May Ski News in Brief
1st May 2025
Last modified on May 29th, 2025
– Ben’s Bus has New Stop in La Plagne
– Swiss Air Cancels 1,400 Summer Flights
– Jackson Hole Snowboard Legacy
– VIP SKI Says Xmas Selling Out Fast
– Top Ten Cliff drops from 2025 FWT UPDATED
Ben’s Bus has New Stop in La Plagne
29th May 2025
The will be a stop off at Plagne Bellecote for next winter.
Swiss Air Cancels 1,400 Summer Flights
27th May 2025
Swiss International Air Lines is cancelling around 1,400 flights due to a shortage of staff.
It could see around 15 flights a day form the UK cancelled and it is expected to have an impact on summer tourism in the Alps.
The air passenger rights company, AirAdvisor, says it could impact up to 50,000 UK travellers.
SWISS operates flights out of UK to London Heathrow, London City, Manchester and Edinburgh.
Swiss at London City. Image © PlanetSKI.
We’re not seeing a demand problem but a staffing and scheduling bottleneck,” said the founder of AirAdvisor, Anton Radchenko.
“Flights are getting axed not because people aren’t flying, but because airlines don’t have enough fully trained pilots.”
Customers on cancelled SWISS flights can get a full refund and free rerouting.
Switzerland in the summer. Image © PlanetSKI
Jackson Hole Snowboard Legacy
26th May 2025
The US resort has been a mecca for snowboarding since the sport was invented.
Check out this video looking back at snowboarding in Jackson:
VIP SKI Says Xmas Selling Out Fast
23rd May 2025
VIP SKI reports 71% of its chalets are already sold for Christmas 2025.
The week before Christmas, 14th December, is already 88% sold.
It also reports that Easter is filling fast too with 74% sold.
VIP SKI is back in La Plage next winter:
La Plagne, France. Image © PlanetSKI
The VIP SKI property at Arc 1950, Bear Lodge, continues to be one of its flagship offerings.
Arc 1950. France. Image © PlanetSKI
Bear Lodge, Arc1950. Image c/o VIP SKI
Top Ten Cliff drops from 2025 FWT
21st May 2025
The Freeride World Tour is releasing a few compilation edits.
The best tricks, crashes & cliff sends of 2025 are being posted.
Whether you want to re-watch that mind-blowing line or just vibe with the raw energy of freeride.
Here are the season’s boldest cliff sends.
VIP SKI Competition Attracts Mums
19th May 2025
The ski operator is running a holiday competition for people to get back into skiing as it once again offers holidays to La Plagne in France.
The ‘Back to Ski with VIP SKI’ competition is offering a free holiday to the person judged to be most worthy to get back into skiing.
Entrants were asked why they were most deserving or needed help to get back on the slopes.
Among the 300 entries to the national competition most were mothers.
Some were nominated by family or partners, but most nominated themselves confessing they hadn’t been able to go skiing since having babies.
“We love the idea of the competition reconnecting people with their love of skiing,” said Nicola Hardy from VIP SKI
“It would be wonderful if it could provide a little luxury TLC for a mum in need too.”
Others included people who had suffered injuries or illness which meant they’d not skied for up to a decade.
Some entrants nominated themselves to conquer irrational fears of hitting the slopes.
There was also a couple of cheeky entries from those who had just returned from a top-tier season of snow and wanted to do it all over again
The winner of the £3,466 holiday prize will stay in The Graciosa.
We reported on VIP SKI’s move back to La Plagne earlier on PlanetSKI:
The finalists will be decided by the VIP SKI Panel later this summer with the final five entries going to a public vote in September 2025.
The winner will be announced end of September.
The competition is now closed.
To hear more about the ‘Back to Ski with VIP SKI’ competition and to check out who made the shortlist head to:https://www.vip-chalets.com/blog/graciosa-competition/
La Plagne, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Snowsports Training Centre Set for China
18th May 2025
Harbin held the Asian Winter Games last season and a new facility is set to be built in the area.
The Olympic Council of Asia has signed a memorandum of understanding with the municipal government of Harbin at the general assembly this week, to create a top-class training centre for winter sports in the continent..
“The success of the Asian Winter Games has greatly stimulated the entrepreneurial enthusiasm of the people of Harbin,” said the vice mayor of Harbin City, Zhang Haihua.
“At present, our city is planning the high-quality development of a winter sports training centre for athletes from all over Asia, in joint collaboration with the Olympic Council of Asia.”
