91: Aletsch Arena, Snow Forecasting, Boot Fitting and the SIGB Ski Test

In Episode 91 we discuss the Aletsch Arena in Switzerland, the Altitude Comedy Festival, the art of boot fitting, the art of snow forecasting, as well as going behind the scenes at the UK’s 2023 ski test.

Iain was joined by Janine Winter from Winter World Connect and Nick Russill, founder of snow-forecast.com as well as down the line by Andrew Maxwell & Marcus Brigstocke from the Altitude Comedy Festival, as well as regulars Katie Crowe from Battleface Travel Insurance, Al Morgan from SkiKitInfo.

SHOW NOTES

• Read Iain’s report of his train journey from London to Andermatt

[Case Study] Switzerland by Train from the UK https://t.co/9Vl1QH5BCE @MySwitzerland_e @AndermattReuss @eurostar #traintravel #skiflightfree #switzerland #andermatt pic.twitter.com/Nif50m819O

— Skipedia.co.uk (@skipedia) March 18, 2022

• All of Europe has been coated in Saharan sand this week

Snowboarding on Saharan sand…in the Pyrénées https://t.co/VgFTGpvPtP pic.twitter.com/TFrQQ1Cuqz

— Skipedia.co.uk (@skipedia) March 17, 2022

• Nick visited Davos
• Janine is based in Kaprun
• For your ski insurance, make sure you go along to Battleface Travel
• Al reported from Stubai and Kuhtai in Austria
• Stephen Spiers reported from Glencoe in Scotland
• Find out more about The Mighty Coe event in Episode 89
• Iain visited the Aletsch Arena in Switzerland
• The connection from train to resort is so well designed

Straight off the train & onto the cable car: That's how it works when you arrive at Fiesch on the Matterhorn Gotthard railway. It doesn’t get any simpler than this. @AletschArena_ch #aletscharena #traintravel #skiflightfree #switzerland @MySwitzerland_e pic.twitter.com/9TXDXwkaoU

— Skipedia.co.uk (@skipedia) March 13, 2022

• Iain stayed at the Hotel Eggishorn in Fiescheralp at 2212m 
• Try the dish cholera when you come to Aletsch

Most surprisingly-named dish of the day? In Bettmeralp they serve 'Cholera': a vegetable pie created in a time when people were not allowed to leave the house (sound familiar?) @AletschArena_ch pic.twitter.com/F0MnETmM7v

— Skipedia.co.uk (@skipedia) March 13, 2022

• Kids u20 can ski for free on Saturdays in Aletsch Arena
• Nick Russill is one of the co-founders of Snow-Forecast.com 
• Membership of Snow Forecast is available from £3.99 per month
• Janine’s website is called Winter World Connect
• Al was at the SIGB Snow Test in Kuhtai
• SIGB also organise the Slide industry trade show
• Iain rents his skis from Intersport Ski Hire

• The Altitude Comedy Festival takes place in Mayrhofen later this month 
• Listen to our special episode with Andrew Maxwell and Marcus Brigstocke
• Listen to our interview with medal-winner Millie Knight in Episode 90
• We were delighted to see Ukraine so well in the medal table
• Jasmine Taylor has had a superb finish to the season

5 podiums (inc 2 wins) in 5 races in Les Houches & Murren . Chapeau @jaztelemark https://t.co/SzHh4acSdv

— Skipedia.co.uk (@skipedia) March 15, 2022

• Charlotte Bankes won the overall World Cup Snowboard Cross
• Mia Brookes also finished the season on a high

Congratulations to Mia Brookes, the 15-year-old was confirmed as Junior World Snowboard Champion for @GBSnowsport after her recent Big Air win in Leysin pic.twitter.com/v0cV48pHF1

— Skipedia.co.uk (@skipedia) March 15, 2022

Voting for the Sports Podcast Awards are now closed: we’ll bring you the results in the next podcast. Thanks so much if you did vote for us. 

If you’d like to give your feedback on the show, just drop us an email to theskipodcast@gmail.com

Thanks to Peter S: “Iain is a great ambassador for our sport. Really enthusiastic.”

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You can follow Iain @skipedia and the podcast @theskipodcast