February’s Ski News in Brief

FWT Event in Austria Cancelled

27th February 2026

The organisers of the Freeride World Tour have cancelled the event in Austria scheduled for today.

It was to be the Georgia Pro staged in Küthai – Innsbruck, Austria.

“While significant work was done to prepare the venue, the current conditions do not allow for a competition that would be both fair for all athletes and aligned with the safety standards required at FWT Pro level,” said the organisers.

“This decision was made after careful evaluation and was not taken lightly.

“Ensuring equal opportunity and appropriate conditions for performance, alongside athlete safety, remains our priority.

“We would like to sincerely thank the Georgia, Kühtai and Innsbruck teams and all staff involved for their commitment and hard work.”

FWT Judges at Baqueira Beret Pro 2026. Image © PlanetSKI

Head to The Verbier Air Show 

26th February 2026

The Verbier Air Show is a high-altitude event set against a spectacular alpine backdrop, combining adrenaline-fuelled aerial performances with vibrant ground entertainment.

• Base jumping from the Mont Gelé cable car
• Wingsuit flights
• Paragliding displays
• Aerobatic aircraft demonstrations
• Aerial dancers

The show offers an extraordinary celebration of flight in the heart of the mountains.

The weekend begins on Friday 10 April, with an 8pm to 10pm screening of the Verbier Air Show at the Verbier Cinema.

On Saturday 11 April, festivities start from 10am to 3pm with the Altitude Party, an aerial show at altitude accompanied by a DJ set, food and drinks, and breathtaking views, alongside a broadcast of the air shows and entertainment in Médran.

From 3pm to 9pm, the aerial show continues above Verbier, followed by an après-ski party in Médran.

The event concludes on Sunday 12 April, with entertainment and shows in Médran from 11am to 3pm, bringing an unforgettable weekend of high-altitude spectacle to a close.

A seven night stay at Hotel Mirabeau, arriving 28 March 2026 is priced from £2,190 pp based on two sharing a double room with breakfast included. Flights and transfers extra.

Verbier: www.verbier.ch

Verbier, Switzerland. Image © Heather Jefferies/PlanetSKI.

Bodies of Nine Skiers Recovered from US Avalanche

23rd February 2026

The accident happened in California last week as a group of 15 back country skiers was caught.

The were four guides and 11 recreational skies.

Six people, including one guide, were rescued.

“While we wish we could have saved them all, we are grateful that we can bring them home,” said Nevada County Sheriff, Shannan Moon.

We reported on the initial avalanche and then the search operation:

• Nine back country skiers missing after avalanche in USA
• Bodies of back country skiers found after search operation

An investigation is underway.

“It is a standard investigation. It is too early to know if criminal charges will be applicable, as the investigation is preliminary and remains active and ongoing,” said the Nevada County sheriff’s office.

The area will be closed to visitors for several weeks.

Skiing in the USA. Image © PlanetSKI

Geneva Remains Busiest Ski Airport but Others Growing

21st February 2026

Geneva in Switzerland remains Europe’s undisputed main ski airport with UK skiers and snwoboarders its biggest winter market.

Geneva has more than eight times the capacity of Salzburg in Austria, the next largest ski-focused airport.

It serves the resorts in western and central Switzerland – Verbier, Crans-Montana and Zermatt.

More importantly is the gateway to many of the huge resorts and ski areas in France – Tignes, Val d’Isere, Les Srcs, La Plage plus all the resorts in Les3Vallees and Les Ported du Soleil.

Some of the strongest proportional airport growth is occurring at smaller, highly ski-centric airports.

Chambery and Grenoble stand out as particularly winter-driven markets, with traffic heavily concentrated in the ski season, the analysis found.

More than 1.5 million airline seats are available across the four-month winter sports season in Europe.

UK skiers are the biggest single market for Geneva and represent more than 30% of ski travellers.

No great surprise as skiers and snowboarders from mainland Europe tend to drive to the Alps with a growing number taking the train.

Spain, France, Germany, Portugal and the Netherlands are the next biggest markets for Geneva.

