Spring Ski News in Brief

1st May 2026

Last modified on May 28th, 2026

– Blatten Landslide, One Year On
– 14 People Face Charges Following Crans-Montana Fire
– Italians Back Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
– Snowboarder Dies After Crevasse Fall in Canada…UPDATED

Blatten, One Year On

28th May 2026

One year after a collapsing glacier destroyed the Swiss village of Blatten, residents are beginning to rebuild their lives in the Alps.

A newly built wooden hotel overlooking the Loetschen Valley has become a symbol of recovery for the displaced community.

The Hotel Momentum was completed in just 105 days near the neighbouring town of Wiler after the glacier collapse buried much of Blatten beneath rock and ice.

Swiss village buried by landslide as glacier collapses

More than 300 residents were evacuated before the disaster, which experts say was linked to climate change and thawing permafrost destabilising the mountainside.

Former Blatten resident and hotel owner Lukas Kalbermatten lost his family’s three-generation hotel in the collapse but says rebuilding is about preserving the village for future generations.

Swiss officials say reconstruction plans remain on track, with hopes Blatten can eventually be rebuilt by 2030.

But questions remain over the long-term stability of the surrounding mountains as warming temperatures continue to reshape the Alps.

Scientists increase monitoring of glacier near Blatten

14 People Face Charges Following Crans-Montana

26th May 2026

To date, there are now 14 people under investigation:

The Moretti couple who own the bar,
Five elected or former elected officials
Seven municipal employees

The latest person who was charged earlier this month is an employee who worked in the Construction Department of the municipality of Chermignon at the time.

He therefore closely witnessed the renovation work on the Le Constellation bar in 2015.

He now works for the municipality of Crans-Montana, still in the field of construction.

41 people died in the tragedy on New Year’s Eve.

Image c/o Crans-Montana.

Italians Back Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics

25th May 2026

A survey by Piepoli and WePlan found that 77% believed the Winter Olympics improved the country’s international image.

Two-thirds followed the event regularly and recognised its positive economic impact.

Piepoli is a research institute, while WePlan specialises in legacy strategies for mega-events and together.

66% of Italians actively followed daily coverage
72% reporting a positive overall impression
79% supported holding the Games in multiple locations
77% felt that using established facilities improved the quality of the competitions
79% of interviewees said that Italy’s image as a country had been strengthened
77% believed that international perceptions of Italy are better than before
76% believed the Games improved the country’s finances
76% agreed that tourism and employment benefited from hosting the Games

“These figures confirm the validity of an innovative approach to planning mega-events, based on the efficient use of existing infrastructure and territorial distribution,” said WePlan co-founders. Giorgio Re and Roberto Daneo.

See more on Inside the Games.

Kirsty Muir competes in the Women’s Ski Slopestyle Final at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. Image © Sam Mellish/Team GB

Snowboarder Dies After Crevasse Fall in Canada

22nd May 2026

The 38-year-old man died while on the Athabasca Glacier in the Columbia Icefield in the Jasper National Park in Alberta.

The man originally came from the Czech Republic and lived in Revelstoke in British Columbia.

He was with two friends at the time who also came from Revelstoke.

He fell 25m into the crevasse and his body was recovered two days after the accident.

Parks Canada warns on its website that a “considerable level of skill and knowledge” is necessary for that type of terrain.

It says everyone in the group should be equipped with and familiar with safe glacier travel, crevasse rescue techniques and whiteout navigation skills.

An investigation is underway.

Icefields Parkway, Lake Louise to Jasper. Image © PlanetSKI

67-year-old Hiker Dies in Austrian Alps After Cow Attack

20th May 2026

The woman, who has not been named, was attacked by what police described as a ‘mid-double-digit number’ of cows in a pasture in Lienz in East Tirol.

Her 65-year-old husband was also seriously injured.

It is unclear why the herd attacked.

The authorities and farmers repeatedly advise caution when hiking in Alpine regions and to stay clear of all animals.

Attacks by cows are rare but not unknown.

In September 2025 an 85-year-old man died after a cow attack in the Ramsau am Dachstein area of the Austrian Alps.

