September’s Ski News in Brief

EES Border Flexibility Extended for Alpine Countries

18th September 2026

France, Italy and Switzerland have been given extra time to suspend temporarily the Entry/Exit System, EES, biometric registration if queues become excessive this coming winter.

The end of the flexibility period officially expired on September 6th and now clarification has been given.

The European Commission has given the three alpine countries additional time to delay full implementation while technical problems are resolved and border authorities work to maintain passenger flow.

No new deadline has been set.

The new system means most UK travellers need to have their fingerprints and facial image registered when crossing the Schengen external border.

Other EU/Schengen countries needing extra time are Greece, Portugal, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.

• New EU/UK border controls are rolled out
• New EU border rules start next month

France border controls. Image © PlanetSKI

New CEO for Burton Snowboard

11th September 2026

Denny Bruce has been appointed and takes up the position from September 21^st.

The company said the move marks an important moment for Burton as it approaches its 50th anniversary.

He succeeds Burton’s owner Donna Carpenter, who has served as interim CEO since June 2026 and will continue as chairman of the Board of Directors.

He worked at Burton more than 20 years ago when he was  the company’s Mid-Atlantic brand manager from 2003 to 2005.

“Burton is the steward of a sport so many of us have fallen in love with – a community born from people who chose to stand sideways and see fresh snowfall as a blank canvas, said Denny Bruce.

“There’s a deep bench here, and I’m looking forward to bringing what I’ve learned over the past two decades to help carry Burton into its next 50 years and to be an advocate for the community that has been foundational to everything I’ve done in my career.

“To come back to the company where my snowboarding career began, and to work alongside Donna mentoring the next generation, is incredibly meaningful to me.”

Denny Bruce. Image c/o Burton

Bruce’s track record spans wholesale, DTC, and global distribution and taking brands with real cultural credibility and building the commercial engine to match.

His mandate at Burton is to reportedly is to build the commercial architecture, marketplace strategy, and brand platform to carry the company through its next generation of growth, while protecting the core rider relationship that made Burton what it is.

“When we started this search, I knew we needed someone pretty unusual, someone who could lead and grow a global business, but who also deeply understood our culture, our values, our sport and why protecting the heart and soul of this company matters so much,” said Donna Carpenter.

“Denny doesn’t need to be taught what Burton means or why snowboarding matters. It’s already part of who he is.

“He loves what Burton is, believes in what we can become, and has the experience to get us there.

“He respects what it means to be rider-driven, and he understands that being family-owned is one of our greatest strengths.

It’s hard to imagine a better next chapter.”

The company said Burton will remain rider-driven at its core under Bruce’s leadership, and will continue listening to the community that built it, and stay focused on creating industry-leading products and experiences, expanding participation in snowboarding, and building both Burton and Anon for the ride ahead.

Image c/o Burton

FIS World Championships Set to Expand

10th September 2026

They currently take place every two years but are set to become annual.

The International Ski & Snowboard Federation said:

“Having been presented with a preliminary feasibility study centered on sporting value, calendar assessment, and commercial and media-rights potential, the FIS Council agreed on the concept of increasing the frequency of the FIS World Championships so that they would be organised not only biennially in odd years, but also in even, non-Olympic years as of 2032.”

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation currently holds its senior championships every two years, while juniors compete every year for a world title.

FIS also said it is open to exploring the possibility of increasing the World Championships, with an edition already in 2028.

The federation also established the core principles of a long-term FIS World Cup calendar for all disciplines, which would take into consideration:

• Establishing regional calendar clusters
• Developing emerging markets while protecting core markets
• Establishing a multi-pronged Calendar Impact Score for each event

The International Ski & Snowboard Federation. Image c/o FIS.

Iran War Harms Swiss Railway Company

8th September 2026

The war in Iran took its toll on the Jungfrau Railways in the Bernese Oberland during  the first half of 2026.

Fewer tourists from Asia are travelling and they make up a significant proportion of visitors.

Turnover and profit fell sharply as a consequence.

Operating revenue fell by 9% to CHF137m (£125m) and profit of CHF29 million (£26.5m) as  22% less than in the previous year, when the Jungfraubahn Group had posted a record profit.

