Top 5 Most Challenging and Rewarding Groomed Runs in the U.S. Do you love carving on fresh corduroy first thing in the morning? Do you live for sustained, top-to-bottom runs—the kind where you can push the speed, hop back on the lift, and do it again? If you answered yes to these questions, you may love groomers. To be clear and definite about what this ranking system entails, here are the […] Brains Greg Wedow | December 9, 2025 3 Comments
Nationwide U.S. Snow Cover Hits Highest Early-Season Level in 20 Years Snow–for skiing and snowboarding, the more the better, right? Most riders would agree, and further proof is the popularized phrase, “No friends on a powder day.” While some areas of the Western United States are experiencing below-average snowfall, the Northeast is thriving with the opposite. But what is the overall trend? According to Chris Vickers, WTOL Chief Meteorologist, the United […] Climate Greg Wedow | December 5, 2025 0 Comments
AIARE Launches Free Avalanche Aware Online Program to Make Backcountry Safety Education Accessible to Everyone New online resource developed with CAIC and NWAC helps outdoor enthusiasts learn the fundamentals of avalanche awareness before heading into the mountains. The American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE), in collaboration with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) and the Northwest Avalanche Center (NWAC), today announced the launch of Avalanche Aware, a free, online educational program designed to […] Avalanche AvyBrains | October 28, 2025 1 Comment
First-Ever U.S. Cross-Country World Cup Finals to Be Held at Lake Placid, NY, in March Tickets are now on sale for the Stifel Lake Placid Finals, a Coop FIS Cross-Country World Cup, set for March 20-22, 2026, at Mt. Van Hoevenberg, New York. This landmark event marks the first Cross-Country World Cup Finals ever held in the United States and the long-awaited return of World Cup racing to Lake Placid, a first since 1979. The […] Competition Gregg Frantz | October 15, 2025 0 Comments
The Mountain Passes and Roads in the United States That Close Every Winter There are approximately 4,219,172 miles of roads in the United States, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Each winter, some roads are closed due to inclement and hazardous conditions. States like California, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming have seasonal road closures each winter that drivers must be aware of. There are also passes and roads in the East and Northeast […] Brains Gregg Frantz | October 3, 2025 0 Comments
Beartooth Highway (US-212), WY/MT, Will Close Today Due to Forecasted 18″ of Snow Beartooth Highway (US-212) will close on Friday, October 3, at noon due to forecasted winter weather conditions. Crews will evaluate conditions and will reopen the highway as conditions allow. This is the first time the pass has closed this fall. “Temporary CLOSURE of BEARTOOTH HIGHWAY — US212 (Beartooth Highway/Beartooth Pass) will close Friday October 3rd at Noon. Currently, there is […] Weather SnowBrains | October 3, 2025 0 Comments
Upgrade Plans at Purgatory Resort, CO, Derailed by County, U.S. Forest Service In April 2025, Purgatory Resort in Southern Colorado announced that it planned to invest $6 million into the mountain. A large part of that is going towards the Gelande lift, a new fixed-grip triple lift which had originally been scheduled to open for the 2025-26 winter season. The proposed lift would originate from the Gelande overflow parking lot and terminate […] Industry News Luke W. Smith | September 17, 2025 0 Comments
American Airlines Expands Access to Top Ski Destinations for Winter 2025-26 American Airlines is set to make the nation’s top ski destinations more accessible than ever, unveiling a slate of new and expanded routes for the 2025-26 season. The carrier’s latest network expansion, announced June 26, introduces direct flights to Sun Valley, Idaho, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, alongside enhanced service to Aspen, Colorado, and several other winter destinations. Related: Alaska […] Industry News SnowBrains | June 28, 2025 0 Comments
The 11 Best American-Made Ski Companies New tariffs imposed by the Trump administration have sent shockwaves through the ski industry, driving up the cost of imported gear and disrupting long-established supply chains. As European and Asian-made skis become more expensive, buying from American ski companies is no longer just about patriotism—it’s a smart response to a shifting trade landscape. For skiers and retailers alike, supporting U.S. […] Gear SnowBrains | June 5, 2025 21 Comments
Should Chairlift Safety Bars be a Legal Requirement in the United States? For the last several decades, there has been an ongoing debate across the United States on whether safety bars and lowering them should be a legal requirement on chairlifts. The 2024-25 season saw several incidents make national headlines, involving various resorts across the United States. While some of these incidents were due to a mechanical issue, some of these incidents […] Brains Quinn Brophy | May 21, 2025 0 Comments
