August Ski News in Brief

1st August 2025

Last modified on August 27th, 2025

– Glaciers in Peru are Disappearing
– Swiss Motorist Faces £82,500 Speeding Fine
– Italian Glacier Too Unstable for Scientists to Visit
– Doppelmayr Builds Two Lifts in Kyrgyzstan
– FIS Appoints First Chief Executive… UPDATED

Glaciers in Peru are Disappearing

27th August 2025

The glaciers of Peru in the Andes are vanishing.

In little more than half a century, they have shrunk by 56% due to climate change.

New research indicates that ice loss could seriously impact water supplies.

Dan Collyns reports from Peru.

Swiss Motorist Faces £82,500 Speeding Fine

25th August 2025

The man was recorded driving 17mph over the limit in the city of Lausanne.

Switzerland has a system where people are fined according to their wealth.

The driver is reported to be repeat offender and is said to be one of the richest people living in Switzerland.

The ’24 Heures’ newspaper reported that an automated police radar photographed the offender driving at 77 kilometers per hour (48 mph) in a 50 kph (31 mph) zone in August 2024

The Vaud public prosecutors office said the defendant didn’t contest the fine.

Austria also issues wealth-based fines.

Driving to the Alps. Image © PlanetSKI.

Italian Glacier Too Unstable for Scientists to Visit

24th August 2025

The Ventina glacier in northern Lombardy has melted so much due to rising temperatures that geologists can now only monitor it remotely.

The area is also unstable with the threat of rockslides.

The Lombardy Glaciological Service says it will now use drone imagery and remote sensing to survey it.

The Ventina glacier has already lost 1.7km in length since 1895.

The melting has accelerated in recent years, with the glacier losing 431m in the past decade with nearly half of that since 2021.

Doppelmayr Builds Two Lifts in Kyrgyzstan

20th August 2025

The new Ala-Too Resort is currently being built to attract local and international guests.

It aims to be a year-round resort.

In the Issyk-Kul region in the east of the country, where the resort is situated, it is seen as a flagship project for winter sports in Central Asia.

Snowsports growing rapidly in Asia

The project spans three areas:

Jyrgalan
Ak-Bulak
Boz-Uchuk

It will offer guests more than 200 km of ski slopes, numerous hiking trails, hotels, restaurants and a traditional ethno- village.

Doppelmayr is constructing two D-Line combined lifts in Jyrgalan.

“We are very proud to have been trusted to take part in building the first modern resort in the history of Kyrgyzstan,” said Michael Doppelmayr as the project started.

“This project is not only a milestone for the region, but also a symbol of progress, collaboration, and confidence in the future.”

Hokkaido, Japan. Image c/o PlanetSKI.

Government Official Appointed for Winter Olympics

19th August 2025

The Italian Government has appointed a senior official to oversee adaptations and accessibility for the Milan/Cortina Games.

Giuseppe Fasiol will work in coordination with sports authorities and host regions.

Operational responsibility will remain with the Milan-Cortina Foundation, but the new role will act as a bridge between ministries to ensure that adaptations and deadlines are met.

His work is expected to cover certifications, accessibility improvements, optimisation of internal flows and supervision of field tests prior to the event.

According to the government, Fasiol “represents the figure with the appropriate skills to assess and carry out the adjustments required for the specific needs of athletes and the adaptation of venues and competition fields”.

Image c/o Milan-Cortina 2026

FIS Appoints First Chief Executive

18th August 2025

The 56-year-old former Swiss ski racer, Urs Lehmann, is to take up the role of CEO.

“We are delighted that Urs will join the FIS leadership,” says FIS President, Johan Eliasch.

“Strengthening our leadership with Urs is an important step in ensuring that we are in the best possible place to tackle the major challenges that lie ahead in the coming years.”.

Urs Lehmann was an active ski racer until 1997 and won the 1993 downhill world championship title.

A Doctor of Economics, he was elected President of Swiss-Ski in 2008, a position he is now stepping down from.

Under Urs Lehmann’s strategic leadership, Swiss-Ski developed into a successful association in both sporting and economic terms.

Urs Lehmann was a member of the FIS Council from 2021 to 2024.

