DOM: Here comes the summer time Rob
ROB: yes Dom, I remember cigarettes, tube socks, sun burns and long blond hair. Well maybe not the cigarettes but the rest for sure.
DOM: I thought tube socks were more a winter thing.
ROB: ummm, okay how about: I remember watermelon, finger banging, purple rain and being cool.
DOM: finger banging?!
ROB: the words of Josh Rouse not mine, although I think it’s a musical reference, I do it a lot.
DOM: maybe we should get this guy on the podcast?
ROB: well he did write a song about summer but not sure he’s a skier. Although he does also sing: And the feeling doesn't last that long. Before you know it, it's up and gone…
DOM: he’s definitely British then.
ROB: ha ha yes but maybe, like us, summer is just a bridge back to the next winter Dom?
DOM: well yes, but actually these days, is it? Because we are launching out summer edition of The White Out podcast and of course now it’s all about summer in the mountains!
ROB: and you know Dom, summer is just getting better and better. I mean skiing, what’s that all about?
DOM: well we still love skiing Rob but yes like you getting out to the mountains, usually the Alps in our case, during the summer is becoming a must now and it is becoming such a big part of most let’s say ski resorts all year round offering.
ROB: yes so in our first edition of the White Out Podcast summer – we really thought about that didn’t we.
DOM: stick to the programme Rob…
ROB: yes so we will be covering a whole raft of things including of course our news round-up, where we will also mention any relevant winter news too, we’ll be focusing on one particular activity in each episode and this week it’s mountain biking, then a destination feature and a bucket list feature too.
DOM: very much like the normal White Out podcast format but with a bit of warmth thrown in. although with all this excitement, we haven’t actually done the usual introductions.
ROB: true but I was thinking we need one of those jingles like they have on the radio, you know.
DOM: what like this one: (Tony Blackburn, 1.25 in): https://youtu.be/QAfq1nJ088E?si=M9YN5CqLjTTgIwu9
ROB: yes exactly…Dominic Killinger, from InTheSnow, on the white out...it’s got a ring to it.
DOM: ummm anyway, in the meantime, thanks for the intro Rob, what about you?
ROB: yes my name is Rob Stewart and I am co-presenter of the white out and run Ski Press Media and PR (in a BBC accent)
DOM: okay time to crack on I think. so what is summer in the mountains all about – what can you do and where can you go?
ROB: good question Dom. The thing is, being in the mountains during the summer is a very different experience to winter because obviously during the winter the primary focus is normally skiing or snowboarding and you’re often out all day.
DOM: yes so a summer mountain holiday can be a lot more chilled. Of course you could go to the mountains in summer purely to mountain bike and then that can be more like a ski experience – you’re out there all day riding, using the lifts and getting as much time for your pass as possible.
ROB: right, but of course if you’re in a group and there’s non mountain bikers, you might go for a hike, maybe using the lifts, go for a swim – there’s often lakes or swimming pools, or just enjoy the town or village you’re in, have a nice lunch in the sun.
DOM: e mountain biking has grown a lot too, it’s easy to rent them and they make life a lot easier when going uphill and you don’t need to be on the single track routes that can be intimating for people that aren’t used to them.
ROB: road cycling is also very popular in some areas, especially places where the tour de France might go through or other famous cols (mountain passes) in the Alps.
DOM: zip wires are pretty popular too, I remember last summer Rob we did that day of zip wires, then jumped on mountain carts which are literally go karts that use gravity to go down the mountain, then even jumping onto those scooters too, again down the mountain. Quite scary but a lot of fun.
ROB: yes it was! Then you do have the classic hikes, and all the mountaineering too which I think is what people imagine it’s like but of course these days there’s just so much more to it. my first summer in the mountains was Chamonix in 1991 – that’s what you went there for then, to climb big mountains.
DOM: yes it’s so different now and of course you can still do that stuff but as a family I know we both get a lot out of spending time in these places during the summer.
ROB: yes and it’s not just the Alps although they are generally the easiest to get to if we are talking about overseas destinations although we must not forget the mountains on our own doorstep and we will have a feature on that through the summer. The Alps have the most to offer I would say, but then the Dolomites, the Pyrenees, Scandinavia and North America are also popular destinations for mountain activities.
