The Ski Podcast

We find out about the increasing options available for disabled skiers and snowboarders, plus we look at the results of a new survey full of revelations, including the increasing role of AI in choosing holidays and some controversial views on fondue!
We also have a special update from New Zealand from Team Carrick Smith and news on summer in La Plagne. 
Iain was joined in the studio by Virginia Anderson, CEO at Disability Snowsport UK and Simon McIntyre, Managing Director at Iglu Ski.

SHOW NOTES

Simon was last on the show in Episode 217 (1:00)
Iain skied the last day of the season in Chamonix in May (3:00)
The Ski Podcast sponsors Zak, Freddy and Luca Carrick Smith (3:30)
They are currently based in Roundhill in New Zealand
The summer ski areas in both Zermatt and Saas Fee have closed (5:50)
The ice tunnel that leads from the Aiguille du Midi out to the arete closed last week 
Iain reported from Les Arcs in summer in Episode 254 (7:00)
Jen runs the website ‘That’s La Plagne’ (7:15)
Barriers to skiing for disabled people (12:30)
The new DSUK Hub at The Snow Centre Manchester (14:00)
Recruiting and training adaptive instructors (15:00)
Listen to Iain’s interview with paraplegic snow groomer Antoine Motillon in Episode 15 (18:30)
What does a genuinely accessible ski resort look like? (20:00)
What can resorts do to make a difference (21:30)
Standout resorts doing a good job (22:45)
In Episode 303, Alice Sainsbury from ‘un/para/ld’ on improving outdoor clothing for disabled people (25:00)
Iglu helps raise funds for DSUK (27:00)
Read the Iglu Ski Survey (30:30)
5% go long-haul (so USA, Canada, Japan) with most in Europe (31:30)
There’s been a big jump in people using AI to research ski holidays (32:30)
20% of people book ‘at the last minute’ (35:00)
7% see their carbon footprint as being the most important factor in choosing how they travel (36:00)
Find out more about train travel at skiflightfree.orgois (37:00)
Apres-ski - clubbing at altitude v a hot tub and a sunny terrace (38:30)
Toffee vodka v. Aperol spritz v. vin chaud v. beer v. wine (39:30)
Tartiflette beats fondue (41:00)
Feedback
You can let us know what you’ve enjoyed this week or ideas for future features by leaving a comment on Spotify, Instagram or Facebook – or you  can drop me an email to theskipodcast@gmail.com. We’re also on WhatsApp.
Ed Hopkins: “Such a good idea” [Soberski in Episode 322]
 
Colin Tierney: “Maybe it’s due to the age I started skiing but I never drink on a skiing holiday. I’d rather be safe on my skis as I would be with driving, so no alcohol the night before.”

Louise Cotter: "The knowledge I am gaining for listening to your podcast is phenomenal. I absolutely love Benjamin Coombes concept of soberski - this holiday sounds incredible. Well done on sharing his journey.”

If you do enjoy the podcast, you are welcome to buy me a coffee too at buymeacoffee.com/theskipodcast

There are now 323 episodes of The Ski Podcast to catch up with. Just go to theskipodcast.com, have a search around the tags and categories and you’re bound to find something of interest.

We find out about Villards de Lans in the Vercors area of France and discuss alcohol-free ski holidays in Méribel. We also have ski show news and snow reports from Australia, New Zealand and Chile.
Host Iain Martin was joined by freelance journalist Katja Gaskell and Soberski founder Ben Coombes. 
SHOW NOTES

