The Ski Podcast

We review the Best Ski Boots for the new 2026 winter season, covering the best piste, all mountain and freeride ski boots.   Host Iain Martin was joined by The Ski Podcast’s equipment expert Al Morgan and Frazer Shand, Operations Manager at Profeet. This special episode has been made possible by the Profeet Ski Boot Lab, based in south-west London. Profeet offer expert ski boot fitting, custom insoles and ski boot modifications. SHOW NOTES Watch our ‘Best Skis of 2026’ video Ski Boot definitions and terms…  Shell (4:00)  Last (4:30)  Mondopoint (5:45)  Flex (7:15)  Liner (8:45)  BOA (10:15)  Powerstrap (12:30)  Walk mode and Grip Walk (13:30) Sustainability (16:30) Function, Fit and Footbeds (18:15) Find out about the fitting process at the Profeet Ski Boot Lab (18:45)  Profeet start with a biomechanical analysis and foot scan (19:45) Custom insoles (23:00) Customisation (24:00) Visiting the Dalbello factory (34:00) Get your free tickets to the London Snow Show (55:45) Profeet will be exhibiting at the London Snow Show (56:30) THE BEST SKI BOOTS OF 2026   Piste and All-Mountain Ski Boots K2 Cortex Zonal 120 BOA(26:30) £625 SIZES (MP): 24.5 - 28.5 VOLUME: Low LAST (mm): 96 – 98              WEIGHT (per boot): 2,179g (26.5MP) These are incredible boots, delivering a ton of support and superb hold, in a flex that will work far better for most skiers. K2 has offered single BOA on higher-volume boots previously, but the Cortex is the slimmest profile they’ve integrated this into, and this time you get the benefit of the dial and cable system on the shell and cuff, on the Zonal models.   Non-Zonal Cortex models have BOA only over the foot. The softer material over the instep makes it a tad easier to get into the boot, and aids shell wrapping, when you dial in the snugness. The heel has a slimmer internal profile than their other boots, and the lace-up liner adds to the excellent hold you get.    You also get a cam power strap, which is not that common on 120 flex boots, and I much prefer this strap to a Velcro option. There are two bolts on the spine, and you can remove the top one if you want a more forgiving flex profile. They offer the Cortex range right up to the £725, all-singing, all-dancing 140 flex model, which is the only one with pin inserts in the toe. Dalbello Veloce Space 120 Dual(32:00) £580 SIZES (MP): 24.5 - 30.5  VOLUME: Medium  LAST (mm): 101  FLEX: 120 WEIGHT (per boot): 2,050g (27.5MP) This is the first season Dalbello has offered BOA on their boots, and they’ve added Dual and Single BOA models to their range, in this new Veloce Space line. Dual BOA is available on the 105, 120 and 130 flex models.    The shell and cuff on the 120 are made of PU. They inject differing hardnesses of plastic, to take advantage of the phenomenal wrap you get with the BOA system. It also makes the boots easier to get on. The mouldable liner is beautifully comfortable, and the Adaptive Tongue construction, integrating memory foam, is so nice for the shins, also helping with instep comfort. The pre-shaped Ankle Sense zones enhance the heel hold.  The 120 is also available in a single BOA (£540), with regular cuff buckle closure, like the 110, 100, 95 and 85. These single BOA versions get a lever you can release on the spine, allowing an easier walking motion. Head Kalibre 110 MV BOA 2(36:00) £510 SIZES (MP): 25.0 - 30.5  VOLUME: Medium LAST (mm): 100 WEIGHT (per boot): No stated weights    This is Head’s Dual BOA offering and is totally new. The Kalibre boots have a clean aesthetic. They inject different hardnesses or plastic into the shell, to take advantage of the superb wrap of the BOA H+i1 system.  Kaliber, like many BOA offerings, is a medium volume fit, with 100mm last. They have a new liner for this range too, called Synapse. They weave in Graphene for tech-level temperature regulation.  The 110 has a Velcro power strap, although £600 130 flex has a claw strap. The Kaliber line features a greater range of flexes in single BOA and four clip versions, but the BOA2 models are pretty awesome. This is the only 110 flex dual BOA model we know of for this season. Freeride Ski Boots   Rossignol Alltrack 130 Elite LV LT GW (40:30) £625  SIZES (MP): 24.0 – 29.5  WALK MODE: Y, no stated ROM VOLUME: Low LAST (mm): 98  FLEX: 130  WEIGHT (per boot): 1,825g (no stated size)  The Alltrack line has been redesigned for this season. They’ve added BOA to shell of the 102mm HV models, but we tested the narrow-last Elite LT model, which has tech inserts in the toe and heel.  Even though these are 98mm last, low-volume boots, they have more room inside than some other LV boots in this category. They look sensational, have heat-mouldable liners and an innovative ski-walk mode, inspired by the work done developing the Vizion easy (rear) entry boots.  