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
Quarantine Chaos (and some positive ski industry news)
Ideas

Quarantine Chaos (and some positive ski industry news)

by iain on May 17, 2020 • No Comments
Let’s start with the positive, before we move onto the UK government’s complete inability to develop and deliver policy. New Zealand resorts will open The easing of lockdown restrictions in NZ mean that ski areas will open. There will no limits to numbers on the slopes, only in buildings, and social distancing will apply throughout....
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly [Ski Industry Lockdown Update]
Ideas / Marketing

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly [Ski Industry Lockdown Update]

by iain on May 10, 2020 • No Comments
The Good Austrian glaciers are planning their opening, and in the case of a few lucky racers have already started Arapahoe Basin still hopes to open for the end of this season This has some early thoughts about how Australian resorts might open for their winter season All French ski areas are in the ‘green...
French Skier Days down 16% in 2019/20
Resorts

French Skier Days down 16% in 2019/20

by iain on May 6, 2020 • No Comments
A report by Domaines Skiables de France (DSF) shows that the number of skier days for the 2019/2020 winter season in French ski areas was down 16% year on year and down 15% on the 4-year rolling average. Skier days down only 2% before Covid-19 struck The drop in numbers was of course principally due...
COVID-19 Ski Industry Survey: Press Coverage
Ideas

COVID-19 Ski Industry Survey: Press Coverage

by iain on May 6, 2020 • No Comments
It has been great to see the coverage that our Covid-19 Ski Industry Survey has had in the press since it was published on April 30 2020. Of course, we wish that we had better news to share, but it’s important that the public and others in the industry understand the unique challenge that we...
[Covid-19] 11 Ski Industry Ideas from the last week
Ideas

[Covid-19] 11 Ski Industry Ideas from the last week

by iain on May 3, 2020 • No Comments
As we end week six of the UK lockdown, it might sometimes seem as if it’s never going to end, but there has been some positivity this week: France has announced ‘progressive and controlled’ exit plan Individual sports will be allowed from 11 May, as well as the right to travel up to 100km. The...
[COVID-19] UK Ski Industry Survey Results
Ideas / Marketing / Resorts / Tour Operators

[COVID-19] UK Ski Industry Survey Results

by iain on Apr 30, 2020 • No Comments
A survey of UK ski industry professionals by Ski Press and Skipedia demonstrates the damaging impact of Covid-19 on the world of snowsports. Key Points 64% are experiencing reduced sales for next winter 24% fear going out of business 60% have furloughed staff 80% are worried about future restrictions on UK passport holders 71% believe...

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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.