Thoughts on Snowsports

Iain Martin, The Ski Podcast

The sad demise of the catered chalet ski holiday
Ideas / Tour Operators

The sad demise of the catered chalet ski holiday

by iain on Sep 25, 2023 • 8 Comments
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...
Will ChatGPT make ‘ski experts’ redundant?  
Ideas

Will ChatGPT make ‘ski experts’ redundant?  

by iain on May 11, 2023 • No Comments
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’),...
'Parrots in the Snow: the rise and fall of Bladon Lines' - article in 'Ski+Board' magazine
Iain / Ideas / Tour Operators

‘Parrots in the Snow: the rise and fall of Bladon Lines’ – article in ‘Ski+Board’ magazine

by iain on Mar 8, 2023 • 3 Comments
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...
Ski Touring in Morocco: A Photo Essay
Iain / Resorts

Ski Touring in Morocco: A Photo Essay

by iain on Feb 8, 2019 • No Comments
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...
'I'm a modern-day Batman' says anti-ESF campaigner
Resorts / Tour Operators

‘I’m a modern-day Batman’ says anti-ESF campaigner

by iain on Nov 2, 2014 • No Comments
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...
Why do chalet girls bake a cake every day?
Tour Operators

Why do chalet girls bake a cake every day?

by iain on Aug 13, 2011 • 2 Comments
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,...
Latest entries
Directski challenge Crystal Ski to a dust up...
Advertising / Tour Operators

Directski challenge Crystal Ski to a dust up…

by iain on Oct 31, 2011 • No Comments
If you saw the Sunday Times this weekend, like us at Skipedia, you may have noticed this cheeky full-page advert in the Sunday Times: The ‘Our Dad’ campaign TheST ad must have cost Directski a few bob, as well as incurring the wrath of Britain’s largest ski tour operator, Crystal Holidays.   But following the...
Neilson make it Yeti season with new Facebook game
Resorts / Social Media / Tour Operators

Neilson make it Yeti season with new Facebook game

by iain on Oct 29, 2011 • 1 Comment
The timing couldn’t be better.  Only a few weeks after the press claimed that there is proof that the Yeti exists, Neilson launched their extremely addictive new Facebook game – the Ski Challenge, featuring Ziggy Snowdust, their resident Yeti. Excellent Facebook engagement The game, developed in partnership with France Montagnes, is simple to play, has...
"We all need warmth" - Great new Quechua TV advert
Advertising

“We all need warmth” – Great new Quechua TV advert

by iain on Oct 27, 2011 • No Comments
Regular visitors to Skipedia will know that we have a soft spot for Quechua.   We think their positioning is spot on and although there was some debate (see the comments) about the quality of their product, no one is claiming they are Patagonia or The North Face. Check out their new TV campaign below,...
Marketing at the London Ski & Snowboard Show: Gallery
Advertising / Marketing / Mobile

Marketing at the London Ski & Snowboard Show: Gallery

by iain on Oct 26, 2011 • No Comments
The London Ski & Snowboard Show returned to Earls Court for the first time in 17 years. We went along and took a look at how companies were going about their marketing this year, whether QR codes, Facebook and Twitter promotion or use of hashtags. By Iain Martin
Over 50% of pensioners are on Facebook (and other interesting stats)
Social Media

Over 50% of pensioners are on Facebook (and other interesting stats)

by iain on Oct 19, 2011 • No Comments
Some very interesting stats about UK social media usage in this great infographic from UMPF.  So much that’s commentable, but headliners to me are: – 77% of the UK adult population have an active Facebook profile – 32% use Twitter regularly – Over half of all pensioners are on Facebook What does it mean? 1....
Pre-season fitness 1974-style...
Skipedia

Pre-season fitness 1974-style…

by iain on Oct 19, 2011 • No Comments
Was flicking through the seminal 1970s ski book ‘We Learned To Ski‘ yesterday and had to share this superb pre-season fitness regime – ‘Lifting the groceries’ – This is a blog post from Skipedia written by Iain Martin

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The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer. Please feel free to support or disagree with me in the comments section of each blog entry.