Asia is seen as a global growth area for snowsports:
- Asian Winter Games Underway
- FIS teams up with Azerbaijan as snowsports grows in Asia
- Kazakhstan looks to develop skiing
Hokkaido, Japan. Image c/o PlanetSKI.
Delays to Preparations for 2030 Winter Olympics
16th May 2025
The map of the venues for the Games in France is set to miss its June deadline due to ‘ongoing technical studies’.
“It’s not for now,” said the President of the Winter Olympics Organising Committee, Edgar Grospiron.
“You have to understand that it’s not for now and that we can’t really give a timetable because the studies have started but we don’t yet have visibility on all this.”
“Once we have the studies, the decisions won’t be made immediately. So it’s very difficult to give a timetable.”
One key question remains unanswered: whether the ski resort of Val d’Isère, which was originally part of the French bid, will reappear on the final list of venues.
See here for more on Inside the Games.
The Olympic law will go before ministers on 14th May with a Senate review to follow in June.
Meribel, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Investigation as Swiss Skier Dies in Avalanche
15th May 2025
A 29-year-old Swiss off piste skier has been was killed, after being swept away by an avalanche while descending a high alpine couloir near the Lagginhorn in the Simplon region of the Swiss Alps.
He was with a companion who survived and called the emergency services.
The public prosecutor’s office in the Valais canton has opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the avalanche.
Avalanche danger
IGLU Runners Raise £2,250 at London Marathon
14th May 2025
Joe Bowler and Francesco Fuca ran the TCS London Marathon in aid of Disability Snowsport UK.
Together they raised over £2,250 for Iglu Ski’s long-term charity partner.
“‘It was an extremely hot day, and it was so busy on parts of the route, however, I was determined to do my best,” said Joe Bowler, Iglu Ski’s Senior Marketing Executive.
“I was thrilled to be amongst the 56,000 participants, many of whom, like me, were raising money for worthy causes.
“To be able to do this for our cherished charity, Disability Snowsport UK, and to enable more disabled adults and children to ski, was a huge motivator.”
Also raising money for Disability Snowsport UK was Francesco Fuca, Iglu Cruise’s SEO Executive.
Francesco is a keen runner and finished in 3 hours 31 minutes, and was delighted to see his son in the stands as he completed 26.2 miles.
Francesco said, “It was a huge honour to run for DSUK and to fulfil a dream of mine, to run the London Marathon.”
“Whether or not I will do it again is up for debate, but deep down, I know I would love to.”
Francesco Fuca, IGLU.
“To have two runners from Iglu working hard to raise funds for DSUK was so inspiring,” said the CEO of DSUK, Virginia Anderson.
“They both did so well, not only on the day, but with all the dedicated training.
“It’s down to brave individuals like Joe and Francesco that ensures we can continue to deliver life-enhancing skiing opportunities to disabled adults and children.”
Image c/o DSUK
Green Initiatives of Estonian Ski Association & Åre Recognised
14th May 2025
FIS has awarded its maiden FIS Nature and Biodiversity Protection and Restoration Award to the two organisations.
The three finalists in each category were selected by a jury consisting of representatives of the Sports4Nature Initiative and of the International Ski &sSnowboard Federation, FIS.
Participants of the FIS Seminar were presented with a summary of the projects and voted on the two winners, who received each a prize of 3,500 € earmarked to support future sustainability initiatives.
The Estonian Ski Association, which leveraged its Green Ambassadors program to carry out a broad environmental education campaign around the FIS Nordic Combined World Cup in Otepää.
Åre in Sweden was voted another winner thanks to their Nordic Sustainability Arena, a comprehensive project that included a full day of conference on sustainability, electric grooming, low-impact transport, glacier awareness, and sustainable food.
“There is nothing as powerful as concrete examples that garner tangible results,” said the FIS Sustainability Director, Susanna Sieff.
“This award is a fantastic showcase of what NSAs and LOCs are already doing to support nature and biodiversity, as well as a tool to inspire many other to follow suit.”
Image © FIS
Bode Miller to Be Inducted into US Olympic Hall of Fame
12th May 2025
Bode Miller is one of the most accomplished alpine skiers in history and won two FIS overall World Cup titles in 2005 and 2008.
Miller has 33 World Cup victories and is the only US male skier to win world cup races in all five events:
- Downhill
- Super-G
- Giant slalom
- Slalom
- Combined
With six Olympic medals, he ranks second behind Apolo Ohno for the most individual Winter Olympic medals by any Team USA athlete.
