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
South Downs Way 100 Ultra Marathon article on RadSeason
Iain

South Downs Way 100 Ultra Marathon article on RadSeason

by iain on Jul 6, 2018 • No Comments
Iain recently completed the South Downs Way 100 ultra marathon. You can read his report on the race in this article on RadSeason: You can watch Iain’s video report on the race here: Trail Running articles by Iain You can also read other trail running articles by Iain about the Trail Aiguilles Rouges (2017) and...
La Folie Douce to open first hotel in Chamonix
Resorts

La Folie Douce to open first hotel in Chamonix

by iain on Jun 27, 2018 • No Comments
La Folie Douce is diversifying beyond their highly successful ‘clubbing in the snow’ concept by opening their first hotel this December in Chamonix Mont Blanc. The new project is a joint venture between La Folie Douce et Les Hôtels (très) Particuliers. They will take over La Palace Le Savoy, formerly occupied by Club Med. Opening...
Record snowfall delays opening of Alpine mountain passes
Resorts

Record snowfall delays opening of Alpine mountain passes

by iain on Jun 22, 2018 • No Comments
One of the consequences of the record snow season of 2017/18 is that many of the mountain passes around the Alps have been much more difficult to clear than in ‘normal’ years. Col de l’Iseran Even now, towards the end of June, some passes, such as the Col de l’Iseran in Val d’Isère have still not...
Trail Running article by Skipedia on welove2ski
Iain / Resorts

Trail Running article by Skipedia on welove2ski

by iain on Jun 22, 2018 • No Comments
Iain’s article on ‘Trail running in the Alps‘ was recently published on welove2ski.com The article looks at which races to choose, how to enter and how to prepare – based on his experience of running mountain marathons and ultra marathons in the Alps:   Trail Running articles by Iain You can also read Iain’s race...
Les Saisies family skiing article on InTheSnow
Resorts

Les Saisies family skiing article on InTheSnow

by iain on Jun 8, 2018 • No Comments
Iain travelled to Les Saisies in the Beaufortain region of the French Alps with his family at Easter. His article on family skiing in the Espace Diamante region was published on InTheSnow Magazine’s website last month. Great for families: CGH Hameau du Beaufortain Iain stayed at the superb CGH Hameau du Beaufortain self catering apartments, booked through Erna...
Three Days in Les 3 Vallées
Resorts

Three Days in Les 3 Vallées

by iain on May 21, 2018 • No Comments
With the best snow in a generation, what better season to sneak in a final few days in the world’s largest ski area…Les 3 Vallées. Day 1 My family have been lucky enough to ski in Les 3 Vallées several times before, so we didn’t waste our time. After dropping our bags at our Le Ski...

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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.