South America's 2026 ski season hasn't opened yet, but the Andes are already picking up serious early-season snow. OpenSnow's Powder Finder is showing the central Andes leading the way, with Portillo forecast at 89 cm and Valle Nevado at 69 cm through Friday. Corralco and Antillanca are also showing strong numbers further south. Lifts are still down across the region, so this is a base-building event - but it's a strong start to what could be a solid season.
Vermont's ski industry defied expectations with a fifth consecutive year of rising skier visits, reaching the highest levels in over a decade. While snowfall was below recent averages, strong visitation and strategic lift ticket management contributed to the success.
Falls Creek has a new landmark this winter. The Flower of the Alpine Sun - a golden orb sculpture by Italian urban artist Gio Veronesi - now stands over ten metres tall near Cloud 9 cafe, sitting above 1,600 metres elevation and ranking among the highest altitude public artworks in Australia. Five years in the making and funded by the Victorian Government, it doubles as a viewing platform into the Alpine National Park and anchors a growing art programme at the resort.
Bankei Ski Area sits 20 minutes from central Sapporo with 283 vertical metres and eight metres of annual snowfall. It's Hokkaido's most accessible option for visitors based in the city, though the modest vertical and limited terrain mean it works best as a half-day supplement rather than a destination.
Sapporo Teine hosted downhill and slalom events at the 1972 Winter Olympics, and that Olympic pedigree remains visible in the terrain layout. The resort sits close enough to Sapporo that you can ski in the morning and eat ramen in Susukino by evening, which matters when you're weighing up Hokkaido options.
Construction is underway on Almaty Superski, a new mountain resort taking shape in the Tien Shan peaks above Kazakhstan's largest city. POMA is building 11 cableways, Foster + Partners has designed the base infrastructure, and a December 2028 opening is targeted. Here's what's being built - and what it could eventually become.
Mt Olympus stands apart from Canterbury's typical club fields with its chairlift access and learner-friendly terrain. At 1,430m base elevation with 450m vertical drop, it splits the difference between true backcountry and commercial resort - though that comes with trade-offs.
Tomorrowland Winter is coming back. The seventh edition of the ski and electronic music festival is confirmed for Alpe d'Huez from March 20 to 27, 2027. Skiing and snowboarding during the day, international DJs across mountain and village stages at night. Pre-registration for tickets and packages is open now.
Hakuba 47 combines serious vertical terrain with Japan's most developed snow park infrastructure. The resort's north-facing aspect and Olympic-grade features make it worth considering if you prioritise terrain parks or late-season conditions over pure powder hunting.
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