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General News

More Money Promised For Blatten

The Swiss government is offering 5m CHF (£4.5m) to the Alpine village of Blatten that has been destroyed by a huge landslide.

Ex-CEO of Vail Resort Receives $2.2m Payout

Kirsten Lynch recently stepped down as Chief Executive Officer of Vail Resorts. She is replaced by the former CEO Rob Katz.

Learn to Ski Indoors in the UK this Summer

Snowsport England has announced the launch of the Way2Snow campaign. It aims to give people access to learn to ski or snowboard ahead of a first winter holiday.

Tributes To Claire Pennell of Snowsport England

Claire Pennell passed away last Friday. She was part of the Snowsport England senior leadership team and responsible for operations.

What Next for Blatten, Switzerland & the Alps After Glacier Landslide?

The village of 300 inhabitants was buried under an unprecedented landslide last week. The implications for the Lötschental Valley, Switzerland and the wider Alps are significant. UPDATED

June’s Ski News in Brief

– Second Body Found in Canada Rockslide
– Ski Visits to Utah Fall
– Hiker Killed in Canada Rockslide
– Snowsport England Coach Awarded MBE
– Racers Prize Money Up 10%… UPDATED

Rob Katz Returns as CEO of Vail Resorts

The 58-year old replaces Kirsten Lynch who has stepped down as CEO and as a director of the Board.

Investigation After Five Ski Mountaineers Die in Swiss Avalanche

They were located after another group saw some abandoned skis near the summit of a mountain near Zermatt with no sign of their owners. A separate avalanche in Switzerland has killed another skier. UPDATED

US Snowboard Company Pauses Production Due to Trump Tariffs

Goon Gear will not produce snowboards for the 2025-2026 season. It says the decision is due to Trump’s tariffs and rising costs.

Swiss Village Remains Evacuated as Huge Rockfall Threatens

300 people in Blatten in the Valais canton remain unable to return to their homes. There have been minor falls and the situation has stablised, but it is still feared a major fall could happen and destroy large parts of the village. UPDATED

Another Two Ski Tourers Die in Swiss Avalanche

Details have been released of two further ski deaths in Switzerland. It follows a separate accident on the Eiger that we have already posted on. UPDATED

UK/EU Summit Impacts Snowsports

There could be more young Brits back working in the Alps under a new youth mobility scheme. It is not part of the agreement, but there is an understanding in principle. Plus UK citizens should be able to use the EU lanes at airports, but no time-frame has been revealed. UPDATED

Long Jail Terms Demanded Over Turkey Ski Hotel Fire that Killed 78

The blaze happened at the Grand Kartal Hotel at the Kartalkaya ski resort in the early hours of January 21st 2025. There are accusations of safety failures on multiple levels.

USA Saw Second Busiest Ski Season

Preliminary data from the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) indicates that the 2024-25 season saw the second-highest visitation on record at US ski areas.

Inquest Held Into UK Avalanche Victim

27 year old Joshua Byers, from Knaresborough, North Yorkshire was buried by an avalanche at Val Thorens an inquest heard. NEW

US Snowboarder Who Fell From Chairlift Dies of His Injuries

32-year-old father of two, Donovan Romero, fell from a lift in Keystone in Colorado last December. The lift had a safety bar, but it had not been lowered. There are further calls to make their use compulsory.

Swiss Pilot Investigated After Glacier Take Off Through Ski Tourers

The Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation, FOCA, has opened proceedings to clarify the facts and take appropriate measures. A video of the incident has been posted on social media.

AJ Bell 3 Valley Rally Raises £100,000 for Snow Camp

It took place in Val Thorens at the end of April and the final total has been released as 18 teams took part to raise the money for Snow Camp’s work with young people across the UK.

May Ski News in Brief

– Ben’s Bus has New Stop in La Plagne
– Swiss Air Cancels 1,400 Summer Flights
– Jackson Hole Snowboard Legacy
– VIP SKI Says Xmas Selling Out Fast
– Top Ten Cliff drops from 2025 FWT UPDATED

Black Diamond Set to Raise Prices in USA Due to Trump’s Tariffs

It says prices on most of its products will increase 10–25% due to the recent global tariffs introduced by the Trump Administration.

