260. Loved Skiing. Tired of the Drinking. Interview with Ben Coombes of Soberski260. Loved Skiing. Tired of the Drinking. Interview with Ben Coombes of Soberski
The Alcohol ReThink Podcast
Patrick Fox talks with skier and Soberski founder Ben Coombs about quitting alcohol in his twenties, facing health anxiety, and creating alcohol-free ski retreats in a party-focused environment. Their conversation highlights mindset shifts, personal responsibility and the surprising support Ben found when he chose to stop drinking.
38:46•2 Oct 2026
From Party Slopes to Soberski: Ben Coombs on Quitting Booze and Rethinking Ski Trips
Episode Overview
- Repeated health anxiety and hospital scares can be a strong sign that alcohol is undermining both physical and mental wellbeing.
- Trying to be "healthy" while still drinking heavily often cancels out progress; real change may require removing alcohol altogether.
- Publicly committing to a clear challenge, like an alcohol-free ski season, can build accountability, self-trust and momentum.
- Focusing on service and creating value for others, rather than staying self-absorbed, can give sobriety a powerful sense of purpose.
- Designing alcohol-free environments and trips removes social pressure and makes it easier to enjoy life without constant decisions about drinking.
“I realised it wasn’t up to anybody else other than me to do that.”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? This episode of The Alcohol ReThink Podcast follows exactly that question through the story of 28-year-old skier and entrepreneur, Ben Coombs. Patrick Fox chats with Ben about how years of heavy drinking, health anxiety and repeated "rock bottom" moments finally pushed him to try something different.
Ben talks about a terrifying hospital scare in his early twenties, the guilt and sleepless nights that followed, and how he kept getting pulled back into boozy ski seasons and party resorts despite knowing alcohol was wrecking his confidence and potential. The tone stays relaxed and honest, with plenty of swearing, humour and straight-talking reflection.
You’ll hear Patrick probe how mindset, self-sabotage and excuses like "I’ll stop after Christmas" keep people stuck, and Ben’s frank admission that he’d tried therapy, running events and healthy habits while still drinking heavily – and why none of it really worked. The turning point comes when Ben decides to spend an entire ski season alcohol-free as a personal challenge, documenting it publicly to keep himself accountable.
To his surprise, people in a party resort respond with respect and curiosity rather than ridicule. That experiment becomes Soberski: alcohol-free ski retreats in the French Alps, built around skiing, ice baths, yoga, good food and like-minded company, where alcohol simply isn’t on the table. This episode is ideal for men who see themselves as high-achieving or ambitious yet feel they’re leaving "so much on the table" because of drinking.
It’ll also appeal if you love travel, adventure or sport but dread how much booze is woven into every trip. Ben’s message is simple: "You’ve tried everything else – what happens if you actually remove the alcohol?" It might just be the challenge that shows you what you’re really capable of. What could you redirect all that drinking energy into if you gave yourself the chance?
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