85: Crans Montana, Les Menuires, Courchevel & How to Choose your Hire Skis

This episode is a 'Resorts' special: we're going to be looking at Crans Montana, Courchevel & Les Menuires, plus we discuss how to choose your hire skis and talk to more Olympians.

Iain's guests for this episode were journalist Katy Dartford and Alex Irwin, host of the YT channel 150 Days of Winter, as well as regulars Katie Crowe Battleface Travel Insurance and equipment expert Al Morgan from SkiKitInfo. 

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Save money on your ski hire by using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ at intersportrent.com, or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied at the checkout.

SHOW NOTES

Switzerland has the best railways in the world according to Midnight Trains

Try the Wham Walk! in Saas Fee

France has introduced a travel ban on non-essential travel for UK citizens

The lockdown in Austria ended on 12 December

New entry rules for Austria – PCR required if no booster

The ‘Pass Sanitaire’ is being checked in Les 3 Vallees

https://twitter.com/skipedia/status/1471114320205467648

Check out Battleface for your travel insurance

Andy Butterworth from Kaluma Travel reported from St Anton

Stephen Speirs was in Alpe d’Huez

Simon is using the Magic Pass and was in Leysin. Follow his travels on his website

Katy was skiing powder in Crans Montana, where she tried out the trampolines at the Alaia Chalet

Katy also reported on Crans for Euronews

Jim reported on surfing at the Alaia Bay in Episode 76

Iain was in Crans Montana in December 2020 – Listen to his report in Episode 65

Iain travelled to Les Menuires by train

https://www.facebook.com/skiflightfree/posts/673423427364768

Find out more about train travel at Ski Flight Free

The new La Masse gondola is the fastest in France, taking just 8 minutes [Video]

Iain stayed at ho36 in Les Menuires

The highlight was ski touring at night to the Refuge du Lac du Lou

https://twitter.com/skipedia/status/1471767336537538563

Iain was lucky enough to see the sunrise the following morning

The Saulire cable car was damaged in testing in October

https://twitter.com/skipedia/status/1446031205976186886 

https://twitter.com/candidethovex/status/1313522412156325893

The new Ineos Club des Sports was paid for by UK billionaire Jim Ratcliffe  

 The Eclipse is the new downhill run in Courchevel

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

There is a new beginners area in La Tania [Video]

 Intersport Ski Hire offers ski hire in France, Austria and Switzerland

 Alex and Al are fans of the original K2 Seth Pistol

https://twitter.com/150dow/status/1470774894916947968

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

Charlotte Bankes took 1st in the Snowboard Cross at Montafon, Austria

Katie Ormerod was 5th in the Big Air in Steamboat

Dave Ryding finished 5th in the Slalom in Val d'Isère

Andrew Young and James Clugnet came 6th in the team XC in Dresden

Zoe Atkin was 8th in the Half Pipe at Copper Mountain

Listen to our Bonus Episode with freestyle skiers and sisters Zoe and Izzy Atkin

You can listen to our special interview with cross country skiers Andrew Young and Andrew Musgrave here

Reviews 

Robsski1: “My #1 podcast of 2021. Thank you for keeping me company on @Spotify all year long!" 

https://twitter.com/theskipodcast/status/1467061118984142848

Pierre-Henri: “Again a great podcast.”

Dave Moore: "Good fun and rapport" (in our Bonus Episode with the Andrews)

Sam Woodhouse: "I'm enjoying The Ski Podcast very much!"

Tom Hunter: “Great content"

Gareth Harvey: "I’ve loved listening to the podcast for a number of years. Thank you for the podcast and for bringing the Magic Pass to my attention. Although I’m based in the UK, I have lots of meetings in Geneva. For some reason, these often turn into long weekends. Buying the Magic Pass has caused me to explore a lot of the smaller resorts I’d never have considered. You wouldn’t visit them for a week's holiday, but for a long w/e or even just a Saturday it’s great."

 Andie Dalton: "I love your podcast, I’ve not long ago found it and I’m trying to get through them all but not listening to them in order which was probably a mistake. I always find a little gold nugget of information. Keep up the great work."

Ruslan: "My name is Ruslan, born in Latvia living in UK. I’ve been an avid listener of the ski podcast for about 2 years since I first discovered it. I love the updates from resorts & it was awesome to get info on MTB in the summer as well" 

Don't forget you can always buy me a coffee at buymeacoffee.com/theskipodcast. All cuppas are much appreciated. 

I also enjoy all feedback about the show, so please do email [email protected]