We reported on it in this PlanetSKI article looking at summer accidents in the Alps:

Sharp rise in summer accidents in the Alps

Cow in the Alps. Image © PlanetSKI

New Boss for France 2030 Winter Olympics

18th May 2026

Vincent Roberti has been officially approved by members of the executive board as director general and will officially take up his duties in June.

” I thank the members of the executive board for their confidence,” said Roberti.

” I approach this new responsibility with great humility, enthusiasm, and a strong determination to work alongside President Edgar Grospiron and the COJOP teams.

“The coming months will be crucial for continuing our development, consolidating our ambitious project, and entering the operational planning and delivery phase.”

See more on Inside the Games.

Winter Olympic Games. Image c/o PlanetSKI

Grospiron had proposed that Roberti take over the position left vacant in February by Cyril Linette after internal disagreements between the two executives, though he conceded that he “hesitated a lot” as he had two very good profiles to consider. Jean-François Vilotte, despite being considered the frontrunner for several weeks, ended up not running to concentrate on his role in the French Football Federation.

Roberti, a senior civil servant, previously served as director of central administration at the Ministry of the Interior and Overseas Territories. An engineer by training, the 59-year-old has also held various positions within the local government. The French Alps organising committee hopes to draw from his “high-quality track record, marked by the management of complex projects, the transformation of large-scale organisations and the management of sensitive institutional environments.”

Roberti stressed that “the coming months will be crucial for continuing our development, consolidating our ambitious project, and entering the operational planning and delivery phase” as the organisation faces mounting pressure to finalise the Olympic venues map in time. Still navigating a political deadlock with Nice’s new mayor, Eric Ciotti, the organising committee is scrambling to find an alternative after the temporary conversion of the Allianz Riviera – the city’s football stadium – into an Olympic ice hockey rink was refused.

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French Alps organisers hinted that they were considering Paris and Lyon, but confirmed on Tuesday that they are consulting with officials from Nice and its broader region, as well as the French government, to find solutions within the already proposed Olympic hub. They explored the possibility of a temporary ice rink at other stadiums, primarily for men’s hockey matches.

“The analyses carried out are leading us to turn toward existing facilities that are better suited and more sustainable. Several options are being studied to ensure hosting conditions that fully meet our requirements,” said Grospiron.

Monday’s meeting also discussed hosting the speed skating events in either the Thialf in the Netherlands or Turin in Italy. The executive board members moved to enter into exclusive negotiations with Thialf, who confirmed they are on board. “We are not a country that can host the Winter Games. We simply don’t have the mountains. If we can tackle this part together, we will do so wholeheartedly,” Thialf Business Manager Yvonne Kager told NOS of the possibility of being part of the French Winter Games.

13 Colorado Ski Deaths This Winter

17th May 2026

The fatalities occurred at 11 resorts and were all men aged 25 to 74.

They included three heart attacks, nine deaths from trauma, and a skier who suffocated in a tree well.

No one died in a collision with another skier.

The number is about the same as recent seasons despite a very poor winter for snow and a sharp drop on skier visits.

Colorado ski areas do not publicly report deaths or injuries, but the total has been reported by The Colorado Sun newspaper.

The highest number of deaths recorded in recent years was in 2011-12, another very low snow year, when there were 22 deaths at Colorado ski areas.

Only one person died in an avalanche in Colorado last winter.

Skiing in the USA. Image c/o PlanetSKI

The North Face Clothing for 2026/27

14th May 2026

PlanetSKI has had a sneak preview of some of the ski gear on offer from The North Face for next winter – aimed at holiday skiers and alpinists alike.

The canals of north London (25m above sea level) are not the most obvious place for a glimpse of what’s on offer to wear in the mountains next winter from The North Face.

On the way to The North Face winter 2026/27 winter collection. Image © PlanetSKI

A venue by the Regent’s Canal in Dalston, East London, was the spot for our snap look at a few items that are going to be in the shops & online in the autumn.

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Our attention goes first to the ski gear for recreational holiday skiers.

Part of The North Face winter 2026/27 winter collection. Image © PlanetSKI

The ‘skier’ is wearing the Snow Squall jacket (£400) and Chakal pants (£225).

