195: The Eurostar Snow Train, Sustainable Les Arcs & Chemmy Alcott's EV experience

There’s a sustainability focus this week as we look at the new Eurostar Snow Train, find out what Les Arcs is doing that sets them apart, plus Chemmy Alcott tells us about her experience of driving an electric car 5000 miles across the Alps. Iain was joined by Helen Coffey, Travel Editor at The Independent. 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 Watch Iain’s snow report from Les Arcs (2:00) Elena reported from Tirol in Austria (3:30) Vanessa Fisher was in Les Menuires in France (5:00) Dave Burrows from Snow Pros Ski School was skiing in Villars (6:00) Was last weekend the best ever in British snowsport history? (8:30) Mia Brookes won the  Snowboard Big Air Crystal Globe and was voted BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year Jasmin Taylor took first place at the Telemark Sprint in Pinzolo Andrew Musgrave was second in the Cross Country in Trondheim – a career-best result Listen to Iain’s interviews with Andrew, Jasmin and also Kirsty Muir and Zoe Atkin Read more about the ski slope in the desert in Saudi Arabia (10:30) Read Iain’s review of the new Eurostar Snow Train on The Telegraph (11:30) Iain has also written up a review on Ski Flight Free Seats had been set aside on Eurostar for baggage (14:00) Buy tickets on the Eurostar Snow Train here (16:00) The funicular to Les Arcs connects directly from the station in Bourg St Maurice (17:00) Flying represents 50-80% of the carbon cost of a ski holiday (23:00) Listen to Iain’s interview with Helen Coffey in this special episode (23:30) Iain is taking the Flight Free Challenge in 2024 (24:00) Anna Hughes founded Flight Free UK (24:30) Helen is author of the book “Zero Altitude: How I Learned to Fly Less and Travel More” (27:00) Les Arcs have recently been accredited as a B Corp company (28:00) Les Arcs was one of the first resorts in France to be given ‘Flocon Vert’ accreditation (29:20) Find out about the Mountain Animal Museum in Les Arcs (31:45) Marie Clemence Vallier is Head of Quality, Safety & Environment at ADS (32:30) Chemmy Alcott travelled 5000 miles last winter in her Skoda Enyaq EV (37:30) At Easter, Iain will be travelling to the Alps in a van from ‘Vans for Bands’ (45:00) Feedback I enjoy all feedback about the show, I like to know what you think, especially about our features so please contact on social @theskipodcast or by email [email protected]  Neil Howlett: "Thanks for the pod, really enjoying the content and we have a shared passion for trains" APNorthfields: "Loving the frequent podcast drops as we enter the new season! Keep up the great work" wiigman: "Loved 192. You don't get quality chat regarding coach chassis lengths, and the best Italian rifugios anywhere else!" Peter S: "Great interview with Lou about the Dolomites (in 192). She certainly knows her stuff." Mike Greenland: "Always a good show" Peter Til: "Thank you for the podcast. It has gotten me more and more excited for my first trip" Martin Walliman: "I only recently discovered The Ski Podcast and really love it! I've been working my way slowly through the older 180+ episodes in the last few weeks and it’s such a pleasure on my daily commutes." If you like the podcast, there are three things you can do to help:   1) Review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify – it genuinely helps listeners find us 2) Subscribe, so you never miss an episode 3) Book your ski hire with Intersport Rent using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ or taking this link You can follow me @skipedia and the podcast @theskipodcast.