The Ski Podcast The Ski Podcast

In Episode 162 of The Ski Podcast, we find out about skiing in Ukraine, trains to the Pyrénées and travel ‘Around the World in 50 Slopes’.
 
Iain is joined by UK ski journalist, Patrick Thorne, Sian Grigg from Pyrenean Odysseys and Jem Rose from PowderMad.

SHOW NOTES

Patrick was in Val Thorens for ‘La Grand Derniere’
Sian skied in Grand Tourmalet
We featured skiing in Georgia in Episode 37 of The Ski Podcast
The Ski Podcast is sponsored by Les 3 Vallees - the largest ski area in the world
Val Thorens is celebrating its 50th anniversary this winter
Alex Irwin from ‘150 Days of Winter’ reported from VT on their opening weekend
Snow Factor in Glasgow has closed
'Around the World in 50 Slopes' is the new book from Patrick Thorne
Svalbard featured in Episode 94 of The Ski Podcast
Jem’s group were in Dragobrat in Ukraine
Find out about the charity War Child here
You can buy Powermad’s ski socks here
Pyrenean Odysseys is based in Luz St Sauveur
The Paris-Lourdes night train is one of only two serving ski resorts in France
Episode 160 was a sustainability special
Iain travelled with his family to Cauterets to prove a half-term ski trip on a budget is possible
Read Iain’s article for ‘The Independent’ about train travel to ski resorts
Find out more about Intersport Ski Hire here
James Gambrill is General Manager of The Ski Club of Great Britain
We spoke to James in Episode 75 just after he'd taken over as GM

FEEDBACK  

Sean Lally: "Love the pod"
Richard Salden: "Enjoying the podcast & the wide range of topics and opinions"
Andy Thain: "Keep up the good work"

There are over 160 episodes to catch up with and amazingly 127 of them were listened to in the last week. 

I'd love to hear where you listen to the podcast - commuting, in the gym, or at work. Andrea Dalton will be listening "on my dog walk in the morning".

I enjoy all feedback about the show, so please contact on social @theskipodcast or by email theskipodcast@gmail.com

If you enjoy the show, why not review us as it helps other people find us. Apple Podcasts is best - if you leave a comment we'll read it out on the next episode.

You can follow me @skipedia and the podcast @theskipodcast

Episode 161 is a Ski Boot Special: we look at types of ski boot; how to choose a ski boot; whether you should have them fitted or moulded; plus some of the gadgets that work with them.
 
Iain was joined by the ski boot experts Colin Martin from Solutions4Feet and regular equipment expert Al Morgan from SkiKitInfo.com. 

SHOW NOTES





Colin skied at Kuhtai on the SIGB Ski Test 
Listen to Al talking about the Ski Test in Episode 91

 TSP is sponsored by Les 3 Vallées - the largest ski area in the world
 Val Thorens is celebrating its 50th anniversary this winter
You can now book holidays to Les 3 Vallées directly via their their website

 World Cup races in Solden and Zermatt were cancelled

 Mia Brookes took 9th and Kirsty Muir 7th in the Big Air in Chur
 Listen to our interview with Mia Brookes in Episode 158



https://www.youtube.com/shorts/RMQJmpiBnhw




Robin Shah reported on his first turns in Verbier, which as he predicted opened last weekend

https://twitter.com/skipedia/status/1590343660310495233





Dave Burrows from Snow Pros Ski School reported from Glacier 3000
 The Warren Miller film tour ‘Daymaker’ starts later this month

 Iain is hosting the Brighton screening on Friday 02 December


https://twitter.com/theskipodcast/status/1585952522459648001 





Love this quote: “Like a wand in Harry Potter, the ski boot chooses your foot”
Touring boots cost more because a patent has to be paid to Dynastar every time
Iain had his custom insoles created for him at Profeet

 Go for thin ski socks, recommended brands include Falke, Teko and Smartwool
 Don’t buy your ski boots on the basis of colour: “They’re tools not jewels”
 Iain spoke to Professor Henrik Bjursten about his new VPECS innovation

The Carv device fits into your ski boot and gives feedback on your ski technique, visually via the app or in audio via Bluetooth

Ted Ligety is their new ambassador (and can give you ski advice!)

