Episodes

  • 308: Ski Mountaineering 101 in Chamonix, Sundance and the Best Refuges in the World

    308: Ski Mountaineering 101 in Chamonix, Sundance and the Best Refuges in the World
    Mar 27 2026
    We go on a ski touring adventure in Chamonix, staying an unmanned refuge at 3000m, and also take a closer look at some of the most spectacular Alpine refuges in the world. Plus we find out about the ski resort synonymous with Robert Redford – Sundance in Utah.We also learn of a post-Olympic spike in visitors to the UK’s snow centres, plus we have snow reports from Madesimo, Gausta and Les 2 Alpes, plus your feedback.--------- Tirol in Austria sponsors The Ski Podcast, which means this winter we’re are finding out more about some of the great destinations in Tirol, and how you can connect with the Austrian way of life: ‘Lebensgefühl’ – that you’ll find there. --------- SHOW NOTESKatja Gaskell was last on the show in Episode 242 when she reported on Saint Gervais (1:30) Aaron Rolph is founder of the British Adventure Collective (1:45) Aaron skied on the Dome de Miage (4:00) Claire Harrison reported from Madesimo in Italy (5:30)Mike Richards was in Gausta in Norway (6:45) Alex Armand from Tip Top Ski Coaching is in Les 2 Alpes (9:00) The new Entry/Exit System EES with the EU will scale up to 100% on 10 April (09:15)Freddy Carrick Smith picked up the silver in the slalom at the Junior World Championships (9:30) Ian Brown, MD of The Snow Centre, reports on a bump in traffic in both Hemel Hempstead & Manchester (10:00)Iain was guided by Brad Carlson on a ski mountaineering 101 trip (14:30)Iain stayed in the Bivouac de l'Envers des Dorées (17:30) Brad was on the podcast in Episode 240 discussing the impact of global warming on the Mer de Glace (18:30) The kit you need for ski mountaineering adventure (20:45) Aaron’s bookis ‘Alpine Refuges: The Architecture and Culture of Mountain Shelters’ (25:45) What is a bothy in Scotland? (26:45) What is an Alpine refuge? (28:30) Choosing the 30 refuges featured in the book (29:20) The Bivacco Gervasutti is one of Aaron’s favourites (31:00) The Hannibal Bivouac (32:00) Aaron has visited around 60 refuges (34:00) Aaron is the founder of the British Adventure Collective (34:30) European refuges v. North America (35:30)Sundance is famous for the film festival (38:00) Films that launched at Sundance include Reservoir Dogs, The Blair Witch Project, Get Out and Memento (39:00) Robert Redford bought it in 1968 (39:40) There is a focus on conservation (41:00) Redford felt it should be ‘“developed a little, preserved a lot” (41:30) The skiing (42:00) His ownership meant it developed as a hub for the arts (44:00) Who is Sundance suitable for? (47:00) FeedbackYou can leave a comment on Spotify, Instagram or Facebook – our handle is @theskipodcast – or drop me an email to theskipodcast@gmail.com You can also follow us on WhatsApp for exclusive material released ahead of the podcast. Martyn Crawshaw: “I'm currently skiing in Champery, Switzerland which can be reached by rail direct via a funicular from the mainline station at Aigle” seanski: "It’s such a great podcast and look forward to it every week, I've been particularly inspired by your series on the Tirol, and as I write I'm en route by train to Landeck" Linley Lewis: "Just wanted to drop you a line let you know I greatly enjoyed your Ste Foy episode. Ste Foy has become an annual pilgrimage for my family. It's an absolute gem and I think you summed up its joy perfectly." Claire: "We have just returned from a week in Fugen in the Zillertal after listening to your feature in Episode 272. We were very impressed with the ski area: the efficiency of the transport, range of slopes, wonderful mountain "hutte" and friendly hospitality everywhere. We will be back for sure!"Colin Tierney: “I love skiing in Austria: you could do a different resort every winter without ever having to repeat.”There are now 308 episodes of The Ski Podcast to catch up with and 187 of those have been listened to in the last week, including interviews with Winter Olympians such as Andrew Musgrave, Eddie The Eagle, Dave Ryding, Graham Bell, both Izzy and Zoe Atkin, Chemmy Alcott, Bode Miller and Kirsty Muir. If you’d like to listen to an interview with an athlete, get some insight on a particular destination, or find out about the latest kit, just go to theskipodcast.com, have a search around the tags and categories and you’re bound to find something of interest to listen to. If you’d like to help the podcast, there are three things you can do: - follow us, or subscribe, so you never miss an episode - give us a review on Apple Podcasts or leave a comment on Spotify - save yourself some money by using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ when you book using this link
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    52 mins
  • 307: Sainte-Foy, Dolomiti Ski Safari & Ski Touring in Carinthia

