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
New Facebook Timeline tested in NZ
Social Media

New Facebook Timeline tested in NZ

by iain on Jan 9, 2013 • No Comments
Mashable have revealed that a new look for the Facebook timeline is on the way. It is already being tested in New Zealand and will be rolled out globally during the next month or two. By Iain Martin
Why you should disable ads on your brand's YouTube channel...
Social Media / Tour Operators

Why you should disable ads on your brand’s YouTube channel…

by iain on Jan 3, 2013 • No Comments
Browsing my Facebook News Feed earlier this week, I noticed this interesting post from Crystal Ski: Great engagement As posts go, this has had over 700 likes, which makes it their most successful post in the last month.  It’s a clever video, editing together lots of the Crystal resort staff wishing their fans a Happy...
A Ski Resort Rebrand Case Study: Val Thorens United
Branding / Resorts

A Ski Resort Rebrand Case Study: Val Thorens United

by iain on Dec 24, 2012 • 2 Comments
Last week Skipedia met with Gregory Guzzo, director of the Val Thorens Tourist Office to discuss the process and rationale behind their recent rebrand to ‘Val Thorens United’. Skipedia: What were the reasons for this change? Gregory Guzzo:  The ski market is approaching maturity.  Competition within travel, particularly on the internet, is increasing faster than...
Skiplex expand to Reading and create a ski industry success story
Events / Ideas

Skiplex expand to Reading and create a ski industry success story

by iain on Dec 15, 2012 • No Comments
Followers of industry stats will know that the number of people taking snowsports holidays has decreased in each of the last four years. So with a market that’s fallen by almost 25% it’s a rare pleasure to find a business that’s bucking the trend and expanding rapidly.   Skiplex recently opened its second centre in Reading,...
More pictures of cars covered in snow...
Ideas

More pictures of cars covered in snow…

by iain on Dec 10, 2012 • 1 Comment
Less than a week ago we were contemplating just what it is that makes a car covered in snow so appealing. And as the snow has kept coming down, that gives us the chance to share even more great photos of cars, vans and buses, all stuck in this great snowfall that the Alps has...
What is it about a car covered in snow that's so appealing?
Ideas

What is it about a car covered in snow that’s so appealing?

by iain on Dec 5, 2012 • No Comments
Of all the great snow images we’ve seen over the last few days (thanks to the three-day snowstorm the Alps is currently enjoying), most of the best have involved cars.   What is it about a car covered in snow that’s so appealing? I like to think that in our world dominated by technology and...

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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.