The Top 9 Coldest States in the U.S. Below are the coldest states and their average temperature for the whole year, measured across the five most populated cities in each U.S. state from January 2009 to October 2023. The data came from Payless Power who consulted the World Weather Online API for the data. Stay tuned until the end of the list for a few fun graphs to […] Industry News Luke Guilford | November 7, 2024 0 Comments
Ski Weeks To Last A Lifetime At Taos Ski Valley, NM Brought to you by Taos Ski Valley An all-time winter skiing or snowboarding getaway is waiting for you at Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico. Home to North America’s sole full-immersion camp, Ski Week at Taos is a standout program at a premier mountain paradise where you’ll cultivate the skills to slide right into skiing like an absolute legend. Taos founder […] Featured Article Paulie | February 12, 2024 0 Comments
U.S. To Host 11 FIS World Cups in 2023-24 Season – Most in History FIS confirmed 11 FIS World Cups in the United States for the 2023-24 season—the most World Cups hosted on U.S. soil in history. Related: 2023 Stifel Killington Cup Tickets Available Starting October 12 at 10:00 a.m. ET The U.S. World Cup circuit begins in November and goes through early March, spanning coast to coast with four alpine events, one cross-country […] Industry News SnowBrains | October 10, 2023 0 Comments
Snowy Range: A Local’s Gem At Lovable Laramie, WY Brought to you by Visit Laramie A healthy winter has transformed Wyoming into a winter playground, and the locals around Laramie love the good times at their lovable ski area, Snowy Range. A quiet ski area with a genuine community feel, Snowy Range will likely rise quickly among your favorite places for skiing or snowboarding. -Slopes Style- A hometown gem […] Featured Article Paulie | October 1, 2023 0 Comments
Dust Produced by the Shrinking Great Salt Lake is Harming the Utah Snowpack The Great Salt Lake and the effect it has on winter storms, commonly referred to as ‘Lake Effect’, is one of the biggest reasons that Utah is credited with the greatest snow on Earth. Lake effect occurs when a cold winter storm passes over a warm body of water and picks up water from the lake, causing an increase in […] Industry News Tyler Hatch | July 10, 2023 1 Comment
Patagonia Boasts the Best Brand Reputation in the U.S. Twice in the last three years, outdoor brand Patagonia has ranked #1 for having the best reputation out of the top 100 most visible brands in America. News website Axios and market research firm Harris Poll conducted their annual survey by polling 16,310 people around the nation for ‘companies that either excel or falter in society.’ The top 100 companies […] Industry News John Cunningham | June 26, 2023 0 Comments
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, WY; Weekend Finale to a Banger Season! Closing Weekend Report, Winter ’22/23 An absolutely unforgettable winter is sliding to a finish at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort [JHMR] in the marvelous Teton Mountains of Wyoming. The resort concludes winter operations Sunday, April 9th, so mighty JHMR is rolling out the good times for two more epic days, toasting a season of new benchmarks in outstanding events, blower pow-days, […] Conditions Report Paulie | April 8, 2023 0 Comments
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, WY, Report: Mid-Week Magic In The Tetons Report from March 21-22, 2023 Winter refuses to quit at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in the stunning Tetons of Wyoming. Another bout of storm action has again delivered a healthy helping of powder snow to this iconic destination for skiing and snowboarding. With clouds bunched in close and snowfall expected throughout the next several days, we knew Jackson Hole Mountain […] Conditions Report Paulie | March 23, 2023 0 Comments
Taos Ski Valley, NM; Ultimate Terrain in The Heart Of New Mexico Brought to you by Taos Ski Valley Epic winter experiences and delightful revitalization link gracefully at Taos Ski Valley. This in-the-know mountain in breathtaking New Mexico offers-up colorful history, high country charm, and thrill-tastic terrain to suit the whole family. A ‘must’ on the snow bucket list, Taos Ski Valley arcs upward to 12,400 feet of elevation and throws down […] Featured Article Paulie | March 20, 2023 3 Comments
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, WY, Conditions Report: Stoke (And Snow) Just Keep Stacking-Up Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is reveling in an outstanding winter. Living up to its reputation as a premier destination for skiing, snowboarding, and powder snow; Jackson Hole in the Teton Mountains is riding a wave of storm cycles where each day continues to be better than the last. We brewed the coffee extra strong to fuel a plan of early […] Conditions Report Paulie | March 6, 2023 0 Comments