In the first half of the year, 389,600 visitors came, almost 18% fewer than in the previous year.

Following the outbreak of the war in Iran, there was a notable absence of visitors from India and South-East Asia.

Jungfrau Railways said it remains cautious for the rest of the year in view of geopolitical conflicts and the fragile global economy,

Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI.

Hotel Fire at Ski Resort in Chile

8th September 2026

The Hotel Alto Nevados in Nevados de Chillán has been destroyed.

All guests and employees got out safely and an investigation is underway.

Other nearby buildings caught fire.

It’s unclear how extensive the damage to all facilities but the hotel will need to be demolished.

The ski resort remains closed.

“We are experiencing a situation that deeply hits us as Nevados de Chillán,” said the resort in a statement on Sunday.

“Today, we suffered a large-scale fire that affected the Hotel Alto Nevados and the Plaza Otto area, generating significant material damage to infrastructure and nearby areas.

“Fortunately, everyone is safe. At this moment, our teams are completely focused on attending to the emergency, assessing damages, reorganizing our priorities, and moving forward with the urgent actions this situation requires.

“Given this complex scenario, and with the objective of safeguarding the well-being of our community, staff, and visitors, we have made the decision to suspend operations at Nevados de Chillán tomorrow, Monday, September 7.

“For this reason, tomorrow the Ski Center and the Thermal Water Park will remain closed. Valle Hermoso will operate normally.

“We know that this is a difficult moment for everyone who is part of our mountain.

“We deeply appreciate the understanding, respect, and support of our community as we face this contingency.”

Further details to follow…

Conditions Russian Athletes Return

5th September 2026

The International Ski & Snowboard Federation has unveiled  the conditions under which athletes of Belarusian and Russian sporting nationality should be allowed to compete at FIS events throughout the 2026/27 season.

They were barred following the Russian invasion of Ukraine with support from Belarusia.

FIS has decided that athletes and support personnel from the two countries may be granted access to FIS competitions provided that they sign a declaration of neutrality based on a set of principles established by FIS.

Compliance with these neutrality principles will be constantly monitored, with sanctions available in case of breaches.

The participation of athletes is restricted to individual events and is conditioned to the fact that no country symbols ─ such as flags, anthems, or uniforms ─ should be displayed.

Athletes must also meet all the existing relevant anti-doping requirements.

Russia snowsport. Image c/o PlanetSKI

 

Podium Clean Sweep for GB Racing Brothers

3rd September 2026

Luca, Zak and Freddy Carrick-Smith were all on the podium after the slalom at Coronet Peak, New Zealand.

The International Ski & Snowboard Federation has marked the achievement:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Audi FIS Ski World Cup (@fisalpine)

They represent the future of GB alpine racing and PlanetSKI has been following the progress of the boys for many years:

• Boy racers 
• Congratulations to Zak Carrick-Smith
• Another gold for Team GB at Youth Winter Olympics

If you wish to help fund Team Carrick-Smith see here:

• Three promising young GB ski racers need your help

About Team Carrick-Smith 

Team Carrick-Smith is a British alpine ski racing family based in the Alps throughout the winter, committed to competing at the highest international level.

The team comprises three brothers — Freddy, Zak, and Luca — supported by their parents, Phil Smith (ski coach) and Emma Carrick-Anderson (4 times Olympic skier), who manage and oversee their development both on and off the slopes.

The brothers have each established themselves across junior and senior circuits, achieving notable results in European Cups, national championships, and international events.

Team Carrick-Smith trains year-round, combining on-snow sessions in the Alps with dryland conditioning and technical development.

Team Carrick-Smith. Image © Team Carrick-Smith.

Les Menuires Invests in Snowmaking

1st September 2026

Les Menuires & Saint-Martin-de-Belleville are spending €7m on improving their snowmaking systems.

The resorts in Les3Vallees believe it will improve long-term snow reliability and resilience across their joint ski area.

Les Menuires, France. Image c/o Vanessa Fisher.

Related Articles:

• PlanetSKI is skiing in the Spring in Les Menuires
• Les Menuires has highest percentage of beginner runs
• Yoga and skiing in Les Menuires

Indy Pass Set to Add More Resorts

1st September 2026

There are to be 50 new resorts taking the total number of resorts on the pass to more than 300.

