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Big White Spends $450,000 Regrading Slopes for Earlier Openings
Big White Ski Resort in Kelowna, BC is midway through a $450,000 regrading project on Ridge Connector and Middle Perfection, two key runs linking the Ridge base back to the Bullet Chair. The goal is a smoother surface that opens earlier in the season and needs less snow to groom - Middle Perfection has often needed winch-assisted grooming because of its steep terrain. Crews are also flattening sections of Lower Serwas and clearing brush to improve snow retention.
Why a Lift Ticket Costs $356 at Vail and €76 in Austria - And Almost Nobody Pays the American Price
A lift ticket at Vail hit $356 US this season. In Austria, a day at Kitzbühel still costs around €76. At Perisher, which Vail bought in 2015, the window rate has roughly doubled against inflation in a decade - while just across the Tasman, where Vail owns nothing, prices stayed put. Same sport, same snow, wildly different outcomes depending on who owns the lift. We went through the SEC filings, the court records and the pass math to work out why. Full breakdown below, video included.
Banff Sunshine Surpasses 10 Metres of Snow for 2025-26 Season
Banff Sunshine is closing out its 2025-26 season on a high note, with the upper mountain surpassing 10 metres of cumulative snowfall as of May 16. The total of 1,021 centimetres makes it the snowiest season at the resort in over a decade - well above its typical annual average of around 600 centimetres. The season wraps up on Monday May 18 with the annual Slush Cup.
Resorts of the Canadian Rockies Announces Four New Leitner Poma Lifts Across Fernie, Kimberley and Kicking Horse
Resorts of the Canadian Rockies has announced the installation of four new Leitner Poma lifts across its BC resorts - Fernie Alpine Resort, Kimberley Alpine Resort, and Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. Construction begins this spring at Kimberley, with Fernie and Kicking Horse following in 2027. The upgrades include two new high-speed detachable quads at Fernie and a second base-to-alpine access lift at Kicking Horse.
Banff Sunshine Village Approaches Snowfall Record After 389-Inch Season
The Alberta resort has logged 389 inches of snow this season, 60% above its annual average, and is one decent storm away from breaking its period of record. Meanwhile, much of the western United States continues to struggle with below-average snowpack.
Global Skier Visits Hit Record 399 Million in 2024-25 - Here's Who's Leading
The 2024-25 ski season set a new global record with 399 million skier visits worldwide - more people on snow than ever before. Nine countries account for nearly 80% of that total, with the US, France, and Austria holding the top three spots. Japan posted the biggest jump of any major market, driven largely by Australian and North American visitors chasing powder.
Ski Montcalm Adding Night Operations With Light Shows and Projections
Ski Montcalm in Quebec will launch night skiing operations for the 2026-27 season, covering nine trails and three lifts from Thursday through Sunday. The resort is adding light projections and soundscapes to one run, positioning the offering somewhere between traditional night skiing and a multimedia experience.
Banff Sunshine Named Best Overall Ski Destination in North America by OnTheSnow
Banff Sunshine in Alberta has taken out OnTheSnow's Best Overall Ski Destination award for North America, voted on by the platform's users. The award was presented at the Mountain Travel Symposium in Whistle, British Columbia.
Mont-Sainte-Anne Orders Three New Lifts in $100 Million Overhaul
Mont-Sainte-Anne has finally committed to a three-lift replacement program worth $100 million CAD, addressing years of reliability issues. The Quebec resort will install new six-packs and replace its problem-plagued gondola between 2027 and 2028, funded partly by a provincial loan.
Canadian Freeskier Kai Smart Dies Following Avalanche in Japan
Kai Smart, a 23-year-old freeskier and filmmaker from Whistler, has died from injuries sustained in an avalanche burial in Japan. The son of two-time Canadian Olympian John Smart was repatriated to Vancouver before his death on March 23.
Whistler Peak Terrain Set to Reopen After March Rockslide
Whistler Blackcomb is targeting this weekend for the reopening of Whistler Peak and the Peak Express chairlift, which were closed following a rockslide on March 12. Geotechnical experts have been on site assessing the area, though some terrain will remain off-limits.
Rockslide Closes Whistler Peak Zone: What Actually Happened
A significant rockslide hit inbounds terrain near Whistler Peak on March 12, closing the Peak Express chair and upper terrain indefinitely. The debris field stretched roughly 100 metres across steep terrain between West Cirque and Monday's run, raising questions about geological stability in the Coast Mountains.
