93: Ischgl, Les 2 Alpes, Vallandry & the Dynastar X3 triathlon in Courchevel

In this Ski Podcast Special, we feature Martin Bell, who raced at downhill for Great Britain in the 1980s and 1990s. His racing career took in 4 Winter Olympics, 160 World Cup races (with 7 top-ten results) and his 8th at Calgary in 1988 remains the best placing by a British male skier at the Olympics. Intersport Ski Hire Discount Code Save money on your ski hire by using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ at intersportrent.com, or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied at the checkout. Martin is now based in Vail, Colorado In 1995 Martin took place in the Pro Downhill tour with Steve Lee Previously Martin lived in Big Sky, Montana Martin's daughter Reece is racing slalom for Team GB Martin's younger brother is Graham Bell, who we've interviewed for the podcast several times before, most recently about his appearance in 'Dancing on Ice' (6:00) Martin represented Team GB at the Winter Olympics in Sarajevo 1984, Calgary 1988, Albertville 1992 and Lillehammer 1994 (9:30) Check out Inception to see where Martin and Graham stayed for Calgary  Martin and Graham appeared on The Wogan Show with David Vine before the Games You can listen to our chat with Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards in Episodes 29 and 30 Martin learned to ski at Hillend in Edinburgh and at the Karl Fuchs Ski School (15:00) At 14 he moved to Austria to Ski Gymnasium Stams, where he was joined by Emma Carrick-Anderson and Paul Hourmont Martin shadowed Konrad Bartelski when he first joined the Alpine team He regularly trained with Canadians such as Todd Brucker and Rob Reid Martin's 11th in the Super G in Leukerbad in 1988 is the best result by a Brit in the discipline We interviewed Dave Ryding previously on the podcast in Episode 54 and Episode 57 (25:00)

15 Mar 202128min

In this Ski Podcast Special, Tom Greenall tells us how he qualified as a pisteur in France, allowing him to become one of the few Brits in the ski patrol. Intersport Ski Hire Discount Code Save money on your ski hire by using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ at intersportrent.com, or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied at the checkout. ·       The first qualification required is a Fleche Vermillion, which he passed on his second attempt ·       Glen Plake has been coming to Chamonix since 1987 (this will be the first winter he's missed since then) ·       The Test Technique for the ski patrol took Tom four attempts: Puy St Vincent, then Chatel, Serre Chevalier and then finally passing at Puy St Vincent ·       The Premiere Secours Equipe Niveau 1 & 2 is the standard rescue industry first aid course ·       Tom’s Pisteur Course cost €3000 and took place in Les Orres ·       The course included knowledge of middle mountain environment; weather and snow awareness; Rules and Regulations; taking the PSE2 first aid to the ski patrol environment; sled (‘bloodwagon’ practice); avalanche practice ·       This concluded with exams on the two types of sled; an avalanche beacon search; a simple first aid case and a complex first aid case.  ·       You can listen to our interview with the producers of ‘Ski A&E’ in Val Thorens in Episode 43

