The Ski Podcast

In Episode 71, we find out about Les 2 Alpes, snowshoeing in Engelberg, quarantine, testing and the new ‘traffic light’ travel rules, plus we have snow reports from around the Alps and an focus on equipment trends for 2021/22.  Iain was joined by Helena Hospital, Press Relations from Les 2 Alpes and Alyn Morgan from SkiKitinfo.    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 ·       Alyn last skied in Glenshee ·       Katie Crowe is Communications Manager for Battleface Travel ·       You can find out more about the Battleface survey here ·       A study from Amadeus revealed 91% of travellers would be comfortable with a digital health passport https://twitter.com/skipedia/status/1379330549538492417 ·       Alex Irwin from 150 Days of Winter is based in Courchevel ·       Andy Butterworth from Kaluma Travel is in St Anton, Austria ·       France is in lockdown just now ·       The Les 2 Alpes glacier is due to open on 29 May or 05 June ·       Iain covered the French ski resort protests in December on Skipedia ·       Helena confirmed that lift pass revenues in Les 2 Alpes are down from €170m to €40m ·       Les 2 Alpes will open with limited capacity, perhaps only 300 lift passes per day ·       Look out for the Bradley Wiggins-hosted cycling event in September in Les 2 Alpes ·       Al Morgan is from SkiKitInfo.com ·       This is the Elan Voyager foldable ski ·       Watch this video for a reminder why knowing how your transceiver works is essential https://www.facebook.com/skipedia/posts/3755350864514828     ·       Roving Swiss reporter Charlie Rees was in Engelberg ·       Kirsty Muir, silver Slopestyle World Cup ·       Charlotte Bankes, Bronze Snowboard Cross World Cup Veysonnaz ·       Billy Major has just been crowned Europa Cup Slalom Champion 2020/21 ·       Listen to our Eddie the Eagle special episode here ·       Roger Federer is now a global ambassador for Switzerland ·       Iain has a place in the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc trail running race in August Buy Me A Coffee  I'd like to thank Wayne, Hubert and also these guys who all bought me a cuppa: Nick D: "Great podcast, keep up the fantastic work"  Andrew Thomas: “I've followed you for well over a year and seen the standard increase significantly in the last year. Keep up the good work.” If you enjoy The Ski Podcast, you can buy me a coffee at www.buymeacoffee.com/theskipodcast Reviews  Skiintel on Instagram: "Love the podcast. Especially the one about train travel to the Alps. We're booking our first ski train for next year as a result."  Inside Morzine on Twitter: 'An excellent listen'  The Winner of our competition is 'Les Petit Singe' on Apple Podcasts, who kindly said:  "Love this podcast, it is the shining light that gets me through the week, discovering previous episodes and, because if pesky Covid, keeps the fire burning for next season. Informative, educational and extremely interesting. Keep up the brilliant work."   If you'd like a set of The Ski Podcast stickers, then email iain@skipedia.co.uk      Follow Iain on social media @skipedia and the show @theskipodcast - now on Instagram as well.  Thanks as always to Switzerland Tourism

12 Apr 20211h 1min

Eddie tells us how his life changed after the 'Eddie the Eagle' movie was released, from Taron Edgerton perfecting his accent to Hugh Jackman asking to have a selfie with him. 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 Eddie was in Courchevel with Ski Weekends, raising money for Ski for Cancer The idea for a movie first came about in 1999, but 'Eddie the Eagle' wasn't made until 2016 Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CATCSEoeG_c It was at Calgary 1988 that Eddie first made his name Jonty Learoyd is a talented junior ski jumper who is British by birth, but is competing for France We interviewed Charlotte Bankes about her switch from France to Team GB in Episode 25 You can follow Iain @skipedia and the show @theskipodcast on Twitter If you enjoy The Ski Podcast, you can buy me a coffee at www.buymeacoffee.com/theskipodcast

