DOM: welcome to our 11th edition of this seasons White Out Podcast, my name is Dom Killinger and I’m joined by my co host Rob Stewart who is currently on location – Hi Rob, where are you?
ROB: Hi Dom, firstly…podcast 11 and it’s not even Christmas.
DOM: I know, I just feel we have so much to talk about Rob.
ROB: well I’m glad you say that. I think the last thing we are going to run out of is words and fortunately it doesn’t look like we are going to run out of snow this winter either. I’m currently in Wengen and there’s tons of the stuff.
DOM: what are you doing there?
ROB: I’ve been with a group of first time skiers this week – people that have never skied before. And you know what, it’s such a cool thing to be involved with. That experience, firstly being in the mountains during the winter – it’s so pretty here too. and then just the whole learning curve of a beginner and this group includes people in their 40’s and 50’s that have never skied before.
DOM: yes I remember when I first learnt to ski – hooked immediately. That exhilaration that sense of freedom and slight loss of control but that you slowly get back as you improve.
ROB: Exactly. Which is why skiing can be enjoyed just as much by beginners as it can with any other level in my opinion. It has been good and there’s also so much history here – Wengen isn’t the worst place to start your skiing journey that’s for sure. what about you Dom, I mean you’re still in the UK, what’s happening!
DOM: yes Rob but I’m off soon with the family to the Aosta Valley and I cannot wait. The kids are super excited and that’s also so nice to see. I know we work in this industry and we are gushing about what we do sometimes but I’m genuinely so looking forward to getting out on those slopes again.
ROB: agree Dom, and nothing better that skiing with the family and the kids. People ask me what is your best ever ski experience and I can happily say I’ve had a few but skiing with my daughter is top of that list, no doubt. Right, what have we got in the news today Dom….
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NEWS:
DOM: lots going Rob but as usual we have squirrelled around to find some of those stories people might not have heard about but lets see…
DOM: Bognor store opens in London
Nothing like a bit of Bognor I’d say! (second that)
Renowned German sports fashion brand BOGNER announces its very first standalone concept store in the UK in collaboration with The Bergladen Group. It opened at the start of the month actually – it’s 5 stories and situated in the heart of Mayfair.
(Wow impressive, but you’d like of expect that right…)
Yep, Bognor, established in 1932 by Willy Bogner in Munich, Germany, is celebrated for its fusion of fashion and functionality and worn by icons such as Lady Di, James Bond and Taylor Swift.
So what you’ll find in the store typically includes the likes of the BOGNOR Adele down ski jacket (£2,500) and the MISHA ski overalls – this is a full on one piece ski suit in pink, for £1,695
(Yes I mean the Bognor stuff isn’t your usual run of the mill Mountain Warehouse style kit!! Ha ha…)
Err no, you want to stand out and make a statement though, there’s nothing quite like it.
Check out the store on 14 Dover Street, Mayfair
Right what’s next…
ROB - CO2 groomer start to roll out on the slopes
A company called Prinoth has launched the world’s first electric snow groomer. It is emission-free and can help ski resorts reduce their ecological footprint and its starting to be bought by ski areas around the world now.
The Husyk E-Motion has been on the market since last year and has been bought by ski resorts and cross-country centres in Norway, Sweden, France, Italy and the USA. The Husyk E-Motion is emission-free – and even more powerful than the diesel model. The electric motor delivers 245 hp and an instant torque of 1,000 Nm. With a runtime of up to three hours, most cross-country trails and smaller slopes are groomed before the 208 kWh battery needs to be recharged.
(This is a great development for ski resorts as they often get accused of polluting the environment – actually ski resorts can be very sustainable and I think increasingly they are more aware it’s in their interest to be so.)
Yes absolutely and it looks seriously fun to drive too.
(oh yes I love driving those things – although I guess if it’s your job it could get boring)
Like anything right…not our job obviously.
Anyway….
DOM: Art in the Alps, Suvretta House St Moritz and Les Arcs
Yes the mountains aren’t always the most obvious places you’d go to look at artwork but there’s a couple of things we’ve spotted recently that paint a different picture.
(ah very good)
Suvretta House Hotel in St Moritz (proper bucket list hotel) is offering an artistic twist this winter season with various exhibitions for guests and other resort visitors to enjoy. They will host a complimentary photo exhibit called……drum roll “Photographs” by Jungjin Lee for the entirety of the winter season. A Korean artist whose work is represented in numerous collections and museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of New York, and the Seoul Museum of Art. Additional winter exhibitions include an art exhibition by Gallery Elle - “Winter Wonderland”, showcasing work by Jani Leinonen and Philippe Pastor in collaboration with Robilant + Voena, available for viewing until 1 April 2024, and an antique vintage Jewellery Exhibition by Oscar R. Steffen showcased from 13 - 18 February 2024.
