🎿 CarveCast Episode 26

Three weeks. Multiple countries. Endless skiing.

In this episode, I’m back from an epic three week early season ski adventure across Chamonix, Saas Fee, Zermatt, Cervinia, Val d’Isère and Tignes.

I skied from first lift to last lift, every single day, sharing what early season skiing is really like across the Alps when the snow hits early and the crowds are still missing.

❄️ Early season snow conditions and what was genuinely worth skiing

🗓️ How to time late November and early December trips properly

💰 How to save serious money on accommodation, food and lift passes

🏔️ Zermatt vs Cervinia and why Italy is such insane value

🎿 Stomp It Camp review and what you actually gain from coaching

🧤 Gear reviews including heated gloves, base layers, Pullin underwear and Stockli kit

👓 Prescription lenses for Oakley Meta glasses

🚐 Early season travel tips, driving vs flying and lift pass planning

This episode is packed with real world advice, not brochure hype. If you’re thinking about early season skiing, glacier resorts, coaching camps, or squeezing maximum value from Alpine trips, this one’s for you.

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Podbean

(links in show notes)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrthaibox123

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mrthaibox

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCarveCast

Website: https://thecarvecast.com

Questions for the next episode? Drop them in the comments or message me directly.

#carvecast #skiing #earlyseasonski #zermatt #valdIsere #chamonix #stompit #skigear #skitok #trending #stockli

🎿 CarveCast Episode 25 — Boot Fitting With Tim In Zermatt

Ski performance starts at the foot. In this episode I sit down inside Julen Sport in Zermatt with Tim, widely considered the best boot fitter in the valley. We dive deep into comfort, liner choice, foot scanning and why your ski boot fit might be holding you back more than you think.

We recorded this right in the shop surrounded by boots, shells, liners and a 3D printer building insoles behind us. This is a real mountain floor conversation filled with practical info for every skier from first time boot buyers to high level riders who want precision and support dialled perfectly.

We look at ZipFit liners, ramp angle, heel hold, 3D pressure scanning and why so many skiers unknowingly ski in boots that are too big. Tim explains how he fits beginners, advanced skiers and racers and why there is no single perfect boot, only the correct fit for the person wearing it.

🔥 What you’ll learn

• 3D printed insoles remove pressure points and boost comfort

• Proper boot fitting transforms ski performance and control

• Most skiers ski in boots far too big for their feet

• ZipFit liners give next level feel and longevity

• Ramp angle and cuff alignment matter more than branding

• Comfort vs precision is a balance that evolves as you improve

• The right liner is often more important than the shell

• Why your first boots should not feel like trainers

💬 Quotes

• The comfort is unbelievable

• Most people have boots too big

• Once you try ZipFit you do not go back

⏱ Chapters

00.00 Intro from Zermatt

02.53 Why boot fitting matters

06.07 3D printed insoles

08.53 Choosing the right shell

12.10 ZipFit and intuition liners

14.58 Flex and ramp angle explained

17.49 Most common boot mistakes

20.52 How preferences evolve

23.46 Closing thoughts

Based on live conversation with Tim at Julen Sport Zermatt.

🔗 Links

🎧 Podcast https://carvecast.podbean.com

🌍 Website https://thecarvecast.com

📺 YouTube https://youtube.com/@TheCarveCast

📩 Email mrthaibox123@gmail.com

📸 Instagram https://instagram.com/mrthaibox123

🎿 TikTok https://tiktok.com/@mrthaibox

CarveCast Episode 24 welcomes Scott Dobson, trustee of the Alpine 100 Trust — a charity supporting British winter sports athletes through financial grants for equipment, training and travel. We break down how the grant system works, how athletes can apply, why funding is such a serious barrier in ski racing, and how the UK ski pathway runs from plastic dry slopes through to elite performance levels.

The Alpine 100 Trust runs through a monthly lottery. Five pounds per ticket. Members can buy as many as they like. At the end of each month the prize pot is split across four winners while the remaining fifty percent goes directly into athlete support grants. Once an athlete has been a member for six months they can apply for help with ski gear, training camps or travel costs. For many this is one of the only reliable ways to secure funding while progressing through the expensive world of ski racing.

We also explore how race athletes come through the system, how national governing bodies select talent, why academies in Europe cost so much, and how heavily parents often have to self fund. Scott shares decades inside the industry — from racing, coaching, military skiing and repping equipment — giving a rare overview of how skiing has changed and where support is most needed.

We also talk ski equipment evolution, carving skis, the shift from long straight skis, BOA boot systems, retail trends and post covid recovery. If you care about British skiing, athlete development or the future of the sport, this episode is worth your time.

Join or learn more about Alpine 100

https://www.alpine100.org

Watch and listen to CarveCast

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@TheCarveCast

Podcast https://carvecast.podbean.com

Website https://thecarvecast.com

Follow Adam Matthews

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mrthaibox123

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@mrthaibox

Business email adam@thehouse.tv

Podcast email mrthaibox123@gmail.com

Chapters

00.00 Alpine 100 overview

02.54 How the lottery funds athletes

05.26 Grant application process

08.26 Why the trust was created

11.20 Race pathway from dry slope to national level

14.12 Funding challenges in British ski racing

16.50 Scott’s journey in the ski world

19.58 Skiing within the British Army

22.53 Military skiing still active today

26.17 Scott’s favourite resorts

28.05 Carving ski evolution

32.10 BOA boot system discussion

34.35 Covid effect on skiing and recovery

38.06 How to join and support Alpine 100

43.01 Lottery prize breakdown and grant eligibility

Keywords

Alpine 100 Trust, ski racing, charity, athlete support, winter sports, fundraising, UK skiing, ski equipment, military skiing, covid recovery, carving skis, racing development, CarveCast