206: Verbier, Saalbach & the impact of climate change on ski resorts

In Episode 61 Iain is joined by Krystelle Kubicki (Head of Marketing, Sno.co.uk) and Alex Irwin (Founder, 150 Days of Winter) We discuss the latest on quarantine and #Test4Travel, what's new in Courchevel. We have a snow report from Engelberg and updates on the Eiger Express in Grindelwald. Iain finds out more about sustainable skiwear from Picture Organic Clothing and diversity in skiing from Mount Noire. Plus we have much more... 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 Krystelle last appeared way back in Episode 9 Both Tignes and Les 2 Alpes have opened on 17 October Learn how to pronounce Gstaad in Episode 44 The latest from the government 'Task Force'  Find out about the Common Pass Project Charlie Rees: "Really enjoying listening to the show. Skiing is my passion, the pod has inspired me!" Robin reported from Montafon in Episode 60 Remo Kaeser is from Jungfrau Railways and was discussing the Eiger Express  Iain raced the Inferno in Murren The new downhill run in Courchevel is called the 'Eclipse' There is a new building in the Courchevel stade Tour de France came to Meribel in 2020 Find out more about the MTN survey here The full Picture Organic interview is available to watch here It is coming soon as a Podcast Special Episode Rachael from Ecoski featured in Episode 57 Iain interviewed Alex from Cahaya Straits in Episode 59 Find out more about One Tree At a Time Read more about MTN's research on quarantine here Mount Noire is a Tour operator specialising in trips for black British skiers   Listen to our Benjamin Alexander Podcast Special episode Get yourself free tickets to the 2021 National Snow Show Ski Book Group: A Whole Life - Robert Seethaler  Coming up: Aiming High one off Podcast special next month Thanks for Alex Soden, Stephen Morgan and Stewart Johnson for your reviews   Coming up next time Ed Drake will be a guest, talking about the oncoming World Cup season. We'll be discussing skiing in Scotland and ski touring in Chamonix. Thanks to Switzerland Tourism for their continued support If you enjoy The Ski Podcast, you always can buy us a coffee…

27 Okt 202059min

Iain is joined this week by Dave Burrows (Director, SnowPros Ski School) & Lucy Aspen (Online Ski Editor, Telegraph). We discuss quarantine and the #Test4Travel campaign and ski technology predictions from 1988. Iain interviews Team GB telemarker Jasmin Taylor and Robin reports from Montafon in Austria. 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 Dave skied in Diablerets last week, which opened early Lucy skied in Scotland in February Mike covered skiing in Scotland last winter in Episode 58 A negative test result is now required for entry to Italy   Brits have to quarantine for 10 days to enter Switzerland   Tignes & Les 2 Alpes are both opening on 17 October Some skiers will definitely travel Find out more about the Telegraph #Test4Travel Campaign  Government Task Force will report early-November   Find out more about the Common Pass Project   There may be no apres-ski (more on this in Episode 58) More info here on what it's going to be like in France and in the USA  You can listen in Episode 56 about how Australia dealt with  Thanks to Robin from Sport Harry in Silvretta Montafon for his report Both LISTEX & WLSS cancelled (ref Episode 58) Mike has more positive views about the new Bham Show  You can listen to our Ski Podcast Special on Jasmin Taylor here Or watch it as a Facebook Live Other Ski Podcast Specials include Benjamin Alexander, Graham Bell, Avalanche Safety and Train Travel We have another Podcast Special with Picture Organic coming up Thanks to Andrew Brannan for sending us these features from Ski Survey magazine 1988 David Goldsmith was the author of this article - thanks for your time in talking to us David Current ski tech options include Skitracks, Carv, Peakfinder and Strava If you'd like to hear more about ski touring, then listen to Iain's previous reports from Morocco and Andermatt Dave presents the Ski Instructor Podcast This includes an amusing Eurotest meme Find out more about the Ski Club of Great Britain survey Reviews: Amy Moore: I absolutely love your ski podcast...it really cheers you up especially during the pandemic to hear all the ski chats! Wish you had more podcasts more often!    Thunderer on Snowheads - Just discovered your Podcast, really enjoying it Bennyboy on Snowheads: Good podcast. I haven’t listened before. Thanks! @theovalball1 on Twitter: Really good listen! Coming up in Episode 61  Our guests will be Krystelle from Sno.co.uk and Alex from 150 Days of Winter Mount Noire on diversity in skiing Remo Kaeser from the Jungfrau region Ski Book Group: A Whole Life  If you enjoy The Ski Podcast, you always can buy us a coffee…

