In this special episode Iain and Al look at the best ski jackets for 2025. It’s the third in our series of looking at the best snowsports equipment available for winter 2025. In our first two episodes, we looked at the best skis and the ski boots. In later episodes, we’ll look at the best helmets, goggles, gloves and socks, plus there will be a special episode focusing on ski touring equipment. This Special Episode of The Ski Podcast has been made possible by Ellis Brigham. Ellis Brigham are the...
Nov 01, 2024•46 min
This episode is a Snow Show special, including interviews with Dave Ryding, Chemmy Alcott and others at the 2024 London Snow Show, Northern Snow Show and the industry event LISTEX. We discuss the upcoming World Cup season, the Alpine Ski World Championships in Saalbach, the growth of the Magic Pass and there’s big news about the future of the London Snow Show itself. Plus we have a new competition where you can win some great prizes. Host Iain Martin was joined in the studio by Jamie Grant – the...
Oct 25, 2024•1 hr 2 min
Joanna Yellowlees-Bound joins Iain for this special episode as we cover her 40-year career in the ski industry, graduating from resort rep to managing director of Erna Low - one of the oldest ski companies in the UK. Joanna is one of the most experienced professionals in the UK ski industry, with a career that spans the first halcyon days of the ski business in the 80s to our post-Brexit world today, including a key role in the development of Arc 1950. We also discuss her new role working with h...
Oct 18, 2024•44 min
Iain and Al reveal the ‘Best Ski Boots for 2025’, plus we also cover all the jargon you need to know about ski boots, including what Mondopoint and BOA mean, plus the differences between the shell, liner and last. We’ve already covered the best skis, and in later episodes, we’ll be covering the best ski jackets, helmets, goggles, gloves and socks, as well as a special episode focussing on ski touring equipment. This Special Episode of The Ski Podcast has been made possible by Ellis Brigham . Ell...
Oct 11, 2024•1 hr 1 min
GB Snowsport CEO Vicky Gosling joins Iain for this special episode of The Ski Podcast. We go behind the scenes of British skiing and snowboarding to find out what goes into running an organisation like GB Snowsport and how a country with no mountains outperforms countries from across the world. We also find out about Vicky’s background in the RAF, what it was like working alongside Prince Harry on the Invictus Games and the link between snowsports and surfing. This episode is part of a series of...
Oct 04, 2024•47 min
Iain and Al reveal the ‘Best Skis for 2025’, including Piste skis, All Mountain skis and Freeride skis, plus we help you understand what length skis to buy, as well as what 'rocker' and 'side cut' mean. In later episodes, we’ll be covering the best ski boots, jackets, helmets, goggles, gloves and socks, as well as a special episode focussing on ski touring equipment. This Special Episode of The Ski Podcast has been made possible by Ellis Brigham . Ellis Brigham are the winter sports specialists,...
Sep 27, 2024•40 min
Today we look at skiing in Sweden and Hemsedal in Norway and we find out what it's like coaching your kids to be pro skiers. Plus we find out more about the European Sleeper service to Innsbruck and the Dolomites, as well as discovering what Crans Montana is like in September. Iain Martin was joined by four-time Winter Olympian and ski coach Emma Carrick-Anderson and Ben Nyberg, Managing Director at skiScandinavia . Intersport Ski Hire Discount Code If you’re starting to plan your skiing for thi...
Sep 20, 2024•43 min
Chemmy Alcott is probably the most well-known woman in snowsports in the UK. After a racing career that took her to four Winter Olympics, she now balances presenting Ski Sunday on the BBC, with bringing up her young family and coaching new aspiring racers. This special episode is part of an occasional set of podcasts I’m going to be publishing this winter focussing particularly on women in the snowsports industry. Intersport Ski Hire Discount Code Save money on your ski hire by using the code ‘S...
Sep 06, 2024•1 hr 3 min
Today we find out what’s new at Banff Sunshine Village in Canada and we look into the history of one of the UK’s oldest snowsport retailers, Ellis Brigham. Plus, we have the latest gossip on which European destination Vail Resorts are planning to buy next. Host Iain Martin was joined by Kendra Scurfield, VP Brand and Communications at Banff Sunshine Village ski resort and Mark Brigham, Marketing Director at Ellis Brigham. SHOW NOTES Vail Resorts have been linked strongly with Laax (3:45) Vail Re...
Aug 31, 2024•32 min
Today we find out what it’s like skiing in Arctic circle in Svalbard and look into some of the great work that the clothing brand Arcteryx are doing on sustainability. Plus we report on Tignes' decision to split with Compagnie des Alpes. Host Iain Martin was joined by Dominique Showers from Arcteryx Clothing and Verbier local and regular snow reporter Robin Shah. SHOW NOTES Mt Seymour in BC is just 10 minutes from the Arcteryx offices (2:30) Robin skied on Doufourspitze (3:00) Missing the Olympi...