Katja was last on the podcast in Episode 308 discussing Sundance Resort (0:45)
Rachael Oakes-Ash from snowsbest.com is the ski expert on Australia & New Zealand (4:00)
Guy Beatson is based at Whakapapa in New Zealand (9:00)
Episode 312 is a special interview with Rachael (10:30)
Portillo has had epic snowfall (10:45)
Bartek Tyrpa from the pro-team at Carv reported from Valle Nevado in Chile (11:00)
The Northern Snow Show takes place 03-04 October at The Snow Centre Manchester (12:30)
Where is the Vercors? (13:30)
The main ski area is Villards de Lans / Correncon en Vercors (14:45)
Tony Parker is VERY famous in France
It’s excellent for cross country skiing (20:00)
Le Clarient is a self-sufficient restaurant (22:00)
Soberski offers alcohol free ski holidays (24:00)
Ben on why he quit alcohol (25:45)
Why are skiing and drinking are so closely linked? (27:30)
Starting Soberski (29:15)
Soberski’s 2027 trip details (24:00)
Katja reported on ice swimming in Samoens in Episode 166 (34:30) 
The increase in alcohol-free options in bars (39:30)
Feedback
If you enjoyed this episode, or if you have any comments, please let me know. You can do that by leaving a comment on Spotify, Instagram or Facebook – or drop me an email to theskipodcast@gmail.com. We’re also on WhatsApp.  
Louise Cotter: “The night train ride [Episode 320] sounds like a lot of fun: my travel wish list is getting out of control thanks to The Ski Podcast.”

Fiona Harvey-Jordan: “Fantastic episode as always!” 

There are now 322 episodes of The Ski Podcast to catch up with at www.theskipodcast.com – have a search around the tags and categories and you’re bound to find something of interest to listen to. 
If you do enjoy the podcast and you want to help out you are very welcome to buy me a coffee at buymeacoffee.com/theskipodcast

In the sixth of our ‘Chamonix Stories’, we find out what it’s like to fall into a crevasse on the Vallée Blanche (don’t worry, this story has a happy ending!)
Host Iain Martin speaks with freelance journalist Sam Haddad, about her first descent of the famous off-piste route – the Vallée Blanche. 
SHOW NOTES

Listen to our special episode about Chamonix (0:30)
Sam Haddad runs the Substack ‘Climate and Board Sports’
Sam was last on the podcast in Episode 251 (1:00)
She spent a season in Chamonix in 2000 (2:00)
She was on the Envers du Plan route (2:15)
Jamie and the Magic Torch (3:15)
Falling in to the crevasse (4:45)
Being found in the crevasse (6:00)
Being lifted out (6:30)
Having to keep snowboarding (7:30)
Getting a helicopter back to resort (9:00)
Doing the Vallée Blanche again (9:45)
FEEDBACK

If you enjoyed this episode you can leave a comment on Spotify, Instagram or Facebook – or drop me an email to theskipodcast@gmail.com. We’re also on WhatsApp. 
Simon Burgess: “Really enjoyed Episode 319 about Ronin Skis. It’s nice to know there are manufacturers aiming for longevity not just another sale.”

Colin Tierney: “I’m off to Landgraaf in November to enjoy the longer slope indoors and Pila in March…have you got access to my ski calendar?" 

There are now 321 episodes of The Ski Podcast to catch up with. Just go to theskipodcast.com and have a search around the tags and categories and you’re bound to find an episode of interest to listen to.
If you did enjoy this episode and you’d like to support the podcast, then you are very welcome to buy me a coffee at buymeacoffee.com/theskipodcast

We find out how a Brit got elected onto the Méribel town council, what summer skiing in Les 2 Alpes is like, and look at the Travelski night train to the Alps. 
We also have snow reports from Australia and New Zealand and the latest news. 
Host Iain Martin was joined in the studio by Alex Armand from Tip Top Ski Coaching and Richard Lett from Apres Ski Bands.

