The 9 Highest Elevation Ski Lifts In the World The best skiing is at higher elevations. It is colder, more extreme, and the snow is lighter and more prominent. The issue is getting to these elevations can require mountaineering and long intense hikes only to get 1 run. Ski lifts run into a similar problem: building on uneven and extreme terrain often proves to be difficult. So what and […] Zach Suffish | July 7, 2025 2 Comments
Top 9 Most Rewarding Ski-Related Jobs Working in the ski industry isn’t just a job for many—it’s a lifestyle. It’s early mornings, frozen fingers, big laughs, and the kind of fulfillment that’s hard to find behind a desk. The work can be tough, the pay isn’t always glamorous, and the weather doesn’t care about your comfort. But ask anyone who’s spent a season—or a lifetime—in the […] Brains Brent Thomas | July 7, 2025 0 Comments
Is There Such a Thing as ‘Left’ and ‘Right’ Skis? If you’ve ever stood at the base of the mountain, skis in hand, wondering whether one goes on the left and the other on the right, you’re not alone. For most skiers and most skis, the answer is simple: it doesn’t matter. Traditional alpine skis are symmetrical, meaning they’re designed to perform the same no matter which foot they’re on. […] Brains Brent Thomas | July 5, 2025 0 Comments
Top 5 Hardest Ski Lifts to Get On or Off Navigating ski lifts is an essential part of any day on the mountain, yet some lifts are notorious for presenting unique challenges to skiers and snowboarders. Drawing from firsthand accounts shared by the SnowBrains community, this article highlights five lifts most frequently cited for their difficulty when loading or unloading. Whether due to steep ramps, exposed locations, or unpredictable weather, […] Steven Agar | July 5, 2025 0 Comments
The 7 Friendliest U.S. Airports for Skiers and Snowboarders For skiers and snowboarders traveling for a destination ski trip, the journey to the mountain is a necessary yet potentially dreadful part of the expedition. Navigating through airports with bulky gear can be a hassle, making it crucial to have a seamless travel experience. The friendliest airports for skiers and snowboarders understand this and go above and beyond to ensure […] Brains Brent Thomas | July 2, 2025 0 Comments
The 5 Most Unique Ski and Snowboard Towns on The Planet When discussing the best places to ski and snowboard, several factors must be considered. It’s not always the ones with the most access, the most famous, or the highest elevation. The best ski towns offer many things that skiers and snowboarders universally love. It’s always helpful when they’re semi-affordable because we all know how insanely expensive ski towns can be. The […] Brains Quintin Mills | June 28, 2025 1 Comment
Top 11 States for Outdoor Lovers If you live for fresh air, scenic trails, and weekends that start with a backpack or a pair of skis, the U.S. has no shortage of states where the outdoors is more than just a backdrop but a way of life. From alpine peaks to desert canyons, rolling forests to rugged coastlines, some states stand out for their access to […] Brains Brent Thomas | June 25, 2025 0 Comments
9 Biggest Ski Resorts for Night Skiiing Most resorts stop spinning their lifts after 4 p.m. but a select few keep the party going long after the sun goes down. The experience of carving down the mountain under the stars with friends and family, refusing to call it a day is truly one of a kind. There is something so peaceful about hitting the slopes after dark […] Brett Currie | June 24, 2025 0 Comments
7 Essentials to Bring For a Great Ski Day It’s the night before a ski day, and your gear is scattered throughout your house. Why? Because at the end of your last day out, you laid everything out on your floor to “dry out” without actually putting it away. Now, what are the essentials you need to track down and prepare tonight to have a successful day on the […] Gear Zach Suffish | June 24, 2025 0 Comments
Top 5 Best Ski Counties in the United States There are countless great skiing and snowboarding locations across the United States. Some counties, however, pull far above their weight when it comes to quality and quantity of snow, elevation, access to great inbounds and backcountry terrain, vibrant après scene, accessibility from major airports, and of course number of ski resorts. From coast to coast, we’ve compiled a list using […] Brains Joseph Kaufmann | June 23, 2025 0 Comments