Turkey has emerged as the fastest-growing top source market, with capacity up 21% year on year to ski destinations in Europe.

The United Arab Emirates follows with a 7% increase.

There have been complaints this winter over over-crowding especially at weekends.

Geneva airport. Image © PlanetSKI

“What’s particularly striking this season is the growth coming from outside the traditional western European core,” said OAG chief analyst, John Grant.

“Turkey and the UAE are showing strong momentum, highlighting how skiing in Europe is attracting a more diverse international traveller base.

“At the same time, March clearly stands out as the peak ski month.

“Airlines are responding to that demand by concentrating capacity in late winter, especially at specialist Alpine airports where traffic is heavily seasonal.”

Geneva airport. Image c/o PlanetSKI

Ski With Chemmy Alcott Courtesy of VIP SKI

16th February 2026

People  are invited to an exclusive experience in partnership with Chemmy Alcott, offering rare opportunity to ski and train alongside a true Olympic athlete in Arc 1950.

One of the UK’s most successful downhill ski racers, Chemmy Alcott competed in four Winter Olympic Games and claimed the British Championship title seven times.

She is currently presenting for the BBC of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.

Since retiring from international competition in 2014, she has become a leading figure in snow sports broadcasting.

She  now in her fifth year as co-presenter of BBC’s Ski Sunday.

A seven-night stay at Bear Lodge from 12 April 2026 costs from £1,299 pp, based on two sharing.

It includes:

• Return group transfers from Geneva Airport
• Seven-night accommodation at Bear Lodge
• Daily breakfast and afternoon tea
• Welcome drinks reception
• Three-course evening meals on six nights
• An exclusive presentation with Chemmy Alcott
• The opportunity to ski with Chemmy Alcott
• Optional yoga and fitness classes hosted by Chemmy
• An end of week celebration with prizes

Flights are extra.

Guests can make enquiries via phone, WhatsApp, online chat, direct email or an online enquiry form.

VIP SKI (0330 175 562,  www.vip-chalets.com)

Arc 1950. France. Image © PlanetSKI

Ski Mountaineering is New Olympic Sport

14th February 2026

Skimo makes its debut at the Milan-Cortina Games.

We reported on the announcement when it was made:

• Ski Mountaineering to be included in Winter Olympics

Think of the sport, popular among Alpine nations, as a kind of mix between skiing and hiking.

Athletes start at the bottom of the mountain, ascending both on skis and by foot before descending back down the course on skis.

PBS News’ Tim McPhillips spoke with Sarah Cookler of the U.S. Ski Mountaineering Association to learn more about skimo and how its inclusion in the 2026 Winter Olympics could boost its popularity.

Swiss ‘White Risk’ Avalanche App Wins Award

11th February 2026

White Risk started out as a CD-ROM for avalanche prevention and is today an award-winning planning tool with over 100,000 users.

 White Risk focuses on imparting knowledge through digital learning content, promoting risk awareness and preventing accidents by good preparation.

Almost discontinued in 2016, the platform is now a digital pioneer in the field of alpine safety.

• Avalanche prevention: Anyone heading out on a ski tour should familiarise themselves with the terrain using the tour planning tool – preparation as prevention.
• Digital pioneer: White Risk has been available as an app since 2009 and also as a synchronised web platform since 2013.

We reported earlier this season on its latest features:

• New facility on App makes it easier to report avalanches in Switzerland

The White Risk platform brings together everything you need for ski touring:

• The current avalanche bulletin,
• Learning modules for avalanche awareness,
• A planning tool for preparation
• A  navigation device for on the go

Published by the SLF and Suva, White Risk combines research and prevention in a single platform.

Slope angles are available from Austria to Spain, and in France the local avalanche bulletin is also featured.

As well as Switzerland, there are now also avalanche terrain map layers (CAT and ATH) for Austria and France, showing potential avalanche starting and run out zones.

While White Risk provides important information about avalanche conditions, tourers can also use the app to provide feedback from the terrain.

Real-time observations of avalanches or cracks are sent directly to the avalanche warning service and make a vital contribution to avalanche forecasting.