Feedback 


Please send us your feedback on social @theskipodcast or email theskipodcast@gmail.com

Chris Exall: 





“Hope you don't mind a minor correction [re Episode 101]. Though they were often referred to as ‘parablocks’, but in fact they were called ‘parablacks’. The reason was that the inventor was called Gunther Schwartz. They were partly to stop skiers crossing 'the sharp ends' but they were widely used in World Cup speed events because they had the effect of dampening the ski and filtering out vibration. Marker developed their own version which had a weight suspended by springs, it was intended as a more active 'suspension' for ski racers, though the thing weighed a ton. The earliest ones were simply plastic boxes but the last version was a spring loaded coat hanger wire affair which stopped your tips crossing but folded flat if you tried to uncross them”  
BobinCH (snowheads): "Gethin on Solden in October [Episode 159] was an interesting listen"
Richard_Sideways (snowheads): "Nice podcast as usual"
Elements.biz: "Super interesting conversations [in Episode 160]. Thanks for the ongoing sustainability focus"
Gareth Harvey: "Thanks for the snowboard episode"
Judy Mathews: "Really enjoying your podcast. I have only just come across it recently & wish I did some time ago, but I have plenty to catch up on when driving or running."

As Judy says there are over 160 episodes to catch up with. We'd love to hear how you listen to the podcast - commuting, in the gym, or at work.

If you enjoy the show, why not review us as it helps other people find us. We have 88 reviews on Apple Podcasts, 74 are 5-star reviews - and if you leave a comment we'll read it out on the next episode.

You can follow me @skipedia and the podcast @theskipodcast

In Episode 160, Iain was joined by Prue Stone (Hotelplan), Ceri Tinley (Consensio Chalets) and Al Judge (AliKats Mountain Holidays) - three ski companies all taking sustainability seriously by making significant changes to their operations and product.

SHOW NOTES





Iain set up the lobbying campaign Ski Flight Free in 2019 (00:30)

COP27 brings together world leaders to discuss and hopefully take action on climate change (01:00)
Prue Stone is Sustainability Director at Hotelplan, which includes Inghams Ski (01:45)
Listen to our interview with Joe Ponte CEO at Hotelplan, recorded in February 2021 (02:30)
Find out more about train travel to the Alps at Ski Flight Free (05:45)
Hotelplan’s goal is to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050 (06:30)
Rachael from ecoski.co.uk appeared on Episode 57 of The Ski Podcast (09:45)
You can watch our session ‘The Ski Podcast Live – ‘Off The Beaten Track’ recorded at the National Snow Show in Birmingham on YouTube (12:15)
Ceri Tinley is the founder and MD at Consensio Chalets (14:45)
You can read Consensio’s ‘Luxury Ski Insights Report’ here 
Find out more about Protect Our Winters UK (16:45)

Ecollective helps travel brands calculate and subsequently reduce their carbon footprint (17:00)
Consensio’s goal is to reach Net Zero by 2035 (20:00)
Coolbus have invested in new Mercedes Electric Minibuses for this winter (20:30)
Snowdrone also offer transfers using electric vehicles (25:30)
Al Judge is the owner of AliKats Mountains Holidays in Morzine (28:45)
Find out about the Montagne Verte organisation in Morzine (29:15)
Find out about bokashi composting (30:00)
Listen to our special episode on Electric Vehicles in ski resorts (31:30)
You can find out more about their sustainability policies on their website (32:00) 
A hot tub uses 1500 lt of water & 200 kWh of electricity p/w to keep water at 37.5C in winter (34:30)
Find out about their ‘Responsible Hot Tub Initiative’ here (35:30)
AliKats use the Good Planet Foundation for any offsets they require (36:30) 
Listen to our special episode when Iain interviewed Helen Coffey, the flight free travel journalist (37:30)

In Episode 159 we discuss piste maps, skiing in Austria in October and look back at the National Snow Show. We also ask whether you should rent your snowboard in resort, rather than buying.
 
Iain was joined by Gethin James and Julie Slaughter, founder of Wipeout, as well as down the line by Chris Moran from Intersport Ski hire.

SHOW NOTES





Gethin skied with his family in The Lecht in Scotland
Julie’s hike was to the beautiful Lac Blanc in Chamonix
Les 2 Alpes has confirmed it won’t open this autumn



https://twitter.com/skipedia/status/1583395200193679362




Iain presented about driving an electric car to the Alps at the National Snow Show

https://twitter.com/skipedia/status/1581631192943984640





Listen to our special episode about the 2022 National Snow Show here
The women’s GS at Solden was cancelled, although the Men’s race did take place
The Men’s Downhill races in Zermatt have also been cancelled

Mia Brookes took 9th place in her World Cup Big Air debut



https://twitter.com/skipedia/status/1581951963658190849





Les 3 Vallees is the largest ski area in the world 
Check out the Wipeout range on their website

Listen to our snowboard special here:  


https://audioboom.com/posts/8171940-157-snowboarding-special-how-to-choose-a-snowboard-renting-v-buying-splitboarding-more
 


Listen to our special episode with Chris Moran here

You can book snowboards at www.intersportrent.com and ask questions via their Facebook page



FEEDBACK

Please do get in contact on social @theskipodcast or by email theskipodcast@gmail.com

Rachel Frisby: “The Ski Podcast is really good. I really enjoy listening to it”

Nick Axten-Rice: “The Ski Podcast is really good”

Sally: “An absolute must listen for anyone desperately waiting on the ski season to start!”

