65: The 'Great Escape' from Verbier, Skiing in Wales, Cross Country & Crans Montana

In this episode we discuss skiing in Wales, the 'Great Escape' from Verbier, the challenges of cross-country skiing, ski touring in Crans Montana and plenty more. Iain was joined by guests Betony Garner in the Chamonix valley and regular 'friend of the pod' Mike Richards in Wales, as well as down the line by Alex Moore in Wengen and Dom Turner in Morzine. 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 Dave Ryding finished 10th in Alta Badia Andrew Young took 2nd in the Cross Country at Dresden Mia Brookes took a podium on her debut in Snowboard Slopestyle in the Europa Cup Reece Bell is the daughter of Martin Bell and niece of Graham Bell The Brexit ‘deal’ has been done  Passports must be at least six months in date SBIT will let us know the impact on British workers soon Did Brits really escape from Verbier? This article by Abi Butcher looks at the facts Alex Moore has been reporting on quarantine in Switzerland for The Telegraph  The French have been stopped from skiing at border Iain visited the ‘Rando Parc’ in Crans Montana Iain travelled to Crans Montana by train Adam Bonvin is the owner and founder of the Alaia Chalet Find out more about the Hotel Pass in Crans Montana Iain tried cross country with his guide Christian on the Plaine Morte glacier in Crans Montana You have two options for cross country: Classic or Skating Betony bought the Haute Savoie Nordic Pass Mike skis in the Brecon Beacons area of Wales Check out some of his recent great pics  You can follow Mike on Instagram at @mikethesnow  Evidently word has got out already… Iain interviewed Dom Turner from Skiology We noticed his Christmas story in an email from Montagne Verte Les Arcs have been awarded the Flocon Vert label Reviews Janet Barnett   “A big thank you for your very informative and entertaining ski podcast which I look forward to every few weeks” Andrew Brannan   “Thanks for another great podcast. Red Mountain...top of my list too!” Terry   “I was delighted not only to find the podcast. They have a good mix of interviews, friendly banter, background info and general chit chat and ski news. It's been great to get an insight, through the many interviews, of people's backgrounds, their passions for the sport and how they got to where they are.” Please complete our survey here and tell us what you’d like more of and less of in The Ski Podcast and you could win this great prize Matt Hayes recommends ‘Alpine Cooking’ by Meredith Erickson, especially the Herdsman macaroni and tartiflette (“The best I've ever come across”) If you enjoy The Ski Podcast, you always can buy us a coffee…