New Data Reveals Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. Chairlifts Lack Restraint Bars While restraint bars are standard equipment on chairlifts in most ski countries, new data shared this week highlights how unevenly they are adopted across the United States. According to figures published by Lift Blog on X, roughly 77% of chairlifts used for skiing nationwide are equipped with restraint bars, leaving nearly one in four lifts operating without them. The breakdown […] Industry News Martin Kuprianowicz | January 22, 2026 1 Comment
SnowBrains Podcast Ep. 93 | Denis Lee – Co-Founder of AirFlare Denis Lee is a Co-Founder of AirFlare, a company built around a simple idea with lifesaving potential – turning the smartphone people already carry in their pockets every single day into a powerful search and rescue tool, and a powerful tool to help ski patrol save time and energy. He left his traditional corporate career to pursue his passions in […] Featured Video Podcast | December 2, 2025 0 Comments
Should Helmets Be Mandatory at Ski Resorts? It wasn’t very long ago that ski helmets were more of an obscurity then the norm like they are today. Though ski helmets were initially invented in the 1950s with the use of technology from World War II, they didn’t really began to see wide spread use until the early to mid 2000’s. A study from ScholarBlogs found that in the […] Industry News Joseph Kaufmann | July 10, 2025 4 Comments
Verbier, Switzerland, Report: On Snow During the Freeride World Tour Weekend Report from Friday, March 21, 2025 The morning after the final stop of the 2025 Freeride World Tour in Verbier, Switzerland, we met at the Mammut booth in the heart of the Freeride Village—geared up and ready for a full day in the mountains. The mission: sharpen avalanche safety skills, explore gear trusted by professionals, and ski alongside one of […] Conditions Report Brett Ploss | March 24, 2025 0 Comments
New Snow Safety Video to Raise Awareness About Deep Snow and Avalanche Risks TRUCKEE, Calif.—[January 24, 2025]—The High Fives Foundation announces the release of its latest snow safety video, designed to promote awareness and education about the hidden dangers of winter sports. From avalanches to tree wells and deep snow immersions, this engaging video highlights life-saving protocols that every skier and rider should know. B.A.S.I.C.S. 2025 campaign, Deep Snow, features key safety principles […] SnowBrains | January 25, 2025 0 Comments
How Effective are Helmets at Preventing Head Injuries? With adding up all the costs of lift tickets, food prices, parking costs, and equipment and gear required to go skiing, it takes little time to realize that the sport is expensive. The most expensive cost associated with skiing is purchasing the equipment and gear needed to go skiing. Those costs can easily be thousands of dollars for skis, bindings, […] Industry News Gregg Frantz | December 11, 2024 0 Comments
Driving On Snow, For Dummies *Disclaimer: not associated with the Dummies brand Here are SnowBrains’ top tips for driving on the snow: Clean off snow: Clean the ice and snow off your car. Make sure you clean the entire windshield—a tiny peephole to look through is not sufficient. Depending on where you live, you can get a fine for not clearing the windshield properly. If […] Brains Julia Schneemann | November 28, 2023 3 Comments
Know Before You Go: Heat-Related Illness and How to Prevent It Summer means long days and fun in the sun. After winter melts away, it’s time to hike, bike, and play in the water.  With summer in full swing, it’s time to brush up on heat-related illnesses and how to prevent them. Heat-related illness is often avoidable, yet it kills around 600 people per year. Check out what experts say about heat exhaustion […] Katy Shipley | July 22, 2023 0 Comments
Ski California and Palisades Tahoe, CA, Win NSAA Safety Awards Ski California was selected as the 2023 Best Guest Safety Program award winner by the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) at its National Convention this week for the creation and effective use of its digital Mountain Safety Guide. Ski California, also known as California Ski Industry Association, is a non-profit trade association representing 35 ski resorts in California and Nevada. Additionally, […] Industry News Julia Schneemann | May 11, 2023 0 Comments
Police Trade in Their Cruisers for Skis and Begin Patrolling the Slopes at Vail and Beaver Creek, CO Over the last 18 years, the Mountain Patrol has put skiing police officers on the slopes of Vail and Beaver Creek. The idea is for the officers to serve more as a helping hand than to do actual police work. Don’t expect to see cops shredding all over the mountain, as only one or two officers work per week. Law […] Industry News Luke Guilford | March 9, 2023 1 Comment
