March Ski News in Brief
1st March 2025
Last modified on March 28th, 2025
– Italy Wants Russian & Ukrainian Athletes at 2026 Olympics
– Three Heliskiers Die in Avalanche in Canada
– Injured Ukranian Veterans Learn to Ski
– Verbier’s Ultime Session 2025 Rounds Off the Season…UPDATED
Italy Wants Russian & Ukrainian Athletes at 2026 Olympics
28th March 2025
The deputy Premier, Matteo Salvini, has expressed a desire for the two countries to be at the Milan/Cortina Winter Games – as long as the war is over.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the bobsleigh track in Cortina this week.
He leads the far-right League party and holds responsibility for infrastructure in Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government.
“Given that there are peace talks (on the Ukraine war) going on at the moment, and that the Olympic spirit should be what brings people and athletes together, I hope, the Milano Cortina Olympics 2026 will be the first Olympics which will see the Ukrainian and Russian athletes take to the ski slopes,” he said.
Image c/o Milan-Cortina 2026
Three Heliskiers Die in Avalanche in Canada
27th March 2025
Three men have died in an avalanche in Kootenay Lake in British Columbia.
A fourth man is in a critical condition.
The Kaslo Royal Canadian Mounted Police said that two groups of skiers had just finished skiing the bowl and were waiting in a staging area below the tree line of the Clute Creek watershed.
The pilot of a transport helicopter was nearing the group when they saw an avalanche start to happen.
As Global’s Alissa Thibault reports, the tragedy could have claimed more lives if the pilot had not sounded the alarm in time.
The skiers killed were a 53-year-old guide from nearby Kaslo, a 44-year-old man from Whistler and a 45-year-old man from Idaho.
The sole survivor was a 40-year-old man from Nelson in Canada who remains in a critical condition in hospital.
Tributes have been paid to the men that died who were well-known in the local community.
“The entire team at Stellar Heli Skiing extends its deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those affected by this tragedy. Our thoughts remain with them during this incredibly difficult time,” the company said in a statement.
Injured Ukranian Veterans Learn to Ski
26th March 2025
A group of Ukrainian veteran amputees are learning an adaptive form of skiing for people who have only one leg.
They are in Oregon in the USA.
See here for a video report:
Verbier’s Ultime Session 2025 Rounds Off the Season
25th March 2025
Verbier’s ski season will come to a close in style with the Ultime Session, an end-of-season tradition that this year extends over two days for the first time.
Taking place on 19th and 20th April 2025, the event coincides with Téléverbier’s 75th anniversary, bringing a 1950s-inspired celebration to the slopes.
Visitors are encouraged to embrace the retro theme, with vintage outfits, biker jackets, and cat-eye glasses.
The centrepiece of the festivities is the La Chaux waterslide, where skiers and snowboarders will attempt crossings in creative costumes.
Best tricks and standout outfits will be awarded prizes, adding an extra incentive to take part.
On Saturday 19th April, those aged under 25 can enjoy a free lift pass for the Verbier area, making it an ideal opportunity to experience the resort’s spring conditions.
The schedule includes waterslide sessions, a best-trick competition, and a fancy dress contest, culminating in an after-party at Bar 1936.
Verbier has a number of events in April as it looks to show people the attractions of spring skiing.
Verbier, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
Scientists Hope to Partially Save Biggest Glacier in the Alps
23rd March 2025
The biggest glacier in the Alps could yet be partially saved if global warming is capped below two degrees Celsius according to Swiss scientists.
The Aletsch Glacier in the Bernese Alps, which is 20 kilometers long and weighs 10 billion tons, attracts over a million people a year who can view its immensity from the Jungfraujoch viewing platform at 3,454 meters above sea level.
Glaciers around the globe are disappearing faster than ever, with the last three years seeing the largest glacial mass loss on record, according to a UN report.
The video below has been posted by the Reuters News Agency.
New President for IOC
20th March 2025
Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe was elected today as the 10th President of the International Olympic Committee, IOC, and the first female President in IOC history.
It followed one round of voting at the 144th IOC Session in Costa Navarino, Greece.