17 Not So Obvious Bucket List Experiences for Skiers and Snowboarders in the U.S. Most skiers and riders have a mental list of the usual bucket list items, such as visiting specific resorts or finally going heli-skiing. However, the mountains are full of lesser-known gems that only locals may know about, which can be just as memorable. From riding special lifts, conquering challenging runs, or basking in unique moments, the not-so-obvious experiences often turn […] Brains Brent Thomas | June 20, 2025 0 Comments
“I’m a Skier So I Hate Warm Weather”—Can You Suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder in the Summer? We are well into June and the summer solstice is right around the corner, signaling the start of the warm season. It is usually around this time of year that I feel the doldrums of summer set in—and summer has only just begun. I likely feel this way because ski season has long ended, there are no good sports to […] Brains Brent Thomas | June 18, 2025 0 Comments
The 7 Biggest Threats to the Future of Skiing and Snowboarding Skiing and snowboarding have long been beloved winter traditions, drawing people to the mountains for both adrenaline and escape. But behind the lifts and powder days, the industry faces serious challenges. Based on community discussions and expert concerns, the future of snow sports depends on how the industry responds to a range of emerging threats, including climate change and cultural […] Industry News Brent Thomas | June 17, 2025 0 Comments
An Analysis of Avalanche Risk by Major Ski Country For most skiers and snowboarders, the risk of dying in an avalanche is very low. Yet there are those who suffer from nivisphobia—the fear of avalanches—and cite it as the reason they avoid the mountains altogether. A healthy respect for avalanche risk can save your life in the backcountry. But how rational is a genuine fear of avalanches when viewed […] Brains Julia Schneemann | June 15, 2025 0 Comments
7 Ways to Up Your Game as a Resort Skier Resort skiing is awesome, no matter how you look at it. Chairlifts that float you up the mountainside, hot laps with friends, ski patrol doing all the work so you don’t have to worry about avalanches—skiing inbounds is a vibe, and if you’re like me, you might do it a lot. But if you’re also like me, then you’re constantly […] Brains Martin Kuprianowicz | June 15, 2025 6 Comments
9 Less Than Common Myths Busted for Recreational Skiers You are out skiing at your favorite resort, and while enjoying a ride up the chairlift, you look down. You see a first-time teen slowly making their way down the hill. There is a child ripping turns and jumping off everything in sight, and a middle-aged man with an instructor working on turn shape. Many styles and varieties of skiing […] Jenah MacGrain | June 15, 2025 4 Comments
Top 11 U.S. Big Mountain Ski Resorts: Opinion From a Freestyle Skier Lists are inherently wrong, no matter how you look at them. There will almost always be something to argue about. So why make them at all? Well… I love a good debate. There are no set factors that I decided to rate each resort on. The majority of this list are resorts that I have had experience skiing, and I […] Ryan Flynn | June 14, 2025 30 Comments
The 5 Ski Resorts in the U.S. with the Weirdest Names When it comes to ski resorts, the name on the sign can be as memorable as the slopes themselves. While many resorts boast classic, picturesque names, others take a far quirkier approach, choosing names that raise eyebrows, spark laughter, or inspire curiosity. We asked our readers: What ski resort has the weirdest name? These were the resorts that proved that […] Brains Brent Thomas | June 14, 2025 2 Comments
The Strange World Of Skiing Superstitions If you grew up in a region that received snow, you’re probably familiar with the multitude of skiing superstitions. Whether it was wearing your pajamas inside out or flushing ice cubes down the toilet, every kid had their preferred method of playing with fate to force a snow day. Skiers, however, have taken snow superstitions to the next level. A common […] Dylan Craig | June 13, 2025 6 Comments
Hometown Mountain Shoutout: Bousquet, MA—A Small Mountain With A Big Heart Western Massachusetts—specifically Berkshire County—lies within the Appalachian range, in a region locally known as the Berkshire Hills. Within these hills are numerous ski resorts, but at the center of Berkshire County lies a lesser-known, yet unique and historic resort: Bousquet Mountain. As the ski resorts are all within an hour of each other, they share many of the same skiers […] Zach Suffish | June 12, 2025 0 Comments
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