Flip the ski-walk mode lever up, and the rear of the boot can tilt back, with the liner attached to the rear of the cuff with a loop to hold it in place, in order that you can easily slide in. Fasten the buckles, flex forward and the walk mode locks into the ski position, ready for the descent. To tour, flip the rear lever up, loosen the cuff buckles and power strap, and off you go.  This boot skied beautifully, and I just love the way the Dual Core shells flex.   Armada AR One 130 (43:00) £580 SIZES (MP): 24.5 - 29.5 WALK MODE: N  VOLUME: Medium LAST (mm): 100 FLEX: 130  WEIGHT (per boot):100g (26.5MP) The AR One is Armada’s first ever ski boot and it’s a very impressive hybrid cabrio design blending Alpine and freeski design. Designed by Armada, it’s built in partnership with their sister company, Atomic.  It’s a medium volume unisex boot, with a 100mm last in a size 26.5MP, in 5 flexes. The 120 and 130 are only available from 24.5MP and up, whilst the 90, 100 and 110 go down to 23.5MP.  The heat mouldable shell and liner, along with excellent out-of-the-box shaping, ensures a very comfy, and customisable, fit. A tool free volume adjuster lets you create space for pressured calves, and most parts are user replaceable, improving sustainability. The top three flexes are pure PU shell, cuff and tongue, for a smooth ride. The rubber boot board does a fab job of smoothing landings and judders. The buckle setup is very different, especially the instep buckle and cable Y-configuration, securely holding you in the heel pocket.  The 130 and 110 share the Team liner, whilst the others have the Pro Liner, which lacks the repositionable tongue, which allows you to adjust volume and fit over the foot. The elasticate claw power-strap on these two flexes is a superb, but the others only get a Velcro strap. Toe pin inserts on the 130 allows use with hybrid bindings like the Shift, Duke PT and the new ATK Hy.  This is a fabulous downhill ski boot, with excellent lateral response, impressive power, it’s smooth with great damping and superb heel hold.  Scarpa 4 Quattro GT Woman (45:45) £580                                  SIZES (MP):  22.5 – 27.0 WALK MODE: Y, 61° ROM  VOLUME: Medium LAST (mm): 101 FLEX: 90 / 110  WEIGHT (per boot): 1,510g (25.0MP)   The 4-Quattro range has been an incredible success, especially the XT model which has been a benchmark freeride touring boot in recent seasons. Scarpa’s dropped the XT for this winter, but they’ve updated the SL, they still have the 4-Quattro Pro, which Nikolai Schirmer uses and helped develop, and they’ve added in a new GT model in a woman’s and man’s version.  The GT has a roomier fit, has a new 4Pro Flex GT Intuition liner, and is the warmest 4-Quattro model. You get a Velcro power strap, rather than a claw version seen on the others, and it’s made using Desmopan plastic for the shell and cuff, rather than Pebax Renew, although all Quattro models have a Pebax tongue. The Desmopan CQ MBC uses bio-circular TPU, enhancing the sustainability, and reducing the CO2 footprint. You don’t get the Carbon Core construction of the SL or Pro, but the GT skis better.    They’re an easier flex for lighter or less aggressive riders, and the fact these are such great value is a bonus. PROFEET’S CHOICE Technica Mach1 LV 130, £550 (48:30) Updated for this season with a fully redesigned shell and liner, offering a touch more instep depth but still an excellent low volume fit. From a boot fitter point of view, they are also a pleasure to work on with design features allowing for easier customisation of the shell. Feedback (51:00) I enjoy all feedback about the show, so if you enjoyed this episode, or if you have any questions about skis we didn’t cover, then please let us know by leaving a comment at Instagram or Facebook – we are @theskipodcast – or by dropping me an email theskipodcast@gmail.com. You can also follow us on WhatsApp for exclusive material released ahead of the podcast. Adam Matthews on Instagram enjoyed our ‘Best Skis’ episode: “Great podcast. Been looking forward to this since last year’s episode” Rick on YouTube loved Al’s choice of the Volkl V.Werks 100: “I rode this a lot last winter, so much that I crashed and busted my knee. But seriously, it´s an absolutely amazing ski.” There are now 276 episodes of The Ski Podcast to catch up with. You can do that too, there is so much to listen to in our back catalog, just go to theskipodcast.com and search around the tags and categories: you’re bound to find something of interest.   If you enjoyed this episode and would like to help the podcast, there are three things you can do:   -          you can follow us, or subscribe, so you never miss an episode -          you can give us a review on Apple Podcasts or leave a comment on Spotify -          And, if you’re booking ski hire this winter, don’t forget that you can help The Ski Podcast and save yourself some money on your ski hire by using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ when you book at intersportrent.com. You’ll get a guaranteed additional discount, or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied.

