Melbourne-based ski expert with 45+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian skiing and riding and international resort comparisons.
Regional Expertise:
🇦🇺 Australia (6) • 🇺🇸 USA (15) • 🇯🇵 Japan (5) • 🇪🇺 Europe (10)
Michael Fulton
I headed to Schilthorn Mürren in Switzerland for a recon mission before competing in the Inferno ski race — and ended up doing one of the more memorable ski days I've had in a long time. From the world's steepest aerial tramway at Stechelberg all the way up to Piz Gloria, here's what the resort is actually like.
Michael Fulton
My first day skiing in Switzerland started with missing luggage and ended with one of the better days on snow I've had in a while. Grindelwald is a big resort with serious terrain, iconic views of the Eiger North Face, and enough variety to keep you busy for several days. Here's how day one played out.
Michael Fulton
A group of 16 skiers was caught in a large avalanche near Castle Peak in Northern California on Tuesday morning, leaving 10 people unaccounted for as emergency crews mounted a major rescue operation. The incident occurred amid an active avalanche warning and severe storm conditions across the Sierra Nevada.
Michael Fulton
Two British skiers died in a Val d'Isère avalanche whilst skiing off-piste with a guide during a rare red avalanche alert. French authorities have launched a manslaughter investigation into the incident that killed Stuart Leslie, 46, and Shaun Overy, 51.
Michael Fulton
Day 10 at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics delivered some of the most dramatic moments of the Games so far — a 41-year-old American finally completing her Olympic set in the monobob, a Norwegian favourite's spectacular blowup on the slalom course, Dutch short track dominance continuing, and Canada claiming big air gold. For Australia, it was a day of what-ifs, with Bree Walker falling short of the podium despite being one of the pre-race favourites in the bobsleigh.
Michael Fulton
A level 4 avalanche in the Ves Canal claimed three lives on 15 February, bringing Italy's season death toll to 25—well above the decade average. The incident occurred on a popular freeride route despite clear warnings about dangerous conditions.
Michael Fulton
Day 9 at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics was one for the history books. Norway's Johannes Høsflot Klæbo became the most decorated Winter Olympian of all time, Australia's Matt Graham added a bronze medal to a remarkable career, and Federica Brignone gave the home crowd their loudest roar yet with a second gold of the Games. Meanwhile, Bree Walker's monobob campaign got underway with mixed results.
Michael Fulton
Three skiers — two British nationals and one French citizen — were killed after an avalanche swept through the Manchet valley near Val d'Isère on Friday, 13 February 2026. The incident occurred during a period of severe weather driven by Storm Nils, which had already prompted multiple French resorts to close their pistes. A manslaughter investigation is now underway.
Michael Fulton
La Plagne, Les Arcs, and multiple other French ski resorts have shut down entirely as authorities issue a rare 5/5 avalanche danger rating. With over 60 deaths recorded across the Alps this season, the closures highlight the severe instability affecting Europe's ski regions during one of the busiest periods of the year.
Michael Fulton
First-time visit to SkiGastein in Austria's Gastein Valley reveals the harsh reality facing eastern Alpine resorts this season. After a week of powder in the Dolomites, the contrast was brutal. Weeks without fresh snow and freeze-thaw cycles have left terrain icy and challenging. Despite extensive cat tracks and €70 for four hours, higher elevation runs on Schlossalm offered redemption. Overcast skies didn't help. The resort's doing what it can, but I'm not rushing back until conditions improve.
Michael Fulton
A 27-year-old Melbourne man has died while skiing unpatrolled backcountry terrain in Niseko, Japan. Michael "Micky" Hurst fell behind his group of seven skiers and was found unconscious on Monday afternoon. He died from a suspected heart attack after being transported to hospital. The incident marks the second fatal accident involving an Australian skier in Japan within days, following the death of Queensland's Brooke Day in a chairlift accident at Hakuba Valley.
Michael Fulton
A fire that started Tuesday evening at HĂ´tel des Grandes Alpes in Courchevel 1850 spread to neighbouring buildings, forcing evacuations of 250 guests and staff. More than 110 firefighters battled the blaze for over 15 hours, with operations complicated by the building's double roof structure.
Michael Fulton
Giovanni Franzoni delivered a career-defining performance to win the KitzbĂĽhel downhill by seven hundredths of a second over Marco Odermatt, who remains winless on the sport's most famous course despite three runner-up finishes. The result caps a remarkable January breakthrough for the 24-year-old Italian.
Michael Fulton
The 82nd International Inferno Races in MĂĽrren was cancelled mid-race on 24 January 2026 following a fatal medical incident. A 69-year-old competitor collapsed near the finish line and died despite immediate resuscitation efforts. After more than eight decades without a fatality, the tragic event marks the first death in the race's history.
Michael Fulton
In a surprising diplomatic development, Israel and Syria are negotiating plans for a jointly operated luxury ski resort on Mount Hermon. Backed by the Trump administration's Special Envoy to Syria, the proposal would see Druze communities from both sides of the border managing the facility. The talks mark the first time the two nations have engaged on civilian economic projects rather than purely security arrangements.
Michael Fulton
A Robinson R44 helicopter struck ski lift cables at Ashatly Park recreation centre in Russia's Perm region, killing two oil and gas industry executives. The incident raises questions about flight authorisation and safety protocols at ski resorts with helicopter operations.
Michael Fulton
The Town of Nederland has approved purchasing Eldora Mountain Resort for $120 million from POWDR, joining a small handful of U.S. municipalities operating ski areas. The deal raises questions about municipal risk exposure and whether revenue bonds backed solely by lift ticket sales can sustain a ski resort in an era of climate uncertainty.
Michael Fulton
The Summit at Snoqualmie's Alpental area opened for the 2025 season on January 7 with the debut of its new Edelweiss triple chair, replacing a 58-year-old Riblet double and completing a three-year lift modernisation. The upgrade promises more reliable upper mountain access for avalanche control, though whether it delivers on capacity claims remains to be seen.
Michael Fulton
A fatal explosion at a bar in the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana has killed multiple people and injured others in the early hours of New Year's Day. The cause of the blast at Le Constellation bar remains under investigation, with authorities yet to determine whether it was accidental or deliberate.
Michael Fulton
After four decades of service, Zauchensee's Schwarzwandbahn has been replaced with a modern Doppelmayr gondola system. The new lift triples capacity to 2,300 people per hour and opens mountain access to pedestrians for the first time, addressing what was likely a significant bottleneck in this Austrian resort.
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