15-Year-Old Alpine Racer Dies Following Avalanche at Nakiska
A teenage alpine ski racer has died after being caught in an avalanche at Nakiska Ski Area while bootpacking with another athlete. The incident raises questions about terrain management and decision-making at a resort that serves as a major training venue for youth racing programs.
Revelstoke Hits 153 Inches as Atmospheric River Delivers Where Others Haven't
Revelstoke Mountain Resort has accumulated 390cm of snow this season while the current atmospheric river continues to favour the interior ranges over coastal BC resorts. The pattern raises questions about shifting snowfall distributions across Western Canada.
Whistler Blackcomb to Replace Showcase T-Bar with Fixed-Grip Quad in 2026
Vail Resorts has announced plans to replace the Showcase T-Bar at Whistler Blackcomb with a fixed-grip quad chairlift by 2026, part of a $215-220 million capital investment programme. The upgrade aims to improve access to Blackcomb Glacier terrain, though questions remain about capacity and whether this addresses the resort's real infrastructure issues.
Early Season North America: Which Ski Resorts Are Open Right Now?
The 2025-26 North American ski season is underway with resorts across Colorado, Alberta, and Vermont opening their lifts. From Keystone's surprise first-to-open move to Sunshine Village's impressive 38 runs already available, here's exactly what terrain you can access right now and which resorts are offering the best early season conditions.
Banff Sunshine Opens as First Canadian Ski Resort for 2025-26 Season
Banff Sunshine has opened for the 2025-26 season, becoming the first Canadian ski resort to spin lifts and marking the earliest opening in the resort's history. With limited terrain and reduced pricing, the Alberta resort is banking on early-season enthusiasm and a novelty Halloween promotion.
How Epic and Ikon Passes Transformed the Face of Skiing in North America
The introduction of Vail's Epic Pass in 2008 and Alterra's Ikon Pass in 2018 fundamentally transformed North American skiing from a day-ticket model to a season-pass dominated industry. While offering extraordinary value for frequent skiers, these passes have simultaneously made skiing more accessible for some while driving day ticket prices to record highs and creating significant challenges for mountain communities.
SkiBig3 Offers Free Kids' Lift Tickets and Rentals: A Critical Look
Alberta's SkiBig3 resorts are dangling free lift tickets and rentals for kids this winter, but is it truly a game-changer for family ski trips? We analyse the fine print and industry context.
The 35 Coolest New Ski Lifts From This Season's 246 Global Installations
This season brings 246 new ski lift installations across North America and Europe - the biggest infrastructure boom in years. From the 65 North American upgrades and 181 European installations, we've picked the 35 coolest projects worth planning trips around. From Deer Valley's unprecedented seven-lift expansion to Switzerland's world-first Tri-Line gondola technology, here are the game-changing upgrades that'll transform your mountain experience.
Global Ski Industry Rankings: Nine Countries Control 366 Million Annual Visits
The latest international ski tourism data reveals stark industry concentration, with just nine countries dominating global skiing. The USA leads with 60.5 million visits, whilst China shows explosive growth and traditional Alpine destinations face different challenges from climate change to currency strength.
Whistler Blackcomb Halts Summer Skiing on Horstman Glacier
Whistler Blackcomb has indefinitely suspended summer skiing operations on the Horstman Glacier due to declining snow conditions, impacting long-standing training programs and recreational skiing opportunities.
Le Massif de Charlevoix Joins Ikon Pass for 2025-26 Ski Season
Ikon Pass expands its Canadian offerings by adding Le Massif de Charlevoix in Quebec for the 2025-26 season, providing skiers and riders access to 62 global destinations.
Castle Mountain's New Stagecoach Express Chairlift: A Nod to Cat-Skiing Legacy
Castle Mountain Resort in Alberta is set to install its first high-speed chairlift, the Stagecoach Express, expanding terrain and honouring its cat-skiing history.
Big White Ski Resort Celebrates 100-Day Skiers with Special Pins
Big White Ski Resort in British Columbia is honouring skiers and riders who have spent 100 days on the mountain this season with commemorative pins, showcasing the resort's appreciation for its dedicated visitors.
