‘Year-Round’ Swiss Ski Resort Zermatt Closes Due to Extremely Warm Temperatures and Rapid Snowmelt High in the Swiss Alps, Zermatt usually stays open all year, never halting its lifts for a day because of the perpetually snow-covered glacier it’s built on. But with severe heatwaves impacting all of Europe, this is no ordinary summer and the world-class ski area has closed its skiing operations for the time being. The resort, which is the highest […] Industry News SnowBrains | July 27, 2022 1 Comment
The 13 Largest Ski Resorts on Earth We all know that bigger is better when it comes to ski resorts and many other things. In the USA, a biggest ski resort is Big Sky and it’s 5,800 acres. There are ski resorts in the Alps that make Big Sky look like a kiddie hill. So, where are the biggest ski resorts on Earth? Mostly in the Alps, it’s true, but there are a couple others outside of the Alps in North America. If you’re a true ski freak […] SnowBrains | July 22, 2022 71 Comments
Forest Fires and Extreme Heat Are Wreaking Havoc in Europe A heatwave in Europe is causing widespread forest fires. Portugal, Spain, France, Greece, and Morocco are the countries most affected, but many parts of the eurozone are dealing with extreme conditions. Temperatures have reached 116°F in Portugal and 113°F in Spain. These temperatures have triggered wildfires that have forced thousands of people to evacuate. To make matters worse, the temperatures […] Fire Brent Thomas | July 19, 2022 1 Comment
This Winter May Be the Best Time for a European Ski Vacation as the Euro and US Dollar Reach Parity For the first time in almost two decades, the euro and the US dollar are worth equal value. Just like in the U.S., the European Union is in fear of a looming recession. High inflation and energy supply uncertainty are driving the markets. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine exacerbates the problem. Some experts predict that the euro could fall even further. […] Industry News Brent Thomas | July 18, 2022 0 Comments
The 1st Non-Glacial Northern Hemisphere Resorts Will Open in 90 Days We’re into peak summer. Heatwaves are punishing us as temperatures creep into triple digits and beyond. The days might be getting shorter, but they’re not getting any cooler. But “winter is coming.” At least in Finland. Levi, the nation’s largest ski area, and Ruka, another one of the largest. Both plan to open on October 7th, 2022, the first non-glacial resorts […] Industry News SnowBrains | July 11, 2022 0 Comments
11 People Killed as More Than 100 Avalanches Hit Austrian and Swiss Mountains Avalanches killed eleven people in four days when more than 100 avalanches struck Austria and Switzerland, local media reported Sunday. “The past three days have seen some 100 avalanche-type incidents requiring 70 interventions.” – Tyrol regional authorities said Sunday One person died Thursday, and several others were injured in avalanches in the Graubunden region of Switzerland, which borders Austria’s Tyrol. […] Avalanche AvyBrains | February 6, 2022 0 Comments
European Glacier Threatened by Expansion Plan to Combine 2 Ski Areas By 2050 it is predicted that the majority of the glaciers in the Eastern Alps will have disappeared due to global warming. Due to a new project in Europe, some of the largest and last glaciers may disappear from the Alps sooner than expected. The project itself is called “Europe’s largest contiguous glacier ski resort”, and the expansion is huge. […] Industry News Evan Boughey | January 7, 2022 2 Comments
How to Get 30% Off Ski and Snowboard Rentals at 50 Different Destinations in North America and Europe With ski season starting, any last-minute equipment may be hard to find and expensive to obtain. Luckily, ski and snowboard rentals are 30% off at 50 different destinations in North America and Europe. TravelZoo is partnering with Ski Butlers to offer this great deal and even pick up athletes’ rentals when they are done. In order to receive this offer, […] Industry News Breya Bergom | December 7, 2021 0 Comments