Part of The North Face winter 2026/27 winter collection. Image © PlanetSKI

The male combo on the right is the Freedom Insulated jacket at £290 and £180 for the pants.

The jacket on the left is also from the Freedom Insulated range.

Part of The North Face winter 2026/27 winter collection. Image © PlanetSKI

The light blue offering is Cold Spell Cropped – £400 for the jacket and £280 for the trousers

In other displays there is trail running kit and top end gear for alpinists – the Summit Range.

Part of The North Face winter 2026/27 winter collection. Image © PlanetSKI

This is what you put on as you summit a mountain to keep warm in the cold temperatures and freezing wind:

Part of The North Face winter 2026/27 winter collection. Image © PlanetSKI

The Summit series jackets are £540 for men and women.

With the option of a Gortex shell that raises the combo price to £720.

The products have been tested by the north Face’s team of athletes, including Victor de la Rue, who has featured in The North Face films in the past.

PlanetSKI watched “Of a Lifetime” a couple of years ago:

PlanetSKI at The North Face film premiere

Image © North Face: Of A Lifetime/PlanetSKI

And if topping off a peak and skiing in Antarctica is not quite your thing, but you like to look the part, then this reversible jacket is perhaps the one for you.

Part of The North Face winter 2026/27 winter collection. Image © PlanetSKI

It is described as being inspired by the Summit Series and can be worn away from the mountains – it will set you back £325.

We’ll be putting some of The North Face gear though its paces next winter in the PlanetSKI gear and equipment tests.

Here are the posts from our extensive gear tests in Canada last season:

The PlanetSKI 2026 Gear Tests: Direct From Canada #No 1: Equipment

The PlanetSKI 2026 Gear Tests: Direct From Canada #No 2: Women’s Ski Clothing

The PlanetSKI 2026 Gear Tests: Direct From Canada #No 3: Odds ‘n’ Ends

Our gear and equipment editor, Alf Alderson, will also be reporting for us again in the autumn on whatever takes his fancy:

PlanetSKI 25/26 Gear Review #5

We are back in East London later this month, Brick Lane to be precise, as we get another sneak preview of some other ski gear for next season.

This time from Oakley, Smartwool, Montane, Timberland and several more.

Do check back….

Part of The North Face winter 2026/27 winter collection. Image © PlanetSKI

The North Face Named As Apparel Partner of US Ski & Snowboard

13th May 2026

The 8-year deal will see the outdoor brand kit out American athletes in the 2030 and 2034 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.

The partnership covers all 11 disciplines governed by U.S. Ski & Snowboard: alpine, cross country, freeski, freestyle moguls, freestyle aerials, nordic combined, Para alpine, Para nordic, Para snowboard, ski jumping and snowboard.

Athletes, coaches and staff will wear The North Face outerwear and training gear at World Cup events, world championships, training camps and the Winter Games.

“The partnership between U.S. Ski & Snowboard and The North Face brings together the best of our two organizations, with our long shared commitments to elite mountain and adventure sports athletes,” stated Dennis Seydel, Chief Marketing Officer at The North Face.

“As a brand forged by those who push the boundaries of human potential, we are proud to provide current and future generations of ski and snowboard legends with The North Face as they train and compete on the world stage.”

The North Face/US Ski & Snowboard.

No Summer Disciplines at 2030 Winter Olympics

13th May 2026

The International Olympic Committee Executive Board has ruled out the possibility of including summer disciplines in the competitive programme of the next Winter Games.

The Games will be held in France.

There had been suggestions around events such as cross-country, trail running, cyclo-cross and gravel.

The disciplines that are not contested on snow or ice but had emerged as possible candidates to refresh the Winter Olympic format, broaden its international appeal and improve the prospects of countries without a strong tradition in the classic winter disciplines.

“For 2030, we have taken the decision, no crossover sports, no summer sports”, said the IOC President, Kirsty Coventry.

“We will vote on the programme in June, but we have already decided that no summer sport and no all-season sport will be included.

“It will only be snow and ice”.

See here for more on Inside the Games.

Winter Olympic Games. Image c/o PlanetSKI

Ski Utah Puts Brave Face on Poor Season

11th May 2026

The Rockies saw a significant drop in the amount of snow that fell. Utah was no exception.

