Iain was joined by 5-time Olympian and BBC Ski Sunday presenter Graham Bell and Skier Cross athlete & Eurosport presenter Emily Sarsfield to discuss all the talking points so far from Beijing 2022.

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.

 https://twitter.com/BBCSport/status/1491313791447019520 

 https://twitter.com/theskipodcast/status/1490220620247928834 

https://twitter.com/skigrahambell/status/1486412384382169095

In Episode 88, special guest Chemmy Alcott takes us behind the scenes of ‘Ski Sunday’ and the BBC’s Beijing Olympics coverage. We also discuss Grindelwald, Yad Moss, how to choose a ski helmet and there’s our usual round up of snow reports from across Europe.

Iain was joined by 4-time Olympian & BBC Ski Sunday presenter, Chemmy Alcott and industry expert Rob Stewart, as well as regulars, Katie Crowe from Battleface Travel Insurance and equipment guru Al Morgan from SkiKitInfo.com. 

Thanks to Switzerland Tourism for sponsoring the podcast. Switzerland remains the simplest country to go to if you have kids in tow, with no extra rules in place for the u16s and no tests required (for fully vaccinated passengers) on arrival.

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.

 https://twitter.com/theskipodcast/status/1489177129132642305

This is Chemmy’s great quote: 

"Skiing is a perfect sport for this type of personal growth: everyone falls; it is the picking oneself up & trying again that is the win"

Reviews and comments are always welcome, whether on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, social media or by email. 

Paul Bond: “Your podcast is a danger to my pocket, it makes me book more trips than I sensibly should, great stuff!”The Ski Podcast has been nominated as Best Wintersports Podcast. It’s very easy to vote - just go to www.sportspodcastawards.com. We would really appreciate it and would like to thank the many people who have voted for us already.

 

I also enjoy all feedback about the show, so please do email. You can follow me @skipedia and the podcast @theskipodcast.

Thanks again to Switzerland Tourism for sponsoring the show. In our next episode we'll be discussing Crans Montana and Gstaad.

This bonus episode of The Ski Podcast is all about the new Travelski Express Ski Train – which goes direct and non-stop from London to the Alps.

Iain travelled on the inaugural service on 28 January and reports on that and the background behind how and why the new service started in this short special episode.

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.

·       Eurostar took the decision to stop running their direct ski train service to the French Alps in April 2020

·       Iain founded the Ski Flight Free campaign in 2019, with the goal of encouraging more skiers and snowboarders to travel to the Alps by train (or in a full car) instead of flying

·       Changing trains in Paris isn’t that difficult – this video might be helpful

·       The lobbying group ‘Save The Ski Train’ was formed in autumn 2020. It was created by train expert Daniel Elkan from Snowcarbon, working with Iain and representatives from the environmental organisation Protect Our Winters.

·       In September 2021, the French travel company Travelski confirmed that would be reviving the service. You can listen to Iain’s full interview with Guillaume de Marcillac, the Travelski CEO, in Episode 79 of The Ski Podcast

·       Six resorts were initially offered by Travelski: Meribel, Les Menuires, La Plagne, Les Arcs, Tignes and Val d’Isere with packages including accommodation, train travel, transfers to resort and lift passes.

·       France introduced a travel ban on UK citizens on 18 December 2021

·       The inaugural service of the Travelski Express took place on Friday 28 January. 

·       Iain travelled to Bourg St Maurice, from where he took the funicular to Les Arcs

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

Watch Iain’s video report on the train here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oScG28dQkQ&feature=youtu.be

In Episode 87 we discuss the Swiss Magic Pass, the best new kit for next winter, plus we find out about skiing from Allenheads in England to the Aosta Valley in Italy. 

Iain was joined by Simon Burgess and Martina Diez, from The-Ski-Guru.com as well as regulars Katie Crowe from Battleface Travel Insurance and equipment guru Al Morgan from SkiKitInfo

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.