• See here for more

Avalanche in the Alps. Image © PlanetSKI

Behind the Scenes with Mia Brookes

9th February 2026

See behind-the-scenes at a Freestyle Snowboard training camp in Switzerland with GB’s Mia Brookes.

Plus other world-leading athletes, as they prepare to compete at the Milan- Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

Western Canada Glaciers Record Second Worse Ice Loss

8th February 2026

Researchers estimate 30 gigatonnes of ice melted in 2025 and warn “glaciers are going to disappear”.

The climate researcher Brian Menounos, the chief scientist at the Airborne Coastal Observatory of the Hakai Institute, says last year turned out to be the second worst year on record for glacier loss in western Canada.

“We have to understand that it’s not a question of if the glaciers are going to disappear, they are going to disappear.”

“What we’re finding is that these glaciers are disappearing much faster than previously projected.”

See here for more on CBC

Icefields Parkway, Lake Louise to Jasper. Image © PlanetSKI

The image above was taken this week as PlanetSKI competed the 4-hour drive on the Parkway between Lake Louise and Jasper.

See here for an account of the journey:

• PlanetSKI’s Canadian adventures continue

Icefields Parkway, Lake Louise to Jasper. Image Image © PlanetSKI

Icefields Parkway, Lake Louise to Jasper. Image Image © PlanetSKI

Russia & Belarus Athletes at Olympics

3rd February 2026

The IOC-sanctioned countries will send a total of 20 competitors to the Milan-Cortina 2026 Games under the Individual Neutral Athletes umbrella.

Up to 13 Russians will partake in the upcoming Winter Games,  with seven from Belarus.

They will take part in five disciplines:

• Alpine skiing
• Cross-country skiing
• Figure skating
• Speed skating
• Ski mountaineering.

The International Olympic Committee banned both Russia and Belarus following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Some athletes were allowed to participate in the Paris 2024 Summer Games under the AIN status.

Athletes have been vetted to ensure they had no ties to their respective militaries of backed the offensive on the sovereign nation.

Competitors are not permitted to display national symbols such as their official flags or anthems.

“Individual Neutral Athletes will not take part in the Athletes’ Parade, but the opportunity to experience the event will be offered in Milan as well as in the mountain clusters,” the IOC said in statement.

Image c/o 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics

Russian Athletes:

• Figure skaters Adelia Petrosyan and Pyotr Gumennik,
• Short track speed skaters Alyona Krylova and Ivan Posashkov,
• Skiers Darya Nepryayeva and Savely Korostelev,
• Speed skaters Ksenia Korzhova and Anastasia Semyonova,
• Ski mountaineer Nikita Filippov,
• Lugers Daria Olesik and Pavel Repilov,
• Downhill skiers Yulia Pleshkova and Semyon Yefimov.

Belarus Athletes:

• Maria Shkanova in alpine skiing
• Maryna Zuyeva in speed skating
• Hanna Karaliova in cross-country skiing
• Anna Derugo, Anastasiya Andryianava and Hanna Huskova in freestyle skiing (aerials)
• Viktoriia Safonova in figure skating

The IOC has not yet confirmed if Russian and Belarusian athletes will be allowed to take part in the closing ceremony as was the case in Paris 2024.

Avalanches Help Glaciers Survive

1st February 2026

A new international scientific survey claims avalanches play a crucial role in the survival of many glaciers which are disappearing due to the warming planet.

In some regions, over a fifth of the snow covering glaciers – and compensating for their melting – comes from avalanches.

This is the conclusion of an international study led by the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL).

For the first time it quantified the impact of avalanches on the planet’s roughly 200,000 glaciers.

The analysis was based on satellite measurements and models that calculate glacier evolution and snow mass movements.

“Avalanches are impressive and dangerous phenomena. Until now, we had no idea of their influence on glaciers,” Marin Kneib, a WSL glaciologist and lead author of the study, told Swiss public radio RTS.

“Now we know that avalanches are an important factor for glaciers.”

