206: Verbier, Saalbach & the impact of climate change on ski resorts
The Ski Podcast22 Mars 2024

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

In this episode, we discuss Verbier, Saalbach Hinterglemm and the impact of climate change on ski resorts. Plus we have a lot of feedback on Vail Resorts and the Epic Pass, which we covered in Episode 204.

Iain was joined by freelance journalist and regular guest Catherine Murphy and David George, founder of the PisteHors.com website

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

Catherine was last on the show in Episode 173, when she was telling us about Pays de Gex
Jen Tsang from ‘That’s La Plagne’ reported from…La Plagne (3:00)
Betony reports on the latest conditions in the Mont Blanc valley (5:45)
Alex from 150 Days of Winter covered the latest conditions in Courchevel (7:15)
Iain rented skis from Philippe Roux Intersport on his Verbier trip (8:45)
Charlotte Bankes has taken 5 consecutive podiums in World Cup Snowboard Cross (9:00)
Dave Ryding finished 7th overall in the World Cup slalom rankings
Jasmin Taylor picked up 3 more podiums in Telemark and goes into the Finals in 1st place (9:15)
Catherine was in Saalbach Hinterglemm
Saalbach will host the Alpine Ski World Championships in 2025 (10:15)
Read the case study on train travel to Saalbach on Ski Flight Free (14:00)
Iain’s guides in Verbier were Anthony Voute from European Snowsport and Bertrand Lovey from ski school La Fantastique (18:00)
Try the ‘Canadian Trees’ in the Bruson sector of Verbier (18:15)
Verbier has so many backcountry options off the back of Mont Fort (19:30)
Victor de la Rue clinched the snowboard Freeride World Tour title for the third time (20:30)
Iain spoke with older brother and three-time champion Xavier de la Rue (21:00)
Iain travelled by train to Verbier – a very straightforward journey (21:30)
Protect Our Winters research shows that ski kit represents 12% of the carbon footprint of a ski holiday (22:00)
Cirkel Supply is a new ski clothing rental company, founded by Anders Bergenstrand (22:45)
Anna Smoothy has done some research that shows renting clothing has a 76% smaller carbon footprint than buying
Josh Speller is the founder of Verbier Green (30:00)
David founded PisteHors.com in 2004 (34:00)
You can read David’s blog about the effect of climate change on ski resorts here (44:00)
66% of the carbon footprint of a ski holiday comes from the your flight (45:30)
Find out more about low-carbon ski holidays at Ski Flight Free (46:00)
More than half of American skiers buy an Epic or Ikon pass (49:00)
The Magic Pass has seen a 9% increase in sales this winter (49:00)
Laurent Vauchet, CEO of Televerbier, is equivocal that Vail Resorts is not buying Verbier (49:30)
Listen to Iain’s interview with Mike Goar, MD of Andermatt in Episode 204 (51:00)
Find out more about the Ikon Pass (52:00)

Feedback
I enjoy all feedback about the show, I like to know what you think, especially about our features so please contact on social @theskipodcast or by email theskipodcast@gmail.com

Adam Horsfield: "I have been an avid listener of the ski podcast since 2018. After 6 years of listening, I’ve finally taken the decision to take the train to the Alps and am very much looking forward to it."

Episode 204 about Vail Resorts prompted a LOT of feedback:

Simon Burgess: "Really enjoyed the last episode on the Epic Pass. As someone who has used it a lot it’s exciting what’s on offer and what could develop. I still think some of the partner agreements are a rip off with special lodging needed to get a pass, but for Andermatt, 3 Valleys and the Dolomites it’s been brilliant. It was fantastic in Andermatt: show the Epic Pass and they give you a season pass which I’m pretty sure is sold for more”

Andrew Brannan: "Eye watering ticket prices, all the top management jobs taken out of resort, all teh restaurants and hotels, shops and even estate agents bought up by the same monopoly, aggressive property development, workers forced to live down the valley"

Chris Howie: "It feels as if Vail Resorts are trying to wring every last penny out of resorts while providing the very minimum in return. In most of the Vail Resorts-owned resorts prices have gone sky high so only the rich can ski. Ski passes are almost three times the price of a European ski resort. Lift lines are unbelievably long. The local staff are removed to bring in centralised American staff, ripping the heart out of the resort. I will do my best to never ski at a resort owned by the Vail Resort organisation"

Jane Henderson: “You should've given him a bit of a grilling on the negative impact of Epic/Ikon passes”

If you like the podcast, there are three things you can do to help:

1) Review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
2) Subscribe
3) Book your ski hire with Intersport Rent using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied at the checkout

You can follow Iain @skipedia and the podcast @theskipodcast

Avsnitt(271)

24: Billy Morgan, Chemmy Alcott v. Graham Bell and Inside Chill Factore

24: Billy Morgan, Chemmy Alcott v. Graham Bell and Inside Chill Factore

This episode Iain reports back from the London Ski Festival with interviews with Olympians Billy Morgan, Graham Bell and Chemmy Alcott as well as world-record breaking snowboarder Jamie Barrow. We have guest reports from Dave in Verbier and Steve in Val d'Isère and Jim goes behind the scenes at the Chill Factore in Manchester, where listeners can claim a 10% discount using the code code ('SKIPOD10'). Plus what's your favourite James Bond ski sequence? Iain and Jim reveal their best 007 moments...