    307: Sainte-Foy, Dolomiti Ski Safari & Ski Touring in Carinthia
    Mar 13 2026
    Today we cover three countries: in France, we find out about Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise; we hear about a ski safari across the Dolomites in Italy; and about a ‘ski touring for softies’ adventure in Austria.Iain was joined in the studio by Ireland’s leading ski specialist, Catherine Murphy and freelance journalist, Simon Miller. ---------Tirol in Austria sponsors The Ski Podcast, which means this winter we’re are finding out more about some of the great destinations in Tirol, and how you can connect with the Austrian way of life: ‘Lebensgefühl’ – that you’ll find there. --------- SHOW NOTESSimon spoke about Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis in Episode 291 We featured Deer Valley in the podcast in Episode 272 (2:20) Iain reported on his stay in Brides-les-Bains in Episode 306 (3:30) Betony Garner reported from St Gervais (5:45) Jen Tsang runs the website ThatsLaPlagne.com (7:00) Dave Burrows from SnoPros Ski School was in Lélex Crozet, France (8:50) Floss Cockle from the YouTube channel FreeFloFloss reported from Tignes (11:10) Neil Simpson has picked up Silver in the Men’s VI combined at the Paralympics (13:00) Zak Carrick-Smith made his World Cup debut in the slalom in Kranjska Gora (13:15) Iain visited Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise by train (14:00) Iain is writing an article about backcountry skiing for Fall Line Magazine (14:15) The British chalet company, Premiere Neige is a Sainte Foy specialist (14:40) Fiona Harvey-Jordan is the founder of Premiere Neige (15:00) Iain’s guide in Sainte-Foy was Nicholas Barel (24:00) Rachel Pilkington is the owner of Llama Llama in Sainte Foy (24:20) The backcountry in Sainte-Foy is amazing (27:15) Catherine went on the Specialismo Ski Safari with Inspired Italy (27:45) The route was Ortisei-Val Gardena-Passo San Pellegrino-Civetta-Lagazuoi-Alta Badia-Marmolada-Colfosco-Ortisei (29:00) Italian Rifugio are very different from what some people might think of when they think of refuges (29:45) The Dolomiti Superski pass is included in the Ikon Pass (31:30) Who’s it suitable for? (34:15) Simon was ski touring on the ‘Nockberge Trail’ in Carinthia, Austria (37:15) Travel was in and out of Graz (37:45) ‘Ski touring as if it was designed by people who dream up aromatherapy marketing material’ (38:15) Simon’s trip was organised by Trail Angels (38:45) It could be described as ‘ski touring for softies’ (41:45)Feedback (46:00) You can leave a comment on Spotify, Instagram or Facebook – our handle is @theskipodcast – or drop me an email to theskipodcast@gmail.com. You can also follow us on WhatsApp for exclusive material released ahead of the podcast.Paul Bond: "Winter Olympics pods were great. Games were fantastic. Great stuff from Team GB with much future promise." Poppy Porteus: "I really want to be an Olympic champ and love listening to your podcast"Nicolas: “Loved your recent episode about cat skiing in Georgia. It brought back great memories of previous cat skiing adventures.”There are now 307 episodes of The Ski Podcast to catch up with. If you’d like to get some insight on a particular destination, listen to an interview with an athlete or find out about the latest kit, just go to theskipodcast.com, have a search around the tags and categories and you’re bound to find something of interest to listen to. And don’t forget you can save yourself some money on ski hire if you use the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ when you when you book at intersportrent.com.
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    49 mins
  • 306: Kitzbühel, Cat Skiing in Georgia, Brides-Les-Bains & Chemmy Alcott’s Olympics