See more here on Swiss Info

Mont Fort glacier, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI

The WSL study found that globally, 3% of the snow accumulating on glaciers comes from avalanches. The contribution varies by region and glacier, reaching about 11% in the Alps.

In the eastern Himalayas, the share rises to 19%, and 22% in New Zealand, according to the analysis. “We were surprised. We didn’t expect the effect to be so significant in the Alps and globally,” Kneib commented.

In some cases, especially on smaller glaciers, over 50% of the snow originates from avalanches.

Olympic Snowboarder Arrested for Drugs Trafficking

1st February 2026

Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympian, is allegedly behind one of the most violent drug trafficking organisations in the world.

He was arrested in Mexico.

Authorities believe Wedding, 44, is a member of the Sinaloa Cartel and had been hiding in Mexico for more than a decade while “running and participating in a transnational drug trafficking operation,” said FBI Director Kash Patel.

Patel said Wedding shipped hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia, through Mexico and Southern California to the United States and Canada.

“He went from an Olympic snowboarder to the largest narco-trafficker in modern times.

“He is a modern-day El Chapo, he is a modern-day Pablo Escobar, and he thought he could evade justice,” Patel said at a news conference, referring to the notorious leader of Mexico’s powerful Sinaloa cartel.

In March, he was added to the FBI’s ‘Ten Most Wanted” list of fugitives, and there was a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest and/or prosecution.

CBC’s Eli Glasner breaks down Wedding’s unlikely run from Canadian Olympic snowboarder to wanted drug kingpin, described by the FBI as a modern-day El Chapo.

Trump’s Impact on US Ski Resorts

1st February 2026

The politics of the current US Administration have had an impact on the US ski industry this winter.

We have reported on PlanetSKI from Canada about the many Canadian skiers turning their backs on the ski resorts south of the border.

• Canadian skiers shun the USA

It seems skiers from other nations, including the UK, are also choosing to avoid a holiday in the USA.

UK tour operators report a fall in interest and bookings.

Interestingly some UK ski magazines are dropping coverage of US ski areas for this season as the editors deem that people do not want to visit & ski in the US while President Trump is in power.

They have decided to cover and promote other countries.

One UK press trip that is going to the USA in March has asked all journalists to have proven letters of commissions from publications and that they will need a special visas in case immigration officials come calling.

In the past it was the norm for UK writers to head to the USA on a tourist visa as work done was not paid for in the US.

Other factors not to do with President Trump are also having an impact on the US ski industry.

In recent years there has been a sharp rise in US skiers and snowboarders visiting the Alps.

• US skiers hit the Alps in BIG numbers 

Another detrimental factor for this winter, again nothing to do with Trump, is the generally poor snowfall experienced so far this season:

• USA endures poor start to the season 

Vail Resorts reports that visitor number to its ski areas across the USA are down 20%

Skiing in the USA. Image © PlanetSKI.

THE Best Apres Ski Bar in the World

1st February 2026

Which is the best apres ski bar in any ski resort in the world?

PlanetSKI’s Felix Milns has one answer.

 

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What’s your favourite apres resort and apres bar, and why?

Feel free to add your thoughts here on our Facebook page.

Spring Skiing in Verbier

1st February 2026

Enjoy spring skiing with high-energy end-of-season events in Verbier, Switzerland.

Spring skiing in Verbier comes with an added dose of spectacle this April, as the resort celebrates the end of the winter season with a lively programme of events on and off the slopes.

From 10–12 April 2026, the Verbier Air Show returns with aerial displays staged high above the resort, including at Les Attelas.

Later in the month, Snow Glow (23–25 April, formerly Snow Pride) brings colour to the mountains, with drag performances, après-ski parties, on-mountain activities, talks and exhibitions creating an inclusive atmosphere across the resort.

The season draws to a close on 25 April 2026 with E.N.D. (Energy Never Dies), a free open-air concert in Place Centrale, featuring French electronic favourites Ofenbach and Kavinsky, promising a high-energy finale to the winter in Verbier.

Verbier: www.verbier.ch

Verbier, Switzerland. Image © Heather Jefferies/PlanetSKI.