Coventry was chosen over fellow presidential candidates:
- HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein
- David Lappartient
- Johan Eliasch
- Juan Antonio Samaranch
- Lord Sebastian Coe
- Morinari Watanabe
President-elect Coventry said: “I am incredibly honoured and excited to be elected as President of the International Olympic Committee! I want to sincerely thank my fellow members for their trust and support.
“The young girl who first started swimming in Zimbabwe all those years ago could never have dreamt of this moment.
“I am particularly proud to be the first female IOC President, and also the first from Africa.
“I hope that this vote will be an inspiration to many people.
“Glass ceilings have been shattered today, and I am fully aware of my responsibilities as a role model.
“Sport has an unmatched power to unite, inspire and create opportunities for all, and I am committed to making sure we harness that power to its fullest.
“Together with the entire Olympic family, including our athletes, fans and sponsors, we will build on our strong foundations, embrace innovation, and champion the values of friendship, excellence and respect.
“The future of the Olympic Movement is bright, and I can’t wait to get started!”
After the election, IOC President Thomas Bach said: “Congratulations to Kirsty Coventry on her election as the 10th IOC President.
“I warmly welcome the decision of the IOC Members and look forward to strong cooperation, particularly during the transition period.
“There is no doubt that the future for our Olympic Movement is bright and that the values we stand for will continue to guide us through the years to come.”
Following the announcement of the IOC Presidential election results, President-elect Ms Kirsty Coventry will soon hold her first press briefing.
Watch it live shortly on IOC Media YouTube channel ⬇️
🔗https://t.co/4B6hZKsawL pic.twitter.com/ZxvIpXkmdd
— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) March 20, 2025
Olympic Rings.
Winter Flight Delays in UK Revealed
20th March 2025
More than 14.4m UK passengers faced delays last winter according to date from AirHelp.
27% of passengers faced flight disruptions between December 2024 and February 2025.
While the majority of these delays were under three hours, meaning they are not eligible to claim for compensation, 508,000 UK passengers faced longer delays triggering compensation claims.
1.3 million passengers had their flights cancelled during the winter months.
January 2025 recorded the highest cancellation rate with 2.7% of passengers impacted with 2.6% in December.
Gatwick airport. Image © PlanetSKI
EU Digital Border System Delayed Again
18th March 2025
The UK Foreign Office has said it won’t come online until after the 2025 summer peak travel period.
It is now expected to be introduced in the autumn, ahead of next winter’s ski season.
The EU’s Entry/Exit System, EES, has suffered multiple delays already with the original launch date nearly three years ago.
We have reported on the delays on PlanetSKI and what the new system may look like:
“The European Union will inform about the specific date before its launch,” said the UK Foreign Office.
“When introduced, you will need to apply for authorisation to enter Schengen area countries if using a UK passport.
“You will need to provide personal information and details about your trip, and pay a €7 fee.
“If you are flying to a country in the Schengen area, you may experience longer queue times when you arrive at your destination.
“At some ports and international stations (Dover, Eurotunnel and St Pancras), there may be increased wait times while EES registration is completed.”
The initial digital registration is valid for three years.
For additional trips within this period, only a fingerprint or photo verification is needed.
France border controls. Image © PlanetSKI
Final of FWT Planned for Thursday
17th March 2025
The YETI Xtreme Verbier by Honda marks the highly anticipated conclusion of the FIS Freeride World Tour by Peak Performance, as the world’s best freeriders prepare for the ultimate test on Bec des Rosses.
This year’s edition is particularly special, as it celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Xtreme Verbier, an event that has defined freeride competition since 1996.
Originally a snowboard-only contest, it welcomed skiers in 2004 before evolving into the official Freeride World Tour Finals in 2008.
With three world titles still undecided, the battle for the crown will come down to one final performance on the most technical face in the FWT.
The GB snowboarder Cody Bramwell is a contender:
Cody Bramwell, Freeride World Tour snowboarder from GB. Image © PlanetSKI
Two Killed in Separate Avalanches in Canada
16th March 2025
Two skiers have died after two separate avalanches near Lake Louise and in Kananaskis in Alberta.