13 Okt 20201h

In this Ski Podcast Special, Iain interviewed Jasmin Taylor, telemark skier and Britain's most successful Alpine skier of all time.  We discuss how Jasmin discovered telemark skiing, while on a British Ski Academy training camp and her first ever turns on skis in Ipswich.  She explains what telemarking is, how racing works and her hopes that the sport might be included in the Olympics at some future point.  Jasmin was one of the most modest people we have interviewed for the podcast and we're sure you're going to enjoy listening to her and finding out more about this part of our sport that often passes under the radar.  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. If you enjoy The Ski Podcast, you always can buy us a coffee…

6 Okt 202029min

For this Ski Podcast special Iain has his Ski Flight Free hat on and is joined by Daniel Elkan from Snowcarbon and Anna Hughes from Flight Free UK to discuss train travel to the Alps. Great options for checking your carbon footprint include the WWF Footprint Calculator and Ecopassenger  Find out more about the Save The Ski Train campaign on Facebook You can sign the petition here Changing stations in Paris is not difficult. This video shows Iain’s journey to Courchevel last winter Train travel in the ‘new normal’ is very different Iain referred to this study about the chances of catching Covid on a train You can hear more about Iain’s trip to Zermass and Saas Fee by train in Episode 57 of The Ski Podcast Iain likes to book direct with Eurostar and SNCF Anna has travelled to Scotland on the Caledonian Sleeper on multiple occasions It’s possible to travel overnight to Austria with the Alpen Express service  Iain has previously written for Ski2 about taking the train to Champoluc  Sam Haddad travelled on the ski train to Les Arcs Daniel recommends the Railmap of Europe 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. If you enjoy The Ski Podcast, you always can buy us a coffee…

28 Sep 20201h 9min

[Some listeners may have downloaded an unedited version of Episode 59 - please listen to this version instead] Iain was joined in Episode 59 by Megan Hughes, Digital Content Manager at InTheSnow.com and Olympian Emily Sarsfield. We discuss the current quarantine situation, the impact on ski holidays for this winter, and Crystal’s decision to stop offering chalet holidays. Emily tells us about her experiences at PyeongChang 2018, while Benjamin Alexander suggests a title for movie as he aims to represent Jamaica at Beijing 2022. Plus we have interviews with new skiwear brand Cahaya Straits and Snowcarbon founder Daniel Elkan on the campaign to ‘Save The Ski Train’. 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 You can find out more about the new Eiger Express in Grindelwald here  We covered Emily’s Meribel Ski Yoga weeks in Episode 41  Does skiing on the Zermatt glacier from Cervinia require a quarantine? Let us know what you think on Facebook or Twitter  Is this the season to try skiing in Poland?  Megan skied in Garmisch in Germany  Les 3 Vallees have confirmed that masks will not have to be worn while skiing this winter  There will be no chalets at Crystal Ski this season   Mt Buller is letting season pass holders choose their refund amount   You can listen to our interview with Miss SnowItAll (Rachael Oakes-Ash) in Episode 56  Listen out our Ski Podcast special interview with Benjamin Alexander, who is hoping to be the first Jamaican Olympic Skier (or you can watch it on Facebook)   Emily Sarsfield competed in Skier Cross at PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics  You can listen to our PyeongChang specials here  Cahaya Straits are a new company producing sustainable skiwear  We interviewed Rachael Westbrook from Eco Ski in Episode 57  We love Patagonia! You can find out more about the Save The Ski Train campaign here  Don’t forget to sign the petition  Watch our Train Travel as a Facebook Live, broadcast by Ski Flight Free  It will be released in an edited version as a Ski Podcast Special on 29 September Find out more about Protect Our Winters  Thanks to ‘Whacker London’ for their 5-star review  Also to Chris Howie: "Great episode! Keep up the good work."  We will be reviewing ‘A Whole Life’ by Robert Seethaler for Ski Book Group in Episode 60   Coming up in Episode 60  Iain will be joined by Dave Burrows, who’ll be looking at the impact of Brexit  Lucy Aspden, ski correspondent for The Telegraph, will be joining us  Interview with Team GB telemarker Jasmin Taylor  New and old ski tech discussion with David Goldsmith If you enjoy The Ski Podcast, you always can buy us a coffee…