10 Okt 54min

Today we meet Reece Bell - one of the rising talents in British alpine ski racing - plus we find out about Armana, a new company that see a future where ski lifts are autonomous vehicles and have no cables.  Host Iain Martin was joined in the studio by Reece Bell and Dennis Hettema, and down the line by Rachael Oakes-Ash in Australia and Guy Beatson in New Zealand. --------- Tirol in Austria sponsors The Ski Podcast, which means that this winter we’ll be able to find out more about some of the great destinations in Tirol, and how you can connect with the wonderful ‘feeling of life’ there. --------- SHOW NOTES Miss SnowItAll, Rachael Oakes-Ash runs the Snowsbest.com website (5:30) Guy Beatson, who finished off his season with a week at Whakapapa in NZ (6:30) Listen to our ‘Best Skis of 2026’ episode (7:30) You can also watch this episode on YouTube (7:45) The London Snow Show is at Olympia on 18-19 October (8:00) See the full agenda for the show here Use the code ‘TSPSSLMTN25’ for free tickets to the London Snow Show (8:30) Martin Bell recorded the best ever GB Olympic alpine ski result (8th at Calgary 88)(8:45) Ski Sunday’s Graham Bell took part in 5 Winter Olympics (9:00) Reece finished 20th at the 2025 World Championships in Saalbach (10:00) Find out about Big Sky resort (11:00) Listen to Iain’s interview with Zoe Atkin (12:00) Dealing with ACL injuries (12:30) Cardio and Conditioning training (14:00) Coaches (15:30) Reece is sponsored by APEX 2100 in Tignes (16:00) Dave Ryding acts as a mentor to Reece (17:00) How to break through into the top 30 (19:00) Take a look at this photo of the proposed Armana prototype (22:30) Find out more about Armana The Armana timeline (23:30) Robert Redford starred in ‘Downhill Racer’ in 1969 Feedback (32:30)   Please do let us know your feedback on the podcast. You can leave a comment on Spotify, Instagram or Facebook – our handle is @theskipodcast – or drop me an email to theskipodcast@gmail.com. You can also follow us on WhatsApp for exclusive material released ahead of the podcast.  Mark Thomasson: “I enjoyed Episode 256 and was ski touring in Tromsø in June. Great snow, amazing views.” James Rice: “I really enjoyed Episode 257, as always. I was glad to hear you mention Robert Redford’s recent death and his role in Downhill Racer. However, Redford’s influence on American skiing extends beyond that film…He bought Sundance ski resort and set up the film festival there. I’ve had the chance to stay and ski at Sundance, and it truly is a distinctive and special place.”  John: “Loved the Innsbruck in Tirol episode” Mary Frazer: “I enjoyed listening to Episode 257 this morning, particularly the sections on Innsbruck (thank you for reminding me how much I enjoyed the series The Jump!)” There are now 275 episodes of The Ski Podcast to catch up with. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, then why not go to theskipodcast.com, have a search around the tags and categories and you’re bound to find plenty more to listen to. If you’d like to help the podcast, there are three things you can do:  -          you can follow us, or subscribe, so you never miss an episode -          you can give us a review on Apple Podcasts or leave a comment on Spotify -          And, if you’re booking ski hire this winter, don’t forget that you save money on your ski hire with an additional discount by using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ when you book at intersportrent.com. Simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied.

