Top 5 Most Longed-For Extinct Ski Brands According to SnowBrains Readers We all remember our first pair of skis, no matter how many years ago we got them. Whether they were brand new, hand-me-downs, or some classic rentals, these early skis played a role in our love for the sport and community. Many new brands were starting, and a pair of skis was more than just a tool to get turns […] Jack Bynum | July 2, 2025 5 Comments
Low-Altitude French Ski Resort Vows to Fight Referendum to Shut Down Skiing Operations In a historic referendum driven by climate change, residents of the French Alpine village of Allos have voted to end skiing and boarding at their local ski resort, Val d’Allos–Le Seignus, citing mounting financial losses and an increasingly unreliable snowpack. The referendum, held both online and in person throughout June and concluding Saturday, marks another major retreat from downhill skiing […] Industry News Julia Schneemann | July 2, 2025 0 Comments
The 5 Weirdest Ski Resorts Throughout the world, there are 6,053 ski resorts. Within the thousands of resorts worldwide, there are bound to be some odd ones. With so many to choose from, what are some of the strangest ski resorts in the world? 1. Masikryong, North Korea The country this resort is located in is unusual, considering North Korea has been under dictatorship rule […] Industry News Breya Bergom | July 2, 2025 5 Comments
Scientists Uncover the Ideal Conditions Causing Big Champagne Powder® Days at Steamboat, CO: ‘Speedy Snowflakes’ Scientists at Storm Peak Laboratory in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, analyzed 45 years of snowstorm data to pinpoint what drives Steamboat Resort’s biggest powder days. They conclude that extreme snowfall—those top 5% events—requires a specific atmospheric recipe of cold temperatures, northwest storm tracks, and strong winds. “These are the days everyone remembers,” Gannet Hallar, Ph.D., director of Storm Peak Lab and […] Brains Brent Thomas | July 2, 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
Oregon’s Legislative Session Ends With No Change to Liability Protections for Ski Areas Oregon’s outdoor recreation industry is facing a growing insurance crisis after major insurer Safehold Special Risk announced last month it will no longer provide coverage in the state. Safehold, which insures ski resorts in 37 states, cited Oregon’s legal environment—particularly its weak enforcement of liability waivers—as the reason for its exit. Related: Oregon’s Ski Resorts at Risk as Key Insurer […] Industry News Brent Thomas | July 2, 2025 0 Comments
Helicopter Crash Claims One Life in Remote Swiss Alpine Region A helicopter crash in the high-altitude Fusshörner region of the Swiss Alps has left a 51-year-old Swiss man dead, Valais authorities confirmed Saturday, June 28. The helicopter, which was traversing the Oberaletsch Glacier at the time, came to a sudden halt on its side after an unexplained impact with the ground, according to Valais cantonal police. The aircraft, operated by […] Crash Joseph Kaufmann | July 2, 2025 0 Comments
Beat the Heatwave: The 2025 Winter Season is Underway at Valle Nevado, Chile As summer temperatures soar across the United States, Valle Nevado in Chile offers a unique and refreshing escape: deep powder, high-alpine adventure, and world-class skiing just as the Northern Hemisphere swelters. For American skiers and snowboarders, the 2025 season at Valle Nevado is the perfect opportunity to trade heatwaves for fresh tracks, all while taking advantage of exclusive passholder benefits […] Industry News SnowBrains | July 1, 2025 0 Comments
Deer Valley, UT, Developer Secures $600 Million Loan for New Four Seasons Luxury Alpine Village Extell Development Company, a New York-based, full-service national real estate developer, today announced the closing of a $600 million construction loan for Four Seasons Resort and Residences Deer Valley, located within Deer Valley East Village, the first new luxury alpine village to be developed in North America in over forty years. Financed by JVP Management, an investment firm headquartered in […] Industry News Press Release | July 1, 2025 1 Comment
Everest Earthquake Survivor Summits All 446 Mountains in England and Wales in 45 Day Self-Powered Journey Alex Staniforth, a Kendal, UK-based adventurer and mental health advocate, has become the first person to summit all 446 mountains in England and Wales in a single, continuous, self-powered journey. Staniforth completed the feat in just 45 days, running up every summit and cycling between them, covering more than 1,900 miles (3,000 kilometers) and ascending over 328,000 feet (100,000 meters)—an […] Hiking Steven Agar | July 1, 2025 0 Comments
A Closer Look Behind the Innovative Backfill Technology That Powered the Teton Pass, WY, Road Repair After a Devastating Landslide When a massive landslide took out a section of Wyoming Highway 22 on June 8, 2024, it didn’t just damage pavement—it cut off a lifeline. Known as the Teton Pass “Big Fill Slide,” the collapse destroyed a key stretch of road that connects eastern Idaho’s Teton Valley with Jackson Hole, Wyoming—a world-class destination for outdoor enthusiasts. The sudden failure, triggered by extreme weather […] Brains Brent Thomas | July 1, 2025 0 Comments