He won gold in the alpine combined at the Olympic Winter Games Vancouver 2010 and earned three medals at the same Olympic Winter Games, leading Team USA to a record eight alpine medals.
Miller’s success spanned multiple world championships, where he won back-to-back double golds in 2003 (giant slalom, alpine combined) and 2005 (downhill, super-G).
Bode Miller and the other people inducted into the Hall of Fame will be honoured in a special ceremony to be held Saturday, July 12th in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
“We’re proud to welcome the Class of 2025 into the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame and to honor the extraordinary accomplishments they’ve made as representatives of Team USA,” said USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland.
“This induction celebrates not only their remarkable performances and lasting impact but also acknowledges the essential contributions of those who supported their journeys every step of the way.
“Earning a place in the Hall of Fame is no small feat—especially given the incredible talent across this year’s group of finalists.”
Find the entire list of Hall of Fame inductees here.
Ski Centre in Aldershot Set to Re-Open
11th May 2025
Rushmoor Borough Council has said that the Alpine Snowsports Centre in Aldershot, Hampshire, is expected to reopen later this month “with a new operator at the helm”.
Places Leisure, which currently operates and manages Aldershot Pools and Lido on behalf of the council, will be running the centre while the local authority explores long-term options for the facility.
Dave Jolliffe, area manager at Places Leisure, said he hoped the reopening “will create more opportunities for people to become active and enjoy sports that are not always as easily accessible”.
The facility was built by the British Army in 1969 and was one of the longest synthetic ski slopes built in England at the time.
See here for more on the BBC.
Top Ten Crashes from 2025 FWT
9th May 2025
The Freeride World Tour is releasing a few compilation edits.
The best tricks, crashes & cliff sends of 2025 are being posted.
Whether you want to re-watch that mind-blowing line or just vibe with the raw energy of freeride.
Freeride means pushing limits—and sometimes they push back.
Complaints Over Allocation of 2026 Olympic Tickets
8th May 2025
A group has written to the organisers of the Milan-Cortina Games claiming a lack of transparency in the admission process.
The group calls itself the United Fans of Alpine Ski Racing and reflects the frustration of fans from different countries at not being able to access Category A and B tickets for alpine skiing events, events, especially in the women’s competition.
The group has published its letter on the Instagram page of the group Mikaela Shiffrin Fans.
View this post on Instagram
There has been no response from the International Olympic Committee or the Milan-Cortina 2026 Foundation.
See more on Inside the Games
Milan-Cortina 2026
£1,500 for a Pair of Skis? Pardon.
7th May 2025
The luxury brand Ralph Lauren is selling the Ski ’92 Graphic Decorative Skis for $1,950 (£1,463), plus there are some snowboards for $1,750 (£1,312).
The limited-edition skis are printed with the brand’s ‘Ski ’92’ motif from their Fall 1992 collection.
Only 15 sets of the maple & poplar skis have been made as part of the limited edition collection.
Image c/o Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren also has three designs of the P-Wing Decorative Snowboard on the site as part of the same collection for $1,750.
The board’s motif was inspired by their 1992 Stadium collection and vintage Ralph Lauren track and field iconography.
There are only to 30 boards available.
Image c/o Ralph Lauren
The skis and snowboard have been made by the Boston-based custom ski brand, Parlor Skis.
So, would you part with that sort of money for a pair of skis or a snowboard?
Ski Exercises for Summer
6th May 2025
The Canadian fitness trainer, Marcy Verburg, shows reporter Michael Vann, some ski-focused exercises that will have people ready for the slopes next winter.
Top Ten Tricks from 2025 FWT
4th May 2025
The Freeride World Tour is releasing a few compilation edits.
- Best tricks
- Best crashes
- Best cliff sends
Whether you want to re-watch that mind-blowing line or just vibe with the raw energy of freeride.
First up is the Top Ten tricks.
Re-live the gnarliest tricks of the season:
New Boss for Crystal Ski Holidays
3rd May 2025
Scott Britton replaces Chris Logan who has been promoted to Commercial Director for TUI UK&I.
TUI is the parent company of Crystal.
Scott Britton was formerly Head of Commercial and played a role in shaping the company’s strategy and operations over the years.
“I’m thrilled to take on this new challenge leading Crystal Ski Holidays,” said Scott Britton.