3 Okt 35min

We review the Best Skis for the new 2026 winter season, covering the best piste skis, best all mountain skis and freeride skis. Host Iain Martin was joined by The Ski Podcast’s equipment expert Al Morgan.  Tirol in Austria sponsors The Ski Podcast, which means that this winter we'll be able to find out more about some of the great destinations in Tirol, and how you can connect with the wonderful ‘feeling of life’ there.  SHOW NOTES Iain and Al will be at the London Snow Show in October (3:00) Best Skis of 2026 means the best skis of winter 2025/26 (4:00) What are the different types of skis (4:15) How important is that figure for width under your foot? (7:45) What is meant by ‘side cut’? (10:00) What is a ‘rocker? (12:00) How long should your skis be? (15:15) Is sustainability still important in ski production? (18:45) The Ski Sustainability Forum is organised by POW, Atomic and FESI (21:00) When and where did testing take place? (22:15) SIGB is the Snowsport Industries of Great Britain (22:45) Most testing takes place at SIGB’s annual ski test in La Clusaz (23:15) How much do bindings cost? (25:00) THE BEST PISTE SKIS OF WINTER 2026  K2 Blur 74 W (women) (26:30) £600 / 148cm-169cm Blur is K2’s new piste ski range for winter 25/26. The 74W has a little lift through the front and back, is built around their aspen wood core and uses Flax with channels milled into it.  They only do this in this ski and the Blur 79W to enhance agility. It should also save a little weight, although the 74 is about performance and a perfect partner for advanced and expert female skiers shredding the groomers.   It has a 13.9m radius in the longest length and testers reported it as silky smooth, easy to ski yet snappy, with great boost turn-to-turn. It’s super reactive underfoot, quick to pivot and rotate for short turns.  Nordica Dobermann Multipista DC FDT (29:00) £930 including binding, 160cm-185cm The Multipista is new for this season, focussed equally on fun and performance. It may look similar to the Steadfast skis in its outline, but there’s a lot more going on than simply a curvy figure.  It has Dobermann in the name, which hints at this ski’s powerful drive, and when you open the throttle you’re rewarded by the bucketload!  The rise though the front and back, paired with the taper at each end, means you never feel like your locked into a turn. It can lay trenches on the groomers, but if you want to nip off the side, take on some slush or get a little airtime, it's as composed as you could ask for.   It’s built around their Energy 2 Ti Double Core (DC) construction. An elastomer layer is sandwiched between two beech and poplar wood cores, beefed up by two layers of Titanal metal, one above the wood-elastomer sandwich and one below.  Even though Nordica states the ski as having a Full Camber Profile, it has a longer rise through the shovel and tail than a regular full camber ski. This rocker profile is part of the Multipista’s magic, bringing a delightfully versatile nature. The tapered profile through the shovel and tail further adds to its performance across a range of conditions. The 74mm waist width, in all lengths, partners with their race on-piste shape underfoot for confidence-rocketing grip. This width is bang-on the money, with plenty of punch through the edge and enough float and stability to tackle a broad array of terrain and snow conditions. THE BEST ALL MOUNTAIN SKIS OF WINTER 2026 Völkl V.Werks 100(32:00) £1,750 flat, 170cm-186cm Völkl has taken all they’ve learnt from ski manufacturing and turned the dial up to eleven with this ski! The company was founded in 1923, and in honour of this they have made exactly 1923 of these skis, with a retail price of €1923.   This ski is see-through. If you place your hand behind the ski, when holding it up to the light, you can see where your hand is. It’s quite spectacular. It also highlights the complex structure they’ve perfected for the fibre placement.  They combine carbon and natural flax fibres, which work in harmony with the superb 3D H-Woodcore. This is made of two enviro friendly FSC-certified poplar and beech cores, with a central reinforcement, and this all has a very noticeable and technical 3D shape.  