Aug 16, 2024•36 min
We find out about the ski resort of St Martin de Belleville in Les 3 Vallées, what it’s like driving an electric car up the 21 hairpin bends that take you to Alpe d’Huez, plus we look at a brilliant new initiative to raise funds for British skiers. Iain was joined by Vanessa Fisher and Simon McIntyre, MD at Igluski.com and down the line by Scott Dobson from Alpine 100 . SHOW NOTES Vanessa shared what it’s like taking part in the Inferno Downhill race in Murren in Episode 70 (1:00) We featured th...
Aug 02, 2024•40 min
In this episode we focus on Courchevel, including an update on the Saulire cable car and how the resort is surviving without Russians, plus we discuss summer in Les 2 Alpes and find out about the new Northern Snow Show. Iain was joined live by Alex Armand, from Tip Top Ski Coaching in Les 2 Alpes and YouTuber Alex Irwin from 150 Days of Winter as well as down the line by Ian Brown from Chill Factore , Manchester. SHOW NOTES Find out more about the new Jandri 3S lift in Les 2 Alpes in Episode 209...
Jul 18, 2024•39 min
We discuss the latest ski news from Australia, get an update on summer skiing in Tignes and Val d’Isere and find out about this autumn’s London Snow Show. We also look into how SBIT are lobbying for more trains to the Alps and the possible Youth Mobility Scheme, which would be great news for young people wanting to do a ski season. Iain was joined by Australia specialist and founder of the Snowbest.com website, Rachael Oakes-Ash and Diane Palumbo, Sales and Marketing Director at Skiworld and dow...
Jul 05, 2024•46 min
We find out about the off-piste resort of La Grave and the state of the snowsports market in the USA, including ways to tackle climate change and bring newcomers to the sport. Iain was joined by freelance journalist, Sam Haddad and Nick Sargent, President of the SIA (Snowsports Industries America). SHOW NOTES Utah offers ‘The Greatest Snow on Earth’ (3:30) Marcel Hirscher is coming out of retirement to compete for Netherlands (4:30) LISTEX Luxury took place last week in London (5:15) Research by...
Jun 24, 2024•46 min
This is a special interview with Stu Brass - co-founder of ‘The Brits’, snowboard advisor to film & TV (including ‘Chalet Girl’ and ‘The Jump’) and ex-pro snowboarder. If you have followed skiing or snowboarding in the UK in the last two decades you will have seen Stu’s work. He co-founded ‘The Brits’ – the British freestyle championships – and his expertise in running events has meant that he worked on the movie ‘Chalet Girl’, the Channel 4 series ‘The Jump’ and has built pretty much every ...
Jun 07, 2024•54 min
In Episode 212 we find out about Valle Nevado and Portillo in Chile, what it’s like being a resort rep for the Ski Club of Great Britain and check in on a possible direct London-Geneva train. Iain Martin was joined by travel journalist, Lou Cameron-Hall and artist and snowsports blogger, Martina Diez-Routh. SHOW NOTES Katie Bamber wrote this article on summer ski options (2:00) Iain skied in Saas Fee in the summer of 2020, covered in Episode 57 (3:20) Australia and NZ have had their first snow (...
May 24, 2024•43 min
This special episode is an interview with pro-skier and filmmaker Paddy Graham. Paddy was one of the first wave of British freeskiers who burst out of the UK dry slope and indoor scene into the international arena in the early-2000s. Paddy is an extremely accomplished freeride and freestyle skier, but is best known for the incredibly creative ski films that he's starred in and produced, as co-founder of the legendary production company Legs of Steel . SHOW NOTES Legs of Steel started in 2009 (2:...
May 10, 2024•1 hr 1 min
We discuss Baqueira Beret in Spain and finding out about skiing in China – the fastest growing ski market in the world. Iain was joined by freelance journalist, Gabriella Le Breton and Justin Downes, President of Axis Leisure , who specialise in resort development in China. SHOW NOTES Gaby last skied in Andermatt (1:30) Listen to Iain’s interview with Mike Goar , CEO of Vail Resorts in Andermatt (2:00) [Video] Things Americans find shocking about skiing in Europe ! (3:30) Justin was last on snow...
Apr 26, 2024•53 min
We discuss Les 2 Alpes in France, Trysil in Norway and find out more about a great new way of travelling to the snow on your ski holiday. Iain was joined by freelance journalist, Rebecca Miles and Tarrant Anderson, founder of Vans For Bands. Intersport Ski Hire Discount Code 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 David George joined me to discuss the impa...
Apr 12, 2024•51 min
This episode is a special interview with professional snowboarder Xavier De Le Rue. We speak about his competitive past, the cliff named after him in Verbier, his move into film making and adventures in places such as Alaska, Svalbard and Antarctica. We also discuss his almost fatal avalanche and how it changed his views about risk-taking. Finally, we talk about sustainability and his Audi Experience Camps taking place in Verbier this winter. Intersport Ski Hire Discount Code Save money on your ...
