168: Ski Test 2023/24, Protect Our Winters & Solar Power in Méribel

The Ski Podcast

We discuss next year's kit, travelling to the mountains by train & EV and solar panels in Méribel. Plus we have new snow reports, a Team GB update and a snippet from our forthcoming interview with Ed Leigh.
Iain was joined by Lauren MacCallum and Lindsey Dixon from Protect Our Winters and equipment expert, Al Morgan from SkiKitInfo.com
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SHOW NOTES

• Al was in La Clusaz (2:00)
• Here’s a look at Candide Thovex doing what he does best in his home resort

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKP7jQknGjs

• Lindsey reports on her skiing in Val d’Isere
• Lauren was splitboarding in Cairngorm, Scotland and prior to that in Les 7 Laux, France (see our main photo for a shot of the inversion!) (3:00)
• Betony Garner reported from Flaine, France (5:15)
• Dave Burrows from Snowpros Ski School reported from Morgins, Switzerland (plus Avoriaz & Villars) (6:30)
• Ed Leigh has been splitboarding in Courchevel (9:15)
• The SIGB Ski Test took place in La Clusaz (11:15)
• The industry trade show, Slide, takes place in early January (17:00)

https://twitter.com/skipedia/status/1621049951538003969

• Al writes up his equipment tests for his own website SkiKitInfo.com, as well as for The Telegraph and Fall Line Skiing magazine
• Trends to look out for include ‘cinch’ bindings on ski boots (20:00)
• Look out for the Salomon Addict Pro piste ski (21:00)
• Lauren uses a Nidecker Thruster unisex snowboard (23:00)
• Al tested the Carv device (24:00)
• Protect Our Winters was founded by snowboarder Jeremy Jones (28:00)
• Lindsey travelled on a Ouigo service from Paris to Bourg-St-Maurice (30:30)
• The final bus transfer was booked with Altibus (37:00)
• Lauren drove to Val Thorens in a Tesla Y electric car (38:00)
• Iain drove to Zermatt in a Tesla in August (39:00)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8fgtVU3bhI

• Regenerative braking adds to the battery range when going downhill (42:30)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xthOeIsk3Mc

• Clement Martinod works for the Meribel Alpine lift company
• Solar panels have been added to the Saulire Express lift mid-station (44:00)
• All Compagnie des Alpes snow groomers have been converted from diesel to HVO (48:00)
• Dave Ryding came second in Kitzbuhel (50:00)
• Mia Brookes took second in the Laax Open Freestyle Snowboard Slopestyle World Cup
• Iain interviewed Mia in Episode 158
• Zoe Atkin won gold in the Ski Superpipe at the XGames in Aspen
• Kirsty Muir won two bronzes at the XGames
• Makayla Gerken Schofield took bronze in her first Moguls World Cup podium
• The Alpine Ski World Championships take place in Courchevel and Meribel in Les 3 Vallees from 06-13 Feb (51:00)
• The full interview with Ski Sunday’s Ed Leigh will be released as Episode 169 on 10 February

Feedback

I enjoy all feedback about the show, I like to know what you think, ideas for features so please contact on social @theskipodcast or by email [e-mail]
Rachel Flynn: "Absolutely loving the podcast"
BobinCH: "James was a great listen in Episode 166"
Kat Ryb: "How have I not come across this before? Just listened to the two recent episodes and they are great!"
Joe Childs: "I am completely addicted to your podcast. I really like the mix of content, alongside the frequent sustainability features, equipment reviews & snow reports. Having watched the first episode of Ski Sunday of the season (probably my favourite TV programme) on 8th January, I searched Spotify for something similar and found The Ski Podcast. Since then, I have listened to 41 of the episodes and I have no plan to slow down.”
You can follow iain @skipedia and the podcast @theskipodcast