11-Year Old Climbs Matterhorn

17th August 2025

Sam Evermore is the youngest person to climb El Capitan in Yosemite, USA.

Now he is also the youngest American to climb the Matterhorn in the Alps.

David Muir shares his story.

Final US Ski Area to Close This Weekend

15th August 2025

Timberline on Mt Hood in Oregon will end its 9-month season on Sunday 17^th August.

It was planning to go through to Wednesday 20th, but the snowpack has deteriorated due to the recent hot weather.

The area’s terrain parks there closed last weekend.

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There remains about a mile of skiable terrain on the Palmer Snowfield.

Body of Missing British Hiker Found in French Alps

14th August 2025

The body Kirk Handley, 60, who has been missing for 11 months has been found in the Hautes-Alpes department.

He disappeared on September 7^th 2024 after setting out on a solo hike and bivouac in the Col and Pic d’Arsine sector, between Villar-d’Arêne and Le Monêtier-les-Bains.

The remains were discovered at an isolated area at 2,500m last Sunday by another hiker, said the local police.

We reported on his disappearance earlier on PlanetSKI.

British hiker missing in French Alps

Mr Handley was said to be an experienced mountaineer and hiker.

The body has been recovered and will be examined by forensic services.

Snowboarder, 22, Dies in Perisher Terrain Park

13th August 2025

The accident happened in the Front Valley Terrain Park of the Australian resort.

Paramedics treated the man, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

He has been identified as an American, Drew Youngquist, who was working for an outdoor company at the nearby town of Jindabyne.

Last winter in the US he worked as ski patroller at Utah Olympic Park.

He was set to graduate this year from the University of Utah with a degree in Emergency Medical Services, specialising in Wilderness Technical Rescue, and he planned to become a medical doctor.

“Perisher Ski Resort, Ski Patrol, and the entire Vail Resorts family extend our deepest sympathy and support to our guest’s family and friends,” said Perisher vice president and general manager, Nathan Butterworth.

The Front Valley Terrain Park has advanced terrain and jumps that range in height from 4.6m to 9.1m.

An investigation is underway, and the coroner is preparing a report.

Perisher, Australia. Image © PlanetSKI

Columbia v Columbia

12th August 2025

Columbia Sportswear is in a legal tussle with Columbia University over the sale of branded clothing.

The sportswear company that sells snowsports gear has filed a lawsuit in the US District Court for alleged trademark infringement, unfair competition and breach of contract.

“The word ‘Columbia’ refers to only one thing in the minds of consumers of apparel, footwear and related accessories: a long-standing, well-known brand that offers high-quality recreational products, clothing and gear to consumers at accessible prices,” the sportswear company wrote in its complaint.

“The University’s conduct is currently causing and/or is reasonably likely to cause substantial confusion in the marketplace.”

The University and the sportswear company reached agreement in 2023, when an agreement was signed that allowed the University to sell Columbia-emblazoned gear, as long as it also featured some of the University’s indicia (symbols that indicate the school alone), which include a shield, a crown, a “C” design, or Columbia’s lion mascot.

As long as the University’s merchandise included one of the items above, or the word University, the name of a particular school at the University, or the number 1754, the sportswear company and the University could co-exist, the company said.

However, the University began selling shirts, hats, and other items that simply stated ‘Columbia,’ the company claims, which created confusion.

Columbia Sportswear is seeking a jury trial and treble damages, or three times the number of actual damages determined by a jury.

It’s also seeking to prohibit any sale of clothing that breaches the parties’ contract, to recall any products already sold, and donating any remaining merchandise to charity.

Columbia University has not responded to the lawsuit.

Melting Glacier Reveals Body of Man Missing for 28 Years

11th August 2025

A shepherd in Pakistan’s remote and mountainous Kohistan region came across the body, which was remarkably well-preserved, with its clothing intact, in the so-called Lady Valley in the country’s east.

Along with the body was an ID card with the name Naseeruddin.

Police were able to trace it to a man who disappeared in the area in June 1997 after falling into a glacier crevasse.

“What I saw was unbelievable,” the shepherd who found the body, Omar Khan, told BBC Urdu.

“The body was intact. The clothes were not even torn.”

