How and Why Lindsey Vonn Can Race With a Torn ACL—And She’s Not Alone In one of the most talked-about storylines at the 2026 Winter Olympics, American alpine legend Lindsey Vonn is preparing to compete in the women’s downhill despite suffering a completely ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee just days before the Games. Related: Against the Odds, Lindsey Vonn Intends to Race Olympic Downhill With Torn ACL The 41-year-old skiing […] Olympics Julia Schneemann | February 6, 2026 1 Comment
Ski Injury Hotspots: The Body Parts Taking the Biggest Beating on the Mountain The very components that make skiing so exhilarating also contribute to its high risk of injury. Exceptional speeds, unpredictable terrain, extended airtime, and the sheer forces placed on the body put every skier at risk. Injuries result from falls, collisions, awkward rotations, and countless other scenarios. But which body parts are most vulnerable, and how can this knowledge help us […] Brains Zach Suffish | February 6, 2026 0 Comments
Want to Ski in a U.S. National Park? Here Are Your 3 Options The national parks of the United States offer some of the most protected and pristine natural escapes that can be found in North America. Typically, they hold many restrictions on infrastructure and general development, aside from what is deemed necessary for visitors throughout their borders. Some other regulations, including the requirement of camping permits, ban of drone usage, and the principle […] Brains Gabe Ward | February 5, 2026 1 Comment
The 16 Greatest Independent Ski Resorts Left In the United States We live in an era where skiing is becoming increasingly commercialized. Your hometown resort has been gobbled up by some mega corporation, and lift ticket prices have doubled—or even tripled. Now you’re forced to buy a $1,500 multi-resort pass just to ski the same mountain you used to visit a few times a year for just $50–$100 a day. Gone […] Brains Kien Warren | February 4, 2026 12 Comments
Weather and Snowpack Update for the United States Many ski areas across the Western USA continue to experience one of the most challenging winters in recent memory. Mount Hood Ski Bowl recently announced that its operations will be suspended until further notice, and many large ski areas, including Vail, Park City, Deer Valley, and others only have roughly 65% of their terrain open, according to ski area websites. […] Weather Zach Armstrong | February 4, 2026 0 Comments
Why is That Tree Covered in Bras and Beads at the Ski Area? Every ski resort seems to have that one tree covered in bras, beads, boots, panties, and whatever people choose to toss on it. Many refer to it as the “panty tree.” There have been conflicting reports that debate when, where, and why panty trees came to be, so today, we must try to piece together the puzzle. Our earliest theory […] Brains Luke Guilford | February 3, 2026 6 Comments
Top 9 Longest T-Bars in North America Over the last few decades, T-Bar lifts have declined in popularity and have given way to more modern lift systems. T-Bars have generally been used to service beginner areas and upper mountain zones with little wind protection, but innovation in lift technology has created better alternatives. Carpet-style lifts have become increasingly popular in beginner areas as they are easier for […] Brains Brett Currie | February 2, 2026 0 Comments
Backcountry Layering: Be Aware, Know What to Wear One of the most important parts of moving safely in the backcountry is being prepared with the right gear. Yes, that means a beacon, shovel, and probe—but it also includes your clothing. When you’re touring in the backcountry, you’ll want a different kit than what you wear inbounds at the resort. Inbounds, your main goal is to stay warm […] Brains Russell Parker | January 30, 2026 0 Comments
This is How Current Glacier Health and the Future of Year-Round Skiing in the Oregon Cascades Looks A summer skier’s day often starts long before the sun. In the dark, packs are checked, breakfast is hastily consumed, and routes are looked over one more time by headlamp before starting the long ascent to the snow line. Few are around to see dim silhouettes trudge uphill, skis A-framed to their packs and hiking boots kicking up dust as […] Brains Morgan Stierman | January 30, 2026 0 Comments
Study Shows That Ski Techs Have Highest Levels of PFAS Exposure, Linked To Significant Negative Health Outcomes Walk into any ski shop worth its salt, and you will be hit with that distinctive waxy ski shop smell. Built up from the waxing of thousands of pairs of skis over decades, that smell has recently been linked to significant long-term health effects for ski technicians. Ski waxes are made from a mixture of organic compounds with long alkyl […] Brains Zach Armstrong | January 30, 2026 2 Comments
