168: Ski Test 2023/24, Protect Our Winters & Solar Power in Méribel

We discuss next year's kit, travelling to the mountains by train & EV and solar panels in Méribel. Plus we have new snow reports, a Team GB update and a snippet from our forthcoming interview with Ed Leigh.

Iain was joined by Lauren MacCallum and Lindsey Dixon from Protect Our Winters and equipment expert, Al Morgan from SkiKitInfo.com

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SHOW NOTES

Al was in La Clusaz (2:00)

Here’s a look at Candide Thovex doing what he does best in his home resort

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKP7jQknGjs

Lindsey reports on her skiing in Val d’Isere

Lauren was splitboarding in Cairngorm, Scotland and prior to that in Les 7 Laux, France (see our main photo for a shot of the inversion!) (3:00)

Betony Garner reported from Flaine, France (5:15)

Dave Burrows from Snowpros Ski School reported from Morgins, Switzerland (plus Avoriaz & Villars) (6:30)

Ed Leigh has been splitboarding in Courchevel (9:15)

The SIGB Ski Test took place in La Clusaz (11:15) 

The industry trade show, Slide, takes place in early January (17:00)

https://twitter.com/skipedia/status/1621049951538003969

Al writes up his equipment tests for his own website SkiKitInfo.com, as well as for The Telegraph and Fall Line Skiing magazine 

 Trends to look out for include ‘cinch’ bindings on ski boots (20:00)

 Look out for the Salomon Addict Pro piste ski (21:00)

 Lauren uses a Nidecker Thruster unisex snowboard (23:00)

 Al tested the Carv device (24:00)

 Protect Our Winters was founded by snowboarder Jeremy Jones (28:00)

 Lindsey travelled on a Ouigo service from Paris to Bourg-St-Maurice (30:30)

The final bus transfer was booked with Altibus (37:00)

 Lauren drove to Val Thorens in a Tesla Y electric car (38:00)

 Iain drove to Zermatt in a Tesla in August (39:00)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8fgtVU3bhI 

Regenerative braking adds to the battery range when going downhill (42:30)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xthOeIsk3Mc

Clement Martinod works for the Meribel Alpine lift company

Solar panels have been added to the Saulire Express lift mid-station (44:00)

All Compagnie des Alpes snow groomers have been converted from diesel to HVO (48:00)

Dave Ryding came second in Kitzbuhel (50:00)

Mia Brookes took second in the Laax Open Freestyle Snowboard Slopestyle World Cup

Iain interviewed Mia in Episode 158

Zoe Atkin won gold in the Ski Superpipe at the XGames in Aspen

Kirsty Muir won two bronzes at the XGames

Makayla Gerken Schofield took bronze in her first Moguls World Cup podium 

The Alpine Ski World Championships take place in Courchevel and Meribel in Les 3 Vallees from 06-13 Feb (51:00)

The full interview with Ski Sunday’s Ed Leigh will be released as Episode 169 on 10 February

 Feedback

I enjoy all feedback about the show, I like to know what you think, ideas for features so please contact on social @theskipodcast or by email [email protected]

Rachel Flynn: "Absolutely loving the podcast"

BobinCH: "James was a great listen in Episode 166"

Kat Ryb: "How have I not come across this before? Just listened to the two recent episodes and they are great!"

Joe Childs: "I am completely addicted to your podcast. I really like the mix of content, alongside the frequent sustainability features, equipment reviews & snow reports. Having watched the first episode of Ski Sunday of the season (probably my favourite TV programme) on 8th January, I searched Spotify for something similar and found The Ski Podcast. Since then, I have listened to 41 of the episodes and I have no plan to slow down.”

You can follow iain @skipedia and the podcast @theskipodcast