The Ski Podcast The Ski Podcast

In Episode 56 Iain interviews Rachael Oakes-Ash, founder of the Australian website, Snowsbest.com.

Jim reports on skiing in the 'new normal' from Les 2 Alpes and we wonder if bears do that thing in the Arosa woods. 

There’s news on a new virtual Ski Show and Iain looks forward to a visit to Saas Fee.

The Ski Podcast would like to thank Switzerland Tourism (https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/) for their continued support.

SHOW NOTES

Jim was summer skiing in Les 2 Alpes (https://ete.les2alpes.com/fr)

Why not visit the bears in Arosa (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.arosabaerenland.ch/eng&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw0T5xXohKKI6vhYqp2tbd2y) ?

Iain is going to visit Saas Fee (https://www.saas-fee.ch/en/) and Zermatt to test out skiing in the 'new normal' in Switzerland

The 'World's Largest Ski Show (https://www.facebook.com/wlsshow) ' will be taking place virtually in October

There may be some similarity between the WLLS logo and the Chamonix logo

You can sign the petition to restore the ski train here (https://www.change.org/p/eurostar-international-limited-savetheskitrain-reinstate-the-eurostar-ski-train?utm_content=cl_sharecopy_23338933_en-GB%3A5&recruiter=16289573&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_term=29b2da36782f4f38985e9f6648ff06f4&use_react=false)

Rachael Oakes-Ash is better known as MissSnowItAll (https://www.facebook.com/misssnowitall) and runs the website Snowsbest.com (https://snowsbest.com/) , focusing on the Australian and NZ markets

Thredbo and Perisher had huge problems trying to pre-sell lift passes when their websites crashed (https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/snow-bunnies-frustrated-by-access-issues-c-1120002)

Mt Hutt opened last month with no social distancing restrictions

Coronet Peak experienced one of their busiest night ski sessions ever, despite the current lack of a 'Trans Tasman bubble'

You can watch the brilliant 'Iso' videos from MissSnowItAll on her Facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/misssnowitall/videos/2627631117455632/ )

Yes, it's true. Jim is leaving the podcast. Episode 57 will be his final episode! 

In this one off special, Jim and Iain were joined by BBC Ski Sunday presenter Graham Bell.

Questions were sent in advance or submitted live by our community and included:

- Have you ever snowboarded? (Keith Webb) 
- Is there any country you see joining traditional powerhouses on the World Cup circuit in the future? (Steve Whitaker)
- Will we ever see a Chinese skier on a downhill podium? (Iain)
- Who is the best skier you have ever skied with or raced against? (Keith Webb)
-  I would love to know how you filmed opening titles for Ski Sunday - it never ceases to amaze me (Helena Taylor)
- Will Ski Sunday include more mogul skiing next season, as the GB mogul team was very successful last year? (Kay Bates)

You can watch the Q&A on our Facebook page here (http://www.facebook.com/1768925610081580/videos/299568544554748) .

In Episode 55 Jim and Iain chat to UK slalom skier Laurie Taylor and ski journalist Megan Hughes about how to get into the industry.
There’s an update from Andermatt, news on the end of lockdown in Zermatt and we find out more about this autumn’s possible London ski show.
We finish off with Dave (Burrows) and Jim debating what makes the perfect ski run – have a listen and let us know if you agree.
The Ski Podcast would like to thank Switzerland Tourism (https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/) for their continued support
Show Notes
Jim has been mountain biking and hiking in La Clusaz
Lars updates us from Andermatt (https://www.andermatt.ch/en) , where he works at the Radisson Blu (https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/hotels/radisson-blu-andermatt-reussen) hotel
Iain interviewed Lars about the history of Andermatt in Episode 52 (https://theskipodcast.com/podcast/episode-52-aspen-ski-thief-graham-bell-andermatt/)
This photo shows how Zermatt looks almost ‘normal
The Portes du Soleil offered a limited number of season passes at half-price (https://www.j2ski.com/ski-chat-forum/posts/list/0/19379/portes-du-soleil-sell-5000-season-passes-499.page)
The website for this autumn’s London Ski Show is now live (https://theskishow.co.uk/) and is scheduled for The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead in late-Sep
Megan Hughes is Social & Digital Content Manager at InTheSnow.com (https://www.inthesnow.com/)
Laurie Taylor scored his first World Cup points at Kitzbuhel (https://m.facebook.com/thebritishskiacademy/posts/2892705604120434)
You can view Laurie’s YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8LGONktuC3auL6rv741_-w) here.
‘What makes the perfect ski run?’ – let us know what you think 
Jim and Dave recorded this in Anzere, previously featured in Episode 49 (https://theskipodcast.com/podcast/episode-49-towed-by-a-tesla-french-pyrenees-the-rise-of-bansko/) and also the location for our Avalanche Special (https://theskipodcast.com/podcast/a-ski-podcast-avalanche-special-with-dave-burrows-and-fjord-the-rescue-dog/)
Thanks to Ster, Mike Pow and Primrose&Blue for your reviews on Snowheads (https://snowheads.com/)
Coming Up
Keep tuned to our Facebook page for details of our oncoming Live Q&A with Graham Bell.
The Ski Podcast would like to thank Switzerland Tourism (https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/) for their continued support.

