Has Skiing Bounced Back From COVID? Global Skier Visit Numbers Suggest So
The 18th International Report on Snow & Mountain Tourism shows the ski industry rebounding strongly, with 399 million skier visits in the 2024/25 season—surpassing the 2018/19 record of 392 million. Growth occurred despite below‑average natural snowfall across North America and Europe, highlighting a shift toward demand resilience. China, the United States, Italy and Russia all exceeded pre‑COVID five‑year averages, while emerging markets from Eastern Europe to Africa added to the upside. Season‑pass adoption is rising even as lift‑ticket prices outpace revenue per visit, compressing yield.
Atlantic Canada’s Only Gondola Is Still Spinning as Other Ski Resorts Call It Quits
Cape Smokey, Nova Scotia’s ocean‑side ski resort, announced it will stay open from April 24‑26, extending a season that normally runs November‑April. The resort highlighted “soft turns” and “bluebird views” as spring conditions remain excellent, while many western U.S. mountains...
You Could Win $1,000 For Skiing All Day at This Vermont Resort
Killington Resort in Vermont will host the Superstar Showdown on May 16, 2026, a bell‑to‑bell downhill endurance race where the male and female skiers who log the most vertical on the Superstar Glacier win $1,000 plus new skis or a...
My Quest for the Ultimate Ski Boot Nearly Ruined Skiing for Me
A seasoned skier bought an ultra‑tight, one‑size‑smaller blue boot hoping to boost performance, only to endure toe cramps, joint pain, and a painful realization that the gear was too small. After a harsh day on icy snow, the skier reverted...
Will Wyoming's Summer Ski Area Open This Year? First Look at Snowpack
Beartooth Basin, a rare summer‑only ski area on the Wyoming‑Montana border, is gearing up for its 64th season amid an unusually deep snowpack. The resort has logged 235 inches of snowfall since October and currently sits on a 29‑inch base...
"It Might Sound a Little Crazy": Pennsylvania Ski Resort Explains Why It's Making Snow in April
Camelback Resort in Pennsylvania announced that its 2026 ski season has surpassed the previous record, extending 11 days beyond the longest season since 1963. The resort is still making snow in April, maintaining up to 10 feet of base on...
Powder Mountain's Reed Hastings to Leave Netflix
Reed Hastings, Netflix co‑founder and former co‑executive chief, announced he will leave the company’s board this summer to concentrate on other ventures. He stepped down as co‑CEO in 2023 and has since focused on expanding his Utah ski resort, Powder...
Despite Tough Winter, Colorado's Copper Mountain Is Extending Its Season
Copper Mountain in Colorado announced it will keep its slopes open until May 3, 2026, extending the season by a week beyond the originally scheduled April 26 closure. The resort is offering $49 lift tickets for the final week despite recording only 157...
2,000 Ski Instructors Are Suing Vail Resorts
Nearly 2,000 current and former ski and snowboard instructors have filed a collective action lawsuit against Vail Resorts, alleging violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The complaint asserts that instructors were not compensated for off‑the‑clock duties such as travel,...
Alta Slashes Lift Tickets by 50% for Passholders at Other Mountains, Including Epic Pass
Alta Ski Area in Utah, facing one of its snow‑poorest seasons, is offering a 50% discount on lift tickets for passholders from other resorts, dropping the price from $189 to about $95. The promotion, dubbed the "Best Worst Season" deal,...
Skier Lands "New" Trick at French Freeride Festival
The fourth La Clusarcs freeski and music festival took place April 11‑12, 2026 at La Clusaz, France, with H Concept constructing a mountain‑bike‑style table jump. A skier captured attention by backflipping off the jump, then launching into a front flip without his skis, a...
Timberline Lodge Projected Closing Date Leaked, Season Ending Early
Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood disclosed a projected closing date of July 19, 2026, citing historically low snowpack. The announcement forces Mt. Hood Summer Ski Camp to cancel Sessions 8‑11, while Windells’ summer programs still run through August 1. Other...
Wisconsin's "Corbet's Couloir" Is Small but Daunting
Granite Peak in Wisconsin has introduced Caroline's Couloir, a modest five‑foot cliff that mimics the legendary Corbet's Couloir at Jackson Hole. The trail is built on snow‑made ice, delivering a consistently hard, fast landing that challenges even seasoned skiers. Influencer...
Vail Resorts Closes Crans-Montana for Season, Local-Led Petition Fails
Vail Resorts, which acquired Switzerland’s Crans‑Montana in 2024, closed the ski area on April 6, 2026, prompting a petition that gathered over 1,000 signatures. The early shutdown cuts the crucial Easter holiday period, a peak time for tourism and local employment....
Vail Mountain Names New Vice President and COO
Vail Mountain appointed Shaydar Edelmann as vice president and chief operating officer, bringing over two decades of ski‑industry experience. Edelmann previously served as vice president and general manager of Heavenly Mountain Resort, where he expanded year‑round childcare, summer operations, and...