    306: Kitzbühel, Cat Skiing in Georgia, Brides-Les-Bains & Chemmy Alcott’s Olympics
    Feb 27 2026
    We find out about one of Austria’s most famous ski resorts, Kitzbühel, plus go cat skiing in Georgia and consider if Brides-Les-Bains is the way to ski in Les 3 Vallées without breaking the bank.We also have snow reports from Courchevel, Les 2 Alpes and the Via Lattea and an Olympic catch up with Chemmy Alcott.Iain was joined in the studio by Anna Nirkow from Kitzbühel Tourism and freelance journalist Mike ‘The Snow’ Richards. SHOW NOTESMike was last on the show in Episode 294, discussing skiing in Pra Loup (1:45) Skiing on Hay Bluff in Wales (4:00) Alex Armand from Tip Top Ski Coaching is in Les 2 Alpes (5:00) Alex Irwin from YouTube’s ‘150 Days of Winter’ is in Courchevel (5:45) James and Sinead from Sauze Online are in the Via Lattea (7:15) This year was the 86th edition of the Hahnenkamm race in Kitzbühel (9:30) Around 80,000 spectators attend across the three days of racing (10:30) Every year there’s a slalom race as well (12:30) Dave Ryding won in 2022 (13:30) There’s a gondola in Kitzbühel with Ryding’s name on it (14:00) You can visit the ‘starthaus’ at the top of the Streif (15:45) The ski area has 233km across 90 pistes (16:45) Bergbahn Kitzbühel is a regular winner of ‘World’s Best Ski Resort Company’ (17:00) The KitzSkiWelt Tour offers 88km of skiing in the world’s longest ski safari (18:00) Travel by train to Kitzbühel (20:00) Cross country and ski touring options (20:45) Anna’s favourite mountain huts include the Bärenbadalm, Melkalm, Rasmushof, Panorama Alm, Sonnenrast and BichlAlm (22:45) And for apres ski try the Legendencafe and The Londoner (23:15) Emily Sarsfield – Olympian & TNT Sport commentator – joined Iain for our Winter Olympic specials (25:00) Guests included gold medal winners, Huw Nightingale and Charlotte Bankes, as well as Chemmy Alcott, Graham Bell, Ed Leigh, Eddie The Eagle BBC presenter Chemmy Alcott shares her thoughts on the Games (25:30) Zak, Luca and Freddy Carrick-Smith share their thoughts on the future (29:15) An epic trip on a four-day Interrail from Rail Europe (31:00)Iain stayed for the first time in Brides-Les-Bains, connected by the Olympe gondola directly to Meribel (32:00) Mike talked about a trip to Guadari in Georgia in Episode 37 (33:30) Mike booked with the Powder Project (36:00) Bakhmaro is 1900m with cat served skiing up to 2750m (37:00)FeedbackYou can leave a comment on Spotify, Instagram or Facebook – our handle is @theskipodcast – or drop me an email to theskipodcast@gmail.com. You can also follow us on WhatsApp for exclusive material released ahead of the podcast. Colin Tierney: “The joy of having to work is being able to record the Olympics and fast forward through the bits that don’t entertain me and Sweden (Episode303) sounds great.”Richard Baker: “Listening to Episode 305 and I agree that Zoe Atkin may have deserved the silver” If you’d like to get some insight on a particular destination, listen to an interview with an athlete or find out about the latest kit, just go to theskipodcast.com, have a search around the tags and categories and you’re bound to find something of interest to listen to. Don’t forget you can save yourself some money on ski hire if you use the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ when you book at intersportrent.com
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    50 mins
  • 305: Winter Olympics Special #10 | Bronze for Zoe Atkin