The Top 10 Most Unique Chairlifts In The World In the world of skiing, most people don’t think about chairlifts, but some are very unique. Here is a list of the 10 most unique chairlifts in the world (we excluded trams and gondolas). #10 Challenger at Sun Valley Resort, ID The Challenger lift at Sun Valley is unique for its unparalleled vertical rise among North American chairlifts. Opening in […] Brains Luke W. Smith | January 27, 2026 1 Comment
Should You Tip Your Ski Instructor? If So, How Much? In the United States, it’s become arduous to decipher when, where, who, and how much you should tip. I always think of the opening scene from Reservoir Dogs, where Mr. Pink refuses to tip the waitress “because society says I have to.” However, life isn’t a Quentin Tarantino film, and tipping isn’t just for servers anymore. With inflation and unlivable […] Brains Quintin Mills | January 22, 2026 0 Comments
The Top 9 Fastest Winter Olympic Events The Winter Olympic Games were first held in 1924 in Chamonix, France. At its inception, there were only 16 medal events; fast forward to the Milano Cortina 2026 Games, and there will be a record 116 medal events. The events of the Winter Olympic Games range from the elegance of figure skating to the high-stakes adrenaline of events such as […] Olympics Greg Wedow | January 20, 2026 0 Comments
Top 5 Most Dangerous Sports at the Winter Olympics Olympic athletes are an inspiration to many. The athletic feats they achieve are beyond the capability of most mere recreational athletes. Their focus, determination, agility, and athletic ability propel them to ever-new heights, often at the risk of injury from accidents or overuse. In 2008, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) implemented a multi-sport injury surveillance system and recorded the number […] Olympics Julia Schneemann | January 19, 2026 0 Comments
The Top 9 U.S. Ski Towns to Live in Year-Round Life in an American ski town extends well beyond the ski season. While access to a mountain is a given, what truly defines these places is the rhythm of daily life and the people who choose to call them home. There is a laid-back energy paired with a deep appreciation for the outdoors, where neighbors connect on trailheads as often […] Brains Brent Glogau | January 16, 2026 0 Comments
Top 7 Tips for Skiing with Beginners (and Staying Friends Afterwards) Whether you started skiing as soon as you could walk or recently married into a skiing family, everyone was a beginner once. So, how do you ski with a beginner on a trip or just a day on the mountain? Obviously, leading them down expert terrain is not in the cards, and getting frustrated by the pace of their skiing is […] Brains Greg Wedow | January 15, 2026 0 Comments
The Science Behind a Warming Atmosphere and Unpredictable Winters It is no secret that weather patterns are changing, and humans are a major driving force behind them. Our pursuit of innovation—while incredibly beneficial for food production, disease prevention, and technological advancement—is also producing changes in our atmosphere with broad and uncertain consequences. Skiers are feeling the weight of these changes particularly quickly. Winters are becoming more variable, bringing either […] Brains Zach Suffish | January 13, 2026 0 Comments
Take it to the Streets: Unpacking the Origins of Urban Skiing “Skiing” brings to mind varied images for each person that hears the word. Some think of crisp corduroy and the feeling of carving high speed turns on a fresh morning groomer. Others envision steep powder fields, waiting to be carved into symmetrical sinusoidal waves as turns are linked down the face. Over the past few decades, though, more skiers have […] Brains Morgan Stierman | January 13, 2026 0 Comments
The Hidden Math Behind Ski Trip Costs: Europe vs. America Current pricing data reveals surprising truths about transatlantic ski trips. Travel + Leisure recently published an analysis comparing paired ski destinations such as Vail versus Courchevel in France, Jackson Hole versus Andermatt in Switzerland, and others. Lydia Mansel’s findings challenged conventional wisdom, showing Europe won in two of five matchups when factoring in flights, lodging, and lift tickets. How Vail’s […] Brains Donovan Ly | January 13, 2026 2 Comments
Après: A 33-Resort Quest for the 9 Best Old Fashioned Cocktails in the West The Old Fashioned may be the most quintessential après-ski cocktail of them all. It’s warm, satisfying, and perfectly suited for lingering conversations with friends gathered around a roaring fireplace. With each sip, the drink subtly evolves as the ice slowly melts—an ever-changing experience in a single glass. Holding one immediately sets you apart, in the best way, from the beer-and-wine […] Brains Bob Witowski | January 9, 2026 1 Comment
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