The accidents happened on Friday and the authorities are urging caution for those that head into the back country.
Odermatt Wins 4th Consecutive Overall Men’s Title
16th March 2025
The Swiss skier, Marco Odermatt, is just the third alpine skier to win four titles on the trot and did so with a second place in the GS in Hafjell in Norway.
The 27-year old also won his fourth giant slalom title in a row.
Only Austria’s Annemarie Moser-Proell and Marcel Hirscher have won four back-to-back overall titles in the World Cup.
“To win this globe, with this little bumpy road, is amazing,” said Odermatt.
“It’s definitely a different kind of skiing if you know you are super-close to the globe but not done it yet – there is no space for error.
“It helps a lot to have this GS globe in the pocket and just focus now on the last one in downhill.”
“To push yourself over and over and over again in a long season is very tough, so I’m happy that this very successful Norway trip for me is over and now just a cool final week in Sun Valley.”
Image © PlanetSKI
La Mega Bell Easter Event in La Plagne
14th March 2025
Get ready for a brand-new event in La Plagne this April.
Introducing La Mega Bell Course, a race series designed to thrill skiers of all ages.
The competition combines fun, creativity, and challenge across five wacky races that will test the skills of even the most seasoned skiers.
From 14 – 19 April 2025, expect the unexpected, as the official times will only tell part of the story.
Image c/o La Plagne
Competitors can also earn bonus points, face penalties, and take clever shortcuts to keep the suspense alive until the very end.
Competitors have two strategies to choose from: embrace the chaos with total improvisation on Saturday or take a more tactical approach by practicing on the timed courses available from Monday to Friday, each one unveiled day by day.
Bells play a starring role not just a nod to the Easter holiday timing, but as a playful twist that adds a little extra jingle to the challenge.
See here for a full report on PlanetSKI:
La Plagne, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Trump’s Federal Cuts Could Impact Avalanche Forecasting
13th March 2025
The cuts to the federal budget being looked at by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency are expected to affect meteorologists and scientists that provide avalanche forecasting according to an article in The Colorado Sun.
“We save lives and there are people alive today because of the work we do,” said Doug Chabot, who directed the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center in Montana for almost 24 years.
“To take funding and to just randomly cut programs, it will affect our ability to save lives.”
Avalanche forecasting in the US relies heavily on information provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA.
The information comes in two forms: data-driven models and conversations between avalanche forecasters and National Weather Service meteorologists who can help assess the data.
“We have our own numerical model, but we can’t run that without the work that NOAA is doing,” said Ethan Greene, director of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, which publishes avalanche forecasts.
“Without that work, there’s a lot of pieces that will fall apart.”
Weather models from NOAA are used by 14 avalanche centers run by the U.S. Forest Service.
Skiing in the USA. Image © PlanetSKI
GB Para Biathlete Wins Bronze
12th March 2025
Scott Meenagh has taken his first World Cup podium of the season, with bronze at Para Biathlon Sprint World Cup in Torsby, Sweden.
After several near misses this season, Meenagh put together a near flawless performance to take third place at the final of the Torsby World Cup races.
He finished with a time of 10:24.8s behind Aaron Pike of the USA in first place and Kazakhstan’s Yerbol Khamitov in second.
Para Biathlon Torsby World Cup podium with GB’s Scott Meenagh in 3rd. Image © GB Snowsport
Meenagh’s podium finish puts him in third place in the overall World Cup standings, a career-best placing for the 35-year-old.
British athletes have now secured World Cup podiums in all three Para Snowsport disciplines, with Neil Simpson and Rob Poth having done so in Para Alpine, and Ollie Hill and James Barnes-Miller both taking Para Snowboard medals this season.
“I am incredibly proud of today’s result,” Meenagh said.
“I put myself under a lot of pressure going into the final day, as I knew there was not only medals, but a best-ever placing in the overall World Cup standings at stake.
“I’m so proud I was able to deliver a medal on the final day. The team have worked so hard all season to help me turn out some very consistent results. I felt I owed it to them to take one step further, and reach the podium.”
