Show Notes
We find out about a new overnight train service to Switzerland and Italy, as well as a new campaign to promote the repair of snowsports clothing, rather than replacement. We also hear about a new initiative to bring newcomers into the sport, plus we have the latest updates from Australia and NZ and news of award recognition for The Ski Podcast. Host Iain Martin was joined in the studio by Heather Davies from the Re-Action Collective and Mark Smith (‘The Man in Seat 61’), the UK’s leading train travel expert. ------------ Les 2 Alpes sponsors The Ski Podcast, which means this winter we will be finding out more about the resort’s long seven-month ski season, the great activities on offer there in summer, and some of the people who live and work there and make Les 2 Alpes such a fantastic destination. ------------ SHOW NOTES
Heather was last on the show in Episode 255 (1:15) Mark Smith was previously on the show in Episode 231 (2:00) Guy Beatson reported from Whakapapa in NZ (4:15) Miss Snowitall, Rachael Oakes-Ash, was at the Shaun White Snow League in Cardrona, NZ (5:45) The Ski Podcast is a finalist in the ‘Best Broadcast Programme’ category for the 2026 Travel Media Awards and also a finalist in the ‘Best Travel & Adventure’ category at the Independent Podcast Awards (10:15) Tord Nilson from Snowsport Industries of GB discusses the ‘Grassroots Growth Grant’ (11:00) Listen to Iain’s interview with the ‘Man in Seat 61’ in Episode 231 (17:15) What does seat61.com cover? (17:45) Mark recently travelled on the inaugural service by European Sleeper, linking Brussels and Milan (19:00) Route and timings (19:30) Taking the classic Gotthard Tunnel (21:45) Overnight sleeping options & costs (23:00) What is a couchette? (25:00) Why the train doesn’t stop in Zurich (29:45) All of the details of the new service are available at seat61.com Andermatt is the best connection - just 15 minutes from Göschenen (30:30) The value of an Interrail pass (31:00) Will we see direct trains from the UK to Switzerland or competitors to Eurostar? (33:30) Find out more about the Re-Action Collective in Episode 255 (38:15) Heather’s White Paper calls for outdoor brands to embrace decentralised repair (39:45) Measures could include subsidised incentive schemes, VAT and business rates reductions (45:30) Many of these ideas already exist in France (45:45) Re-Action Collective is full of specialists in repair (47:15) Listen to Iain’s interview with ‘Repair Claire’ at Montane (48:00) We featured Arcteryx in Episode 218 (48:15) How to extend the life of your ski kit (48:30) Watch Iain and Al discuss ‘The Best Skis for 2027’ (53:00) Feedback I love getting feedback from listeners. You can let us know what you thought by leaving a comment on Spotify, Instagram or Facebook – or you can drop me an email to [email protected]. We’re also on WhatsApp. Fiona: “The award nomination is Well deserved. I always love listening to your episodes!”
HenrySkier: “This podcast is ALWAYS a good listen. Looking to indulging and listening later today.”
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More from The Ski Podcast
We find out about the new Jandri 3S lift in Les 2 Alpes, why it's so important, why Telemixte lifts are the future and how the resort decides which lifts to upgrade, plus we look at the new book ‘Ski & Art’, featuring artists from around the world whose creative focus is on skiing. We also have news of an exclusive interview with the first ever man to ski down the North Face of Everest. Host Iain Martin was joined by freelance journalist Katie Bamber and Jean-Charles Thomas, Director of SATA – the lift company in Les 2 Alpes. ------------ Les 2 Alpes sponsors The Ski Podcast, which means this winter we will be finding out more about the resort’s long seven-month ski season, the great activities on offer there in summer, and some of the people who live and work there and make Les 2 Alpes such a fantastic destination. ------------ SHOW NOTES Katie has been on the show discussing vanlife in the Alps, the Haute Route and Geilo in Norway (2:00) LISTEX is the London International Snowsports Trade (4:00) Listen to Lou Pode, Ski Mindset Coach in Episode 310 (4:45) The London Snow Show is at Kensington Olympia on 17 and 18 October (5:00) Listen to organiser James Gambrill talking about it in Episode 330 (5:00) Secure a free ticket to the Show here (5:15) Iain and Al will be on the equipment stage at 11am on Saturday (5:15) Subscribe to The Ski Podcast to ensure you hear Iain’s interview with Oscar-winning documentary maker Jimmy Chin and freeskier Jim Morrison (6:00) Les 2 Alpes offers a 7-month ski season that LDA offers from lateNov to early Jul (7:30) Why Les 2 Alpes glacier does not open for skiing in mid-summer (11:00) Why the Jandri 3S upgrade was so important to Les 2 Alpes (12:45) Is the new lift a hedge against climate change (16:15) Some of the newer lifts are ‘Telemixte’ lifts (17:30) Which lifts are replaced or upgraded first? (19:30) The Champamé ski lift was partially rebuilt using components from Les Orres (20:45) Jean-Charles served in the army for over 10 years (23:00) Katie’s new book is called ‘Ski & Art’ (26:30) Deciding on which artists to include How long did the process take? (28:00) Deciding which of their work to include (29:00) Buy ‘Ski & Art’ online ((34:00) Feedback I love getting feedback from listeners. You can let us know what you thought by leaving a comment on Spotify, Instagram or Facebook – or you can drop me an email to [email protected]. We’re also on WhatsApp. Louise Cotter: “What an episode 330 was! So much great content, the LifePass is a revolution - it is going to remove so much stress from a ski holiday for everyone.”
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