We would like to thank Switzerland Tourism for their continued support (https://theskipodcast.com/podcast/switzerland-tourism-extend-sponsorship-of-the-ski-podcast/)
Find out more about the Escape to Valais (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.valais.ch/en/information/landingpage/competition/escape-to-valais&sa=D&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw1ql51I2p_nr0TrP9cpjFRs) challenge here
The recent industry survey by Skipedia (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.skipedia.co.uk/2020/04/covid-19-uk-ski-industry-survey-results/&sa=D&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw2vdli8QJqNemtej5OVPVs3) had some worrying results
On a more positive note Chamonix (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.skiweekend.com/blog/lifts-in-chamonix-to-open-again-from-16-may&sa=D&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw2p2qMSWFd2YL-UrDY-AkVI) is preparing to open lifts from May 16
And there is already skiing in Austria (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.j2ski.com/ski-chat-forum/posts/list/0/19371.page&sa=D&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw3oUGli5e-9Xf18lCr8qnoS)
Iain interviewed Steve Cross, responsible for creating the super-viral 'garden chairlift' 
Thanks to Pablo Rodriguez and Leon Rossi for their reviews via our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/theskipodcast) and Mike for his via Snowheads
Pedro Davidenko didn't agree, but 93% of our iTunes reviews are 4* or 5* - why not have your say and give us a review or send us some feedback
Thanks Andrew for your question about gay ski weeks. We'll put this on the list for next season
Dave Ryding is the UK's top Alpine skier with two World Cup podium finishes and four Olympics under his belt already

This week Jim and Iain go searching for good news in our post-COVID world find out about Aspen's cocaine problem and how Timberline is on the up.
There's interviews with Alex from Courchevel and Mark from Disability Snowsport UK and we discover yet another Ski Club of Great Britain CEO has resigned. 
Show Notes
In Alpe d’Huez, they are using ESF uniforms to make facemasks (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.chaletline.co.uk/blog/2020/04/alpe-dhuez-instructors-create-masks-from-esf-uniforms/&sa=D&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw3JYZBBAzvfSbRtNU6OGr6S) for frontline staff
More face masks (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/changing-things-up-brothers-use-businesses-to-help-hospitals-across-state-country&sa=D&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw3yslHsPW0i3xc8cp1BVSYO) has being made in ski as businesses pivot their production
Find out more about the Goggles for Docs (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://gogglesfordocs.com/&sa=D&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw3N0s8lOvtSgdVQ1BkGlau0) project
Mt Baldy opened (https://www.j2ski.com/ski-chat-forum/posts/list/0/19363.page) for skiing last week, with social distancing in place
Just in case you haven’t seen the homemade ski lift in a garden (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/skipedia/videos/355442455412891&sa=D&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw0GvIF_9O5S1ujBseZv7OIB) yet
Zermatt has been projecting onto the Matterhorn (https://www.matterhornchalets.com/2020/04/07/the-matterhorn-a-symbol-of-hope/) to show their solidarity
Zermatt has also been in the news for other reasons (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://twitter.com/skipedia/status/1247549719993356289&sa=D&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw2JMSwHmBsW43nAD38funEP)
The CEO of the Ski Club CEO has resigned. Listen to our look at their travils in Episode 44 (https://theskipodcast.com/podcast/episode-44-gstaad-verbier-and-your-dream-ski-job/)
Jason Auslander tells us about the cocaine problem in Aspen
You can listen to our interview with Jason about ski thief Derek Johnson in Episode 52 (https://theskipodcast.com/podcast/episode-52-aspen-ski-thief-graham-bell-andermatt/)
We first covered the problems in Timberline in Episode 38 (https://theskipodcast.com/podcast/episode-38-blind-skiing-iceland-val-disere-the-timberline-story/)
Our competition winner is GJ Harvey
Pablo Rodriguez asked about Scotland, where Iain hopes to ski next winter and Spain (we mentioned Baqueira in Episode 49 (https://theskipodcast.com/podcast/episode-49-towed-by-a-tesla-french-pyrenees-the-rise-of-bansko/) )
Jim interviewed Mark from Disability Snowsport UK (https://www.disabilitysnowsport.org.uk/)
Iain interviewed Alex Irwin about his ‘150 days of Winter (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrYz48gTOY_l542GySjWVcA) ’ project
Thanks for all the reviews from Daniel King (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id%3D100004928853967%26comment_id%3DY29tbWVudDoyMzE1MTcxMTM1NDU3MDIyXzIzMTU2NDM1MDIwNzY0NTI%253D&sa=D&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw0fxiz7lr5bqVznRzkNNDxM) , Paul Gilpin and Leon, as well as ‘wsirhc’ on Snowheads
 with the rest of the world 
In the meantime, Dick Yates Smith has a different Covid message:
An exclusive interview with Dave Ryding – we’ll be finding out about life behind the scenes and how his barrista training is going!

Jim, Iain and group of ski and podcast fans gathered on Friday 10 April to record a live episode of The Ski Podcast online. 
Topics ranged from what do Jim and Iain actually do to what are the Alps like in the summer? 
Throughout the podcast, listeners post questions to the duo via the Facebook stream or joined them live in the virtual studio. 
You can watch the full Facebook Live video on our Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/theskipodcast