Future of Patrouille des Glaciers Race Secured
11th March 2025
The Swiss government and the canton of Valais have agreed on the future of the Patrouille des Glaciers ski race, from 2026 until 2034.
The ski touring race from Zermatt to Chamonic is held every two years and is one of the toughest endurances ski races in the world.
It has the backing of the Valais Department of Security, Institutions and Sport, and
The Federal Department of Defence will manage the organisation of the race, from start to finish, as well as ensuring the safety of the route.
The Valais canton will be responsible for appointing the board and president of the Glacier Patrol Foundation, for running the foundation’s secretariat and controlling its finances, and for organising the Youth Patrol.
PDG Foundation will be responsible for managing relations with sponsors, host communities and subcontractors, as well as ensuring that the Patrouille is self-financing with money from institutional funds, entry fees, advertising revenue.
Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
La Clusaz Opens Candide Thovex Run
9th March 2025
The freeski legend is the resort’s most well-known son from his first descents on the slopes of the Massif de Balme to his international recognition.
To celebrate years of achievements La Clusaz has opened a new slope on its ski area.
It is located on the Massif de Balme, an iconic site in Candide Thovex’s story.
It is a black run, ungroomed but secured, and located between the Crintiaux run and the Col de Balme chairlift line.
La Clusaz, France. Image © PlanetSKI
The resort says that the new black run will “enhance the skiing experience at La Clusaz, allowing visitors to follow in Candide’s tracks on a site of remarkable achievements and legendary events like the Candide Invitational from 2003 to 2008.”
Seven markers have been installed by the Ski Patrol in collaboration with Candide to highlight this exceptional route.
“I learned to ski at Balme, and Balme taught me everything. This mountain shaped my skiing. I am honored to see part of Balme bear my name, and I thank the La Clusaz resort for this recognition,” said Candide.
Former Olympic Snowboarder on FBI’s Most Wanted List
8th March 2025
The Canadian, Ryan Wedding, has been named as one of the FBI’s 10 most wanted fugitives.
The 43 year old is wanted for allegedly running a violent international drug trafficking network.
Wedding competed in Giant Slalom snowboarding for Canada during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
Wedding is accused of shipping hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia, through Mexico and southern California, to Canada and US locations.
He is also wanted for involvement in multiple murders and an attempted murder to further these drug crimes.
The US is offering a reward of up to $10m (£7.7m) for information leading to Wedding’s arrest or conviction.
“The alleged murders of his competitors make Wedding a very dangerous man, and his addition to the list of Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, coupled with a major reward offer by the State Department, will make the public our partner so that we can catch up with him before he puts anyone else in danger,” said the assistant director of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, Akil Davis, in a statement to the press this week.
Canada. Image © PlanetSKI.
Verbier Holds Pride Event
7th March 2025
Verbier will welcome its first Pride event on Saturday, 5 April 2025, bringing a huge celebration to the slopes and resort.
The programme includes on-mountain activities such as a “Drag Race” and DJ sets from 11:30 AM at Inkontro restaurant.
Visitors who purchase a ski pass or package in advance and arrive dressed in rainbow colours will benefit from discounted lift passes.
Après-ski and evening festivities will take place across the resort’s bars, ensuring a lively atmosphere.
Verbier: www.verbier.ch
Verbier. Image © PlanetSKI
Norwegian Snowboarder Dies in Saas-Fee After Crevasse Fall
5th March 2025
The 52-year old was with a friend off piste on a glacier area in the Swiss resort when he fell into a crevasse.
Rescue services were on the scene swiftly, but were unable to save him.
Rescue teams from the cantonal police and the Valais cantonal rescue organisation were supported by the helicopter company Air Zermatt.
They were able to rescue the casualty but despite resuscitation measures, the Norwegian died at the scene.
The public prosecutor’s office opened an investigation.
Saas-Fee has much glaciated terrain near the marked slopes, and is clearly marked with safety advice displayed.
Saas-Fee, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
Melting Glaciers in Norway
4th March 2025
A new study in the Nature journal found mountain glaciers are melting more than twice as fast as in the early 2000s.
They lost more than 600 billion tons of ice in 2023 alone.
David Schecter, from CBS, reports from Svalbard, in Norway.