23 Sep 202058min

Iain was joined in Episode 59 by Megan Hughes, Digital Content Manager at InTheSnow.com and Olympian Emily Sarsfield. We discuss the current quarantine situation, the impact on ski holidays for this winter, and Crystal’s decision to stop offering chalet holidays. Emily tells us about her experiences at PyeongChang 2018, while Benjamin Alexander suggests a title for movie as he aims to represent Jamaica at Beijing 2022. Plus we have interviews with new skiwear brand Cahaya Straits and Snowcarbon founder Daniel Elkan on the campaign to ‘Save The Ski Train’. Show Notes You can find out more about the new Eiger Express in Grindelwald here  We covered Emily’s Meribel Ski Yoga weeks in Episode 41  Does skiing on the Zermatt glacier from Cervinia require a quarantine? Let us know what you think on Facebook or Twitter  Is this the season to try skiing in Poland?  Megan skied in Garmisch in Germany  Les 3 Vallees have confirmed that masks will not have to be worn while skiing this winter  There will be no chalets at Crystal Ski this season   Mt Buller is letting season pass holders choose their refund amount   You can listen to our interview with Miss SnowItAll (Rachael Oakes-Ash) in Episode 56  Listen out our Ski Podcast special interview with Benjamin Alexander, who is hoping to be the first Jamaican Olympic Skier (or you can watch it on Facebook)   Emily Sarsfield competed in Skier Cross at PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics  You can listen to our PyeongChang specials here  Cahaya Straits are a new company producing sustainable skiwear  We interviewed Rachael Westbrook from Eco Ski in Episode 57  We love Patagonia! You can find out more about the Save The Ski Train campaign here  Don’t forget to sign the petition  Watch our Train Travel as a Facebook Live, broadcast by Ski Flight Free  It will be released in an edited version as a Ski Podcast Special on 29 September Find out more about Protect Our Winters  Thanks to ‘Whacker London’ for their 5-star review  Also to Chris Howie: "Great episode! Keep up the good work."  We will be reviewing ‘A Whole Life’ by Robert Seethaler for Ski Book Group in Episode 60   Coming up in Episode 60  Iain will be joined by Dave Burrows, who’ll be looking at the impact of Brexit  Lucy Aspden, ski correspondent for The Telegraph, will be joining us  Interview with Team GB telemarker Jasmin Taylor  New and old ski tech discussion with David Goldsmith

22 Sep 202058min

In this special episode of The Ski Podcast, we interview Benjamin Alexander.  'Benji' is aiming to be the first alpine skier to represent Jamaica at the Winter Olympics. Benjamin tells us how he segued from DJ-ing around the world to skiing and then on to racing, as he seems to bring his FIS points to Olympic qualification levels.  He has the full support of the Jamaican Olympic Committee, is extremely fit and very determined, so why not listen now to hear about 'Cool Runnings 2020'. 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. If you enjoy The Ski Podcast, you always can buy us a coffee…

15 Sep 202027min

In Episode 58, Iain is joined by the super-experienced Mike Richards. We discuss skiing in Scotland and Norway, plus the latest news on how apres ski might look this winter in the Alps after both Ischgl and Mayrhofen announce plans to scale back partying. There’s ski show chat, both virtual and physical, and an interview about LISTEX 2020 and we wonder if a drone could ever tow a skier? 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 Mike Richards has previously featured on the pod, talking about his experiences in Georgia (Episode 37), Montenegro (Episode 39) and Japan (Episode 41) Mike was skiing in Scotland in March at Glencoe and the Nevis Range Do you have memories of skiing in Switzerland back in the day? Switzerland Tourism want to hear about them… You can find out more about the Telegraph’s ‘Test4Travel’ campaign here – we strongly encourage you to follow and share as much as you can Mayrhofen have announced that ski boots will be banned after 8pm and apres-ski will be scaled down Ischgl are also scaling down their apres-ski for this winter (understandably) Amazon have applied for a patent for a Drone Ski Tow The ‘World’s Largest Ski Show’ – a new virtual ski show – has shifted its dates from October to November There is a new ski show scheduled for October 2021 for the NEC in Birmingham LISTEX will be taking place at the Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead in October Mike Smith asked why we’ve had no coverage of skiing in Norway? Mike visited Narvik and Stranda in Norway Thanks to Mike Smith for his review: “I am very much enjoying the podcast. Keep at it!” Also to Loobzy and Bramski Please do give us a review on iTunes, or contact us via Twitter or Facebook Coming up Watch out for our Train Travel special in conjunction with Ski Flight Free coming up soon In Episode 59 we’ll be discussing new technology including predictions from the 1980s If you enjoy The Ski Podcast, you always can buy us a coffee…

7 Sep 20201h 4min