The Ski Podcast

We learn how a new retreat in Chamonix is creating opportunities for inner city young people, find out what’s going on at this year’s Northern Snow Show and we have the latest snow news from Australia and New Zealand. 

Host Iain Martin was joined in the studio by Laura Marriot-Clarke, founder of the Chamonix company, Girl Powder Mountain Retreats and Morv Bett, Head of Snowsports and Futures at Snow Camp, and down the line by Matt Robinson, Head of Events at Snow Centre Manchester, Rachael Oakes-Ash from snowsbest.com and Guy Beatson in Whakapapa, NZ. 

S...

We find out about the increasing options available for disabled skiers and snowboarders, plus we look at the results of a new survey full of revelations, including the increasing role of AI in choosing holidays and some controversial views on fondue!

We also have a special update from New Zealand from Team Carrick Smith and news on summer in La Plagne. 

Iain was joined in the studio by Virginia Anderson, CEO at Disability Snowsport UK and Simon McIntyre, Managing Director at Iglu Ski.

SHOW NOTES

Simon was last on the show i...

We find out about Villards de Lans in the Vercors area of France and discuss alcohol-free ski holidays in Méribel. We also have ski show news and snow reports from Australia, New Zealand and Chile.

Host Iain Martin was joined by freelance journalist Katja Gaskell and Soberski founder Ben Coombes. 

SHOW NOTES

Katja was last on the podcast in Episode 308 discussing Sundance Resort (0:45)
Rachael Oakes-Ash from snowsbest.com is the ski expert on Australia & New Zealand (4:00)
Guy Beatson is based at Whakapapa in New Zealand (9:00)
Episode 312 is a special in...

In the sixth of our ‘Chamonix Stories’, we find out what it’s like to fall into a crevasse on the Vallée Blanche (don’t worry, this story has a happy ending!)

Host Iain Martin speaks with freelance journalist Sam Haddad, about her first descent of the famous off-piste route – the Vallée Blanche. 

SHOW NOTES

Listen to our special episode about Chamonix (0:30)
Sam Haddad runs the Substack ‘Climate and Board Sports’
Sam was last on the podcast in Episode 251 (1:00)
She spent a season in Chamonix in 2000 (2:00)
She was on the Envers...

We find out how a Brit got elected onto the Méribel town council, what summer skiing in Les 2 Alpes is like, and look at the Travelski night train to the Alps. 

We also have snow reports from Australia and New Zealand and the latest news. 

Host Iain Martin was joined in the studio by Alex Armand from Tip Top Ski Coaching and Richard Lett from Apres Ski Bands.

SHOW NOTES

Rich spoke about apres-ski bands in the Alps in Episode 86
In Episode 180 he shared his insights into how to fin...

In the fifth in our series of ‘Chamonix Stories’, we Jonno Jacobs, founder of Ronin Skis – ‘exceptional lightweight touring and freeride skis for those who chart their own path’.

Ronin is a passion project for Jonno: every ski is handmade and custom built for its owner, with a lot of thought put into making the skis as sustainable as possible. 

SHOW NOTES

Using a fridge to make a pair of skis (3:00)
Listen to Iain’s interview with Tom Greenall on how he became a pisteur (4:00)
Where does the Ronin name come from? (4:15)<...

Today we go behind the scenes of the BBC’s Olympics coverage with Chemmy Alcott, hearing what it was like to be on location for Lindsey Vonn's awful accident, as well as Dave Ryding's final race, plus we find out about the ski resort of Pila in Italy. 

We also have the latest from the start of the season Down Under in Australia and New Zealand and updates from GB Snowsport’s new generation of alpine racers, Luca, Zak and Freddy Carrick Smith. 

Host Iain Martin was joined in the studio by four-time Winter Olympian and BB...

Love snowsports? Then The Ski Podcast is just for you...

In almost ten years and over 300 episodes, we have covered skiing on all seven continents, thanks to guests joining host, Iain Martin, to discuss everything from easily accessible family resorts to one-off bucket list treats.

So, if you’d like to know more about world of snowsports, going behind the scenes with experts from across the world, why not join us and subscribe now. 

And even better, you don’t even have to wait until our next episode, just go to theskipodcast.com where...

In the third in our series of ‘Chamonix Stories’, we meet David Webster, better known on YouTube as “ChamonixSkiBum”. 