DOM: I know you have some recent data to share on all of that Rob. Shall we crack on with the news…
News
Winter News:
ROB: There’s actually quite a lot of news coming out right now that is winter related. We have just had a trade conference, LISTEX where we saw the results of a large consumer survey based on skiers winter habits, desires and bookings trends which we’ll bring to you in the next episode, plus…a few other things…what’s happening Dom?
DOM: Big news Rob, well we think so. Dave Ryding has switched brands and signed with Head, moving from Fischer where he’s been for several years now.
ROB: yes he was on Dynastar for a while then switched back to Fischer but this is a big move towards what you’d think is the final stages of his racing career, but let’s see.
DOM: it will be interesting to watch next season that’s for sure. what else is happening Rob?
ROB: the 2024 AJ Bell 3 Valley Rally for the charity Snow Camp raised over £250,000. The event took place in Val Thorens from April 13-16 and it was their 20th edition. Raising that much money for helping to get young people from disadvantaged backgrounds into skiing and snowboarding can only be a good thing.
DOM: wow that’s a lot of cash, fantastic stuff. We’ve also just seen the 16th edition of the International Report on Snow & Mountain Tourism, unveiled as always by Laurent Vanat during the opening conference of Mountain Planet in Grenoble. It’s Business as usual according to the king of ski stats - winter 2022/23 clocked again more than 370 million skier visits worldwide.
ROB: yes Dom, and Laurent had a right dig at some parts of the media too, he said this:
“Despite the pre-formatted anti-ski ideology spread by mainstream media, politicians and part of the general public, skiing is not yet finished. Many mountain destinations around the world are happy to continue welcoming their winter guests, supplying for substantial part of their local economy. Although everybody in the industry is aware about the climate issues and working hard to consolidate a 4-season logic, the path is long and not easy. But there is no way to kill skiing while it is still perfectly alive and will remain so for long in most of the resorts that make most of the ski business.
DOM: yes interesting and then he also listed some of the key points in his findings that included:
• Records of attendance in several major mature markets;
• Visitation from season passes on the rise in various countries;
• Development of innovative ticketing solutions, with continuous spread of dynamic pricing and alternative pricing models, such as pay per use;
• Move from the traditional guest service focused on selling lift tickets towards providing an experience on the mountain;
• Investments both to consolidate the ski business and to diversify activities;
• Increase of 4-season activity, improving economic sustainability of lift operators.
ROB: and it’s been pointed out that China is the fastest growing ski market, although I do think the reality of how that evolved is to be seen. Skiing in China is very different from the Alps right now. Just another quick winter alpine race story before we move onto the summer – this is not that new in regards to the news but Norwegian ski racer Lucas Braathens who quit ski racing at the start of last season – he’s still young and at the top of his game so it was all a bit odd, has now announced he’s coming back and racing for Brazil. He is half Brazilian so that makes sense but still, it must feel like a blow for the Norwegian team.
DOM: and more recently we heard about the legendary Austrian skier Marcel Hirscher making a comeback from retirement to compete for The Netherlands.
ROB: yes I know! well I always enjoyed watching Marcel ski so welcome that but I do feel this random swapping of nations might set a precedent and I’m not really sure about it. good luck to him and if he does well then fair enough but I am not convinced that even the might Hirscher will make the impact he would want.
DOM: again will be interesting to see and we’ll hold you to that predication Rob.
ROB: fair enough, and something I have just heard about too, again on the winter ski racing side but British world cup Giant Slalom skier Charlie Raposo – who I interviewed a couple of years back now, has retired from racing at the age of 28 following a serious knee injury this season…but, he has already announced a role with Lucas Brathens the Norwegian Brazilian as his manager. Watch this space I guess….
DOM: It’s all happening Rob, great stuff but let’s move onto summer, otherwise we’ll just be talking skiing all day….
ROB: yes ok so first up, onto….
