In anticipation of the upcoming snow season, here are the Top 5 Ski Apps to help you make the most of every day on the mountain. This list pulls from a variety of categories to narrow down those deserving coveted storage space on your phone. Whether you’re into rugged backcountry adventure, have a penchant for powder, or looking to get social – I’ve got you covered. Let me know what you think of the picks and if there are any you think I missed. Tell us, what’s on your phone?
#1. SNOCRU: Social Media/ Tracking Platform
Platform: Android + iOS
Cost: Free / In-App Upgrades available
SNOCRU is a leading snowsports app, ranked tops in its class by SKI Magazine, Wired and Snowboard Magazine. This social-meets-function app helps track your stats and connect with your friends. Ever wonder where the rest of your group is while you’re waiting in a lift line? Or what run you just came down? Wonder no more. SNOCRU is now designed to show you where you and your friends are on the actual resort map – in real time. Included in this clever app are the usual tracking metrics such as number of runs, total vertical, and your top speed of your day. Compare how you stack up to the leaderboard or against your own group of friends. Still more, SNOCRU offers worldwide resort information, weather reports and makes sharing on social media a snap. This app is top -shelf.
*SNOCRU recently acquired Fluri and is busy integrating that technology into this platform. Above version of app coming soon.
#2. OnTheSnow: Snow Reports/ Resort Details
Platform: Android + iOS
Cost: Free
OnTheSnow is the world’s most downloaded ski and snowboard app for snow conditions. With information from more than 2,000 areas worldwide on key parameters such as snow depth, latest snowfall amounts and even first-hand skier reports, this app has the details on snow you need to know. And just in case you want to see the conditions with your own eyes, they even offer webcam views. Trail maps, mountain profiles and powder alters to your favorite destinations secure this app’s MVP status.
#3. Trace Snow: Action Sport Tracker
Platform: Android + iOS
Cost: Free / Optional In-App Purchases/ Optional add-on devise $199.00
Trace Snow starts off as a traditional trail and course tracking app, but then pivots away from the herd gathering information few others can claim – like airtime, height of jumps, and distance traveled. These features can be utilized with the standard app or stepped up a few notches with an optional add on – TraceUp. TraceUp is a small disc, action sport tracker, about the size of a candy peanut butter cup that attaches directly to your ski or board. A key feature of this combination is that it can auto-edit video from your session to pull out the best runs and create an amazing highlight reel. As a stand alone, TraceSnow also assists in helping you to analyze areas for improvement and track your progress. Boom.
#4. Avanet: Crowdsourced for Mountain Safety
Platform: iOS
Cost: Free/Avanet Tour $5 per month/ Avanet Pro $10 month
AvaTech launched their smartphone app, Avanet, to enhance the safety of any back country excursion. With everything from route planning and tracking to avalanche data management, this app is all about sharing scientific, concrete, information on mountain conditions in real time. Their sharing is caring notification system alerts you to red flag areas and potential “no-go” zones, based on crowdsourced observations, helping you make the most of your adventure and averting disaster. Recognizing that your phone is an essential safety device, this app even notifies you when your phone battery powers down to 20 percent . Nice touch.
“Our global mountain community can now share real-time, geo-tagged observations of snow conditions, weather, wind, avalanches and more. Now all mountain travelers – skiers, snowboarders, snowmobilers, snowshoers, mountaineers and the professional snow community – can benefit from the information shared on the Avanet mountain safety platform. And when we share information, it’s a win-win for everyone.” Brint Markle, Co-founder and CEO of Avatech.
#5. Liftopia: Lift Ticket Deals + Lessons
Platform: Android + iOS
Cost: Free
Liftopia is the ultimate go-to app for discounted lift ticket sales. Helping you save up to 80-percent, tickets can be booked in advance right from your phone for lifts, lessons and even equipment rentals. You can list your favorite resorts, get snow reports and set up deal alerts so you never miss out on a deal. It’s a good time to go bargain hunting.