The fibres, translucent layer and wood core allows the designers to transfer the movements and forces from the skier through the ski and to the edges, for a ridiculously intuitive control. You get a regular camber underfoot but enough rocker in the shovel and tail for a mega-versatile shape. Atomic Maven 88 CTI (Women) (35:00) £570 without bindings, 147cm-172cm   This ski is based around an ash and poplar wood core, boosted by the addition of carbon and Titanal. These laminates add greater damping and energy to the ski, whilst helping to keep the ski light.  The change of shape through the shovel, as we saw in the wider Maverick and Maven models last season, keeps this ski incredibly playful. This HRZN 3D Maverick/Maven tech sees the wood core extend right up to the very front of the ski, designed to improve stability and smoothness when charging hard.  These skis can certainly be skied fast, but the thing you notice most with all skis with HRZN tech is just how much it enhances the fun nature of the skis. They are not twin-tips, and have a directional shape, although the rise in the back means you can ski switch if you really want to. Atomic builds in a 15% rocker through the shovel and a 10% rocker at the back, with standard camber in the middle of the ski. Salomon Stance Pro 86(Unisex) (38:00) £640 flat, 151cm-185cm   Salomon’s Stance range sees significant change, taking what were already great skis and making them industry leading.  It has a full poplar wood core, with the Powerflex Ti metal layer sitting full width underfoot and tapering out in front of and behind the binding. The metal edge is made thicker to aid grip and power, and will endure more services, therefore lasting longer. The base has a 50% recycled content. The profile delivers regular camber underfoot with a 15% rocker through the front and a milder 12% rocker at the rear. THE BEST FREERIDE SKIS OF WINTER 2026 (40:00) Head Kore 99 Ti W(Women) (40:30) £650 without bindings, 156cm-177cm   The Kore skis are redesigned for this season. This 99mm underfoot model has the same length options as the women’s Kore 97 of last season, but otherwise it’s a very different ski.  Where the men’s new Kore skis use beech and karuba, the women’s Kore models combine poplar with PET (polyethylene terephthalate), which is a thermoplastic polyester polymer. Think of your favourite fleece, and the chances are it’s made of the same material.  This is complimented by a layer of Titanal, using at least 40% recycled material, above and below the core, along with a Graphene layer between the metal and top of the core. They add a damping layer between the bottom metal layer and the edges of the ski, to further smoothen the ride.  Again, as in the men’s, they add flax to the boundary of the topsheet to improve durability. Rocker front and back, with standard camber underfoot, gives the ski it’s undeniable freeride profile.   Salomon QST 100(Unisex) (43:30) £570 without bindings, 148cm-188cm   New for this season in widths ranging from 92 through to 106, the 100 is an incredible freeride ski and was a hit with everyone at testing. It’s a unisex model, offered in a choice of two colours.  The new QST’s have full poplar wood cores with basalt and glass fibres, as well as Salomon’s proven Cork Damplifier, where they inlay a cork and TPU border at the tip and tail to dampen vibrations. The 106 has a 22% rocker up front and 18% rocker in the tail. As you step down in width to 100 then 94, they reduce the rocker proportion by 1% at each end, for each drop in width.   FEEDBACK I enjoy all feedback about the show, so if you enjoyed this episode, or if you have any questions about skis we didn’t cover, then please let us know by leaving a comment at Instagram or Facebook – we are @theskipodcast – or by dropping me an email theskipodcast@gmail.com There are now 273 episodes of The Ski Podcast to catch up with. There is so much to listen to in our back catalog, just go to theskipodcast.com and search around the tags and categories: you’re bound to find something of interest.   If you enjoyed this episode and would like to help the podcast, there are three things you can do:   -          Follow us, or subscribe, so you never miss an episode -          Give us a review on Apple Podcasts or leave a comment on Spotify -          Help The Ski Podcast and save yourself some money on your ski hire by using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ when you book at intersportrent.com. You’ll get a guaranteed additional discount, or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied.  You can also follow us on WhatsApp for exclusive material released ahead of the podcast.