Summer news:
This story: https://www.lovethemountains.co.uk/rental-bike-delivery-to-your-holiday-chalet/
Note i think we need to make this quick as stats on podcasts i dont think works that well when theres too much
ROB: Survey results – SASTEX, which is the summer part of the Mountain Trade Network’s LISTEX trade event, saw the results of a summer in the mountains survey that I presented the results too earlier this week. Last year was the first time that we had any data so it was interesting to compare like by like and the results are pretty interesting…Just a few highlights:
· Over half of skiers are saying they either go to the mountains in summer or would like to
· About a quarter say the same for spring and autumn
· Travel wise it’s split pretty evenly 50/50 between people flying or driving, but train travel is up to 5% of the total, a rise of 2% from last year
· About 70% go to hike, but almost 30% for mountain biking and 20% for road cycling
· France is the most popular country with 61% saying the go there but Austria very close behind and then Italy but Switzerland seeing the most growth and now around the same as Italy (around 50%)
· 4* hotels are the most popular type of accommodation during the summer
· 30% of people look to Magazines and newspapers for advice of where to go, over taking advice from family members – resort websites are also very important
DOM: that’s great to hear about the magazines and newspapers – what about podcasts!
ROB: there wasn’t a question about that…yet.
DOM: ok let’s talk Glaciers – there’s been lots of news surrounding the glacier areas in the Alps this summer and the restrictions on summer skiing. There’s actually incredible conditions right now on the glaciers but for various reasons many are either closing for summer skiing or restricting the numbers. This is mostly due to climate change of course but Zermatt has banned ski racing teams from training, which some are saying is a little bit down to the fact that FIS decided to cancel any on going alpine ski races there after two failed seasons.
ROB: yes it’s sort of ironic because it looks like the conditions right now will set the summer skiing season up quite nicely. What else is happening Dom?
DOM: The Tour de France, as always, will visit the mountains in July, both the Pyrenees and the Alps – let’s look at some of the mountain finishes for the tour de France this summer.
ROB: Yes Something I have always wanted to go and see but still haven’t.
DOM: would be amazing…so in the Pyrenees we have finishes in Saint-Lary and Plateau de Beille, then in the Alps there finishes in Valloire, Superdevoluy, Barcellonette and Isola 2000 (deux mille) and also starts in Saint Jean de Maurienne and Embrun.
ROB: nice to see Embrun on the map – I did a summer there a long time ago, fantastic watersports on the lake. White water rafting on the river…
DOM: yes and of course we’ll see some climbs on famous cols such as the Galibier, and for the very first time the tour starts in Italy, with a few stages including Florence and Rimini and then finishes in Nice, due to the Olympic games taking place in Paris. Check it all out at: www.letour.fr/en
ROB: yes that’s going to be really interesting…my cousin lives in Nice, ummm, I’m seeing her next week at a family wedding, wonder if she’s got a spare room? Anyway onto New mountain bikes – we are going to focus on mountain bikes in this edition but worth mentioning that Rossignol, the famous ski manufacturer, has launched a range of mountain bikes. There’s five in the range for men and women and also juniors based on different size options. these are classic full suspension trail bikes and start at around £2,000 and go to around £3,500. But it looks like they are heavily discounting them on their website right now. Rossignol.com/gb-en
DOM: yes the bike market is very tough right now and it’s interesting to see a new player in the market but you can clearly get a very good deal on mountain bikes right now.
ROB: yes the Trail Mandate XP is the top of the range Rossignol bike and the spec looks good and right now it’s £2,265 instead of the full £3,775
DOM: another new bike launch that has grabbed our attention is the Scott Voltage e-ride. An electric mountain bike. Scott Sports says: “The Voltage eRIDE is designed for existing MTB enthusiasts who crave an agile, lightweight and insanely capable Trail bike, with the addition of a compact and quiet motor to take you further than ever before”.
ROB: I do like the sound of that Dom and I love an e bike I must say, especially in the Alps….what’s the cost?
DOM: well yes, prices start at around £6,000 and push up towards the £12,000 mark for the top of the range model. You can check them out at scott-sports.com/gb/en/voltage, but the prices look pretty set in on these ones right now.
ROB: fair enough, it’s a lot of money but it seems to be an area of the market that is still growing and people are prepared to spend. It brings us nicely into our ‘activity focus’ for this episode which is mountain biking.
