Warren Smith, Ski Instructor (Bonus Episode #28)
The Ski Podcast29 Aug 2022

Warren Smith, Ski Instructor (Bonus Episode #28)

Iain was joined by Warren Smith, eponymous founder of the Warren Smith Ski Academy, for this bonus episode of The Ski 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.

SHOW NOTES

  • Warren learned to ski at the Hemel Hempstead dry ski slope, before it was recreated as The Snow Centre – an indoor snow slope
  • His first snow experience was on a school trip to Saalbach in Austria, when the coach broke down
  • Phil Gordon presents the ‘Legends of the Brand’ podcast (3:30)
  • Warren’s first qualification was as a UK dry slope instuctor (4:45)
  • He first taught on snow in Seefeld in Austria, before moving to Verbier in 1994 (5:00)
  • Joyce Read from Ski Verbier was an early mentor (6:00)
  • You can watch Blizzard of Aaaahs – the famous ‘extreme’ ski movie – on YouTube
  • Jamie Strachan designed top sheets for Volkl and brought Warren on the their team in winter 1998/99 (8:45)
  • Strachan also designed many of the legendary ChamJam posters (9:30)
  • Listen to Iain’s interview with GB Snowsports coach Pat Sharples in this bonus episode of The Ski Podcast (10:15)
  • Stu Brass and Spencer Claridge were behind the AIM Series of events and built the freestyle features for events like the London Ski Show and The Jump (11:00)
  • Iain launched Natives.co.uk in April 1999 (12:00)
  • Other early freestyle projects that Warren set up were the British Freestyle Camps and the Ride Series
  • Pat talks about the impact of the Salomon 1080 on the freestyle scene in this interview, as does Jim Adlington (founder of Planks) in our bonus episode with him (14:00)
  • Paddy Graham came out of the Sheffield dry slope scene and is still producing award-winning movies with the ‘Legs of Steel’ crew (17:30)
  • Warren also produced movies such as the ‘Snow’s In The House’ series and ‘Snow Odyssey’ featuring a 16-year-old Candide Thovex (19:00)
  • Warren’s ‘Go Ski’ technique book and DVD is available online (25:00)
  • Rob Sawyer from the Farinet Bar in Verbier recommended Warren to England rugby player Laurence Dallaglio (28:00)
  • Other celebrities that Warren has skied with or instructed in Verbier include James Blunt, Princess Eugenie and Prince Harry (33:00)
  • Listen to Peter Hardy’s anecdotes about James Blunt in our special episode
  • Louis Smith, Spencer Matthews and Jason Robinson were among the quickest learners that Warren coached for the wintersports reality show ‘The Jump’ (35:00)
  • The Warren Smith Ski Academy now has a team of 15 instructors with key focus on biomechanics (39:00)
  • Find out about the Carv device here (45:00)
  • The Academy also offers ‘Gap Year’ Instructor Qualification courses, having changed from BASI to the Irish IASI qualification in 2013 (45:30)
  • The Warren Smith Ski Academy will be at the National Snow Show at the Birmingham NEC on 15/16 October 2022 (48:00)
  • Courses start in Cervinia from 06 November for five weeks, then on to Verbier. Warren will be leading a trip to Japan in February (50:00)

Episoder(308)

300: Winter Olympics Special #6 | Dave Ryding’s swansong, plus Laurie Taylor interview

300: Winter Olympics Special #6 | Dave Ryding’s swansong, plus Laurie Taylor interview

We preview Dave Ryding’s last Olympics in the Men’s Slalom, including an interview with Laurie Taylor, plus look ahead to the Mixed Snowboard Cross with Huw Nightingale and Charlotte Bankes.Host Iain ...

14 Feb 18min

299: Tim Wall, Pub Le Ski Lodge La Tania

299: Tim Wall, Pub Le Ski Lodge La Tania

Today’s episode is a special interview with Tim Wall, owner of Pub Le Ski Lodge in La Tania in France’s Les 3 Vallées ski area. During our conversation Tim shares his experience of running one the mos...

13 Feb 46min

298: Winter Olympics Special #5 | Mia Brookes goes for it & Snowboard Cross with Charlotte Bankes

298: Winter Olympics Special #5 | Mia Brookes goes for it & Snowboard Cross with Charlotte Bankes

We discuss Mia Brookes ballsy attempt at winning a medal in the Snowboard Big Air, whether Lindsey Vonn is in denial and look at Charlotte Bankes’ chances of winning a medal in the Snowboard Cross. Ho...

10 Feb 12min

297: Winter Olympics Special #4 | Downhill & Ski Slopestyle Review

297: Winter Olympics Special #4 | Downhill & Ski Slopestyle Review

Today Iain and Emily review Men & Women’s Downhill, plus Kirsty Muir’s 4th place in the Ski Slopestyle. We have contributions from Chemmy Alcott and Ed Leigh. SHOW NOTESLindsey Vonn broke her leg in t...

9 Feb 22min

296: Winter Olympics Special #3 | Ed Leigh on Freestyle Tricks

296: Winter Olympics Special #3 | Ed Leigh on Freestyle Tricks

BBC’s Ed Leigh explains the terms used to describe freestyle tricks, as well as how the judges come up with their scores, in the third of our Winter Olympics special episodes.With Kirsty Muir competin...

8 Feb 14min

295: Winter Olympics Special #2 | Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards

295: Winter Olympics Special #2 | Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards

Host Iain Martin is joined by Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards – who at the 1988 Calgary Games became famous across the world for having the courage and determination to take on the challenge of Olympic ski ...

7 Feb 15min

294: Sauze d’Oulx & Via Lattea, Pra Loup and Aussie Olympic hopes

294: Sauze d’Oulx & Via Lattea, Pra Loup and Aussie Olympic hopes

We find out about Sauze d’Oulx and the Via Lattea ski area in Italy, as well as the resort of Pra Loup in the southern French Alps.We also get excited about the Olympics, hearing Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edw...

6 Feb 49min

293: Winter Olympics Special #1 | Graham Bell & Ed Leigh

293: Winter Olympics Special #1 | Graham Bell & Ed Leigh

In the first of our special Winter Olympics episodes covering Milan-Cortina 2026, we preview this weekend’s big events - the men and women’s downhill - and look ahead to the Women's Ski Slopestyle. Ho...

4 Feb 19min

Populært innen Samfunn

rss-spartsklubben
giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
konspirasjonspodden
aftenpodden-usa
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
rss-nesten-hele-uka-med-lepperod
popradet
rss-henlagt-andy-larsgaard
wolfgang-wee-uncut
grenselos
min-barneoppdragelse
alt-fortalt
rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
synnve-og-vanessa
rss-dannet-uten-piano
frokostshowet-pa-p5
fladseth
krisemoter
relasjonspodden-med-dora-thorhallsdottir-kjersti-idem