8 Mar 202135min

This week, Iain is joined by Stephie Dijkman from Tignes. We discuss the challenges of this ‘saison blanche’ and plans for summer glacier skiing. We find out more about the new National Snow Show, Charlie reports from Murren, we learn how to become a pisteur and discuss the impact of Brexit on UK tour operators. Intersport Ski Hire Discount Code Save money on your ski hire by using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ at intersportrent.com, or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied at the checkout. SHOW NOTES Stephie Dijkman is Sales & Marketing Director at Tignes  Buses in Tignes are operating fine, not like in Meribel (listen to Episode 68 for more on this) Walking and snow shoeing have both been very popular with the lifts closed  Would you try ice diving in Tignes?!  Tignes have seen occupancy around 25%, compared to 95% usually for vacances scholaires - 55% of their clientele to come from outside France  Tignes have announced summer skiing on the glacier from 19 June to 01 August Zermatt charges considerably more for race training Research from the Mountain Trade Network suggests that more people are looking for longer two week holidays Workations are becoming more popular, both Courchevel and La Clusaz have had special ‘teletravail’ offers Joe Ponte is CEO at Hotelplan includes Inghams, Flexiski, Esprit and Ski Total SBIT are campaigning to try and help employers of seasonal staff You can listen to the full version of this interview in our Special Episode released last week Friend of the show Katy Dartford was in Les Menuires Catherine Cosby from Mountains 4 All reported in from Gstaad in Switzerland Jim was reporting from Bulgaria Charlie Rees has been in Murren The Bond film ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ was filmed here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrkerh77MYY Tom Greenall has trained to become a pisteur in France. This will be released as a special podcast next week The National Snow Show will take place at the Birmingham NEC from 23-24 October 2021 Ski Sunday prompted a lot of discussion after a feature on diversity in their last episode We interviewed the founders of Mount Noire in Episode 61 Listen to our ski podcast special about Benjamin Alexander   Feedback Janet Barnett: "Thanks again for continuing to keep us informed & entertained on all things skiing"   Jonny Goldsborough: "Long term listener, tks for keeping the ski vibe going in challenging times!"   Nicky: "You are keeping me going whilst working from home"   Pete: "Been a listener since the beginning. Great podcast entertaining and informative. Keep up the good work."   I'd like to thank all of these guys, who also bought me a cuppa. If you enjoy The Ski Podcast, you can buy me a coffee at www.buymeacoffee.com/theskipodcast Question: Jonny G asked about our 'least favourite resorts'  Coming Up Interview with Martin Bell and we'll have more from Charlie in Murren about the Inferno

1 Mar 20211h 6min

Joe Ponte is CEO at Hotelplan UK, the company that own the Inghams, Esprit, Flexiski and Ski Total brands. During our conversation Joe and I talked about a wide range of subjects including:  His first experience of the travel industry at Flight Centre in Australia Joe was previously MC at Explore Worldwide Joe joined Hotelplan in November 2020 The challenges of this unusual season  Optimism bias The Save Our Summer travel lobbying group 60% of Hoteplan customers carried over their cancelled bookings to next winter Year on year bookings are 100% up Iain went to Crans Montana in December Hotelplan will be offering 32 chalets for winter 2021/22 Find out more about the SBIT campaign here Intersport Ski Hire Discount Code Save money on your ski hire by using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ at intersportrent.com, or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied at the checkout.