Focus on - Mountain Biking
DOM: yep mountain biking is firmly established as a mountain sport and destinations that have ski lift infrastructure have been offering uplift more and more over the years and it’s now a huge part of many mountain destinations strategy, especially in the Alps and North America, but also plenty of other destinations too, including of course the UK which has some of the best trail centres in the world, albeit not all with uplift options.
ROB: I love the UK trail centres and I have spent many happy days in Scotland and Wales in particular but yes very much on the sort of what was or is known as enduro riding, a mix of climbing and single track downhill, although there’s some great downhill only options such as Bike Park Wales that has uplift and also others.
DOM: a quick look at the history of mountain biking, really coming out of the BMX scene in the 70’s and 80’s and taking off in California with the first hard tail bikes through the 80’s and 1990’s. Then front suspension initially before full suspension bikes, but they were heavy. The development came through the noughties and 2010’s where bikes became lighter and lighter and then of course e mountain bikes kicked in too.
ROB: yes and then the whole development of different styles and categories developed and competitions that include the Olympic discipline of cross country mountain biking that debuted at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Then the first official world championships took place in 1990 in Durango, Colorado. But the sport has really developed and now there’s several different mountain biking disciplines, let’s take a look…
DOM: yes so there’s a world championships every year but also a world cup circuit, it’s not dissimilar to how ski racing works in some ways and it’s run by the UCI - Union Cycliste Internationale, based in Switzerland. The disciplines are:
· Cross country – the Olympic discipline
· Cross country marathon – a longer version of cross country
· Cross country eliminator – a fast action packed race over a short course with 4 riders per team
· The downhill – fast, up to 80km’s per hour and technical with lots of jumps
· Four Cross – which is pretty similar to ski or snowboard cross
· Enduro – which is basically cross country but with more downhill and more technical sections
ROB: lots of disciplines which also means lots of different categories of mountain bikes to suit all those needs. Simply put there’s hardtails – which means front suspension only, for the cross country, then enduro for the enduro, very similar to a trail bike, with a few differences – but these set ups have full suspension and are also pretty lightweight, so good for both up and downhill, then the downhill bikes which obviously have full suspension and bigger front forks. This is known as the travel of the bike, the range of the front forks, but also the rear suspension too. It’s quite a complex picture and if you’re thinking of buying a mountain bike you do need to do some research on exactly what set up would work best and cost is a big factor – basically less is more. The lighter, the more expensive is a crude way to look at it. the exception to that rule is the e bike, and full suspension e mountain bikes that are essentially a trail bike set up are the most popular. Bit like the Scott Voltage e-ride we mentioned before.
DOM: and then there’s all the gear too. Maybe not as involved as skiing, but there is a whole world of gear out there when it comes to mountain biking so let’s take a little look at some of that…
Helmets are probably the number one priority and obviously absolutely crucial. You just don’t go out mountain biking without a helmet. There’s a certain style of mountain bike helmets that are different from the road cycling type but for the standard trail riding stuff there’s not a huge difference. For downhill and anything that involves a bike park – or for example any kind of downhill riding in the Alps, a full face helmet is needed which includes a section over the chin. The more serious ones look almost like motorcycle helmets.
Downhill riders can also wear googles that have clear lenses.
ROB: yes other protection includes shin and knee pads and elbow pads and also a back protector. Generally not worn for cross country riding, mostly worn for trail riding and definitely worn for downhill.
Shoes are the next consideration. Road cyclists often wear cleats that clip into the pedals and cross country mountain bikers would normally choose to do this too and then some trail riders might but the more technical and downhill it gets, the less you’d want to do that. Most trail riders and downhill riders would have large flat pedals and mountain bike shoes that don’t clip in.
DOM: and then there’s Clothing…gloves are key and there’s half finger or full finger options with padding on them. different types of mountain biking shorts too, again some with padding and even protection, we could go into a huge amount of detail around the clothing and we will be reviewing some through the summer, but a lot is down to personal preference.
ROB: yes there’s Eyewear too – I would always wear glasses of some kind. And of course hydration packs and backpacks to hold them and you’re packed lunch, obviously.
DOM: There is a lot to consider and I would just say that if you’re thinking about getting into mountain biking then the UK is a great place to start. It’s less intimidating than the alps and great training if that is your end goal.
