Today we focus on the new ski season in Australia and New Zealand, especially the new chairlift in Perisher and ski area extension in Cardrona. Plus could ski ballet be making a comeback? We find out about this iconic sport from the 80s

Host Iain Martin was joined by the expert on skiing in Australia and New Zealand, founder of the Snowsbest website, Rachael Oakes-Ash, and the founder of MGG clothing, and the man single-handedly behind the ski ballet revival, Tom Bata. 

Rachael enjoyed great conditionsat the Australia opening weekend (1:30)

Iain skied all five of the UK’s indoor snowdomes in May (2:45)

Big Sky featured in Episode 235 of The Ski Podcast (3:00)

Svalbard featured in Episode 218 of The Ski Podcast (5:00)

Listen to Iain’s interview with Xavier De Le Rue (7:00)

Alex Irwin from 150 Days of Winter reported from the opening weekend in Tignes (8:00)

Alex Armand from Tip Top Ski Coaching reported from Les 2 Alpes (9:15)

The new AUD26 million chairlift in Perisher (10:45)

Listen to Iain’s report from Australia in Episode 182 (12:45)

The Epic Pass in Australia (15:00)

The new 4 day pass in in Australia (17:00

The Thredbo Alpine Coaster (19:30)

The Soho ski area in Cardona will make it the largest NZ ski area (21:20)

Cardrona is opening a new freestyle training centre (23:20)

Mt Dobson and Ohau are for sale (27:00)

MGG (Mont Gele Gear) is based in Verbier (28:45)

MGG incorporate a Radical Transparency Label (30:45)

Take a look at one of the RTL labels (32:00)

 What is ‘ski ballet’? (33:30)

 Watch MGG’s film about ski ballet (34:45)

Did Tanner Hall made his start in ski ballet? (35:00)

Will ski ballet ever come back into the mainstream (40:00)

I love to hear what you think about the show – what you like, or don’t like – just leave me a comment on Spotify or Instagram and Facebook – our handle is @theskipodcast – or drop me an email to [email protected] 

skiiingPostie (on Episode 249): “I get people’s apprehension (about starting skiing)…I started learning at 47 and the main thing I was worried about was hurting myself or others”

Alex: “I've recently got into listening to your podcast and am really enjoying all the skiing chat.” 

There are now 262 episodes of The Ski Podcast to catch up with and 229 of those were listened to in the last week. Go to theskipodcast.com and have a look around our back catalog - you’re bound to find something of interest.

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