26 Sep 53min

Iain speaks with ‘Repair Claire’, who heads up the excellent repair service at outdoor brand Montane.  This continues the discussion from Episode 255 about sustainability and the importance of extending the life of our outdoor kit. Rather like Arcteryx’s ‘Rebird’ project, featured in Episode 218, it’s important to highlight the great work on sustainability that brands like Montane are doing. In this chat, Claire tells us which are the most common repairs, what happens if a garment is beyond help and why she doesn’t like patches in different colours! --------- Tirol in Austria sponsors The Ski Podcast, which means that this winter we’ll be able to find out more about some of the great destinations in Tirol, and how you can connect with the wonderful ‘feeling of life’ there. --------- FEEDBACK Why not let me know what you think by leaving a comment on Spotify, Instagram or Facebook – our handle is @theskipodcast – or drop Iain an email to theskipodcast@gmail.com  If you enjoyed this episode, why not follow us, or subscribe, so you never miss an episode. Or if you’re booking ski hire this winter, don’t forget that you can help The Ski Podcast and save yourself some money on your ski hire by using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ when you book at intersportrent.com.  You’ll get a guaranteed additional discount, or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied.

24 Sep 14min

We find out all about Innsbruck in Austria, look at the Northern Snow Show and learn why ski company Peak Retreats is handing over ownership to its staff.   Host Iain Martin was joined by journalist Catherine Murphy; MD of The Snow Centre, Ian Brown; founder of the UK tour operator Peak Retreats, Xavier Schouller; and the company’s new MD Alison Willis. Tirol in Austria sponsors The Ski Podcast, which means that this winter we'll be able to find out more about some of the great destinations in Tirol, and how you can connect with the wonderful ‘feeling of life’ there.  SHOW NOTES Catherine joined us in Episode 232 to discuss the new Jandri 3S lift in Les 2 Alpes (1:00) Miss SnowItAll, Rachael Oakes-Ash runs the Snowsbest.com website (6:00) Robert Redford starred in ‘Downhill Racer’ in 1969 (7:30) Chill Factore in Manchester and The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead are the same company (8:30) The Northern Snow Show takes place in October at The Snow Centre Manchester (9:45) Listeners to the podcast can get free tickets for the show here (13:00) Iain visited Innsbruck in 2017 after a trip to Kuhtai (13:30) There are many sites to see in Innsbruck (14:00) The most famous site is the Golden Roof (14:45) Catherine loved the Hofkirche (15:45) British architect Zaha Hadid designed the spectacular funicular stations in the city (18:00) Hadid also designed the Bergesil ski jump (19:15) Rob Rees reported in Episode XX on the ‘Four Hills Ski Jumping Competiiton’ (21:15) Innsbruck serves 12 ski areas (21:20) You can go night skiing in Kuhtai (22:00) Find out about the ‘SKI plus CITY Pass’ (23:00) Find out about Axamer Lizum (24:00) Nordkette ski area is immediately above Innsbruck, with amazing views (24:30) Peak Retreats are becoming the only UK ski company to be employee-owned (25:30) The company was set up in 2002 (27:00) The decision to pass on the company to the employees rather than sell it (29:30) Listen to ‘The Rise and Fall of Bladon Lines’ (31:00) Find out about the Alpe d’Huez bike challenge (35:00) Feedback (36:00)   I always enjoy listener feedback and I love to hear what you think about the show. You can leave a comment on Spotify, Instagram or Facebook – our handle is @theskipodcast – or drop me an email to theskipodcast@gmail.com  Colin Slater: "Just discovered the podcast and listened to loads now, loved the Bladon Lines one!” Glenn Westrup: “I’ve really enjoyed Rachel’s snow reports from Australia and NZ” There are now 272 episodes of The Ski Podcast to catch up. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, then why not go to theskipodcast.com, have a search around the tags and categories and you’re bound to find something you’ll want to listen to too. You can follow me @skipedia and the podcast @theskipodcast. You can also follow us on WhatsApp for exclusive material released ahead of the podcast.  If you enjoyed this episode and would like to help the podcast, there are three things you can do:  -          you can follow us, or subscribe, so you never miss an episode -          you can give us a review on Apple Podcasts or leave a comment on Spotify -          And, if you’re booking ski hire this winter, don’t forget that you can help The Ski Podcast and save money on your ski hire by using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ when you book at intersportrent.com. You’ll get a guaranteed additional discount, or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied.