22 Feb 202121min

In Episode 68, Iain was joined by Jasmin Taylor, Team GB telemark skier, and friend of the show Alex Irwin.  We chat about Courchevel, avalanches and foldable skis, plus Iain speaks to newly crowned world snowboard cross champion Charlotte Bankes. We have a report by Charlie Rees from the Jungfrau region in Switzerland and we also find out about how Dan Egan skied off the Berlin Wall! Intersport Ski Hire Discount Code Save money on your ski hire by using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ at intersportrent.com, or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied at the checkout. SHOW NOTES ·       Jasmin has over 30 World Cup podiums and you can listen to a more in depth interview in our podcast special recorded last year ·       Alex is based in Courchevel and runs the YouTube channel 150 Days of Winter ·       The lifts were meant to start to turning in Italy on 15 February, but this has now been delayed ·       Since our last episode we’ve seen avalanches in Zermatt, Méribel and Val d'Isère ·       These dogs barking saved their owners who’d been buried in an avalanche ·       We've reported before on how the press mispresented the situation in Verbier in Episode 65 and also in Wengen (in Episode 66) ·       There has been some great reporting by Abi Butcher (who appeared in Episode 65), with a deep dive into the 'super spreader' story about British instructors in Jochburg, Austria ·       The tourist office in St Anton also confirmed that reports of 96 people arrested and fined was also incorrect ·       Mike Richards told us about skiing in Wales in Episode 65 ·       Neil Bradshaw reported from Sun Valley ski resort in Idaho ·       There are pistes open in Courchevel  ·       Meanwhile Meribel stopped running their buses due to the number of people using them to ski  ·       Jasmin has been training and racing in Plaine-Joux in France  ·       Charlotte Bankes won the Snowboard Cross World Champs last week  ·       We interviewed Charlotte in Episode 25 about her switch from the French team  ·       Dave Ryding will be racing in the slalom at Cortina 2021 on 21 February ·       We featured the new Eiger Express lift in Grindelwald in Episode 61  ·       You can listen to Iain’s review of his trip to Crans Montana in Episode 65 ·       Sasha Gainullin is CEO at Battleface ·       Listen to the full interview with Dan Egan in our Ski Podcast Special published last week ·       It’s not pretty, but we found the Intersport ‘yodel’ videos bizarrely addictive…  ·       Find out more about the foldable award-winning Elan voyager   Reviews "Keeping the skiing spirit alive when we need it most" Ged Ainsworth "Thanks for doing the podcasts. I've been listening over the last year and have enjoyed dreaming of being on the slopes at a time when we can't" Nick Taylor "Loving your podcast, although it 'feels me sad' not to be in Chamonix this winter" Sarah Owen Hughes "Keep up the great work with the podcast" Jeffrey Fantl "I love listening to your show all the way over in Australia” Nicole Clark   BuyMeACoffee If you enjoy the podcast you're very welcome to buy me a cuppa at BuyMeACoffee.com/theskipodcast Thanks to Luke Sipson, Ged Ainsworth, Suzi Jones, Scott Newsom, Christian Bowden, Chris Rose, Christian Cobley and Nicole Clark for supporting the show.   Coming Up Watch out for interviews with Martin Bell, Joe Ponte at Hotelplan and a special podcast on how to become a pisteur, all coming up soon.  Make sure you subscribe and never miss an episode...

17 Feb 20211h 4min

This Ski Podcast Special features Dan Egan - one of the extreme skiing pioneers back in the new world of the 80s when VHS revolutionised demand for ski footage.   Apart from leading the MTV generation of skiers, he's a familiar name to anyone who's watched a Warren Miller movie, or visited the Vermont stand at the London Ski Show over the years.  Dan was part of the original freeride scene, back when it was better known as 'extreme' skiing. We talked to him about his carerre and new book, Thirty Years in a White Haze, his story of worldwide adventure and the evolution of extreme skiing.  Dan is based in Big Sky, Montana Check out Big C couloir Mt Elbrus is the highest mountain in Europe Dan was on a Degre 7 shoot Dan featured in 12 Warren Miller movies Future Retro is available digitally https://youtu.be/prEWB3vfZRA Mark Shapiro, John Faulkner were part of the Verbier posse John Egan first starred for Warren Miller in 1979, with Dan joining in 1985 Both John and Dan started off in Sugarbush "If everybody skied, there'd be no wars" Hannes Schneider Dan skied on the Berlin Wall "Say yes,  before you say no!" Warren Miller Dan's steep ski courses are in Big Sky "Skiing from the head down, not the feet up" Dan Egan 'Thirty Years in a White Haze' is out on 20 Feb The book features Nick Lyon's cartoons Intersport Ski Hire Discount Code Save money on your ski hire by using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ at intersportrent.com, or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied at the checkout.