    305: Winter Olympics Special #10 | Bronze for Zoe Atkin
    Feb 22 2026

    In our 10th and final Winter Olympics Special, Emily and Iain celebrate a bronze medal for Zoe Atkin in the Ski Halfpipe, discuss a photo-finish in the Men’s Skier Cross and look at the potential legacy from the Games for British snowsports.

    We also pick our highlights from the Games, with contributions from Rachael Oakes-Ash, Betony Garner and Zak, Luca and Freddy Carrick Smith.

    SHOW NOTES

    Zoe Atkin won Bronze in the Women’s Ski Half Pipe (1:00)
    This is GB Snowsports best ever return in a Winter Olympics (3:00)
    Men's Ski Cross (4:15)
    The photo finish for silver (7:30)
    Team GB is one only three countries that don't pay for gold medals (9:30)
    Ed Leigh and Tim Warwood on the legacy for GB snowsports (10:45)
    The closing ceremony (13:45)
    Olympic tattoos (15:00)
    The highlights of the Games…
    Rachael Oakes-Ash reported from Livigno for Snowsbest.com in Australia (17:00)
    Betony Garner was working for Team GB (21:00)
    Zak, Luca and Freddy Carrick-Smith (25:00)

    Finally, many of the athletes will be going home now as Olympians and will have memories that will last forever. There’s something lese that will last forever – an Olympic rings Tattoo? I think I’m right in saying that you’ve got one Emily – now tell us, is this something they offer in the Olympic village?

    Feedback
    So if you enjoyed this episode I would love to know. Just leave us a on Spotify, Instagram or Facebook – our handle is @theskipodcast – or drop me an email to theskipodcast@gmail.com

    And, if you’re booking ski hire this winter, don’t forget that you can get an additional discount if you use the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ when you book at intersportrent.com or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied
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    30 mins
  • 304: Winter Olympics Special #9 | Cross Country best for Team GB plus Halfpipe preview

    304: Winter Olympics Special #9 | Cross Country best for Team GB plus Halfpipe preview
    Feb 20 2026

    Iain and Emily discuss the Women’s Ski Cross, Michaela Shiffrin’s dominating performance in the Slalom and a best ever Team GB performance in cross country, plus we look ahead to Zoe Atkin’s chances of a medal in the Ski Half Pipe and reflect just how tough Skimo looks!

    Iain Martin was joined by Olympian and former Team GB Skier X athlete Emily Sarsfield.

    SHOW NOTES

    Emily commentates for TNT Sport on Skier Cross (0:30)
    Silver medallist Fanny Smith could have been winning a medal for Team GB (1:00)
    Ollie Davies is representing Team GB in the Men’s Skier Cross (2:45)
    Michaela Shiffrin’s margin of 1.5 seconds was the largest in Olympic alpine since 1998 (9:00)
    She is the winningest World Cup skier of all time with 108 wins (9:15)
    Andrew Musgrave and James Clugnet finished 5th in the Team Sprint Relay – Britain’s highest ever finish in cross country (10:00)
    Is Skimo ‘snow’s answer to triathlon’ (12:00)
    Emily Harrop won silver for France, but is another Brit that got away (13:30)
    The Men’s Ski Halfpipe features Gus Kenworthy, who qualified for the final in 9th place (14:00)
    Zoe Atkin goes for a medal in the Women’s Ski Half Pipe on Saturday, having qualified in 1st place (14:15)