·       Dave Ryding become the first British skier to win an Alpine World Cup race

·       Listen to our interview with Dave Ryding from May 2020

·       Thanks to Switzerland Tourism for sponsoring the podcast

·       Switzerland remains the simplest country to go to if you have children, with no extra rules in place for the u16s

·       Try this great 'Bucket List' of experiences you can try in Switzerland

·       The Ski Podcast has been nominated as 'Best Wintersports Podcast' in the Sports Podcast Awards

·       Katie Crowe joined us from Battleface Travel Insurance for the travel update

·       The Day 2 return travel test looks like it will end on February 11

·       The French travel ban ended on 14 January

·       Italy now requires a ‘Super Green Pass’ to go skiing

·       Abi Butcher was nominated in the TravMedia awards for her exclusive on the Verbier fiasco last year. You can listen to Abi talking about that story in E66

·       Dave Burrows from SnowPros Ski School reported from the Jura mountains in Switzerland

·       Babsi Lapwood from the Mountain Trade Network was in Serfaus

·       Jim Duncombe is based in La Clusaz

·       Nigel Sanger spoke on behalf of the Allenheads Ski Club 

·       Simon Burgess spoke to us from Vercorinin the Val d’Anniviers region

·       Find out more about the Swiss Magic Pass

·       Simon stayed in Anzere

·       Simon previously told us about the Raise ski area in the Lake District in Episode 73

·       Iain went trail running in Zinal in July 2021, reporting in Episode 76

·       Iain was ski touring in Crans Montana in December 2020 (Episode 65)

·       Martina has skied throughout the Aosta Valley, including in Courmayeur, La Thuile and Pila

·       Interski specialise in school ski trips to Pila

·       Both Martina and Simon have skied in Bariloche in Argentina

·       Listen to Rob’s report on the Stockli factory in Episode 86

·       Artilect were one of the award winners

·       Smartwool offer plant-based dye on their Merino underlayers

·       Find out about Intersport’s BootDoc service in Episode 86

·       There's been some great success at the Paralympic World Champs

·       Iain previously interviewed Jon-allan Butterworth who represented GB for the first time

·       Charlotte Bankes too a Double 1st in Snowboard Cross at Krasnoyarsk

·       Katie Ormerod was 4th in Snowboard Slopestyle in Mammoth

·       Kirsty Muir took 5th in Ski Slopestyle at the same event

·       Charlie Guest took a career best 13th in the Slalom in Schladming Slalom 

·       Team GB athletes have been given 'burner phones' to avoid being spied on

Doug Newman: 'Great podcasting'

Janet Barnett: "Have been listening since The 2018 Olympics and still very much enjoying every episode"

 

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

Coral (BMAC): "The only thing to cure a pining for the mountains when you can't otherwise be on them!”

Paul Sonn (BMAC): "I've been enjoying your really useful program”

I mentioned earlier that TSP has been nominated as BWP. Very easy to vote - just go to www.sportspodcastawards.com. Would really appreciate and would like to thank the many people who have voted for us already, including Fran Lambert and Martin Constable.

I also enjoy all feedback about the show, so please do email to [email protected]. You can follow me @skipedia and the podcast @theskipodcast.

Thanks go to Switzerland Tourism for sponsoring the podcast.

Welcome to this special 'Good News' episode of The Ski Podcast. Regular listeners will know that in our 'normal' episodes we cover the latest travel rules and so it is absolutely a pleasure to report on some good news for a change.

I know it's been possible to travel to Switzerland, Austria, Italy and other ski nations - albeit with various restrictions - but more British skiers travel to France every winter than any other country and for that reason the travel ban that's been in place since December 18th has been hugely depressing.

It affected many family ski holidays (let alone family reunions that would have taken place) over Christmas and New Year and businesses as diverse as large tour operators to cafes, restaurants and even individual ski instructors.

But here's the good news - the travel ban will be lifted on Friday 14 January. You'll have to pass through the now usual hoops of vaccination and testing, but French ski holidays are now back on.

https://twitter.com/skipedia/status/1481553508063141891

Was there ever any justification for the ban in the first place? Probably about as much as when the UK created the 'Amber+' category for France last summer. Undoubted 'tit for tat' policking, but from this weekend, it's over and let's hope it stays that way to the end of the season.

And here's your bonus good news - it may not mean as much to you as it does to me, but I'm so pleased to let you know that The Ski Podcast has been nominated for 'Best Wintersports Podcast' in The Sports Podcast Awards.

The Ski Podcast has grown to become my full-time, part-time job and, quite frankly, got me through last winter when we couldn't ski at all. My mental health was a mess, but the podcast kept me, more than anything, connected, in a winter that never happened.

There's now 134 episodes available and I love the fact that around 100 get listened to every week, all around the world.