The state experienced its warmest winter on record from December through to February.

This was followed by the warmest March.

Season at a Glance:

Final Closing Date: May 10, 2026 (Snowbird and Brighton)
Key Statistic: Warmest meteorological winter and March on record for Utah.
Weather Trend: Shift from northwest cold troughs to southwest moist flows.

“Instead of the cold, dry troughs typically arriving from the northwest, this winter was dominated by moist flows from the southwest,” said Ski Utah.

These warmer systems pushed snow levels higher up the mountains, resulting in denser snow that failed to accumulate to the legendary depths Utah is known for.

This “heavy” snow particularly impacted lower-elevation resorts, while high-elevation terrain remained the primary haven for skiers.

“The Law of Averages meant that after three incredible years, it was probably time for us to see

Ski Utah claims that statistical trends suggest a high probability of a significantly stronger snowpack for the 2026–27 season.

US skier visits down 9m last season

Deer Valley, Utah – Image © PlanetSKI

Swiss Glaciers Face Significant Snow Shortage

9th May 2026

Swiss glaciers saw less snow this winter than usual and the shortfall could accelerate glacier melt this summer.

The Upper Valais, Ticino and Graubünden saw significantly less snow according to the Swiss Glacier Monitoring Network, GLAMOS.

In April GLAMOS measured winter snow accumulation on 25 glaciers across Switzerland.

Compared with the annual average between 2010 and 2020, last winter saw an average snow deficit of 25%.

Glaciers in the Bernese Oberland and central Valais regions were less affected and remain close to long‑term averages.

Snow cover plays a key role in determining how glaciers fare during the summer melt period.

If winter snow does not melt completely, glaciers can gain mass; if it does, they lose it.

In the majority of regions, fresh snow levels were lower than those measured in early spring 2025.

Only four winters in the past twenty years have recorded less glacier snowfall than last winter.

In 2022 and 2023, deficits were similar to those seen this year, and both summers saw heavy glacier losses.

“The outlook for this summer is bad,” glaciologist Matthias Huss told the Keystone‑SDA news agency.

Fresh snow acts as a protective blanket, reflecting sunlight and slowing melt, he explained.

If that snow disappears early, darker ice and debris are exposed.

This reduces the albedo effect, causing the glacier surface to absorb more solar energy and heat up faster – a process that further accelerates melting, Huss said.

New report paints grim picture for mountains of Europe

Mont Fort glacier, Verbier. Image © PlanetSKI

Lindsey Vonn Nominated for US Ski Team

8th May 2026

The veteran racer who crashed heavily at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics has her name put forward for the 26/27 season.

Athletes are nominated to the team in May, based on qualifications and eligibility;

Athletes must adhere to team expectations before spots can be officially accepted.

The official team is announced in October.

48 athletes were nominated across:

Alpine skiing
Freeski
Cross-country
Aerials
Moguls
Nordic combined
Para alpine
Para nordic
Ski jump disciplines

Amongst the nominated alpine ski athletes were familiar names:

Mikaela Shiffrin has has three overall World Cup titles,
Breezy Johnson, who took gold in downhill at the Olympics
Lauren Macuga, who tore her ACL last season.

Nominations to the A Team were based on athletes achieving either a top-three individual result at the 2026 Olympic Games or being ranked in the top 25 on the FIS World Cup Start List.

Lindsey Vonn has not ruled out competing again:

Vonn unsure if she will race again

Lindsey Vonn. Credit: Stifel U.S. Ski Team

Olympic Speed Kings & Queens

6th May 2026

Check out the video of the downhill racers at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.

The fastest recorded speed was from Switzerland’s Alexis Monney who reached a speed of 139.31km/h (86.56 mph).

Macron Tries to Steady Nerves over 2030 Olympics

5th May 2026

France is set to host the Winter Olympics in four years time, but it seems to be beset by problems.

The Alpine bid was ratified by the International Olympic Committee in July 2024, albeit subject to certain conditions being met.

President Macron has said: “We will be there for these Winter Games, which are an important event not only for our two regions, but for all of France, our Alps in blue, white and red, allowing our generations to excel, to go even further and achieve an even greater success because they will be at home.”

