Why I’m taking the Flight Free Challenge in 2025

Why I’m taking the Flight Free Challenge in 2025

Regular readers will know that since I founded Ski Flight Free in 2019, I have cut down on my flights considerably in an effort to reduce my carbon footprint. Flight Free in 2024 Last year, in 2024, I stepped up another level and committed to the ‘Flight Free Challenge’ –...
Research: What is the carbon footprint of a ski holiday?

Research: What is the carbon footprint of a ski holiday?

In 2022, I looked at the carbon footprint of a ski holiday, based on some research by French ski resorts. The original research attempted to detail the carbon cost of a day’s skiing, and the differences your choices can make to the final figure. I’ve now updated these figures, to...
Case Study: The New Eurostar 'Snow Train'

Case Study: The New Eurostar ‘Snow Train’

On 16 December 2023, I was invited to trial the new Eurostar Snow Train service by Inghams Ski, who are offering ski holidays packaged with train travel and transfers using the new service. This is a very significant step from Eurostar, having cancelled the previously successful service in 2020. So...
What ski train services are on offer in 2024/25?

What ski train services are on offer in 2024/25?

The options for train travel to the Alps this winter are outlined here: THE EUROSTAR SKI TRAIN (via Lille) Eurostar have confirmed that their snow train, reintroduced last winter will continue for 2024/25 with more departures. This is not a ‘direct’ service like the old Eurostar ski train that ran...
Train Travel to the Alps: Tips and Advice

Train Travel to the Alps: Tips and Advice

As well as founding Ski Flight Free, Iain also presents The Ski Podcast. In September 2023, Iain discussed new train travel options with Krissie Roe from Inghams: In September 2020, Iain was joined by Daniel Elkan from Snowcarbon and Anna Hughes from Flight Free UK in a Facebook Live event to discuss...
"Ski resorts are afraid for their future"

“Ski resorts are afraid for their future”

Make sure you pick up a copy of this month’s ‘Telegraph Ski & Snowboard Magazine’ encouraging skiers to #SkiFlightFree. You can find Iain’s opinion piece on the existential threat to ski resorts on page 20: Find out more at www.skiflightfree.org
Why Ski Flight Free?

Why Ski Flight Free?

Climate change represents an existential threat to human life on the planet. The evidence for this has been widely published, but you don’t have to take my word for it. This is what Britain’s most trusted man has to say on the subject: An existential threat to the ski industry...
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‘The Alps - Skiing by Train’ new 2025 map out now

‘The Alps – Skiing by Train’ new 2025 map out now

Alpine mapping specialists, 2theAlps, have released their updated ‘Skiing by Train’ map for 2025. The map features over 200 winter sports resorts, which can be reached by train for a high-comfort low-carbon journey to the mountains. As well as the classic Eurostar routes, new additions for 2025 are ferry routes across the Channel and the...
New online guides on rail travel to the Alps from Montagne Verte

New online guides on rail travel to the Alps from Montagne Verte

I’ve covered Montagne Verte on Ski Flight Free before. This Morzine-based organisation has been doing some great work in the community on sustainability. In 2022 they launched the ‘AlpinExpress Pass’, giving holidaymakers travelling by train discounts on ski passes, accommodation, transfers, ski hire, ski and snowboard lessons, restaurants and more across Morzine, Avoriaz, Les Gets...
Virgin to compete with Eurostar on London-Europe HS1 route?

Virgin to compete with Eurostar on London-Europe HS1 route?

This week has seen several reports that the Virgin Group is readying itself to order £500 million of trains as part of its bid to break Eurostar’s monopoly on cross-channel passenger services. ‘Project Bullet’ Under the codename Project Bullet, Virgin has been raising funds from investors so that they can services in 2029. It has been...
Case Study: Les 3 Vallées by Train

Case Study: Les 3 Vallées by Train

In December 2024, Iain from The Ski Podcast travelled by train from the UK to Courchevel in Les 3 Vallées in France in Switzerland. This is a pretty simple resort to travel to by train, with one change after Paris taking you to Moutiers – the access station for Les 3 Vallées. From here a 30-minute...
Vans For Bands offering a new eco-friendly and fun way to drive to the Alps

Vans For Bands offering a new eco-friendly and fun way to drive to the Alps

Vans For Bands are offering British skiers a fun, super-comfortable and eco-friendly way to drive to their ski holiday this winter. As you might guess, Vans For Bands specialise in providing…vans for bands. Most of the year, their fleet of over 70 vehicles transport thousands of acts to festivals and gigs across Europe. But the...
How to travel by train from the UK to Austria and #SkiFlightFree

How to travel by train from the UK to Austria and #SkiFlightFree

If you’ve wondered how to travel by train from the UK to Austria, this blog post should answer almost all of your questions. Austria is great for train travel as there are fast connections from major European cities and overnight options, plus many resorts have a station in the town itself. Map of train routes...
New Solar-Powered Floodlit Cross-Country Trail in Austria

New Solar-Powered Floodlit Cross-Country Trail in Austria

This is a great innovation for winter 2024/25 from Hochfilzen in the PillerseeTal Valley, Austria. This winter marks a milestone for eco-friendly winter sports activities with the opening of the region’s first solar-powered, floodlit cross-country skiing trail. The trail is powered by 50 solar panels, combined with battery storage, which means the new photovoltaic floodlights...
The New European Sleeper Ski Train to Austria & Italy: Your Questions Answered

The New European Sleeper Ski Train to Austria & Italy: Your Questions Answered

The new European Sleeper Ski Train to Innsbruck in Austria and Bolzano in Italy (and onward to Venice) is a very exciting development for lovers of train travel and skiers looking for new ways to Ski Flight Free this winter. Iain Martin, host of The Ski Podcast and founder of Ski Flight Free, spoke to...
French Ski Resort mayors call for state to support train travel

French Ski Resort mayors call for state to support train travel

More than one hundred mayors of French ski resorts have called for the French state to support train travel. Earlier this month, following the annual meeting of the Association Nationale des Maires des Stations de Montagne (ANMSM) at La Clusaz, the organisation issued a statement for help in adapting to the rapidly changing mountain environment....
New rail map to French ski resorts

New rail map to French ski resorts

This new map is a fantastic way to work out the route by train to your favourite French ski resort. Click on the map to see the largest version. It was created by David Cooper and Daniel Elkan from the excellent Snowcarbon, on behalf of France Montagnes. Travelling by train instead of flying is the...
Case Study: UK to Crans Montana by train

Case Study: UK to Crans Montana by train

In September 2024, Iain from The Ski Podcast travelled by train from the UK to Crans Montana in Switzerland. This is one of the best ski resorts to travel to by train, as the funicular from Sierre means you can get off the train and be in resort little more than 15 minutes later. London-Paris...
Greenwash Alert: Beware of nonsensical 'climate' surveys

Greenwash Alert: Beware of nonsensical ‘climate’ surveys

I’ve been sitting on this one for a while as I think my time is better spent on positivity than negativity, but this ‘survey’ that landed in my inbox earlier this year is a classic example of greenwashing. I don’t feel inclined to name the tour operator concerned, but it’s another example of a brand...