9 Nov 201852min

23: Sting's Lift Pass, Courchevel & Val d'Isère updates & Tour de France rumours

23: Sting's Lift Pass, Courchevel & Val d'Isère updates & Tour de France rumours

During this episode Jim reveals he's moving to the Alps for the winter and Iain doesn't take it personally. We have guest reports from Alex in Courchevel and Steve in Val d'Isère and a spoiler for next year's Tour de France.  Iain swaps jokes with comedian Phil Nichol and Jim asks Vanessa Fisher about her Super Drei challenge.

22 Okt 201857min

22: New lifts in Tignes & Zermatt, Inside Chill Factore and How To Put Your Boots On

22: New lifts in Tignes & Zermatt, Inside Chill Factore and How To Put Your Boots On

In this episode Jim and Iain discuss the new lifts that opened last week in both Tignes and Zermatt, Jim goes behind the scenes at the Chill Factore indoor snow slope in Manchester, we find out which Premiership football club Verbier has teamed up with and Dave reveals how to put your ski boots on properly. We also interview Dom Killinger from InTheSnow Magazine, listen to cowbells at dawn in Switzerland and Paddy from Huski explains how appearing on The Ski Podcast helped his company win new business! Listeners recommend new books for The Ski Podcast’s occasional ‘Ski Book Group’ and we look forward to the London Ski and Snowboard Festival later this month.

8 Okt 201849min

21: Fires in Chamonix & Garmisch, Vicky Gosling interview & How to get into Ski Racing

21: Fires in Chamonix & Garmisch, Vicky Gosling interview & How to get into Ski Racing

This time Jim and Iain wonder why the Alps are so flammable (after the recent fires in Chamonix, Tignes and Garmisch), Jim reports on glacier skiing in Cervinia and Iain interviews VIP Vicky Gosling OBE CEO BSS.

24 Sep 201854min

20: Brexit (again), Junior Worlds Success & Author Interviews

20: Brexit (again), Junior Worlds Success & Author Interviews

Iain and Jim talk summer holidays in the Alps, discuss how Brexit will affect the cost of your ski holiday, celebrate GB success at the Junior World Champs and re-open our ‘Ski Book Group’ with a look at ‘Ski The World’ by Arnie Wilson.

10 Sep 201852min

19: New Lifts in Val d'Isère, London Ski Show & Hiring Ski Clothing

19: New Lifts in Val d'Isère, London Ski Show & Hiring Ski Clothing

Jim and Iain report in for their final pod of the summer - yes, believe it or not, winter is only round the corner! In Episode 19, Iain talks to the team from Val d'Isère Telepheriques about the new gondola being built this summer in La Daille. This will increase capacity and speed up the mountain and will open in December. Ed Mannix from Matterhorn Chalets gives us an update on the summer snow conditions on the Zermatt glacier (hint: get up early!). Jim chats to Oxygene, the Tarentaise ski school who are adding in clothing hire as a new service for skiers this winter.  Would you rent ski clothing, either from the UK or in the Alps?

6 Aug 201845min

18: New lifts in La Rosiere, Buying a Ski Property & Book Reviews

18: New lifts in La Rosiere, Buying a Ski Property & Book Reviews

Even though there is a heatwave going on in the UK Iain and Jim are still talking about skiing and snowboarding. In this episode of the Ski Podcast Iain tells Jim off for misspelling Val d’Isere and reveals the most misspellt ski resort. Iain reports on a whole new ski area being built in La Rosiere that will see 2 new lifts be installed and numerous new runs. Jim chats to Mark from Snowonly a worldwide property selling website that specialises in ski homes. There is also the inaugural book club where Jim and Iain review winter related literature.

11 Juli 201849min

17: Own Your Own Ski Resort, Ski Instructor Training and Alpine Meals on Wheels

17: Own Your Own Ski Resort, Ski Instructor Training and Alpine Meals on Wheels

Iain and Jim aren’t getting much skiing in at the moment which is probably why they are discussing skiing in fancy dress, what they would do if they bought a ski resort and their best ski related car boot sale find. We have big news as The Ski Podcast wins its first award! There is also a report from Meribel on what it is like to train as a ski instructor and they talk to Paddy the founder of Huski a ready meals delivery company that could be set to shake up the traditional catered ski holiday.

19 Juni 201849min

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