at Chambéry, descending the legendary Vallée Blanche and we learn how to ski with your dog.  There's advice on skiing near Innsbruck, the latest news from Team GB - including the ski jump successors to Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards. The Ski Podcast would like to thank Switzerland Tourism for their support. Fog closed down Chambéry airport (or more specifically TUI flights to the airport) generating a lot of coverage in The Telegraph, The Indie, The Mirror and more We discussed skiing in Hakuba in Japan in Episode 41 Jim visited the Swiss resort of Ovronnaz as he makes the most out of his Magic Pass We discussed the Magic Pass in Episode 35 The Winter Youth Olympics have continued in Lausanne 2020 in Switzerland Mani Cooper and Sam Bolton both represented Team GB in the ski jump Glynn Pedersen represented Team GB at Vancouver in 2002 Iain spoke to Caroline Elliot, owner of Fjord, a Search and Rescue dog about tips for skiing with your dog Jim enjoyed his first descent on the famous Vallee Blanche off-piste run in Chamonix Ben Hollingshead asked for advice about good skiing near Innsbruck – we suggested Kuhtai or Stubai for guaranteed snow, or Nordkette (directly above Innsbruck itself) for more advanced skiers Thanks to Chris Meigh, Daniella and Stella for their 5-star reviews Please do leave your reviews on Apple Podcasts or iTunes as it helps other people find us Thanks to Howard McGee for his cheese feedback! Also thanks to all of our listeners for helping us hit record numbers for The Ski Podcast Dave Ryding finished 7th in Madonna – his best result this season   If you enjoy The Ski Podcast, you always can buy us a coffee…

23 Tammi 202054min