I'd like to sign off this good news special by asking that if you've enjoyed listening to The Ski Podcast, whether it's just this episode or since we first started over four years ago, that you consider voting for us in the Sports Podcast Awards.

It's very easy and only takes a minute: simply to go sportspodcastawards.com, register, go to the 'Best Wintersports Podcast' in the Categories, click the 'Vote for your favourite' button and vote for 'The Ski Podcast'.

Thank you so much, I really do appreciate it. 

Our next regular episode will be out on 24 January, so until then, thank you for your time and goodbye.

-----  

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.

In Episode 86 of The Ski Podcast we discuss when the French travel ban might end, favourite apres-ski bands, Team GB’s prospects for Beijing 2022 and we go inside a ski factory. 

Iain was joined by Richard Lett from ApresSkiBands and regular guest and Olympian Emily Sarsfield.

 

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.

https://audioboom.com/posts/8005740-latest-snow-news-from-the-alps-31-dec-21

This episode features:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sJ3MDPITQI

 

Listen to Iain’s interview with Izzy and Zoe Atkin:

https://audioboom.com/posts/7980266-izzy-zoe-atkin-freestyle-skiers-bonus-episode-22

https://twitter.com/GBSnowsport/status/1477564363955396608

https://audioboom.com/posts/7995551-andrew-musgrave-andrew-young-cross-country-skiers-bonus-episode-23

 

 Reviews

UnboundedContext: "Definitely the best ski & snowboard podcast i've come across"

 

The Snowboard Instructor Podcast: "Such a great podcast to listen to"

 

Ben Davies: “I just found your podcast. I was a part of the UK ski and snowboard industry back in the late 1990's early 2000's (iglu.com, St Anton, Mottaret, never summer snowboards) & your chat with Tony McWilliam reminded me of those times.  Thanks for the memories and your hard work, it's great to listen to the UK perspective from here in BC. Still in the ski industry, now ski patrolling (12 years!) and managing a small hotel in the middle of some of the best skiing in the world.” 

Thanks to Simon Edgington for buying me a coffee. 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 to [email protected] 

Don’t forget that we have 132 episodes of TSP and 88 were listened to in the last week. You can listen on your smart speaker (try ‘Play The Ski Podcast’) or Spotify (where you can rate us now as well). 

And we are listened to around the world, so if you’re one of listeners in Latvia, Barbados, Iceland or Singapore then thank you for joining us.

Our last podcast of 2021 is a snow report special. Our contributors bring you the latest snow and resort news from across the Alps. 

This is our 37th episode of 2021 and our 132nd overall – make sure you never miss an episode by subscribing now. 

Thanks to Switzerland Tourism for sponsoring The Ski Podcast – we couldn’t produce our podcasts without their support.

Simon Burgess reported from the Saas valley in Switzerland

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. 

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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]

In this Ski Podcast Special, Iain spoke to Andrew Musgrave (‘Muzzie’) and Andrew Young (‘Youngie’).

Both represent Great Britain at cross country skiing and will be heading to the Beijing Winter Olympics in February 2022 – their third Olympic games.

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.

 

·       Both learned the cross country skiing at the Huntly Nordic Ski Club in Scotland

·       Huntly has all weather cross country and roller ski tracks

·       Watch out for the reality show about these two British underdogs…if you speak Norwegian

·       Andrew Young fractured his fibula but was racing again in just four weeks

·       ‘Youngie’ has 4 World Cup podiums and ‘Muzzie’ has 3 podiums

·       Andrew Musgrave finished 7th in the 30km race at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics

·       Iain interviewed freestyle skiers Izzy and Zoe Atkin in this Ski Podcast Special

Keep up with all the latest Beijing news by subscribing to The Ski Podcast and never miss an episode

In this episode, we cover all the latest rules about travel, we look at a new way of booking ski lessons and discuss how to get your kit ready for the season. 

Iain was joined by Lucy Aspden, Online Ski Editor at The Telegraph and Nick Robinson, founder of Maison Sport, a portal for booking ski lessons, as well as regulars Katie Crowe from Battleface Travel Insurance and equipment expert Al Morgan from SkiKiIinfo. 

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.

Battleface offer specialised winter sports cover

We had so many snow reports this week, we had to put them into a separate episode: 

https://audioboom.com/posts/7991317-a-ski-podcast-special-latest-snow-news-from-around-the-alps

https://twitter.com/skipedia/status/1465943758235750400

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 to [email protected]