📈 Industry Business
Global skier visits reached a record 399 million during the 2024-25 season, signaling a full-throttle recovery for the international mountain resort market. This sustained demand validates aggressive capital expenditures in uphill capacity and snowmaking, proving that the multi-resort pass model is effectively insulating operators against erratic weather. - Jordyn Bremmer | Ski Area Management | SAM Headline News - Ski Area Management
Snowboarding icon Chloe Kim has claimed her third Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year title, becoming the most decorated athlete in the award's history. This milestone reinforces snowboarding's mainstream marketability and sustains high-level visibility for the sport’s premier competitive circuit and sponsor interests. - Julia Schneemann | SnowBrains.com
⚙️ Mountain Operations
Killington is firing up the snowguns in late April to reinforce the base depth on its signature Superstar trail. This aggressive operational push ensures the East Coast season stretches into May, rewarding die-hard passholders and solidifying the resort's reputation as a spring skiing powerhouse. - Ian Greenwood | POWDER Magazine
The global count of public-access 22-foot superpipes has dwindled to just 11 locations, reflecting the massive operational overhead required to maintain Olympic-spec transitions. While these features serve as a premier marketing flex for freestyle hubs, the staggering costs of snowmaking and Zaugg-cutting are increasingly difficult for most mountains to justify on the P&L. - Jacqui Davis | SnowBrains.com
The 2026 Lift Maintenance Seminar saw record attendance as technicians engaged in hands-on training with major manufacturers and regulatory experts. In an era of aging infrastructure, these certifications are the front line against mechanical downtime and essential for maintaining peak uphill capacity. - Jordyn Bremmer | Ski Area Management | SAM Headline News - Ski Area Management
🌨️ Weather
Sierra Braces For Massive Reset. The NWS has issued Winter Storm Warnings across California as a potent atmospheric river prepares to dump multiple feet of high-density snow across the Sierra Nevada through the weekend. While trans-Sierran travel will be a gridlocked mess, this heavy accumulation provides the essential base-building moisture needed to bury obstacles and finally open high-consequence technical terrain. - Izzy Lidsky | POWDER Magazine
High winds on Tuesday will give way to a cold front dropping 5-10 inches across Utah’s high country through Thursday morning. While the wind might complicate lift ops early on, the incoming totals will reset base depths and improve surface conditions across the Cottonwoods ahead of the weekend. - WeatherBrains | SnowBrains.com
🎿 Gear & Technology
Scarpa has integrated the BOA Fit System into the lower shell of its redesigned F1 RS, replacing the traditional forefoot buckle on its flagship lightweight touring boot. For backcountry chargers, this update promises superior heel lockdown and precise micro-adjustability, signaling a major hardware shift in the competitive light-and-fast segment. - Max Ritter | POWDER Magazine
This deep dive into the 'perfect boot' rabbit hole reveals how over-customizing high-flex plugs and race-tight shells can lead to chronic pain and diminishing returns. For the hardcore skier, it serves as a cautionary tale that chasing marginal gains in stiffness often sacrifices the necessary comfort required for a full season of charging. - Ian Greenwood | POWDER Magazine