He was speaking last week at an event at the Elysee Palace honouring 18 French medalists from the Milan-Cortina Winter Games in Italy last winter.

Despite the optimistic presidential words, the French Games is moving through a spell of instability and accumulated delay as reported by Inside the Games.

IOC Rules Out Extra Funding for Milan-Cortina

2nd May 2026

The 2026 Olympic Games faces a €300m shortfall but the International Olympic Committee has said it will not provide additional funding.

The shortfall comes from two directions.

Firstly there was more than €230m in additional costs, largely tied to construction delays and infrastructure issues.

Secondly there is a shortfall of around €80m from sponsorships, broadcast deals and ticket sales.

Under the Joint Marketing Programme Agreement, the shortfall will be covered by the stakeholders of the Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026:

The Italian state
The regions of Veneto and Lombardy
The autonomous provinces of Trento and Bolzano
The municipalities of Milan and Cortina

Rome is expected to cover half, with the rest split between regional and local authorities.

Read the full details on Inside the Games.

Cortina, 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Image © David Pearce/Team TB

GB Snow Test Returns to Champoluc

1st May 2026

It will take place 25th-29th January 2027 and follows a successful first edition in the resort last winter.

It was previously held in La Clussaz in the France and before that at Pila in Italy.

SIGB Snow Tests, Kuhtai, Tirol. Image © PlanetSKI

The Champoluc test site is SW facing at 2,000m next to the Ristorante Bar du Soleil at the top of the Frachey funicular.

There is a choice of pistes from, Mandria, the main ‘test lift.’

There’s an accredited GS red piste, and a choice of blue slopes.

There are trees if the visability is poor and some great side-piste and freeride features between the groomers.

The only thing not on site is a park/pipe.

A further fast 4-man chair above this one arrives at over 2700m, with wide red pistes and more off-piste options.

Lift queues are normally minimal or absent in January.

The layout of the hill makes for very efficient and fast turnaround testing.

For bigger backcountry, touring and off-piste missions there are plenty of options, including glacier terrain and some of Europe’s best big mountain freeride.

There are two cafes at the test site with a huge variety of good value food.

There are two other excellent rifugios/restaurants and another café on the Test ski piste circuit.

Coffee and wine are available pretty much everywhere on the hill at suitably Italian prices and a real pizza for under €8.

Last season, for the first time, it was a four-day event, leaving the Friday for social skiing or pre-arranged testing.

The organisers say this was a success and will be repeated next year, allowing attendees to enjoy some recreational skiing.

A report on last year’s test is here.

The SIGB Ski Test is organised by Neil and Sarah at Hillside Outside Ltd on behalf of the SIGB Ski Test Committee.

For more information contact:

Email: sarah@hillsideoutside.com

Phone: 01721 588050

REGISTER HERE

Canadian Military End Avalanche Contract

1st May 2026

The service has been provided to Rogers Pass for the past 65-years but will end in August 2027.

Since 1961, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) has partnered with Parks Canada on Operation PALACI to protect and maintain the national highway and railway lines through Glacier National Park.

They use howitzers and up to 20 reserve military personnel.

It keeps the pass clear for skiers reaching resorts such as Revelstoke and Kicking Horse.

PlanetSKI drove through last winter on a Canadian road trip.

There are 18 different firing positions.

In low snow winters between 300 and 500 high-explosive shells are fired along the 43kms area.

In more active years, around 1,000 rounds are fired.

In March this year alone the military fired 271 artillery rounds that helped trigger 37 avalanches.

The Department of National Defence said the decision was made “due to evolving defence modernization priorities and operational imperatives, and the planned divestment of the legacy artillery systems currently used in support of Parks Canada.”

It is unclear how this work will now be carried out.

Ski Portillo Announces Opening Dates

1st May 2026

The resort in Chile is scheduled to open its doors from June 20th to September 26th, 2026.

It is inviting skiers to “chase winter south” for a season defined by high-altitude terrain, world-class hospitality, and the shimmering turquoise waters of the Laguna del Inca.

The resort is two hours from Santiago, the resort offers a unique, all-inclusive experience that feels more like a private club than a standard ski resort.

Capacity is capped at 450 people.