David has almost 10,000 subscribers and 1.7 million views on his channel, where he publishes snow reports, reports on his high mountain skiing and more Chamonix valley adventures.

📸 @olajaniak

SHOW NOTES

First ski experiences (2:30)
Skiing at Gloucester Dry Slope (3:00)
Ski seasons in Courchevel (4:30)
David has a PHD in Geology (5:15)
Favourite runs in Les 3 Vallées (7:00)
Moving to Chamonix (8:00)
Background in mountaineering (8:30)
Skiing with a guide? (10:00)
Putting on skis in ste...

In the third in our series of ‘Chamonix Stories’, we meet Emil Wittrup Præstbrogaard, founder of the Oak App. 

Oak was launched in 2024 to bring together the mountain community, including skiers, climbers, trail runners, mountaineers and more. 

SHOW NOTES

What is Oak? (2:00)
Like ‘Tinder for the Mountains’ (3:15)
Emil’s background (4:00)
Why Emil started the Oak app (7:00)
Going live in December 2023 (9:00)
Features within the app (10:30)
Making booking guides easier (11:00)
The LinkedIn for mountain people (12:30)
Why ‘Oak’? (13:30)

FEEDBACK

If you enjoyed this episode, or if yo...

In the second in our series of ‘Chamonix Stories’, we meet Katy McInnes from the ‘Silent Sessions’ project in Chamonix. 

‘Silent Sessions’ is a unique experience that blends stunning natural locations in Chamonix with mindfulness and dancing.

SHOW NOTES

Katy is a ‘musician, dancer, restaurant owner and events planner turned yoga teacher’ (2:30)
She previously ran restaurants in Chamonix (4:00)
Mountains and Valleys Retreats (5:00)
What is Silent Sessions? (6:00)
Sourcing locations for Silent Sessions (7:15)
“A cross between a mindfulness session and a rave” (8:30)
Dance like no one’s watching (11:00)
Connecting with nature...

Episode 314 is the first in our series of Chamonix Stories, today featuring Zag Skis.

Iain spoke with head of marketing Alan Lemasson and head of R&D Bastien Saillard from the Chamonix-based freeride ski brand at their Argentiere 'Zag Lab' - where they make and test prototypes. 

We discuss the origins of Zag, the process of creating and testing new lines, sustainability and plans for the future. 

Zag has always been one of the most innovative ski brands, full of ideas and enthusiasm and I think that comes across in this interview.

...

Today we focus on one of the most famous resorts in the world – Chamonix Mont-Blanc. 

Host Iain Martin talks with Chamonix locals to get behind what makes this resort so special, from history to high mountain, glaciers to guides. 

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this episode, including Bernadette Tsuda, Brad Carlson, David Webster, Sam Haddad, Sasha Rayazantsev, Benoit Borrell, Sam Morton and Iona Halley, as well as Nathalie Tortora.

SHOW NOTES

Bernadette Tsuda is a heritage guide in Chamonix
William Windham and Richard Pococke ‘discover’ the Mer de Glace in 1741...

Today’s special episode is an interview with Rachael Oakes-Ash – founder of the Southern Hemisphere’s leading snowsports website, Snowsbest.com. 

Rachael – aka Miss Snow It All – is also a best-selling author, publicist, documentary producer, social media guru and podcaster. 

In this interview, we speak about her experiences reporting from the Winter Olympics in Italy, raising $200,000 for Snow Aid Australia, her work to promote women in the snow industry and her journey from novice to ski expert. 
 
This episode is the latest in an ongoing series of interviews with high-achieving women in the world of snows...

We find out what it’s like heliskiing in Albania, learn about the ski resort of Champoluc in Italy, and hear about the last ski day of the season in Chamonix.

We also have snow reports from Cervinia in Italy and Les 2 Alpes and Tignes in France.

Host Iain Martin was joined by freelance journalist Katie Bamber and Editor of Snow Magazine, Tris Kennedy. 

SHOW NOTES

Katie previously shared her experience of touring the Alps in a camper van (in Episode 167), the Haute Route (in Episode 172) and Geilo in Norway in Epi...

Today we find out about the ski resorts of Risoul and Vars in France, report from the Dynastar X3 Triathlon in Courchevel and look at how you can improve your ski mindset. 

Host Iain Martin was joined by ski mindset coach, Lou Pode, and COO of The Ski Club of Great Britain and organiser of the London Snow Show, James Gambrill.  