Then over in Les Arcs, French artist Saype, known for his frescoes found around the world, unveiled a new piece of work painted directly on the snow at over 2,000 meters in the mountains of the Paradiski ski area. The work, titled “Encordés,” consists of two creations, made with 100% natural and eco-friendly charcoal paint. Each of the two frescoes covers an area of 1,000 m².
It looks super impressive and helps to celebrate the 29th anniversary of the Paradiski area – obviously that links Les Arcs with La Plagne.
(nice ok well good to know that art is to be found in those mountains….right next up is the weather report, let’s hope we haven’t been framed on that front)
Ha see what you did there…
DOM: WEATHER:
This weeks weather round up is brought to you by SkiWeekends, The flexible ski holiday experts, choose form 10 fantastic catered chalets and over 100 hotels in over 40 resorts. You can stay as long as you like with SkiWeekends.com”
Let’s start with the general situation in the Alps then…
December has been a little up and down with snow, patches of rain and then snow again. The great news is that generally snow conditions are very good as we head into Christmas and new year with a lot of snow at altitude in places and good conditions down to a pretty decent level.
Theres been snow falling at altitude in the Alps with resorts in France, Switzerland and Austria seeing snow at altitude, (Possibly rain lower down).
Some forecasts said around 1m of snow may fall in places once the latest storm has passed. The freezing level in the last 24 hours has been between 1,000m and 1,400m.
So let’s take the morzine and les gets area for example. There’s great conditions on the slopes and you can ski down into Les Gets. That’s at 1200 metres – below that it would be tricky so that is really where the snow line is. But in general the PdS area is in great shape.
Over in Austria it’s very much the same right now. conditions in the Kitzbuhel area are very good, great on piste skiing…
Rob whats Wengen like - a lot of the Alps it has been sunny this week, but fairly cold and they are making more snow on what is already a very good base.
There is a bit of high pressure sitting around right now which seems to be the normal pattern these days, so cold and sunny – I think it’s what the Christmas and New Year skiers order up!
We have also heard from our friend Scott Hammond in Lillehammer Norway who has said there’s ‘world class conditions, the best he has seen at this time of the year ever’ (and he’s been there around 16 years I’d say)…so great conditions across Scandinavia for sure.
Over in North America, they generally haven’t had a huge start to winter yet. also high pressure is dominating right now, so in the Rockies it’s quite pleasant, not too cold (cold enough) and sunny. So good skiing on groomed trails and like it always does, the big snow will arrive at some point.
Over in Japan, we’ve been saying how they have had a very mild and slow start to winter – well that is all change as normal service resumes. Yep tons of snow like over a metre in a week and it just keeps on coming so it’s definitely going to be pow-january over there.
GEAR:
DOM: HH wins 3 ISPO awards
Helly Hansen has won three ISPO Award-winning designs for Fall/Winter 2024. The Escape Down H2Flow™ Parka, drawing from Arctic expertise, blends technical finesse with urban adaptability, providing warmth, waterproofing, and reflective elements. The Odin Everdown Hooded Jacket showcases THINDOWN® insulation and recycled nylon, delivering lightweight warmth with tear-resistant durability. Co-designed with the Norwegian national alpine ski team, the Kvitfjell Race Insulated Jacket features 4-way stretch, RECCO® reflectors, and Life Pocket+™ technology, ensuring warmth and top-tier performance for ski enthusiasts across skill levels. These innovations embody Helly Hansen's commitment to functionality and style in extreme conditions.
ROB: Arc’teryx academy back
"Announcing the Arc’teryx Freeride Academy's return to St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria, from Feb 1 to 4. Experience four immersive days designed for skiers and snowboarders of all levels. Engage with elite athletes—Victor Daviet, Silvia Moser, Sam Kuch, and Tatum Monod—amid expanded clinics suitable for all. This mountain retreat offers an opportunity to refine your abilities against breathtaking landscapes. The Freeride Village showcases Arc’teryx gear, partner stands, dining, film premieres, athlete talks, and workshops. Immerse yourself in a celebration of mountain sports and community—an event uniting enthusiasts and professionals."
DOM: Bode Miller joins UYN
The US Olympic champion is the new global ambassador for the Italian brand's technical underwear. Soon to be launched, will be a new line of UYN underwear signed by Bode Miller
Bode says: "Joining the UYN team was a natural choice," Bode Miller's words. "I have always been interested in sustainability and products with the highest level of performance. Technical underwear is decisive for thermoregulation, blood circulation and the overall comfort of the athlete. I have spent most of my life outdoors, on the ski slopes or in nature, and have learnt the decisive importance of underwear".