ROB: yes totally. That brings us nicely into our where to ride section Dom.
Where to ride?
Firstly I have just heard from the guys at the Warren Smith Ski Academy and they have told me about their new Warren smith Bike Academy, based in Verbier, over the summer. Verbier has been positioning itself as a mountain bike destination now for a few years and the academy is offering guiding with instruction for all levels.
DOM: yes the alps is obviously an incredible destination in general when it comes to mountain biking and most ski resorts have managed to turn themselves into lift serviced mountain biking destinations – and more and more they are creating circuits for e mountain biking too.
ROB: yes we can’t name them all, but let’s start by going through a few of the UK trail centres starting in Scotland where I discovered the joys of mountain biking more than 20 years ago. Glen tress is possibly the most well-known trail centre and it has really developed over the years – spooky wood is a classic red run – and quickly point out that I think red runs at UK trail centres are easier than alpine ones! There’s some incredible trail centres in Scotland…actually we should do a tour of them Dom, that would be cool.
DOM: yes but closer to your doorstep now Rob is Wales and there’s an abundance there too. in the south, Afan Forest Park, Bike Park Wales and Cym Carn and then in the north wales coed y Brenin, Marin Trail and Penmacno to name a few.
ROB: ah yes, the Marin is an absolute must for any mountain biker. Let’s not forget England though – the Forest of Dean is great, and I have also spent a lot of time at Swinley Forest near Bracknell. You don’t get the vertical but it’s a fantastic facility not too far from London. Check out swinleybikehub.com
Just before my daughter was born 15 years ago I did a tour of some of the country’s mountain bike trails knowing this was a chance I wouldn’t have for a very long time and one of my favourites was Grizedale in the Lake District, such a nice spot.
DOM: but what about the alps Rob? Any mountain biker cutting their teeth in the UK would surely want to go on a pilgrimage to some of the classic Alpine mountain bike destinations…
ROB: absolutely, so maybe we can pick one from each alpine country, I’ll start with Les Gets in France – arguably Europe’s home of mountain biking and where it all started.
DOM: definitely, okay well we mentioned Verbier in Switzerland already, which is the largest, but Bike Kingdom Lenzerheide follows closely behind. It’s a huge area linking up with Arosa too.
ROB: umm nice. Ok I am going to mention the Dolomites in Italy and specifically out of Selva Val Gardena where you can do a day mountain bike tour around the sella ronda, it’s epic and I would recommend and e bike for that unless you happen to be incredibly fit.
DOM: and in Austria I am going to mention the largest bike park which is Salbaach-Hinterglemm and Leogang, obviously a massive ski area in the winter and converts to a massive bike park in the summer.
ROB: maybe we need to go on a tour of these places too Dom. There is of course North America, places such as Whistler which is huge but so many others – I think we need to do a special on European bike parks and then another on north American ones, what do you think…
DOM: yes it’s huge, oh well it gives us plenty of content to go at Rob.
ROB: ha ha yes true – we are going to move onto our destination feature now though, not specially on mountain biking but this is looking at summer mountain destinations and we are going to start with one that is arguably the most famous of them all…
Destination Feature
DOM: ah yes I agree so our first destination of our summer podcast series is Chamonix. The French town at the foot of Mt Blanc that has a long history of tourism stretching back for over 100 years. We both know this place pretty well in both the winter and the summer so it makes sense to start here.
ROB: yes I spent a summer here when I was just 19 years old camping, climbing, and living off baguettes and cheese, if I was lucky.
DOM: ha ha well I know since then both of us have stayed there over the summer and our standard of accommodation has changed a bit…
ROB: that is true but camping is still pretty cool Dom. I strolled through the place I stayed in all those years back recently, they even have showers now.
DOM: Chamonix is pretty unique isn’t it. I mean very international during the summer, people from all over the world, very busy – busier than winter, but buzzing.
ROB: yes I love the atmosphere in town. I know people that live there and it drives them a bit crazy but actually it’s what I like about the place. The town has everything – great shops, great selection of restaurants and some cool bars, like my favourite the bighorn. Great place (don’t tell anyone about that one).
DOM: and then there’s that large mountain Rob, the one that people come to climb.