When a human body falls into a glacier the extreme cold can freeze it, and prevent decomposition.

See more in The Express Tribune

Missing Climate Journalist Found

8th August 2025

Alec Luhn went missing while on a solo hiking trip in Norway’s Folgefonna National Park.

Mr Luhn, who has worked for multiple news outlets, set off on his hike from the town of Odda in Southwestern Norway on 31 July.

He did not show up for his scheduled return flight home on Monday and his wife, Veronika Silchenko, alerted the authorities.

A rescue team found him, and he sustained a leg injury but is otherwise in good health.

“I think it’s a miracle,” Ms Silchenko said.

“It’s the best day of my life.”

As a climate journalist, Mr Luhn has travelled extensively to document glaciers that are melting.

He has previously reported for numerous outlets, including the BBC, The Atlantic, National Geographic, The New York Times, Scientific American, Time magazine, and CBS.

Last year, he wrote for the BBC about Canada’s “zombie” fires, which burn year round and are believed to be exacerbated by climate change.

Austrian Ski Champion Retires

8th August 2025

Stephanie Venier won a gold and silver at the World Championships in Saalbach last winter.

The 31 year old has raced on the World Cup circuit for the past 12 years.

She had 54 top-ten finishes, including three victories and nine additional podiums

“The thought of ending my career isn’t new — it’s been growing inside me for a while,” Venier said.

“But I wanted to take the time I needed for such a major decision, because once it’s made, there’s no turning back for me.

“The deep will and determination required for elite sport just hasn’t been there in recent months in the way I expect from myself.

“My biggest dream was to win a medal at the home World Championships in Saalbach — and with a gold and a bronze, I more than fulfilled that.

Even though the Olympic Games are coming up next year, now feels like exactly the right time to bring my racing career to a close.

“I look back on what I’ve achieved with great satisfaction,” she added.

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Leaking of Promotional Code Ends Alps Train Travel Promotion

7th August 2025

The Sud Tirol region in the Italian Alps by the Austrian border launched a project to encourage train use for tourists rather than driving.

Guests who had booked accommodation in Sud Tirol between July 15th and September 15th received discounts on train tickets if they arrived by rail.

Accommodation providers could pass the code to guests and relevant accommodation providers received the code exclusively for this purpose.

However, the initiative had to be stopped after the promo code was published by various media outlets.

It enabled people to buy cheaper train tickets even if they were not staying in the recommended accommodation.

If successful the promotion may have been extended to the winter months.

Val Gardena, Sud Tirol. Image © PlanetSKI

“The aim of the campaign was to get thousands of cars off Sud Tirol’s roads during rush hour,” said Wolfgang Töchterle, the Marketing Director at Innovation Development Marketing Sud Tirol.

“The campaign had the potential to do this. However,we had to stop the campaign because high-reach local media made public the promo code that enabled discounted travel.”

“In the short time that the promotion ran, we were still able to gain some important initial insights.

“I very much regret that the careless publication of the code meant that we were unable to carry out the campaign.

“It denied us a pragmatic approach to solving key transport problems.”

Construction Starts on Controversial Lift for Milan-Cortina Games

5th August 2025

The Apollonio-Socrepes cable car costs €25m and it is claimed it will bolster Cortina’s transport network for the 2026 Winter Olympics and beyond.

The facility will include the construction of ten towers and three stations—a valley, intermediate, and summit station.

It will be equipped with 50 cabins, each capable of carrying ten people, with a capacity of 2,400 people per hour.

There are protests from local residents, environmental groups, and some public authorities.

They question its s necessity, environmental impact, and a perceived lack of transparency in its development.

See more on Snow Industry News

Image c/o Milan-Cortina 2026

BBC Looks at Future of Alpine Villages as Glaciers Melt

3rd August 2025

The collapse of a melting glacier triggered a huge landslide that buried the evacuated Swiss village of Blatten at the end of May.

We reported on it at the time on PlanetSKI:

Swiss village buried by landslide as glacier collapses

Now the BBC is examining what the future may hold.

‘Melting glaciers threaten to wipe out European villages – is the steep cost to protect them worth it?’ is the headline as Imogen Foulkes looks in detail at the issue in an in-depth article on the BBC web site.