NOAA July 2025 Updated Outlook: Drier West, Wetter East, and Monsoon Possibilities The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) updated its 30-day outlook for July 2025 yesterday, offering a detailed forecast for temperature and precipitation patterns across the United States. This forecast is based on the latest model guidance, ocean temperatures, and surface moisture conditions, providing a comprehensive view of the month ahead. Related: NOAA July 2025 Outlook: Western U.S. to be […] Weather WeatherBrains | July 1, 2025 0 Comments
Rare Snow Blankets Chile’s Atacama Desert for First Time in a Decade A rare snowfall event affected the arid expanse of the Atacama Desert, known as the driest place on Earth, on 26 June. The snow covered the Operations Support Centre of the ALMA Observatory in Chile, situated at an altitude of 9,500 feet (2,900 metres). Related: [PHOTOS] Rare Snow Turns Argentina’s Atlantic Beaches White for First Time Since 2013 The event, […] Climate SnowBrains | July 1, 2025 0 Comments
[PHOTOS] Rare Snow Turns Argentina’s Atlantic Beaches White for First Time Since 2013 Rare snow transformed Argentina’s Atlantic coast into a winter wonderland on Monday, as an intense polar cold front swept across the country, blanketing beaches and resort towns in Buenos Aires Province. Residents of coastal communities such as Miramar, Monte Hermoso, Mar del Plata, Costa del Este, and San Eduardo del Mar awoke to find their sandy shores and streets hidden […] Climate SnowBrains | July 1, 2025 0 Comments
Deer Valley, Utah, Provides Updates on its Massive New Infrastructure That’s Set to More than Double its Snowmaking Capabilities Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah, is undergoing a massive transformation. This includes upgrades to existing facilities, expansion of the skiable terrain, and the new Deer Valley East Village to name just a few of the projects that encompass the “Expanded Excellence” plan. One of the biggest undertakings of the transformation is the major upgrade to the snowmaking infrastructure. […] Industry News Luke Guilford | July 1, 2025 0 Comments
How Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill Will Affect the Ski Industry The Big Beautiful Bill, which is currently being voted on by the Senate, has drastic implications for the ski industry if it is passed. Even though much of the public lands that were being sold off in earlier versions of the bill have been removed, there are still many ways in which this massive piece of legislation could have a […] Industry News Elliot LeBlanc | July 1, 2025 0 Comments
FIS and IOC Tighten Ski Jumping Rules Ahead of 2026 Olympics After Numerous Industry Scandals As the ski jumping world looks ahead to the 2026 Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy, the issues around cheating and unfair advantages resurface. Earlier this year at the 2025 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim, Norway, a serious cheating scandal occurred, involving the Norwegian ski jumping team and their ski suits. The controversy was centered around the intentional manipulation of […] Industry News Elise Chou | July 1, 2025 0 Comments
Norwegian Ski Racer Weds Longtime Girlfriend in Fairytale Wedding in Salzburg, Austria Last weekend, Norwegian ski racer Henrik Kristoffersen married his longtime girlfriend and mother of his son, Tonje Barkenes, in a joyful three-day celebration in Salzburg, Austria. Kristoffersen, 30, tied the knot with Barkenes, also 30, in their adopted home Salzburg, where they were joined by family and friends under sunny skies for a wedding filled with laughter, heartfelt vows, and […] Industry News Julia Schneemann | July 1, 2025 0 Comments
German Olympic Cross-Country Skiing Champion Faces Doping Investigation Over Military-Issued Medication Victoria Carl, a two-time Olympic medalist in cross-country skiing, is under investigation after testing positive for clenbuterol, a banned anabolic substance. The positive test, confirmed by Germany’s ski federation, was collected during an out-of-competition doping control while Carl was competing in the Winter Military World Games earlier this year. Carl, who won gold in the team sprint and silver in […] Olympics Martin Kuprianowicz | June 30, 2025 0 Comments
Did You Know There Used to Be an Unconventional Ski Area in the Suburbs of Atlanta, GA? For a few years in the late 1970s, Atlanta, Georgia, offered an unexpected twist for thrill-seekers: the Vinings Ridge Ski Area. Far from the powdery peaks of traditional ski resorts, Vinings Ridge operated on a synthetic surface due to the warm climate, making it a unique, year-round attraction. Related: The 5 Most Unique Ski and Snowboard Towns on The Planet […] Brains Brent Thomas | June 30, 2025 10 Comments