ROB: yes true and it’s a serious effort, not super technical but a big old slog. Of course many people take the cable car up to the Aiguille du Midi, one of the highest in Europe and certainly one of the most spectacular. Some people think they are on Mont Blanc but of course they aren’t but the views are incredible.
DOM: it’s a must do when in Chamonix and many climbers take it too, either to climb mont blanc from there or other peaks in the area.
ROB: it’s that crazy mix of mountaineers and ‘normal tourists’ that makes it in some ways. People from maybe the Middle East standing next to someone wrapped up in ropes and karabiners.
DOM: yes and that’s fairly unique, that extreme – happens in a few places…
ROB: yeah Grindelwald comes to mind but it’s not as apparent as in Chamonix.
DOM: exactly. But let’s look at what else you can do. Mountain Biking, yes, rock climbing, yes, hiking, yes and there’s some classic ones too, golf, yes, high ropes forest park, yes, swimming, yes…
ROB: I know it’s endless. There’s a cool skate park too, white water rafting – did that a couple of years back, lot of fun. The rock climbing there is for all levels staring with Les Gaillands a short walk from the town centre, it’s like the nursery slope of rock climbing.
DOM: yes but it ramps up from there big time. Some of the classic mountaineering routes of the Alps such as the Grand Jorasses and the Aiguille de Dru…
ROB: yes serious climbs. The mountain biking isn’t really park style – it’s perhaps not the classic option but there’s a really nice circular trail that works well for e biking too and isn’t that difficult.
DOM: it’s a great family resort in the summer, lots to do both on the mountain and in town. What about getting there and staying there Rob…
ROB: yep so getting there is easy – many people choose to drive down in the summer and having a vehicle there is very useful, we have always done that in the summer. Otherwise fly into Geneva and it’s just over an hours drive and there’s plenty of transfer options too.
DOM: yep the range of accommodation is huge. I know we have both stayed in the Heliopic right in the centre next to the aiguille di midi cable car.
ROB: yes that’s a nice 4* option (camping upgrade there). right at the top end, the Hameau Albert Premier is a 5* hotel with a Michelin restaurant – there’s also a Foulie Douce hotel, you know that famous chain of apres ski clubs and restaurants – it’s actually very nice and then there’s two UCPA centres, one in Chamonix and another in Argentiere just up the valley. Both do a huge range of mountain activity courses through the summer – they are also great value places to stay.
DOM: yep check out Chamonix.com for more info…right Rob onto our bucket list and we are going to cover some of those things you might want to do in the mountains during the summer and we thought we’d start with a true epic
Bucket List
ROB: yes Dom, certainly one that I would like to take on one day, it’s The Matterhorn in of course the Swiss town of Zermatt – but also the Italian town of Cervinia, where the mountain is known as the Cervin. There’s a lot to take in…
DOM: yes Climbing the Matterhorn typically follows the Hörnli Ridge route, the most popular and classic ascent. The journey begins in Zermatt, and you can take a series of cable cars or hike to Schwarzsee situated at around 2,600 meters. You can stay the night here too and continue the next morning.
From the Schwarzsee Hut, it’s an exposed ridgeline that runs upwards, it can be pretty tricky technically. Higher up you’re likely to get snow and ice too, so crampons are needed.
Then it’s the "Hörnli Chimney," a steep and narrow gully that’s probably the most technical part of the climb.
Then it’s to the summit at 4,478 meters, with incredible views of the surrounding peaks and valleys.
Descending the Matterhorn follows the same route as the ascent. With some careful abseiling, downclimbing needed.
ROB: yes pretty serious and I would say needs a lot of preparation, at least some climbing experience and definitely a head for heights. The company Mountain Tracks organises week long trips to Zermatt through the summer with mountain guides that includes summiting the Matterhorn – they suggest getting your fitness levels up but also improve movement skills, agility, balance and flexibility. They also run training weekends in North Wales specifically to train for the Matterhorn. A week in Zermatt costs £3675 pp but that includes pretty much everything, including of course a mountain guide. The training weekend costs £435 course only.
Check them out at mountaintracks.co.uk
DOM: right well that’s the end of our first summer podcast episode – that was huge! It shows just how much we have to talk about when it comes to summer in the mountains…