Here at PlanetSKI we looked at the issue and the future of Blatten one month to the day after the landslide.

One month after Blatten landslide what is the future of threatened alpine villages?

One Swiss village under threat is Brienz.

It is still forbidden to enter Brienz itself, that has been evacuated since last November.

However the situation in the surrounding areas have improved and roads that were threatened have been pronounced safe.

The ground has dried out and the authorities have lifted bans for cyclists and pedestrians on roads and hiking trails on Sunday.

Second Frejus Tunnel Opens

2nd August 2025

A new road tunnel under the Alps linking France and Italy has been officially opened to traffic.

It runs parallel to the original one and has been under construction for 10 years.

The 12.9km tunnel connects Modane in the Savoie, France, with Bardonecchia in Piedmont, Italy.

It forms one of the main trans-alpine freight and passenger routes between the north of Europe and the south.

The route is used by over two million vehicles each year, including one million heavy goods lorries.

It was officially opened by French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot and his Italian counterpart Matteo Salvini.

“After the reopening of the Tende tunnel just one month ago, this is another strategic axis between France and Italy that is now strengthened,” said Philippe Tabarot.

National Day Celebrations in Switzerland

1st August 2025

August 1^stis Swiss National Day and the alpine country celebrates its history and its culture.

The day is celebrated mainly at a local level with parades, bonfires, firework displays, concerts, parades, speeches, singing and Swiss traditions including flag throwing, alphorn playing and yodelling.

The founding of the Swiss Confederacy was first celebrated on this date in 1891 and annually since 1899.

It has only been an official holiday since 1994.

The date is inspired by the date of the Federal Charter of 1291 in early August when three Alpine cantons swore ‘the oath of confederation’ – an action which later came to be regarded as the founding of Switzerland.

FIS Looks Back on 2024/25 and Ahead to Next Winter

1st August 2025

The International Ski & Snowboard Federation, FIS claims it is in a healthy position on the eve of an Olympic season.

The success of its Development Camps in 2024/25 are being stressed:

6,650 development days delivered

815 athletes and coaches directly supported

57 National Ski Associations (NSAs) engaged

87.7% of all FIS developing NSAs participated in development activities

“The 2024/25 season marked a transformative chapter for the FIS Development Program,” said FIS Secretary General, Michel Vion.

“With over 6,600 skiing and snowboarding days delivered across three continents and a record 87% participation from our developing National Ski Associations (NSAs), we’ve seen the power of structured, inclusive, and globally coordinated development.”

Most recently, FIS welcomed new members to the organisation as is continues to grow snow sports around the world.

Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia were announced as full members, each having voting rights where applicable.

Benin, Bhutan, and Indonesia also joined as associate members.

With these nations aboard, FIS now has 141 members.

The 2025/2026 season sees the Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Milan-Cortina.

Milan-Cortina Olympic medals unveiled

Olympic Rings. Image c/o PlanetSKI

Austrian Lift Operators to Receive 3.1% Pay Rise

1st August 2025

The new collective agreement is valid until April 30th 2026, and the starting salary has been raised to €2,138 (£1,845) gross per month.

During peak seasonal periods, the Austrian cable car industry employs around 18,000 people in 250 lift companies across the country

“For the first time, we were able to successfully negotiate a Sunday bonus for employees in our industry during the summer months,” said the chairman of the Cable Cars Professional Group Committee, Andreas Hochwimmer.

The Sunday bonus will be paid during the summer season from May 1st to October 31st.

“Despite the tough course, this year’s negotiations were consistently characterized by mutual respect and demonstrated that the negotiating partners can meet on equal terms in this sector, which is so important for Austria,” said the regional director of the Vida trade union, Kajetan Uriach.

Pitztal, Tirol, Austria. Image © PlanetSKI

Volunteers Wanted for Levi World Cup

1st August 2025

The resort in Finland hosts World Cup skiing in the middle of November and is looking for volunteers to help at the event.

People need to apply by the end of the month.

“There are a wide variety of tasks on offer at the event. Don’t hesitate to come and join us. Fill out the form by August 31, 2025,” said the race organisers.

The event takes place 14th – 16th November.