19 Sep 38min

Today we find out what it’s like to ski - and surf - in Nova Scotia, Canada. We discuss the new Valléen lift in Saint-Gervais, learn about Tromsø in Norway and we have all the latest news about the London Snow Show. There’s also snow reports from Down Under, your feedback and we exciting news about a new sponsor. Host Iain Martin was joined by Betony Garner and James Gambrill, CEO at SCGB and organiser of the London Snow Show. SHOW NOTES Betony was last on the show in Episode 65 (0:45) James was based in the White Haus in London for the recording of the show (2:45) Miss SnowItAll, Rachael Oakes-Ash runs the Snowsbest.com website (4:30) Guy Beatson reported from New Zealand (6:00) Tirol in Austria will be sponsoring The Ski Podcast this winter (7:00) Find out more about Ski Launch 2025 (8:45) Peak Retreats is now employee-owned (11:30) Is season four of The White Lotus going to be filmed in Megeve? (12:00) Find out more about Le Valléen gondola – the new lift connecting St Gervais (13:00) Find out about the spa – Les Thermes – in Saint-Gervais Le Fayet (15:00) The Thermes lift is powered by wastewater (17:00) James visited Nova Scotia (18:20) How about surfing in water that’s zero degrees? (23:00) Find out more about the London Snow Show Look out for Dave Ryding on the Saturday and the Carrick-Smith brothers on Sunday (26:30) Equipment expert, Al Morgan, and Iain will be talking about this year’s new kit (27:00) Iain will also be presenting on driving an EV to the Alps and what it’s like to ski on a live volcano Listeners to the podcast can get free tickets for the show using the code here (27:45) Betony went ski touring in Tromsø (28:00) Feedback I always enjoy listener feedback and I love to hear what you think about the show. You can leave a comment on Spotify, Instagram or Facebook – our handle is @theskipodcast – or drop me an email to theskipodcast@gmail.com  Joseph Childs: "I also caught up on the Bladon Lines episode and really enjoyed it. Seems like it was an amazing time to be in the industry." There are now 271 episodes of The Ski Podcast to catch up with and 143 of those were listened to in the last week. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, then why not go to theskipodcast.com, have a search around the tags and categories and you’re bound to find something you’ll want to listen to too. You can follow me @skipedia and the podcast @theskipodcast. You can also follow us on WhatsApp for exclusive material released ahead of the podcast. Look in the Show Notes for that link. If you enjoyed this episode and would like to help the podcast, there are three things you can do:  -          Follow us, or subscribe, so you never miss an episode -          Give us a review on Apple Podcasts or leave a comment on Spotify -          Save yourself some money on your ski hire by using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ when you book at intersportrent.com