6 Feb 202122min

In Episode 67, we go behind the scenes at 'Ski Sunday', on tour with James Blunt, inside The Snow Centre, discover craft beer in the Alps and reveal the results from our survey. Iain's guests for this episode where BBC Ski Sunday presenter Chemmy Alcott and Ian Brown, Managing Director at The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead. Intersport Ski Hire Discount Code Save money on your ski hire by using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ at intersportrent.com, or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied at the checkout. SHOW NOTES Chemmy was skiing chest-deep powder in Laax The group denied boarding at Eurostar was on their way to Verbier to do a training course with Peak Leaders They started the time in Europe in Vallorcine where some of the group tested positive Graham Bell is in Dancing on Ice 2021 Chemmy took part in the Inferno in Murren in 2020 Laax uses an app system to control Covid and numbers in resort Iain travelled to Crans Montana in December Chemmy has tried cooking for Ed! Dougie and Chemmy are coaching Giselle Gorringe Graham would probably have been very hot in his outfit Betony Garner appeared in Episode 65 when we discussed cross country skiing Her report was recorded in Les Contamines Charlie Rees took the Mammut backcountry course in Andermatt The avalanche danger is very high in Switzerland We've previously discussed skiing in Wales and in Scotland  Ian is MD at the The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead Sadly, the Swindon project will not be going ahead You can listen to the full interview with Peter Hardy here Listen to our podcast special about Erna Low here Peter is the author of ‘Different Country, Same State’ – the inside story of being on tour with James Blunt You can watch Peter’s video of skiing with Graham Bell on old kit here Find out about the Sapaudia brewery here Jan Farrell has retired from his career as a speed skier    Reviews   Suzi Jones:  "Just to say I love the Podcast not being able to ski at the mo is made easier by your interviews and discussion thanks!" Chris Filey: "With not much chance of getting on the slopes, the Ski Podcast brings some relief to us all" Skibum70:  "Often copied, never surpassed" Jill Taylor: "Keep it up, it’s very enjoyable" James Hawkins:  "Another great listen"   Matt Hayes: "Love this pod, keeps me entertained in many a commute, lockdown workout or when I'm simply missing the mountains"    Eggfried100 on Snowheads: "I’ve listened to quite a few other podcasts but ‘The Ski Podcast’ is by far the best for me. Great content, interesting guests, plus it has really kept us informed through the shall we say an ‘interesting’ last twelve months."  Please do review us on iTunes as it helps other people find us   Tips on Car Hire at Geneva: Hire from the Swiss side and don’t wait for the bus, just walk (it’s only 5 mins) Don’t return the car empty – it’s expensive!  Iain recommends booking via Holiday Autos Chemmy suggests renting from Super U on the French side for long-term rentals (but don't take too much meat!) You can read the results of our recent survey here If you’d like some The Ski Podcast stickers then please contact us with your address and we'll drop a few in the post to you  Thanks to Matt Hayes, Michael Gold, Mark McGarry, Julie Slaughter, Doug Newman, Rachael Westbrook and Joanna Yellowlees-Bound for buying me a cuppa at buymeacoffee.com/theskipodcast   You can follow Iain and the show on Twitter and Facebook @skipedia and @theskipodcast

29 Jan 20211h 4min

This Ski Podcast Special features an interview with industry veteran Peter Hardy, co-editor of WeLove2Ski and co-presenter of Action Packed Travel. Peter Hardy, award-winning ski journalist and a man who has been skiing longer than many of us have been alive. SHOW NOTES - Peter started skiing in 1960 in Lech on 2m10cm skis - The Marshall Plan pumped money into Europe after WWII - You can read Iain’s article about Haus Falch and St Anton here - Erna Low organised their own ski train to the Alps in the 60s - You can listen to our special podcast about the life of Miss Erna Low here - Many skiers were fans of Lillywhite’s in London and bought all their ski gear there - Idi Amin was president of Uganda from 1971 to 1979 - Peter has visited around 500 ski resorts in his career - The Hardy Ski and Snowboarding Guide segued into WeLove2Ski.com - You can watch Peter’s video of skiing with Graham Bell on old kit here: - Peter is the author of ‘Different Country, Same State’ – the inside story of being on tour with James Blunt - Peter and Felice present the Action Packed Travel Podcast Intersport Ski Hire Discount Code Save money on your ski hire by using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ at intersportrent.com, or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied at the checkout.

25 Jan 202134min