Apr 05, 2024•36 min
We find out more about Val Cenis and the Haute Maurienne area of France as well as discoving what the skiing in Slovenia is like. Iain was joined by freelance journalists Katja Gaskell and Rob Rees. Intersport Ski Hire Discount Code 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 Katja was last on the show in Episode 197 , sharing her tips on skiing with children ...
Mar 28, 2024•40 min
In this episode, we discuss Verbier, Saalbach Hinterglemm and the impact of climate change on ski resorts. Plus we have a lot of feedback on Vail Resorts and the Epic Pass, which we covered in Episode 204. Iain was joined by freelance journalist and regular guest Catherine Murphy and David George, founder of the PisteHors.com website Intersport Ski Hire Discount Code Save money on your ski hire by using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ at intersportrent.com , or simply take this link for your discount to b...
Mar 22, 2024•56 min
This episode is a special interview with Frank ‘Scoop’ Baldwin - one of the leading ski journalists in the UK. Frank is best known as editor and publisher of Skier & Snowboarder Magazine. After over three decades in the industry, he knows more the world of skiing than almost anyone else and so I was delighted to find out more about his career and the history of UK ski magazines. SHOW NOTES On the Les Arcs – La Plagne link (1:30) Sale of ‘Skier & Snowboarder’ Magazine (2:15) On becoming e...
Mar 14, 2024•34 min
In Episode 204, we discuss Vail Resorts - the company that owns over 40 ski destinations, including both Andermatt and Crans Montana in Switzerland. We look at their Epic Pass and their future expansion strategy in Europe. We also find out about skiing in Geilo, Norway. Iain was joined by Katie Bamber, Online Editor at Fall Line Magazine and Mike Goar, MD of the Andermatt-Sedrun ski area. Intersport Ski Hire Discount Code Save money on your ski hire by using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ at intersportre...
Mar 08, 2024•44 min
This episode is a Scotland Special, looking at resort skiing and backcountry options, some of this season’s events, as well as how to travel there by train. Iain was joined by Amy Marwick, a freelance journalist, marketing consultant and qualified Ski Instructor. SHOW NOTES Amy was on the show in Episode 198 , in conversation with our equipment expert Al Morgan at the Ski Test Listen to Katie from Ski Goddess in Episode 183 (2:15) Alex Armand from Tip Top Ski Coaching reported from Les 2 Alpes (...
Mar 01, 2024•42 min
Episode 202 is a special interview with Blair Aitken, British Backcountry ski expert. Blair is a former alpine national ski champion who has been backcountry skiing in Scotland since the mid-nineties. He now offers British skiers guided courses, introducing them to the Scottish highlands through his business British Backcountry . He is also the author of the book ‘Ski Touring in the Northern Cairngorms’. SHOW NOTES Blair was previously on the podcast in Episode 173 when we discussed the film ’10...
Feb 23, 2024•26 min
This episode is a Norway special, featuring the resorts of Gausta, Strandafjellet and Fjellsetra. Iain was joined by Lucy Aspden, Ski Editor at The Telegraph and Rich Astley live from Norway. Intersport Ski Hire Discount Code 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 Ian Williams reported from Les Arcs (2:30) Martha Wells was in Big White, Canada (3:45) Simo...
Feb 16, 2024•41 min
This episode is a Chamonix special. We look at the different ski areas, who they're best for (and who they're not) and explore the history of this famous resort. Iain also reports on the Kandahar World Cup Slalom race, where he spoke with British skiers, Dave Ryding, Billy Major and Laurie Taylor. Plus there’s a chat with best of the next generation, Zak Carrick-Smith, who won three medals at the Youth Olympic Games last month. Iain was joined by Britain’s most successful ever World Cup skier, t...
Feb 08, 2024•1 hr
An exclusive interview with Britain’s most successful Alpine skier, Dave ‘The Rocket’ Ryding. Dave is the only Briton to win a World Cup Alpine Ski race, as well as being the oldest skier ever to achieve that feat. With seven World Cup podiums to his name, he is leading the way for the next generation of British skiers. In this chat we discuss the new talent that is breaking through, his training, his team mates (including Laurie Taylor’s controversial moustache!) and what it’s really like on ra...
Feb 02, 2024•38 min
We discover what it’s like skiing to the South Pole, Iain takes the train to Les 2 Alpes to run a marathon on snow and Al updates us from the SIGB Ski Test in La Clusaz. Iain was joined by Preet Chandi - the world’s fastest woman to complete a solo unsupported ski expedition to the South Pole. Intersport Ski Hire Discount Code 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. ...
Jan 25, 2024•49 min