RED Mountain Finally Opening For 23/24 Winter Season
RED Mountain Resort in British Columbia, Canada, is set to open its doors for the 2023 ski season on Thursday, December 28th, despite facing below-average snowfall this year. The resort's dedicated Operations and Patrol teams have been working diligently to prepare the mountain for guests, with the Magic Carpet Carpet, Silverlode, Motherlode, and Paradise Chairs ready to spin.
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More from the SnowStash desk
Arosa to Replace 40-Year-Old Hörnli Lifts With New Gondola and Chair
Arosa's Hörnli sector is getting its biggest overhaul in decades. The 1986 gondola and 1994 chairlift linking toward Lenzerheide are both being replaced, with capacity up, tower count down and a new base station lower on the hill. At roughly CHF 67 million, it is the largest single investment Arosa Bergbahnen has ever made - and the target opening has already slipped a year, to December 2028. Here is what is changing, and why the timeline moved.
Sundance Mountain Resort Is Getting a New High-Speed Quad and More Back Mountain Terrain This Winter
Sundance Mountain Resort's back mountain is finally getting a proper lift. The Electric Horseman Express opens for 2026-27, unlocking a new bowl next to Bishop's Bowl and three expert gladed chutes across roughly 105 fresh acres - on top of the Storyteller ridge run that debuted in preview form last season. It's Sundance's biggest expansion since 1985, and it turns a three-lift slog into a single six-minute ride to Bearclaw Summit.
Levi and Ruka Confirm October 2 Opening on Farmed Summer Snow
Finland's Levi and Ruka open for the 2026-27 season on October 2, more than seven weeks before most of Europe sees a lift turn. Neither resort is waiting on autumn snowfall - both are skiing on snow buried since last spring, insulated through the Finnish summer and dug back out for opening day. It is not a shortcut. It is a decades-old system now spreading from the Arctic Circle to Idaho, Utah, Vermont and Colorado. Here is how snow farming actually works, and why it is catching on.
Sölden's Old Einzeiger Chairlift Gets a Second Life in Montafon
Silvretta Montafon is replacing its ageing Freda chairlift - but not with something new. The resort is having a 1999 four-seater chairlift, retired from Sölden, dismantled, shipped to Vorarlberg and rebuilt with new electronics, cable and clamps. It has to be running before March 2027, when Silvretta Montafon hosts the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships - the biggest winter sports event Vorarlberg has staged. Here's how a reused lift ends up cheaper.
Nassfeld Invests €13 Million in New 6-Seater Chairlift for 2026/27 Season
Nassfeld is putting €13 million into a new 6-seater chairlift, the Tressdorfer Almbahn, connecting Sonnleitn with the Tressdorfer Alm from December 2026. It replaces three ageing drag lifts and will run through summer too, from June 2027, moving up to 2,500 people an hour on the roughly three-minute ride. It's the latest step in Carinthia's largest ski resort building out a genuine year-round offering, following last year's Gartnerkofelbahn gondola.
Stelvio Glacier Suspends Summer Skiing, Leaving Continental Europe Without a Lift-Served Slope
Italy's Stelvio Glacier has pulled the plug on summer skiing from August 15. It was the last lift-served ski option left standing in continental Europe, and now there's none. Operator SIFAS pointed to persistent heat, storms, and a snowpack that simply wasn't refreezing overnight anymore. The cable car keeps running. Whether skiing comes back later this summer depends on the weather turning - and right now, nobody's promising anything.
Maverick Mountain's Only Chairlift Destroyed as Sand Creek Fire Tears Through Montana Ski Area
Firefighters saved every base building at Maverick Mountain, Montana, but the resort's sole chairlift didn't survive the Sand Creek Fire. Owners Erik and Kristi Borge say the lift is "most likely" out for the 2026/27 season after flames tore through the mountain on August 8. The wildfire has since grown past 27,700 acres with zero percent containment. It's a gutting result for the tiny, one-lift operation near Dillon - though the lodge, groomers and equipment all made it through untouched.
Fairmont Niseko: New Luxury Resort Revives Stalled La Plume Site for Early 2028 Opening
Fairmont is bringing its second Japanese property to Niseko, and this one's got history. The 165-room resort will rise on the site of the stalled La Plume project, which collapsed into bankruptcy in 2025 before J-Will Partners bought the site for redevelopment. Set between Mount Yotei and Mount Annupuri, it's slated for an early 2028 opening - putting it in play for the 2027/28 season. Expect two restaurants, a spa, onsen bathing, and a kids' club, a short drive from Niseko Village and Hirafu.