    Feedback
    If you enjoyed this episode I would love to know. Just leave us a on Spotify, Instagram or Facebook – our handle is @theskipodcast – or drop me an email to theskipodcast@gmail.com

    And, if you’re booking ski hire this winter, don’t forget that you can get an additional discount if you use the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ when you book at intersportrent.com or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied
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    17 mins
  • 303: Isola 2000 & Nice, Stöten in Sweden & ‘un/para/ld’

    303: Isola 2000 & Nice, Stöten in Sweden & ‘un/para/ld’
    Feb 19 2026
    We find out about the ski resorts of Isola 2000 in France - combined with a city break in Nice - and Stöten in Sweden.We also learn about ‘un/para/ld’ - a new project to improve outdoor clothing for disabled people and we hear how the recent SIGB ski test went with our equipment expert, Al Morgan.Host Iain Martin was joined in the studio by Ben Nyberg, MD at Ski Scandinavia, and Alice Sainsbury, founder of ‘un/para/ld’ ---------Tirol in Austria sponsors The Ski Podcast, which means this winter we’re are finding out more about some of the great destinations in Tirol, and how you can connect with the Austrian way of life: ‘Lebensgefühl’ – that you’ll find there.---------SHOW NOTESBen Nyberg was on the show in Episode 221, discussing skiing in Sweden (1:30) Ben skied in Trysil in Norway (4:30) Tim Hudson from Inspired Italy reports Val Gardena (5:00) Jen Tsang from That’s La Plagne is in La Plagne (6:40) Andy Butterworth from Kaluma Ski is in St Anton (8:20) Huw Nightingale, Charlotte Bankes, Chemmy Alcott, Graham Bell, Ed Leigh, Eddie The Eagle have all featured in our Winter Olympic Special Episodes (10:00) Chapeau to Dave Ryding – listen to Iain’s interview with Dave in Episode 199 (10:45) Iain took the night train from Paris to Nice, spent a day in Nice, then went to the ski resort of Isola 2000 (11:45) Incredible views from the train on the Cote d’Azur (12:15) Caterina Prochilo speaks of the long history between Britain and Nice (13:00) After Nice Iain went to Isola 2000 (16:00) Iain was guided by Manon Degli Innocenti to the Tete Merciere (16:30) Ben is MD of Ski Scandinavia (17:00) Norway and Sweden are experiencing a surge in interest from British skiers (18:15) Ben is based in Stoten (19:00) Who’s Stoten suitable for? (21:45) The transfer from the airport is only 25 minutes (22:45) Is Sweden more expensive than the Alps? (24:00) Try ‘fika’… (25:00) Alice Sainsbury is founder of 'un/para/ld' (27:30) "The outdoor clothing industry has failed disabled people. It is time for something new." Iain spoke with Heather Davies from the Re-Action Collective in Episode 255 (31:00) Working with Re-Action on a film shoot (33:30) Alice and the 'un/para/ld' project will be at the Paralympic Winter Games (34:00) How can people get support UN/PARA/LD and get involved? (35:15) Al Morgan reports from the annual SIGB (Snowsports Industries of Great Britain) ski test in Champoluc (37:40) Listen to our previous equipment special episodes FeedbackYou can leave a comment on Spotify, Instagram or Facebook – our handle is @theskipodcast – or drop me an email to theskipodcast@gmail.com. You can also follow us on WhatsApp for exclusive material released ahead of the podcast.Glyn: "I really enjoyed your interview with Tim Wall! (Episode 299) I discovered the Ski Lodge in its first year, stayed in La Tania for the last 27 years, including many full seasons. Got to know Debbie and Tim pretty well - wonderful people and hosts!"There are now 303 episodes of The Ski Podcast to catch up with. If you’d like to get some insight on a particular destination, listen to an interview with an athlete or find out about the latest kit, just go to theskipodcast.com, have a search around the tags and categories and you’re bound to find something of interest to listen to. if you’d like to help the podcast, there are three things you can do: - you can follow us, or subscribe, so you never miss an episode - you can give us a review on Apple Podcasts or leave a comment on Spotify - And, if you’re booking ski hire this winter, don’t forget that you can get an additional discount if you use the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ when you book at intersportrent.com or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied
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    47 mins
  • 302: Winter Olympics Special #8 | Kirsty Muir misses out, plus Chemmy Alcott on Shiffrin