New Study Shows When Most Accidents Happen on the Mountain A five-year study out of New Zealand by the company ACC Statistics reveals when most injuries happen on the slopes. The deadliest time of day is right around the lunch hour between 11 am and Noon. About 30% of all accidents occur during this time. Tiredness and congestion are believed to be the main cause of this. Skiers and riders […] Industry News Brent Glogau | September 1, 2022 3 Comments
How To Dive Off A Cliff… SAFELY! Ahhh summer… the time for fun in the sun with a change in pace and scenery. Cracking a cold beer, hiking up a nice 14er, and hanging out by the water are all things that come to my mind when the real feel changes from 25°F to 95°F. A personal summer favorite of mine is cliff jumping, but with many […] Cliff Jumping Lindsay Hayden | August 22, 2022 8 Comments
Ski Safety Group Dissolves After 3 Years Due to Lackluster Industry Support In June of 2019, the Alliance for Skier and Rider Responsibility was formed. The non-profit group was formed after the founder broke both her legs while taking a ski lesson when a snowboarder ran into her. Their goal was to make the slopes safer for everyone on the hill. Now, after three years, the organization is dissolving. Despite tireless work, […] Industry News Brent Glogau | June 22, 2022 1 Comment
Avalanche Airbags: What Are They and Why Do They Matter? Imagine you are freeskiing in the backcountry of your favorite mountain. You’ve finished warming up on a few trails, and now you’re prepared to tackle some more difficult terrain. All of a sudden, the snow starts cracking under you and you hear a loud, terrifying noise: WHUMPH. An avalanche is coming, and there is nothing you can do to stop […] Backcountry Haleigh Hafner | April 9, 2022 1 Comment
New Ultra-Safe Tyrolia Protector Bindings Set to Launch in Spring 2022 Coming in Spring 2022, Tyrolia plans to release the brand new Protector Attack Binding. The Tyrolia Protector Attack bindings are designed to give you a sleek look and keep your knees safe from any potential injuries. Tyrolia prides itself on providing its skiers with bindings that allow them to ski all parts of the mountain – from the bunny slopes […] Gear Haleigh Hafner | February 3, 2022 2 Comments
21 People Spend Night Suspended at 10,000 Feet on Broken Tram at Sandia Peak Ski Area, NM on New Year’s As the last work shift of 2021 was drawing to a close for the 20 staff of the Ten 3 restaurant located at the top of Sandia peak (10,300′) in Albuquerque, NM, all that was remaining was the 15-minute aerial tramway commute back down to the valley floor. It was New Year’s Eve. At the same time, a Sandia peak […] Industry News Martin Elliott | January 10, 2022 0 Comments
Top 9 Interesting Avalanche Facts As snowpack begins to build up, many winter outdoor enthusiasts are headed to the backcountry to avoid the craziness of resort skiing. The risk of avalanches is also increasing due to the combination of recent snowfall and higher traffic. Possessing and knowing how to use the appropriate gear and avalanche safety equipment is extremely important when exploring in the backcountry. However, […] Brains Aunika Skogen | December 22, 2021 0 Comments
What’s the Angle? Know Before You Go As winter returns and the excitement for skiing and riding powder begins to ramp back up, it’s important to remember that avalanche conditions are doing the same as well. Avalanche conditions occur due to several factors, including recent weather, snowfall, temperature fluctuation, wind speed/direction, slope pitch, slope aspect (or orientation), underlying terrain, and cumulative snowpack conditions. When the right, or should we […] Avalanche Jon Roubik | December 14, 2021 0 Comments
The Evolution of Ski Patrol: Dogs, Tech, and Love for the Mountains Ski patrol has been part of the ski industry from the very beginning.  From ancient monks rescuing travelers in the Alps to drones joining the Aspen Mountain Rescue, the desire to keep each other safe in the mountains is tried and true. Ski patrol today strives to keep up with the ever-changing ski industry. This had led to advanced avalanche mitigation and high […] Avalanche Katy Shipley | August 26, 2021 0 Comments
Mammoth Lakes, CA – Raising The Bar in Responsible Tourism Brought to you by Mammoth Lakes Tourism When envisioning the quintessential, unforgettable escapade in the mountains, whether it be sun-soaked or snow-covered, you may picture how that place might look, sound, or, better yet, feel. A serene, natural setting encompassed by awe-inspiring mountains, with crystal clear lakes, pine forests, and adventure at every turn. For this perfect paradise, look no […] Featured Article Emily Crofton | March 26, 2021 1 Comment
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