5 Apr 202117min

In this Special Episode of The Ski Podcast, Iain speaks to James Willcox, founder of Untamed Borders, about skiing in Afghanistan and the Afghan Ski Challenge.  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. This is Untamed Borders’ 11th ski season guiding skiers in Afghanistan  They have taken skiers to the Panjshir Valley, Badakhshan in the far North East and the Salang Pass that links Kabul to Mazar e Sharif Bamian remains best place due to good security and awesome scenery You can listen to Iain’s interview with Battleface CEO Sasha Gainullin in Episode 68 Battleface will offer you insurance for trips to countries such as Afghanistan when travel is not recommended Find out about the Afghan Ski Challenge here, which started in 2011 Watch the film 'Where The Light Shines' here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6tgjWtwRQE Watch footage from 2019 Afghan Ladies Ski Challenge and boys’ wooden ski race: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r70jrQ2kl74 You find out more about the Afghan Sports Trust here Find out about the women’s programme in this article in The Guardian BuyMeACoffee If you enjoy the podcast you're very welcome to buy me a cuppa at BuyMeACoffee.com/theskipodcast Make sure you subscribe to The Ski Podcast now and never miss an episode...

29 Mar 202132min

This week we find out about the booming market for ski holidays for next winter, there's an interview with Olympic downhill racer Martin Bell, news of the Afghan Ski Challenge and we find all about The Inferno - the downhill race in Murren for amateur skiers. Iain was joined by Vanessa Fisher (last on the show in Episode 63) and Nick Morgan, Managing Director and founder of Le Ski Chalet Holidays. 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 Global Travel Taskforce is due to report on April 12, with the hope that travel may start again from May 17 Cyprus, Greece & Turkey have all confirmed UK citizens will be welcome The EU has announced details of a new 'Digital Green Pass' We discussed the ‘Common Pass’ back in Episode 61 last autumn Andy Butterworth from Kaluma Travel was reporting from St Anton Andy last appeared on the show in Episode 66 Ben from Mabey Ski called in from Whistler, Canada Ed Mannix is the owner of Matterhorn Chalets in Zermatt, Switzerland You can listen to our Joe Ponte interview in this Special Podcast Le Ski have recently reported sales are 'stratospheric' Nick started the company in Kitzbuhel in 1982 Bob Dylan: "If you ain’t got nothing, you’ve got nothing to lose” Charlie Rees was in Murren, Switzerland Vanessa and Nick have competed in The Inferno 26 times You can listen to our Ski Podcast Special Episode published last week Find out more about The Inferno here Martin and Graham appeared on The Wogan Show before the Calgary Winter Olympics Zoe Atkin won Bronze at the World Championship Ski Half Pipe Mia Brookes won Bronze in the Europa Cup Snowboard Slopestyle  James Willcox runs Untamed Borders Watch the film 'Where The Light Shines' here You can find out about the Afghan Ski Challenge here   Buy Me A Cuppa Thanks to everyone who has bought me a cuppa since the last podcast. Stuart Barber: “Love the podcast" Peter Taylor: “Really enjoying the podcast, only recently discovered it” Andrew Brannan: "Thanks for the podcasts. They brighten up my commute" Plus also thanks to David Wade, Matt and Graeme If you enjoy The Ski Podcast, you can buy me a coffee at www.buymeacoffee.com/theskipodcast If you’d like a set of Ski Podcast stickers, please contact us. Plus you can win goodies from Switzerland Tourism by giving us a review on Facebook or Apple Podcasts before the end of March.    Reviews (from Snowheads) Layne: “A couple of very interesting specials. Keep up the good work” Mike Pow: “Getting better each episode” COMING UP We have a full Podcast Special of our interview with James Willcox about skiing in Afghanistan, Charlie will be reporting on snow shoeing in Engelberg and we'll be talking to Al Morgan from Ski Kit info.

22 Mar 20211h 4min

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