    302: Winter Olympics Special #8 | Kirsty Muir misses out, plus Chemmy Alcott on Shiffrin
    Feb 17 2026

    In our latest Winter Olympics Special, we discuss Kirsty Muir just missing out on a medal in the Ski Big Air, plus Chemmy Alcott shares her predictions for the Women’s Slalom. We also find out what life is like in an Olympic Village, plus we look at the new sport of SkiMo.

    Host, Iain Martin, was joined by Olympian and former Team GB Skier X athlete Emily Sarsfield.

    SHOW NOTES

    Kirsty Muir finished 4th in the Ski Big Air (1:00)
    Why Kirsty opted to go big for her final trick (2:00)

    “The judges have ranges for tricks. She had already nearly maxed out the available score for trick A and while the score for trick B was high, it wasn’t that clean a jump, so had more scope to increase. That trick has scored in the 96/7 range before. Plus on run three she tried to add in a new grab that, had she landed, would have asked serious questions of the judges.”

    Listen to Iain’s interview with Kirsty Muir (3:30)
    #pintrading (5:30)
    Spare a thought for Atle Lie McGrath (8:00)
    Chemmy Alcott shares her predictions for the Women’s Slalom (8:30)
    Zoe Atkin is taking place in the Women's ski half pipe (10:30)
    The SkiMo is a new event, look out for it on Thursday (11:00)
    Listen to Iain’s interview with British SkiMo athlete Iain Innes (11:45)
    Listen to Iain’s interview with Andrew Musgrave (12:00)

    Feedback
    If you’ve enjoyed this episode I would love to know. You can leave a comment on Spotify, Instagram or Facebook – our handle is @theskipodcast – or drop me an email to theskipodcast@gmail.com

    You can also follow us on WhatsApp for exclusive material released ahead of the podcast.

    And, if you’re booking ski hire this winter, don’t forget that you can get an additional discount if you use the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ when you book at intersportrent.com or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied
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    15 mins
  • 301: Winter Olympics Special #7 | Gold for Team GB

    301: Winter Olympics Special #7 | Gold for Team GB
    Feb 16 2026

    In our latest Winter Olympics Special, we discuss the first ever gold medal for Team GB on snow, after the win in the Team Snowboard Cross, plus we review Dave ‘The Rocket’ Ryding’s final slalom race.

    Host Iain Martin was joined by Olympian and former Team GB Skier X athlete Emily Sarsfield.

    SHOW NOTES

    Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale won Gold in the Team Snowboard Cross (2:00)
    Medals = Funding (5:15)
    Listen to Iain’s interview with GB Snowsport CEO, Vicky Gosling (6:45)
    Listen to Iain’s interview with GB Snowsport Head Coach Pat Sharples (7:30)
    Billy Major and Dave Ryding finished 16th and 17th in the Men’s Slalom (8:15)
    Listen to Iain’s interview with Dave Ryding in Episode 199 (8:30)
    Kirsty Muir qualified in 4th place for the Women’s Ski Big Air (10:15)
    Mia Brookes failed to qualify for the Snowboard Slopestyle final (11:00)

    Feedback
    If you’ve enjoyed this episode I would love to know. You can leave a comment on Spotify, Instagram or Facebook – our handle is @theskipodcast – or drop me an email to theskipodcast@gmail.com.

    You can also follow us on WhatsApp for exclusive material released ahead of the podcast.

    If you’re booking ski hire this winter, don’t forget that you can get an additional discount if you use the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ when you book at intersportrent.com or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied.
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    12 mins