UYN and Bode Miller are already at work on a Signature Edition of Natyon 3.0 underwear, the iconic model chosen by the national ski team. The Natyon line signed by Bode Miller will soon be available in UYN stores and on uynsports.com. Made with Natex bio-fibre from castor beans, it features the latest technology for temperature regulation and freedom of movement. A line inspired by champions to feel like champions on the ski slopes.
RESORT FOCUS:
Arapahoe Basin
DOM: This week we were lucky enough to catch up with Arapahoe Basin’s director of operations, Louis SKOVERA
ROB: Yes that’s right it’s always good to get that first-hand knowledge DOM and he was selling the place to me that’s fir sure.
DOM: yes I went there last season myself Rob and I know we have discussed that. It’s certainly a place for skiers – you know a skiers ski area if that makes sense.
ROB: yes I get that, which is why I really want to go! It sounds great fun and of course so easy to bolt onto skiing many of the other big Colorado resorts.
DOM: That’s right we drove up there from xxxx and it was easy. So let’s hear from Louis – this is a pre recorded interview from last week and Louis was just opening things up for the day in A Basin when we caught up with him.
XXXXX
ROB: great stuff Dom, now it’s time for me to get over that way.
DOM: yes I’m a big fan of the US resorts now – it’s time we went together Rob.
BUCKET LIST:
Top five apres ski destinations
DOM: so as it’s that festive time of the year we thought our bucket list this week should be the five top apres ski experiences on the planet, what do you reckon Rob?
ROB: yes the top five. It’s a tough one because like skiing itself, it comes down to a lot of factors right. Such as the people you’re with, the particular atmosphere in that place on the day and what sort of mood you might be in.
DOM: very true Rob but there’s definitely a bunch of places where your chances of catching a great apres ski buzz is higher than others. But let’s take a look at maybe some of the classics and also a few alternatives….
So Rob, what’s your classic après ski go to resort:
Rob: well Dom, I have been lucky enough to experience significant amounts of apres ski over the past 35 years and some real classics! The likes of Ischgl, the Goasstall bar in Hinterglemm, Dick’s Tea Bar in Val, the Red Rock bar in Queenstown NZ and last season, the Foulie Douce in Avoriaz and trust me, I’ve even had fun in Norway, the list is w2ay to long to go through here….but for me, because I spent several seasons in the resort, Verbier probably holds the most memories and it is a great après ski resort. The Pub Mont Fort might be a bit more upmarket these days and not sure you need to be dragged through the downstairs windows anymore because the queue is so long…but it’s a great pub and then the Farinet and of course the Farm Club are legendary and it’s hard not to have a good time there. I’m not so up on it all these days because I don’t go there very often but I know it’s still renowned for its après and deservedly so. You need fairly deep pockets, I’d say go to Pas de la Casa or Arinsal if you want a fun alternative on a budget!
Dom: You know what rob i know its a bit cheesey and a bit ‘cliche’ to choose this resort, well in fact im gonna cheat im gonna snag 2 resorts - tignes and val dsiere…i stayed in the fabulous ski in ski out resort of YNYCIO last year in Tignes and could look straight out onto cocorico at the bottom of the slope and that as well as the one in Val are so much fun, live bands every night, plenty of people rocking the place out loud, i really do enjoy cocoricco, almost more than i enjoy folie douce also between tignes and val, albeit you gotta respect and love those places for what they achieve - so they would be my choice
Rob: nice one Dom okay let’s look at those alternative places then:
Dom: ok well it may not be that off the wall, but i would go mad trappers in banff sunshine. so banff sunshine is up the gondola from the base station and theres no shops there etc at but there is sunshine mountain lodge the only hotel on the slopes in banff and right next door is mad trappers a proper canadian saloon bar and come the end of the day there pretty much nowhere else to go for apres especially for seasonnnaires so this place gets a bit lively and its seriously good, fun, its not the same sort of dancing on tables brigade but its proper hockey o n the big screens beers flowing great music and solid fun, so that would be my off the wall one..
Rob: for me, I’m going to mention the country of Georgia. It doesn’t have a party scene like the Alps but they like a drink or 12 over there. the wine is amazing and great value and they have a drink called ChaCha which is basically grappa and they drink it like water. I’m not kidding, it’s often on the table in a jug like water would be here. There’s good little bars in Gudauri, the country’s most commercial resort and the closest to the capital Tbilisi and then if you manage to make the trip to Mestia (well worth it but sometimes it feels easier to get to the moon, but that is part of the charm), there’s some really fun local bars there and it’s sooo cheap. Although the locals can be a little bit frisky so just watch out. Then Tbilisi itself is very up and coming, very hipster and it’s a cool city these days and I love the bars and the vibe there. so yes, that’s my alternative apres place.