Skipedia

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...

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’),...

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...

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...

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...

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

Resorts / Social Media

Instagrammers invited on ‘Insta Expedition’ to Verbier

by iain on Mar 9, 2016 • No Comments

While the debate about the value of Instagram and its ‘Instagrammers’ goes on, many brands continue to reach out to influencers. The Swiss ski resort of Verbier has recently run an innovative promotion. The resort invited five influential Instagrammers from three countries for a special ‘Insta Expedition’. Mountain Photography Expedition Organised in partnership...

Resorts

55% of La Folie Douce Val Thorens sold for €2.5m

by iain on Mar 4, 2016 • No Comments

Most British skiers to France will have heard of the ‘clubbing at altitude’ concept of La Folie Douce. The first Folie Douce was established in Val d’Isere in 2007 by founder Luc Reversade. You can now party and eat in six resorts across the French Alps – Val d’Isere, Val Thorens, Meribel-Courchevel, Alpe d’Huez and...

Resorts

Conspiracy against La Grave?

by iain on Feb 4, 2016 • No Comments

Many skiers and snowboarders will know that the main road along the Oisons valley from Grenoble to La Grave has been blocked for almost a year now. Tunnel de Chambon closed The road was closed when a huge 60m crack was found in the wall of the Tunnel de Chambon. This has still not been...

Iain / Resorts

Les 2 Alpes article by Skipedia in ‘Men’s Running’

by iain on Jan 30, 2016 • No Comments

In January, Iain from Skipedia went out to Les 2 Alpes to take part in their Night Snowtrail event. His report on the race was published on the ‘Men’s Running Magazine’ website. You can read the full article here. You can watch Iain’s video about the event here: Iain uses custom insoles...

Iain

St Anton article by Skipedia in ‘InTheSnow’ magazine

by iain on Jan 28, 2016 • No Comments

Skipedia doesn’t just create online content: last season Iain Martin from Skipedia headed out to St Anton. His article looking at how the resort has changed since the days that the first British visitors in the 1960s has now been published in the February issue of ‘InTheSnow’ magazine. Take this link to read more print...

Ideas

When sub-editors ruin your day: Telegraph Ski get it wrong

by iain on Jan 17, 2016 • No Comments

No one is disputing that December was one of the worst on record for Europe’s ski resorts. It was the warmest December in France since 1900. Figures from Bloomberg suggest it was the second warmest on record in Europe: Then the dailies got involved… Naturally this drew some unhelpful headlines from some of the nationals,...

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