SHOW NOTES

Iain recently skied in Verbier (5:30)
Alex Armand from Tip Top Ski Coaching is in Les 2 Alpes (6:30)
Floss Cockle from the YouTube channel FreeFloFloss has been skiing in Val Th...

We visit La Clusaz and find out about local freeride skier Candide Thovex’s new range of skis. We also go to Verbier to learn what it was like to become the first woman to work on their ski patrol.

We have snow reports from Flaine in France, Via Lattea in Italy and St Anton in Austria, news on the class action lawsuit going on in the States and there’s a Team GB update as well. 

Host Iain Martin was joined by Victoria Jamieson, the first woman to join the Verbier ski patrol, and Tony...

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.
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 Tirol in Austria sponsors The Ski Podcast, which means this winter we’re are finding out more about some of...

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.
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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.
...

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.
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Tirol in Austria sponsors The Ski Podcast, which means this winter we’re are finding out...

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...

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 repr...

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’
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Tirol in Austria sponsors The Ski Podcast, which means this winter we...

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)

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...

We preview Dave Ryding’s last Olympics in the Men’s Slalom, including an interview with Laurie Taylor, plus look ahead to the Mixed Snowboard Cross with Huw Nightingale and Charlotte Bankes.

Host Iain Martin was joined by ex-Olympian and Team GB Skier X athlete Emily Sarsfield for our latest Winter Olympics Special Episode. 

SHOW NOTES

Women’s Snowboard Cross (2:45)
The Mixed Snowboard Cross is on Sunday 15 Feb (4:45)
Huw Nightingale and Charlotte Bankes spoke with Iain (5:00)
Kirsty Muir takes part in the Women's Ski Big Air: qualifiers on Sat, final on Mon...

Today’s episode is a special interview with Tim Wall, owner of Pub Le Ski Lodge in La Tania in France’s Les 3 Vallées ski area. 

During our conversation Tim shares his experience of running one the most famous bars in Les 3 Vallées for over 30 years. He reveals his favourite apres-ski bands; the annual opportunity to ‘Toss The Boss’; and some of the other businesses that he has run, including La Taiga, Lodge du Village and the Pit Stop. 

We find out how the La Tania charity day grew from to a massive event, hoste...

We discuss Mia Brookes ballsy attempt at winning a medal in the Snowboard Big Air, whether Lindsey Vonn is in denial and look at Charlotte Bankes’ chances of winning a medal in the Snowboard Cross. 

Host Iain Martin was joined by ex-Olympian and Team GB Skier X athlete Emily Sarsfield for our latest Winter Olympics Special Episode. 

SHOW NOTES

Iain skied today in Isola 2000 (1:00)
Mia Brookes finished in 4th in the Snowboard Big Air, attempting a backside 1620 (2:15)
Listen to Iain’s interview with Ed Leigh in #296 to understand the language behind freest...

Today Iain and Emily review Men & Women’s Downhill, plus Kirsty Muir’s 4th place in the Ski Slopestyle. We have contributions from Chemmy Alcott and Ed Leigh. 

SHOW NOTES

Lindsey Vonn broke her leg in the Women’s Downhill (1:00)
Graham Bell’s predictions in Episode 293 were spot on (4:00)
BBC’s Chemmy Alcott analyses the Men’s Downhill (4:40)
Iain has been enjoying the split screen feature from Discovery+ (7:15)
Kirsty Muir finished 4th in the Women’s Ski Slopestyle
Ed Leigh on the Women’s Snowboard Big Air (11:30)
Listen to Ed Leigh in Episo...

BBC’s Ed Leigh explains the terms used to describe freestyle tricks, as well as how the judges come up with their scores, in the third of our Winter Olympics special episodes.

With Kirsty Muir competing in the final of the Women’s Ski Slopestyle tomorrow (Mon 09 Feb) and Mia Brookes taking part in the Women’s Snowboard Big Air qualifying today (Sun 08 Feb) and, hopefully, the final tomorrow, there’s no better time to get up to date with all the key terms.

SHOW NOTES

Direction of spin (1:30)
Axis of Rotation (2:15)
Numbe...

Host Iain Martin is joined by Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards – who at the 1988 Calgary Games became famous across the world for having the courage and determination to take on the challenge of Olympic ski jumping.

His story was made into a movie in 2015, starring Hugh Jackman and Taron Edgerton. 

Eddie tells us about flying to movie premieres in private jets, how he’s disappointed that Team GB seem to disown him and the parallels he sees in the determination to compete shown by Lindsey Vonn. 

