Looking through a recent survey from Le Ski, I was struck by one stat in particular. While it was encouraging to read that the number of UK skiers and snowboarders is predicted to grow by 14% in winter 2023/24, the fact that only 13% stay in catered chalets highlighted how...
AI (Artificial Intelligence) is changing fast. A few years ago, it was just the name of one of Steven Spielberg’s less good movies, but in 2023 AI has moved from the world of ‘futurologists’ into the mainstream. The chances are that even if you haven’t tried ChatGPT (or Google’s ‘Bard’),...
Iain’s article ‘Parrots in the Snow: the rise and fall of Bladon Lines‘ has now been published in ‘Ski+Board’ magazine. It’s also now available as a special episode of The Ski Podcast My first experience of working in the ski industry came 35 years ago when I went to Chatel...
Iain from Skipedia recently went ski touring in Morocco. Flying into Marrakech, and then travelling to Imlil (1740m), Iain then spent three nights at the Refuge des Mouflons (3207m), ski touring to different 4000m peaks. Ski hire was from Braemar Mountain Sports, guiding and logistics were organised by Toubkal Guide. You...
These are difficult days for the ESF in the UK. The current legal cases against Simon Butler and Le Ski have stirred up plenty of negative sentiment within the British market against the ESF. Both cases – which deal with different aspects of the law – are currently at different...
Okay, not strictly anything to do with marketing, but just for fun… So why do chalet girls bake a cake every day? As far as I know chalets have always left out a cake for their guests to tuck into for ‘afternoon tea’. After a long day on the slopes,...
In March 2026, Iain interviewed Benoit Borrell, Head of Projects at Compagnie du Mont Blanc, about the new Grands Montets gondola that is currently under construction. This interview has now been published on Snowbrains The new lift will open in two stages, with the lower section from Argentiere to Lognon opening in December 2026 and...
Former Olympic skier and BBC presenter Chemmy Alcott recently shared about the moment she broke down live on air after Lindsey Vonn’s devastating crash at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Speaking to Iain Martin on The Ski Podcast, Alcott reflected on the accident that ended Vonn’s remarkable comeback story just 13 seconds into the Olympic downhill...
Chamonix is one of the world’s best-known mountain destinations, but it’s also one of the most complex. Iain Martin, host of The Ski Podcast, spent two months living in Chamonix earlier this year, to try and make sense of what makes the resort so special, from history to high mountain, from glaciers to guides. The...
Iain travelled to Les Arcs in the summer of 2025 to take part in the Trail des Arcs and to explore the Vanoise National Park. His article on this trip has now been published in ‘Fall Line Adventure’ magazine. Find out more about Iain’s experience on this trip in Episode 254 of The Ski Podcast...
Political graffiti is alive and well in the Chamonix valley… Free Savoie The Savoie has only been part of France since 1860. There are plenty who would be happy for it to leave and become independent… The UTMB is NOT universally popular Once upon a time, the UTMB was a core trail runners event, representing...
Earlier this month, more than 120 industry professionals gathered in London for the third edition of SASTEX — the Summer Alpine Sports Trade Exchange. Hosted at Red Bull’s striking Covent Garden headquarters, the event brought together tour operators, destinations, buyers and media for a day focused on the fast-evolving summer alpine market. Mountain Trade Network...