See this recent article on PlanetSKI:
Protestors in US Rally Against Cuts to Forest Services
3rd March 2025
Hundreds of protesters gathered in Rocky Mountain National Park at the weekend to oppose the recent firings of 1,000 National Park Service and 3,000 U.S. Forest Service employees nationwide.
It comes as Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE, continues to lay off people to cut federal spending.
The protestors encouraged people to:
- Hand out flyers to cars
- Put signs in front of webcams
- Hang banners
- Hang American flags upside down as a signal of distress
- March in gateway towns
- Rally inside parks and picket around park signs
The upside down flag has become a popular sign of protest in the USA against President Trump.
Protests at Ski Visit by US Vice President, JD Vance
2nd March 2025
He was on a short holiday ski break with his family at Sugarbush Resort in Vermont.
He was met by protesters who shouted names and obscenities as the Vance motorcade rolled past.
One sign read, “Vance is a traitor. Go ski in Russia.”
It is understood he has left the resort.
A Gondola Built from LEGO
2nd March 2025
Ischgl in Austria has achieved a Guinness World Record for the largest gondola built from LEGO bricks.
- Total height of 4.85 meters,
- Cabin height of 2.06 meters
- Length and width of 2.8 meters each,
- The construction consists of around 400,000 bricks
“The LEGO gondola is not only a world record, but also a symbol of what we can achieve in Ischgl together with our guests,” says Anna Kurz, Marketing Director of the Paznaun – Ischgl Tourist Association.
“It is an experience that will be remembered for a long time.”
The record-breaking gondola and the interactive LEGO world can be visited in the Pardorama mountain restaurant until April 30, 2025.
Image c/o Ischgl Tourist Office
French Olympics 2030 Organising Committee Set Up
1st March 2025
The Organising Committee for the 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games has been formed.
Edgar Grospiron has been appointed President of the Organising Committee.
He has a wealth of experience within the Olympic and sports movement, including becoming the first Olympic mogul skiing champion on home soil at the Olympic Winter Games Albertville 1992.
He went on to be appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Annecy 2018 candidature team for the Olympic Winter Games.
He was a member of the IOC Coordination Commission for PyeongChang 2018.
“I want to congratulate everyone on the establishment of the Organising Committee for French Alps 2030,” said the IOC President, Thomas Bach.
“The appointment of Edgar Grospiron as OCOG President gives us full confidence in the project based on his background as an Olympic champion combined with his experience in sports leadership.”
Meribel, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Ski Ballet Documentary Premieres in Verbier
1st March 2025
Verbier hosts the MGG Winter Waltz and the Swiss première of Dancing on the Edge: A Ski Ballet Story.
The documentary screening begins at 13:00 at Cinéma de Verbier, followed by a ski ballet extravaganza from 15:00 to 21:00 on the ‘Les Esserts’ piste.
The event features performances by ski ballet Olympians and World Champions, including all four Olympic gold medallists from 1988 and 1992.
Both events are free to attend, with no pre-booked tickets required.
See more here as PlanetSKI learnt about it earlier:
Herman Reitberger ski ballet former world champion . Image credit @MGG
Polar Bears Under Threat from Melting Glaciers
1st March 2025
See this report from CBS News.
Rendezvous Music Festival Returns to Jackson Hole
1st March 2025
The Rendezvous Music Festival returns to Jackson Hole on 4-5 April 2025, bringing an incredible lineup of artists to the mountains.
This year’s festival will see Grammy Award-nominated folk rockers The Avett Brothers closing out the event in Teton Village, while Charles Wesley Godwin kicks things off in Jackson’s Town Square.
Also performing throughout the weekend are Southern soul band St. Paul & The Broken Bones.
Festival entry is free with General Admission, offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
For those looking for a more premium experience, VIP tickets provide access to private viewing areas, an open bar, and locally sourced cuisine, but availability is limited.
A three-night stay at Rendezvous 4 departing 04 April 2025 costs from £173 pp / £1,039 total for six people sharing a two-bedroom, self-catered property in Teton Village.
Jackson Hole: www.jacksonhole.com/