John Greenwood: “Keep up the good work!”

Matt Hayes: “Great review of the show, really enjoyed the day and the live episode of The Ski Podcast”

Raymond Can: “I really enjoyed the podcast #96 re Chamonix and it got me excited about our February 2023 trip”

Mark Davis: "Thank you for another great ski podcast. My children, who are 9 and 10 and I listened to it last night…they always enjoy the ski podcast, being slightly obsessed with the slopes. I always look forward to an episode and dream of the places we can go"

If you'd like to do something to support the podcast, there are two things that would really help. 

1) Review us on Apple Podcasts
2) If you're enjoying the podcast you can always buy me a coffee at www.buymeacoffee.com/theskipodcast

Don’t forget we have 158 other episodes to catch up on – typically 75-100 get listened to every week. 

You can follow Iain @skipedia and the podcast @theskipodcast. 

Thanks to Les 3 Vallees for sponsoring The Ski Podcast

This special episode of The Ski Podcast was recorded at The National Snow Show 2022, which took place at the Birmingham NEC this weekend.

In this episode, Iain speaks with the following people:





Chemmy Alcott, BBC Ski Sunday
Al Morgan, SkiKitInfo.com

Jarrod Osbourne, Ski Olympic

Will, Random Rental

Luke Rees, AWE365.com

Megan Hughes, National Geographic Traveller

Doug Newman, Ski Weekend

Graham Bell, BBC Ski Sunday
Mia Brooks, GB Snowsports Snowboarder

Sally Warren, Whoski

Tony Burns, ecoski

Stephen Morgan, Raccoon Events



https://twitter.com/skipedia/status/1581951963658190849

Additional Notes





Graham Bell talked about his ‘Perfect Turns’ app in Episode 83

Find out more about Ski Weekend’s 35th Anniversary Chamonix Offers 


https://twitter.com/skipedia/status/1581373750762557441 

Listen out for more about Snow Week 2023 in future episodes of The Ski Podcast.

In Episode 157 of The Ski Podcast we turn our focus to snowboarding, including how to choose a snowboard, whether you should buy or rent and what split boarding is.
 
Iain was joined by journalist Sam Haddad (Guardian & Cooler Magazine) and Luke Rees, founder of adventure travel website AWE365.com.

SHOW NOTES





Check out Sam’s new ‘Climate & Board Sports’ Substack

Listen to Felix Milns talk about his helicopter freefall jump over the Eiger in Episode 98

Sam was in La Rosiere in April
Iain tested the Mont Valaisan ski area in La Rosiere in Episode 27

Luke travelled to North Macedonia
The are 157 episodes of The Ski Podcast, so under our new numbering system, this is Episode 157
Les 3 Vallees sponsors The Ski Podcast
The Alpine Ski World Championships will be held in Courchevel and Meribel from 06-19 February 2023
The National Snow Show takes place at the Birmingham NEC on 15-16 October
Look out for ‘The Ski Podcast Live!’ on Saturday at 11.15am and Iain’s presentation on electric cars in ski resorts on Sunday at 12:00pm
There are three main categories of snowboard: Freeride, Freestyle and All Mountain
Sam is a big fan of splitboarding – read her article in The Guardian here

For a UK-based splitboarding option, try Wandering Workshops in Scotland

Burton’s ‘Step On’ snowboard bindings are a game-changer

Nidecker’s ‘Supermatic’ is another ‘step’ in this direction


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





Al Judge is the owner of AliKats Mountains Holidays in Morzine
Find out about the Montagne Verte organisation in Morzine
Listen to our special episode on Electric Vehicles in ski resorts
Find out about bokashi composting

You can find out more about their sustainability policies on their website

On average, a hot tub uses 1,500 litres of water and 200 kWh of electricity to keep the water at 37.5 degrees centigrade for a week in the winter
Find out about their ‘Responsible Hot Tub Initiative’ here
AliKats use the Good Planet Foundation for any offsets they require
Listen to our special episode when Iain interviewed Helen Coffey, the flight free travel journalist


FEEDBACK

I enjoy all feedback about the show, so please do review us on Spotify/Apple, or get in contact on social or by email theskipodcast@gmail.com.

Fogey58: "Always varied, well presented and for snowsports fans an essential hit"
Guapo333: "Love this podcast. Really informative and superbly presented. Keep up the good work"
Elaine Bunyon: "Wow…Greece is now on my bucket list!"
 
Thanks also to Fiachra Diskin and Dave Faller for their kind words.
 
Don’t forget we have 156 other episodes to catch up on – typically 75-100 get listened to every week. 

You can follow The Ski Podcast on social media at @theskipodcast