SHOW NOTES

Listen to Iain’s previous int...

We find out about Sauze d’Oulx and the Via Lattea ski area in Italy, as well as the resort of Pra Loup in the southern French Alps.

We also get excited about the Olympics, hearing Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards’ thoughts on Lindsey Vonn – and go ‘Down Under’ to look at Australia chances of bringing home a record medal haul. Plus we have your feedback and our regular snow reports from around the mountains.

Iain was joined in the studio by James and Sinead  from SauzeOnline and by Mike ‘The Snow’ Richards.
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Tirol in Austria sp...

In the first of our special Winter Olympics episodes covering Milan-Cortina 2026, we preview this weekend’s big events - the men and women’s downhill - and look ahead to the Women's Ski Slopestyle. 

Host Iain Martin was joined in the studio by special guest Emily Sarsfield and down the line by BBC commentator Graham Bell and Ski Sunday's Ed Leigh.

SHOW NOTES

Emily Sarsfield first appeared on the podcast in Episode 3 (0:45)
She represented Team GB in Skier X including at Pyeongchang 2018 (2:00)
The opening ceremony takes place at the San Siro in Mi...

Today we find out about La Tzoumaz in Switzerland and Jasna in Slovakia, plus we preview the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics including interviews with Vicky Gosling, CEO of GB Snowsports and Zak, Luca and Freddy Carrick Smith. 

We also have our regular snow reports and share our downloadable schedule for all the skiing and snowboarding events at Milan-Cortina.

Iain was joined in the studio by Irish ski journalist, Catherine Murphy and Slovakia resident, Richard Patey.
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Tirol in Austria sponsors The Ski Podcast, which means this winter we’re are finding out more about som...

In this episode, we learn more about the resorts of Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis in the Tirol region of Austria, how Swedish clothing brand, Peak Performance, design their garments and check in on the new Chenus lift in Courchevel. 

Host Iain Martin was joined by freelance journalist, Simon Miller and Ski Designer at Peak Performance, Marie Andersson
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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 ther...

We find all about the Zillertal region in the Austrian Tirol, as well as the new expansion in Deer Valley, Utah. 

We also hear how Val d’Isere are helping skiers to feel safer, and have snow reports from Japan, La Plagne and…Wales!

Host Iain Martin was joined in the studio by Katie Seiringer, owner of Kate Seiringer International Language Service in Mayrhofen and Emily Summers from Deer Valley Ski Resort.
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Tirol in Austria sponsors The Ski Podcast, which means this winter we’re are finding out more about some of the gre...

Today is a special interview with Kirsty Muir – the World Cup winning British slopestyle and Big Air freestyle skier.

Host Iain Martin spoke with Kirsty about her comeback from ACL and shoulder surgery to her first World Cup win last winter. We also discuss her journey from a dry ski slope in Aberdeen to becoming Britain’s youngest competitor at the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022 and look forward to the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. 

This episode is the latest in a series of interviews with high-achieving women in the world of snowsports. 

Previous episodes in this s...

Today we find out more about the Arlberg ski area in Tirol, Austria – focussing on St Anton and Lech – plus we look at the rise of the ‘Slow Skiing’ movement. 

Austria for sponsoring The Ski Podcast and making this winter’s episodes possible.  If this is your first time listening, you’ve already missed out on some great conversations about Tirol. 

Host Iain Martin was joined in the studio by Nicole Feliciano, founder of Ski Moms.
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 Tirol in Austria sponsors The Ski Podcast, which means this winter we’re are finding out more about some of the...

Today is a special episode covering the latest snow conditions in Austria, Italy, France, Switzerland and in Canada, plus we reveal the results and the lucky winner from our 2025 Listener Survey.
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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.
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SHOW NOTES

View results of our 2025 Listener Survey (1:00)
James Fletcher was the winner of the prize draw (1:45...

This is a special interview with Kit DesLauriers – the person to ski the Seven Summits – the highest mountains on each of the planet’s seven continents.

I read Kit’s book ‘Higher Love’ in the summer of 2025 and was blown away by her bravery, courage, determination and, quite frankly, by her incredible organisation.

During our conversation Kit covers her background in skiing as a former Freeride World Tour champion, as well as explaining the logistical, physical and physiological challenges she faced while tackling the Seven Summits.

This episode is the latest in a series of interview...