UK Ski Operator Mountain Heaven Closes

The company has been in existence for 21-years and has taken 80,000 people to the mountains, plus employed more than 500 staff. Ill health of a director is the reason.

Fundraiser Set up for Briton who Died in Val Thorens Avalanche

27-year old Josh Byers from North Yorkshire died on 17th April as a heavy snowstorm hit the Alps. Family friends have launched a fundraising page for his repatriation and funeral costs.

UK/EU Visa Deal Could See More Young Brits Back Working in Ski Resorts

Brexit ended the free movement of labour and with it many jobs in the Alps for British people. Negotiations are underway to allow people under 30 to study and work abroad.

Kazakhstan Looks to Develop its Skiing

The government wants to expand its ski offerings around Almaty with a focus on attracting foreign skiers and snowboarders. Skiing in Asia is on the rise.

Snowsport England Teams Up With Two Indoor Snowcentres

Snowsport England has a new partnership with Snowcentres Limited that it claims marks a significant step forward in the development of snowsports in the UK.

Worldwide Ski Industry Report Claims Consolidation After the Pandemic

The 17th edition of the International Report on Snow & Mountain Tourism examines in detail the 2023/24 ski season across the world.

Below Average Number of Avalanche Deaths in Switzerland

Ten people died in avalanches in the Swiss Alps this winter, according to the Swiss Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research. This is below the average for the past 20 years.

An Introduction to Ski Touring

It’s one of the fastest growing activities in the mountains and can begin with a gentle walk up a marked path and returning on a piste or by its side. Here’s how you can give it a try to see if it’s for you.

Golden Season for GB Skiers & Snowboarders

It’s been another exceptional winter for GB Snowsport athletes. With all events now over, the final tally for GB is an impressive 46 medals at major competitions, 21 of them gold. PlanetSKI looks back at the season. UPDATED

Ski Club of GB Gives Evie Pinching Award to Ski Racer Molly Butler

The Ski Club of Great Britain will give the 2025 Evie Pinching Award to 18-year old Molly Butler for her outstanding achievements in Alpine ski racing during the past year.

Snow Camp In Andorra

50 young people from Snow Camp charity’s London and North West programmes are experiencing the mountains for the very first time. More join from Scotland and the Midlands next week.

Investigation Underway After Major Fire at Hotel in La Plagne

The fire broke out at MMV Plagne 2000 in the early hours of Wednesday morning. UPDATED

Ski Chalet Hosting School Expands

Two chalet hosts with 15 years’ experience in the Alps are expanding their residential training courses in the UK this year, opening up possibilities for more youngsters to work a ski season.  They are also donating two places to the charity, Snow-Camp. They’ve been talking to PlanetSKI.

The BRITS are Back in the Alps

For the first time in six years, the British Snowboard & Freeski Championships are being held in the Alps.  After a break during the Covid pandemic followed by a couple of years in the UK, The BRITS are in Mayrhofen in Austria this week and PlanetSKI is there.

April Ski News in Brief

– Last Chance for Tickets to The Big Ski
– Another Fire at Derelict Sheffield Ski Village
– Gatwick Worst UK Airport for Flight Delays
– Scandinavia Glacier Melt Accelerates
– Ski Ballet Returns UPDATED

PlanetSKI Slows Down in Val d’Arly

The French Ski area is not the most obvious place for a late-season ski trip. All the more reason to visit in our opinion and soak up ‘slow-tourism’ as the season draws to an end.

Powder, Peaks & Picnics: A Week of Ski Touring around Chamonix. Part 2

PlanetSKI has spent a week touring with the Ski Club of Great Britain from its base in Chamonix. As ski touring becomes more popular we report on the full experience, plus a night in a mountain hut.

Plans for UK’s Longest Indoor Ski Slope Get the Go Ahead

It had been thought the development in Merthyr Tydfil in Wales would be rejected after an official report failed to support the project. The local council ignored the advice and the Welsh Government will now consider the plans. 

Iconic Swiss Summit Re-Opens to Skiers

The Schilthorn summit above the Swiss resort of Mürren is now accessible to the public for the first time in 5 months. The first track of the two new cable cars started operating on Saturday.

