Summer Ski News in Brief

1st July 2026

– Major French Resorts Set for November Opening
– Swiss Fire Bar to Reopen as Youth Memorial Centre
– 2026 Olympic Athletes to Receive $10,000
– Skiing in Canada on July 1st
– Fire Damaged US Resort Updates…NEW

Major French Resorts Set for November Opening

1st July 2026

Tignes & Val d’Isere are usually the first major resorts to open in the French Alps and the date of Saturday 21st of November has been set.

The two resorts traditionally open towards the end of November and they both close on the first weekend in May.

Val d’Isere, which is linked to Tignes, is set to open the following weekend on Saturday 28th November.

Les2Alps is also set to open on 28th November.

PlanetSKI was at the Grande Premiere event in Val Thorens as it opened last season:

What a start to the sesson in Val Thorens!

The ski resort of Bessans, in the Haute Maurienne, is set to offer cross-country skiing from Saturday October 31st as it opens some of its Nordic trails.

Opening w/end in Val Thorens, Sunday 23rd November. Image © PlanetSKI

Opening w/end in Val Thorens, Sunday 23rd November 2025. Image © PlanetSKI

Crans-Montana Fire Bar Will Reopen as Youth Memorial Centre

1st July 2026

41 people died in the blaze in Le Constellation bar in the Swiss ski resort in the early hours of January 1^st 2026 during New Year’s Eve celebrations.

17 of the victims were aged 16-years or younger.

“Concerning the future of Le Constellation, it will never be reopened as a bar,” said the president of Valais canton, Christophe Darbellay, to Le Temps daily.

“This space must be dedicated to young people.”

The Valais, where Crans-Montana is located, is working on “creating a physical memorial” for the victims of the tragedy.

President Darbellay said it would be “beautiful, peaceful, accessible and will pay a fitting tribute to those who died, were injured, as well as those who provided assistance or care to the victims.”

We reported on the night of the tragedy when 40 people had died.

40 people killed in fire at bar in Crans-Montana

A person later died from their injuries.

There will be a commemoration ceremony held in the ski resort on January 1^st 2027.

Image c/o Crans-Montana.

2026 Winter Olympic Athletes to Receive $10,000

1st July 2026

For the first time every athlete who competes at an Olympic Games will receive a direct payment from the International Olympic Committee of $10,000 (£7,558).

The IOC says it is designed to support athletes in continuing their sporting careers or transitioning into life after competition.

The initiative is backed by a $140m (£106m) fund for each four-year Olympic cycle and will first benefit athletes who competed at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy.

“This grant will be available to every Olympian. Not just medal winners. Not just athletes from certain countries. Every Olympian,” said the IOC Athletes’ Commission Chair, Pau Gasol.

“This is about recognising the journey and the commitment it takes to become an Olympian.”

2,900 athletes competed at Milan-Cortina 2026 and it will cost around $29m (£22m).

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

Skiing in Canada on July 1st

1st July 2026

It is Canada Day today and on the 159th edition there is summer skiing and snowboarding in Sunshine Village after a record-breaking winter for snow.

It is a rare opening of part of the ski area for Canada’s National Day.

It should be quite an event:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Banff Sunshine Village (@sunshinevillage)

Fire Damaged US Resort Updates

1st July 2026

Eagle Point Resort in Utah has published selected photographs of the damage caused by the Cottonwood Fire.

They show that not all the area has been destroyed.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Eagle Point Resort (@skieaglepoint)

Here on PlanetSKI we reported on the blaze last week.

Wildfire in Utah threatens ski resort

“While the fire continues to threaten Eagle Point, these current images symbolize the resilience of the mountain, our team, and this incredible community,” resort officials said in a statement.

“Through the uncertainty, through the unimaginable… we’re still standing.”

A full damage assessment cannot be made until the fire is contained and it is safe for people to return.

Eagle Point is a privately operated ski area that has been operating since the 1970s.

It is owned by Shane Gadbaw who warned last week that there has been “significant property loss” and the area would be closed for a “considerable” amount of time

The cause of the fire is under investigation and is thought have been started by human activity.