They are not tell us which ones, but sales of the pass begin on September 1^st. 

 “Last spring, we sold out of Indy Passes in just 37-minutes, a clear signal that skiers and riders are hungry for affordable access to independent ski areas,” said Indy Pass Director, Erik Mogensen.

“We won’t oversell the pass and compromise the authentic experience that Indy Pass and its partners deliver.”

Erik Mogensen. Image c/o Indy Pass

The 2026/27 Indy Pass will offer more access than ever before, including two days of skiing plus a third discounted day at each of its 300+ independent ski areas worldwide.

The Indy Pass is the fastest-growing multi-mountain pass in the world.

It offers 300+ Alpine and Nordic resorts across the US, Canada, Europe, Japan, and South America, each providing two days of skiing or riding, plus a third day at a discounted rate.

Indy resorts are independent of any significant US corporate ownership, and many are owned and operated by multi-generational families.

The Indy Pass says it provides “a uniquely authentic and affordable skiing experience”.

• Indy Pass sells out in 37 minutes
• Indy Pass expands further into Europe

The 25 new resorts previously announced for the 2026/27 season last spring include several in Europe :

• Bergbahnen Hohsaas AG, Switzerland
• Domaine Skiable des Contamines, France
• Les 7 Laux, France
• Levi, Finland
• Pizol, Switzerland
• Stöten i SÄlen, Sweden
• Stranda Ski Resort, Norway

PlanetSKI used the Indy Pass a couple of seasons ago as we toured some of the the lesser-known resorts in Japan.

PlanetSKI + INDY Pass. Image © PlanetSKI

FIS & IUSF Renew Agreement

1st September 2026

Who? The International Ski and Snowboard Federation and the International University Sports Federation have announced a new agreement aimed at supporting the organisation of competitions at the Universiades.

The partnership between the two organisations dates back many years and the new agreement is a step towards aligning the university sports pathway with the wider international snow sports system.

The University Games often provide many athletes with their first opportunity to experience high-level competition.

It marks the start of preparation for the transition to professional sport in the future.

The agreement also recognises the shared responsibility of both organisations in areas such as athlete development, education, integrity, sustainability, and innovation.

See here for the full details on Inside the Games.

The 33rd Winter Universiade takes place in Changchun in China from 15th-25th January 2027.

The host city has just completed an intensive 10-day on-site inspection with a FISU delegation comprising teams covering sport, security, integrated services, communications and other areas.

Changchun logo. c/o 33rd Winter Universiade.

Thredbo Resort Falls in Value Due to Climate Change

1st September 2026

The value of one of Australia’s largest ski resorts, Thredbo, has gone down by nearly $150m (£80m) amid concerns about the future of snowsports in Australia.

Hotel and entertainment corporation EVT’s annual results showed the independent valuation of Thredbo Alpine Resort in the New South Wales Snowy Mountains has dropped from $292m (£155m)to $143m.(£75m).

The report attributed the sharp decline to recent trading conditions during an “unseasonably warm” winter start this June.

The resort also needs capital investment for new chairlifts and snowmaking infrastructure.

The drop comes despite revenue from the resort being up 10% on the back of a solid 2025 snow season, with $50m (£26m)made on lift tickets.

EVT has owned the head lease of Thredbo resort, including the village, for nearly 40 years.

The lease from the NSW government runs until 2057.

See more in this earlier PlanetSKI article:

• Some Australian ski resorts close early

Thredbo, Australia. Image © PlanetSKI

US Resort Launches Appeal After Wildfire

1st September 2026

A third of Maverick Mountain in Montana was burnt after the Sand Creek Fire swept through earlier in the summer.

Its lift was destroyed along with equipment, but its base lodge was saved.

We reported on the fire at the time:

• US ski resort damaged by wildfire

A $2m fundraising initiative has been launched to help rebuild.

Rather than simply restoring the mountain to its previous state, the initiative aims to address long-standing infrastructure needs while lowering long-term replacement costs.

Follow this link to donate: friendsofmaverickmountain.org.

Wildfire in North America. Image © PlanetSKI