“Having started my career working in the Crystal contact centre over 16 years ago, I’ve gained valuable insights into what our customers truly value.
“I look forward to working with our talented team to enhance our ski proposition and deliver exceptional experiences for our customers.”
Crystal Ski. Image © PlanetSKI
“I am delighted that Scott will be stepping up as Head of Crystal Ski Holidays,” said the Managing Director at TUI UK&I, Neil Swanson.
“He has a deep understanding of the business – operationally, commercially and product-wise, having spent his entire career at TUI and is uniquely positioned to lead Crystal into the future while integrating with TUI’s broader strategic vision.”
Small Ski Resort in French Pyrenees to Close
1st May 2025
Hautacam has confirmed that after three consecutive winters of poor snow it will stop offering downhill skiing as an activity.
It opened in 1972 and has seven lifts and 20 marked runs.
The closure was announced by the Hautacam joint association, the Pyrénées Vallées des Gaves community of municipalities, and the Lourdes City Hall said in a joint statement
The Connexion, a French-English newspaper has full reports
The statement added that Hautacam was a victim of global warming, noting that the ski area, like other mid-altitude resorts, was dependent on the changing climate.
The resort will continue to offer biking, hiking, and tubing across the year.
It remains a popular summer destination
Hautacam will also offer what is calls a beginner-focused “ski initiation area” when it does snow.
Image c/o Hautacam.
Canadian Skiers Shun USA
1st May 2025
A new report claims 60% of Canadians are less likely to travel to the USA due to the policies of the Trump administration.
The report from Longwoods International does not specifically detail the snowsports industry, but those ski states next to the border have likely been hit and will continue to see less Canadians in summer and into next winter.
36% had planned to travel to the US in the next 12-months, but have cancelled their plans.
“This new research demonstrates that the health of America’s hospitality industry is vulnerable because of America’s current reputational risk globally,” said Amir Eylon, President and CEO of Longwoods International.
“According to the US Travel Association, Canada was the number one source of international visitors to the USA. in 2024, with 20.4 million Canadian visitors.”
They spent $20.5 billion at American businesses which support about 140,000 American jobs
40% are choosing to travel within in Canada and 27% are looking to other international destinations, with Mexico and Europe the big winners.
The survey was conducted April 10 – 11, 2025 using a Canadian national sample randomly drawn from a consumer panel of 1,000 adults.
Canada. Image © PlanetSKI.
Rising Accommodation Prices Ahead of Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics
1st May 2025
In the ski resorts of Bormio and Livigno many homeowners and short-term rental platforms have inflated prices in anticipation of Olympic demand for the Milan-Cortina Games.
Some properties listed for as much as €11,000 a night according to a report on Inside the Games.
Currently demand is reported to be low.
“There is no demand, at least not yet,” Monica Pedrana of Bormio Stay told Correire Della Serra.
“Those who are not interested in the Olympics and have a house have contacted us to rent it, attracted by the disproportionate figures that can be seen online.”
Pedrana explained that individuals who have inflated prices have done so without strategy and logic.
She stressed that these are usually private owners and not hoteliers, who have signed the contract signed by the Fondazione Milano Cortina for the reception of operators, press, and industry insiders.
Image c/o 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
Swiss Lift Companies Re-Iterate Good Season
1st May 2025
Ticket sales were up 12% to the end of March with a 20% rise on the five year average.
The Swiss Cable Car Industry Association, SBS, counts the number of users from more than 120 members across Switzerland.
It says winter started well with an increase in bookings and that despite poor natural snowfall the ski areas had a good base with cold nights and favourable conditions for producing artificial snow.
There was good snow management, and very good weather on the weekends.
All regions were able to maintain or improve on the results achieved in the same period last year.
- The Vaud and Fribourg Alps, +29%
- Central Switzerland, +20%
- The Bernese Oberland, +18%
- Eastern Switzerland, +14%
- Ticino, +11%
- Valais, +9%
- Graubünden, +3%
“Smaller ski resorts have demonstrated that they can offer guests a compelling range of services,” said the Director of SBS, Berno Stoffel.
“The smaller and often lower-lying ski resorts make an invaluable contribution to promoting young talent and are particularly popular with families.”
At the beginning of May, SBS will report on numbers for the entire winter as part of its seasonal monitoring.
The Seasonal Review 2024/25 will follow in August, providing detailed analyses of frequencies, revenue, and the origin of guests for the current winter season.
Wengen, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