More Suspensions in Ski Jumping Cheating Scandal

Another three Norwegian ski jumpers have been suspended by the sport’s governing body as an investigation into cheating at the Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim continues. Five athletes and three officials have now been suspended following the discovery that ski suits were deliberately manipulated to improve performance. UPDATED

DSUK Launches New Fundraising Campaign  

Disability Snowsport UK is calling on the snowsport and travel industries to help raise £150,000 in 2025 to support grassroots adaptive snowsports in the UK. 

PLANET SKI GEAR REVIEW #6 WINTER 24/25

Our 6th and last Gear Review for the winter we focus on value for money, useful kit suitable for ski touring. NEW

Investigation After Gondola Collapse in Kicking Horse

A single gondola fell off the lift as it left the base station. Several people were in the lift, but no-one is seriously injured. An investigation is underway and the resort has partially re-opened. UPDATED

Indy Pass Sees Record Interest as 25/26 Sales Set to End

Indy Pass has announced that sales for the 2025/26 season will end after midnight on Monday, March 10th. It only went on sale on March 1st. NEW

Planned Artificial Ski Slope in Wales Set to be Rejected

Developers want to construct a slope at Merthyr Tydfil which would be the longest ski slope in the UK at 500m. It looks like a planning application will be rejected. UPDATED

20 year old French skier Faces Jail After Snowball Assault

The person threw a giant snowball from a chairlift in Alpe d’Huez that hit a man having lunch at a restaurant terrace below. UPDATED

Three Heliskiers Die in Avalanche in Alaska

They were hit by a massive avalanche and were buried under 30m of snow. They have been named, but their bodies have not yet been recovered as further details are reported. UPDATED

The Mighty Coe is Back

The end of season celebration of snowsport and winter in the mountains, The Mighty Coe, is back at the Scottish ski resort of Glencoe later this month. And it’s promising the biggest programme yet. 

Freeride for the Winter Olympics?

Hopes are rising that freeride skiing and snowboarding will be included in the 2030 Winter Olympics.  All the signs are good and the freeride community is lobbying hard to gain approval.

March Ski News in Brief

– Italy Wants Russian & Ukrainian Athletes at 2026 Olympics
– Three Heliskiers Die in Avalanche in Canada
– Injured Ukranian Veterans Learn to Ski
– Verbier’s Ultime Session 2025 Rounds Off the Season…UPDATED

March and April Ski Deals – Updated

★ Up to £600pp off for March & April with Inghams ★ Up to 15% off with Premiere Neige to Sainte Foy ★ 20% off Val d’Isere Lift passes with Ski France ★ UPDATED

Onwards from Furano & Deeper into Hokkaido

The PlanetSKI month-long trip in Japan is drawing to an end, but not before we hit resorts in the Hokkaido Powder Belt. First up its was Furano, Tomamu & Kamui and now it’s Mount Racey .UPDATED

SnowDome Fined After Death of 12-Year Old Boy

Louis Watkiss died after an accident on the slope. The indoor centre in Tamworth was fined for breaching health and safety regulations. NEW

Disability Snowsport UK Launches ‘The Big Spring Prize Draw’

The charity seek to raise £10,000 to support grassroots adaptive skiing and snowboarding across the country this spring.

British Teenager Dies After Skiing into a Tree in Italy

A 14-year-old British boy has died in an accident while skiing on a family holiday in Cortina.
UPDATED

Mikaela Shiffrin Achieves 100 World Cup Wins

The US ski superstar has won the 100th World Cup race of her career. She topped the podium in a slalom race in Sestriere, Italy.

PlanetSKI Gear Review #5 Winter 2024/25

Our gear and equipment editor checks out the latest insulated jackets along with POC and Oakley goggles and helmets.

23 year old British Skier Dies in Cliff Fall After Apres

His body was found at the foot of a cliff in the French resort of Avoriaz. An investigation is underway. NEW

March and April Ski Deals

★ Save £400 on last minute holidays with Inghams ★ Save on Ski Rentals with Intersport ★ Savings with Sunweb UPDATED

Three Dead in Two Separate Avalanches in France

The deadliest happened to a group of ski tourers near Val d’Isere. The other incident occurred at the Belledonne massif. NEW

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