170: Roccaraso in Italy, Rusutsu in Japan & La Plagne

We discuss skiing in Roccaraso in the Italian Appenines, take a look at skiing in Hokkaido, Japan and look at the impact of climate change on La Plagne.   Iain was joined by Jen Tsang in La Plagne and podcast regular, Mike Richards in Niseko, Japan. Intersport Ski Hire Discount Code Save money on your ski hire by using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ at intersportrent.com, or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied at the checkout. SHOW NOTES Jen was on the show talking about La Plagne in Episode 99 You can read Jen’s guide to La Plagne here Mike most recently joined us in Episode 165, discussing Madesimo Andy Butterworth (Kaluma Ski) reported from St Anton in Austria (3:30) Dave Burrows (SnowPros Ski School) has news from Villars in Switzerland (7:00) Jen updates us on the snow conditions in La Plagne (9:30)  Listen to Jen talking about the changes on the glacier in La Plagne in Episode 99 (13:45) Will summer skiing in Europe be affected by low snowfall this winter? (16:00) Ski racers have signed an open letter to FIS asking for more action on climate change (18:00)  Mike spoke from Niseko in Hokkaido, Japan (20:00) Rusutsu is one of Mike’s favourite resorts (23:00) Lucy Aspen-Kean from Telegraph Ski & Snowboard recently visited Japan as well (26:00) Mike also recommends basing yourself in Furano (28:00) Roccaraso is in the Appenine mountain range in Italy (29:00) Naples and Pompeii are easy side trips to combine with the ski area Iain interviewed Bonaventura Margadonna, head of the Alto Sangro ski area (31:00) Fiona from Ski Abruzzo was Iain’s translator (33:00)  Iain will report on the Carv in discussion with Al Morgan in Episode 171 (36:00) The GB Bobsleigh team picked up silver at the World Champs (37:00) Jasmine Taylor took her first podium of the season in telemark Charlotte Bankes won the Cortina World Cup in Snowboard Cross Kirsty Muir and Zoe Atkin took World Cup podiums in Ski Slopestyle & Big Air The Freestyle World Champs are on right now in Bakuirani, Georgia (38:00) FEEDBACK (38:30) 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 [email protected].  Laura Hargrave: "Loved the feature on van life in Episode 167" Ian West: "Loved the refuge stay in Les 3 Vallees: you could tell you enjoyed it" Judy Matthews: "Keep the episodes coming, it's a wonderful listen and I have got a few of my friends hooked on it too" If you want to do something to help the show why not give us a review on Apple Podcasts. There are over 170 episodes to catch up with and 123 were listened to in the last week Are you one of our listeners in Iceland or El Salvador? (40:00) If you enjoy the pod, you can BuyMeACoffee at www.buymeacoffee.com/theskipodcast: @dwib: “Thanks for doing what you do. It's the highlight of the day when the pod goes up!” You can follow me @skipedia and the podcast @theskipodcast. Thanks to Les 3 Vallées for sponsoring the podcast.