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Latest in Whistler Blackcomb
Resort Spotlight: Whistler Blackcomb - Does North America's Largest Resort Live Up to the Numbers?
With 8,171 acres across two mountains and 305 runs, Whistler Blackcomb's scale is undeniable. But does size translate to quality? We examine what the numbers mean on the ground, from lift infrastructure to terrain distribution, and whether the resort justifies its position in the ski industry hierarchy.
Michael Fulton
Vail Resorts Q3 Fiscal 2026: Bad Winter Out West Hits Revenue as Pass Sales Fall 10%
Vail Resorts has reported its Q3 fiscal 2026 results, and the numbers reflect what anyone skiing the Rockies this past winter already suspected - it was rough. Net income fell from $389.7M to $314.4M, visitation dropped 15%, and early pass sales for 2026/27 are down approximately 10%. The one bright spot? Epic Australia Pass sales are up 26% in units and 31% in revenue. Perisher, Falls Creek and Hotham head into the southern hemisphere season with real momentum behind them.
Michael Fulton
Vail Resorts CEO Purchases $5 Million in Company Stock as Share Price Continues Multi-Year Decline
Rob Katz has purchased roughly $5 million in Vail Resorts stock as the company's share price sits at around a third of its 2021 peak. The purchase follows criticism of board members failing to buy stock and comes as the company battles reputation issues that may prove harder to fix than financial metrics.
Michael Fulton
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.
Michael Fulton
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.
Michael Fulton
Vail Resorts Introduces 20% Discount on Epic Pass for Under-30s
Vail Resorts has announced a 20% price reduction on Epic Pass products for skiers and riders aged 13-30, bringing the 2026-27 Epic Pass down to $869 and Epic Local Pass to $649. The move comes as the ski industry grapples with participation rates among younger demographics.
Michael Fulton
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.
Michael Fulton
Vail Resorts' Former CEO Kirsten Lynch Receives $2.2 Million Severance Package
Kirsten Lynch, former CEO of Vail Resorts, is set to receive a substantial severance package following her departure from the company. The package includes cash payments, equity awards, and health insurance benefits.
Michael Fulton
Rob Katz Returns as Vail Resorts CEO After Kirsten Lynch's Departure
Vail Resorts announces a significant leadership change as Rob Katz returns to the CEO position, replacing Kirsten Lynch who has stepped down after 14 years with the company.
Michael Fulton
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.
Michael Fulton
Epic Pass 2025/26: A Comprehensive Buying Guide for Skiers and Riders
Explore the various Epic Pass options for the 2025/26 season, including new resort access, pricing, and benefits for skiers and snowboarders looking to maximise their mountain time across multiple destinations.
Michael Fulton
Whistler Blackcomb Transitions to Spring Skiing Schedule
Whistler Blackcomb announces changes to its spring skiing operations, with Whistler Mountain closing on April 21 and spring skiing continuing on Blackcomb Mountain until May 19.
Michael Fulton
Latest News
More from the SnowStash desk
Aspen Snowmass Marks 80th Anniversary With $3.75 Throwback Lift Tickets
Aspen Snowmass turns 80 this December, and it's marking the milestone with $3.75 lift tickets on the anniversary itself - the original 1946 price. A discounted long weekend, $19.46 dining specials, lodging deals up to 46 percent off, and a season of anniversary programming round out the celebration across all four mountains.
17 Sept 2026
Doppelmayr Group Posts 9.1% Revenue Growth in 2025/26, Passing 1.3 Billion Euros
Doppelmayr closed its 2025/26 business year with revenue up 9.1 percent to 1.3 billion euros, driven by projects including the Big Sky Explorer Gondola, Deer Valley's Mayflower East Village Gondola, and the first TRI-Line installation at Hoch-Ybrig. Headcount grew too, with the ropeway manufacturer now employing almost 4,000 people worldwide.
16 Sept 2026
Hintertux Glacier Replaces 40-Year-Old Gondola to Tuxer Fernerhaus
Hintertux Glacier is retiring its 40-year-old gondola to the Tuxer Fernerhaus. The replacement carries 10 people per cabin instead of four, with seat heating and nearly 40 percent more hourly capacity. Doppelmayr's new line opens at the end of October 2026, right as the glacier's high-altitude terrain becomes accessible again for the new season.
16 Sept 2026
FIS Weighs Holding World Championships in Almost Every Winter, Starting 2032
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation is looking at a major shake-up to its title events calendar. From 2032, World Championships could run not just in odd-numbered years but in every non-Olympic winter too, effectively putting a global title event on the calendar almost every season. The FIS Council has approved the concept following a feasibility study, though an accelerated rollout as early as 2028 is also under consideration.
4 Sept 2026
Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026
Mount Buller closes out its 2026 season this Sunday, joining Falls Creek, Hotham and Charlotte Pass in a cluster of closures landing almost simultaneously and roughly a month ahead of schedule. The culprit is stark: Spencers Creek's benchmark snow depth hit 31.2cm on 3 September, just 18% of the 73-year average and an all-time low for this point in the season. Six of Victoria and NSW's best-known resorts will have shut their lifts early within a span of about two and a half weeks.
4 Sept 2026
Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season
Tremblant has confirmed a major expansion of its Quebec ski area, with a new Timber Summit sector adding 62 acres of terrain, eight trails and a high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2027/28. It's part of a CAD 42.5 million investment that also includes a new beginner learning zone at Versant Soleil opening this coming season. The project has grown considerably since it was first announced back in 2020, when it carried a far smaller budget and an opening date that never eventuated.
2 Sept 2026
Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6
We knew when the Bird Bath Pond Skim showed up on Hotham's Instagram that the season was on its way out. It's been a rough one - I only managed two days on snow all year, at Falls Creek - and now Baw Baw, Selwyn and Hotham have all called it, possibly the worst Australian season I've seen in a decade. Hotham's last day of lift operations is Sunday, 6 September, with a Retro Day, Father's Day après and closing sales before the lifts stop turning for good.
1 Sept 2026
Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028
Thredbo Alpine Resort has confirmed plans to replace its 37-year-old Gunbarrel quad chairlift with a new six-seat Doppelmayr D-Line, targeting winter 2028. The AUD 35 million project will keep travel time roughly the same but lift capacity from 2,800 to 3,000 skiers per hour. It's part of a broader investment push that also includes doubled snowmaking capacity at Friday Flat for 2027, with the ageing Kosciuszko Express now flagged as the resort's next major lift replacement after Gunbarrel.
31 Aug 2026