78: Mountaineering & Mountain Biking, National Snow Show plus Faction Skis interview The Ski Podcast

In Episode 78, we discuss the new National Snow Show coming up next month, summer activities in the mountains like e-biking, mountaineering and trail running, plus we talk to Tony McWilliam, founder of Faction Skis.

Iain was joined by Stephen Morgan, MD at Raccoon Events, and mountaineer Olivia Jane, with contributions from Alyn Morgan at SkiKitInfo and Katie Crowe from Battleface Travel Insurance.

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SHOW NOTES





Steve skied in Glencoe. Listen to our interview with Andy Meldrum, owner of Glencoe, in Episode 75

There is now no quarantine for British arrivals into Italy

Austria, Norway, Switzerland and Canada have all been added to the ‘Green List’

But Austria are applying a 270 day limit on their double vaccination rules for travellers 
The cost of tests remains an issue, as Battleface have identified in their previous research

 Iain used the Britanny Ferries discount for Randox tests
 Helen Coffey’s article in The Independent about ‘Trav-min’ is spot on
 We interviewed James Wilcox from Untamed Borders in our Special Episode about 'skiing in Afghanistan' 
Find out more about their campaign to support local guides here

The National Snow Show is on at the NEC on 23-24 October
Listen to our Ski Podcast Special with Benjamin Alexander – Jamaican Alpine Skier
The mystery speaker turned out to be Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards. Listen to our Ski Podcast Special interview with Eddie here. 
We spoke to Mount Noire in Episode 61 of The Ski Podcast

You can buy tickets to the National Snow Show here

You can watch The Ski Podcast Live at the show at midday on Sunday 24 October
Iain will be joined by Podcast regular Mike Richards as well as Simon Burgess, who told us about his experience skiing in the Lake District in Episode 73

2021 is the 150th anniversary of Lucy Walker’s first female ascent of the Matterhorn

Olivia Jane is part of the Mammut team

Iain reported from Zermatt in Episode 76 




 https://www.instagram.com/p/CSW0BAIjQjI/ 





Listen to Iain’s interview with Martin Anthamatten in Episode 77

Iain took part in the Eiger Trail 51 race in Grindelwald, Switzerland
Read Iain’s article ‘Five Tips for Fast Packing the Tour du Mont Blanc’

The UTMB (Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc) is a 171km race with 10050m of climbing



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyvVhgPp4p0
 


Read Iain’s race report from the UTMB here

Listen to Iain’s interview with Claire Burnet from the Chamonix Tourist Office in Episode 73

The ‘Village Vacances Grandeur Nature’ offer in Chamonix meant visitors could enjoy free activities in July and August
Jim went surfing at Alaia Bay and reported on that in Episode 76 and tried VTT in Crans Montana
Iain spoke to Faction Skis founder Tony McWilliam about the early years of the company. You can listen to the full interview in our Ski Podcast Special

Listen to our Ski Podcast Special with Jim Adlington

Verbier holds an ebike Festival every year




https://www.instagram.com/p/CQEGEx8D3J3/ 
 

We're still waiting to get hold of Faction's new range, but Alyn Morgan (previously on the show in Episode 71) reviews the Faction Dictator 3.0 freeride here:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6-nqtJb9Y0

REVIEWS

I'd like to thank everyone who bought me a coffee since our last podcast, it's very kind of you. Also thanks to these guys for their feedback and reviews:

Tom Brownlee: “Keeping me going during this ski-less time!"
 
Matt Hayes: "fantastic pods as ever"
 
Andrew Brannan: “Two episodes to keep me going during August - Cheers for that!”
 
Peter S: "An excellent discussion about the prospects for ski holidays this winter and a good report from Switzerland. Must listen to more of your podcasts now. Keep up the excellent work"
 
Roddy MacDonald: "