SHOW NOTES

Rich spoke about apres-ski bands in the Alps in Episode 86
In Episode 180 he shared his insights into how to find a ski job post-Brexit
Rachael Oakes-Ash from snowsbest.com is the ski expert on Australia & New Zealand (3:30)
Episode 312 is a special interview with Rachael
Guy Beatson is based at Whakapapa in New Zealand (5:30)
Freeride Skiing will be included in the 2030 Olympics (6:30)
Check out the Freeride World Tour channel on YouTube
Cody Bramwell switched to the UK in 2021: "To be an Olympian would be the craziest dream ever" (7:30)
British Olympians at Milan-Cortina are eligible for a €10000 grant from the IOC (8:30)
Qualifying as an instructor (9:30)
Summer skiing in Les 2 Alpes (13:00)
Cycling around Mont Ventoux with Tip Top Bike Tours (17:00)
Skiing on Mont Ventoux (17:30)
Daniel Elkan runs the Snowcarbon website (19:00)
Find out more about the Travelski Express night train
Rich was one of the two first Brits to be elected to the Meribel council (28:00)
Rich previously worked for Bladon Lines and the Brown Rock group (29:30)
Rich runs Apres Ski Bands (30:45)
Rich’s ‘commune’ is Méribel Les Allues (32:30)
Responsibilities of the ‘commune’ (32:45)
The new mayor of Méribel is Bernard Front (34:00)
Getting on the mayoral ticket (34:30)
‘Agissons ensemble, transformons demain’: ‘Act together, transform tomorrow’ (35:00)
In Episode 190 we covered the history of Méribel with David Lindsey (40:45)
Feedback
If you enjoyed this episode, or if you have any comments, please let me know. You can do that by leaving a comment on Spotify, Instagram or Facebook – or drop me an email to theskipodcast@gmail.com. We’re also on WhatsApp.  
Colin Tierney: “Great to hear from David Webster in Episode 317. I’ve used his videos before for Chamonix research.”

Robbie Milne: “I went to Aosta and skied in Pila at Christmas and New Year. It’s underrated - a great little resort, lovely runs and it’s great to see more investment going in there.”

If you do enjoy the podcast and you want to help out you are very welcome to buy me a coffee at buymeacoffee.com/theskipodcast

Louise Cotter: “Binge listening to past episodes of The Ski Podcast has been my favourite way to cool down during the UK heatwave. Jonno from Ronin Skis’ commitment to sustainability is exceptionally impressive!”

There are now 320 episodes of The Ski Podcast to catch up with at www.theskipodcast.com – have a search around the tags and categories and you’re bound to find something of interest to listen to.

In the fifth in our series of ‘Chamonix Stories’, we Jonno Jacobs, founder of Ronin Skis – ‘exceptional lightweight touring and freeride skis for those who chart their own path’.
Ronin is a passion project for Jonno: every ski is handmade and custom built for its owner, with a lot of thought put into making the skis as sustainable as possible. 
SHOW NOTES

Using a fridge to make a pair of skis (3:00)
Listen to Iain’s interview with Tom Greenall on how he became a pisteur (4:00)
Where does the Ronin name come from? (4:15)
The first order of Ronin Skis (6:00)
Jono makes about 75 pairs per year (7:00)
Approach to sustainability (7:30)
Construction of Ronin Skis (9:45)
Flax, not fibreglass (11:30)
Learning the art of making skis (13:15)
Range and costs (15:00)
FEEDBACK

If you enjoyed this episode, or if you have any comments, please let me know. You can do that by leaving a comment on Spotify, Instagram or Facebook – or drop me an email to theskipodcast@gmail.com. We’re also on WhatsApp - I release exclusive material ahead of each episode there. 
Erik Jan Schutte: “I looked up OAK [Episode 316] and it looks cool. Keep up the good work.”

Louise Cotter: “Episode 318 was fabulous. Chemmy Alcott is an inspiration for anybody to listen to.”

There are now 319 episodes of The Ski Podcast to catch up with. Just go to theskipodcast.com and have a search around the tags and categories and you’re bound to find an episode of interest to listen to.
If you did enjoy this episode and you’d like to support the podcast, then you are very welcome to buy me a coffee at buymeacoffee.com/theskipodcast