12 Sep 38min

We find out what it’s like walking to the Alps in ski boots, plus we have a focus on sustainability, looking at how different ski businesses are working together; what the UTMB are doing to reduce their impact; plus we have an interview with ‘Repair Claire’ from Montane. Host Iain Martin was joined in the studio by Heather Davies from the Re-Action Collective and by Reuben Gray and Matt Brinkley from King of the Hill, and down the line by Rachael Oakes-Ash in Australia.  Intersport Ski Hire Discount Code If you’re booking ski hire this winter, don’t forget that you can help The Ski Podcast and save yourself some money on your ski hire by using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ when you book at intersportrent.com. That applies to any ski hire booked in their massive network across France, Austria and Switzerland. You’ll get a guaranteed additional discount, or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied.  SHOW NOTES Miss SnowItAll, Rachael Oakes-Ash runs the Snowsbest.com website (3:30) Details of the apres ski bands for the London Snow Show have been announced (5:15) Iain and our equipment expert, Al Morgan, will be talking about this year’s new kit on Saturday Listeners to the podcast can get free tickets for the show (6:00) Iain took part in the OCC ultra marathon (6:30) UTMB have introduced some impressive new policies on sustainability (7:00) Iain spoke with Fabrice Perren, head of sustainability at UTMB (7:00) Find out about The Green Runners (7:45) UTMB are introducing a new system of compulsory offsetting (8:15) Iain used a Minimus Lite running jacket from Montane at the OCC (9:00) Listen to Episode 218 for more on Arcteryx’s repair work (9:45) Iain spoke to ‘Repair Claire’ from Montane (9:45 Heather is a co-founder of the Re-Action Collective (13:15) One Tree at a Time was set up by Gavin Ferney-Jones (13:30) Check out back catalog for interviews with Cirkel Supply, Montagne Verte, EcoSki and Whitestorm Find out about Tentshare (21:30) Find out about the new film ‘Actionism’ (23:00) Reuben and Matt walked in ski boots to the Alps (25:30) Look out for their new app King of the Hill (27:00) The boys used Sidas Boot Traction to protect their boots (31:30) It took them 50 days to walk 690 miles (32:15) Follow the boys on Instagram(36:30) They have raised money for Snowcamp and McMillan Cancer Research (37:00) Feedback (37:00) I always enjoy listener feedback and I love to hear what you think about the show. You can leave a comment on Spotify, Instagram or Facebook – our handle is @theskipodcast – or drop me an email to theskipodcast@gmail.com  Lynsey: "Always listen to the podcast and it's been a lovely escape in the recent hot weather! Bring on the winter!" Adam Fisher: "Keep up the good work!" Dennis: “I'm a big fan of your podcast and I thoroughly enjoyed your appearance on Stuart Winchester’s Storm podcast.” Comment on Spotify: “Hi, I'm 13 and love skiing. This podcast is helping me get through the summer. I’m from Germany by the way!” David Musson enjoyed my interview with Mark Smith, The Man in Seat 61, in Episode 233 There are now 270 episodes of The Ski Podcast to catch up with and 136 of those were listened to in the last week. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, then why not go to theskipodcast.com, have a search around the tags and categories and you’re bound to find something you’ll want to listen to too. You can follow Iain @skipedia and the podcast @theskipodcast. You can also follow us on WhatsApp for exclusive material released ahead of the podcast. Look in the Show Notes for that link. If you enjoyed this episode and would like to help the podcast, there are three things you can do:  -          you can follow us, or subscribe, so you never miss an episode -          you can give us a review on Apple Podcasts or leave a comment on Spotify -          (both of those actions help other listeners to find us) -          Or you can book your ski hire at Intersportrent.com using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’

5 Sep 39min

In this ‘flashback’ episode, Iain speaks with ‘ski instructor to the stars’ Warren Smith, from the Warren Smith Ski Academy.  We talk about how Warren got into skiing and his journey to Verbier via the Hemel Hempstead dry ski slope and Seefeld in Austria. There’s plenty about the early days of the UK freestyle scene, working with many of the youngsters who have now become Olympians, as well as the celebrities that he’s taught over the years, including Laurence Dallaglio, Prince Harry, Princess Eugenie, Louis Smith, Bradley Wiggins and more. Intersport Ski Hire Discount Code As we are looking ahead to this winter, don’t forget that if you want to help The Ski Podcast and save yourself some money this winter…just use the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ when you book your ski hire at intersportrent.com. That applies to any ski hire booked in their massive network across France, Austria and Switzerland. You’ll get a guaranteed additional discount, or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied.  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 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) Listen to how Iain got on in Verbier in March 2023 in Episode 172 If you enjoyed this episode and would like to help the podcast, there are three things you can do:  -          follow us, or subscribe, so you never miss an episode -          give us a review on Apple Podcasts or leave a comment on Spotify -          ‘buy me a coffee’ at buymeacoffee.com/theskipodcast

29 Aug 54min