General News

5th October 2023

Fancy Free Tickets to the UK Snow Shows?

The first is in Birmingham this weekend, and then another in London a week later. PlanetSKI readers can get free tickets to both. Read on for more…

3rd October 2023

SNO Sets Out its Stall for Next Winter

SNO offers more than one million ski package deals creating the widest selection of chalet, hotel, and self-catered skiing accommodation online.

3rd October 2023

Latest Ski Deals for 2023/2024

★ Further £100 off Sunweb Holidays
★ Winter Train Tickets on sale to Alps
★ Ski & snowboard rental discount
★ 5% Off Ski Lift resort transfers UPDATED

3rd October 2023

Scottish Indoor Ski Slope to Close Permanently

Following a review of the economic and environmental conditions of the ski slope Braehead Leisure Partnership, the owner of XSite, has announced the permanent closure of Snow Factor. UPDATED

3rd October 2023

Winter Train Tickets for French Alps Now On Sale

It is only for the first part of winter but if you are interested now is the time to book. There is growing interest in taking the train, but currently only 2% of UK skiers do so. UPDATED

1st October 2023

Autumn Ski News

– World Cup Alpine Ski Racing Starts then Stops
– The Rocket Prepares to Launch
– Ban on Russia & Belarus Snowsport Athletes Continues
– Chef de Mission for 2026 Paralympics Appointed
– Good luck with your recovery Wozza!…LIVE

26th September 2023

Les Menuires Celebrates its 60th Birthday

Les Menuires in Les3Vallees is celebrating its 60th year this coming season. It has a host of events to mark the occasion & much that is new for the season. UPDATED

26th September 2023

Body of Missing British Hiker Found in Swiss Alps

Aidan Roche vanished in June. After an extensive search and family involvement his body has been located. NEW

24th September 2023

Sit-Ski World Record Attempt

A group of skiers with a disability are aiming to claim the world record for the furthest skied using seated equipment. NEW

19th September 2023

SKI DEALS FOR WINTER 2023/24

* £150 off Crystal Ski Holidays to Europe
* Save £150 with Inghams to Lapland
* Sunweb Holidays offers up to £350 discounts UPDATED

17th September 2023

Three Ex-Rugby Players Scale Monte Rosa in the Alps

The three former Exeter Chiefs players were raising money for LooseHeadz, a mental health charity.

16th September 2023

Festive Short Ski Breaks in France with VIP SKI

Christmas & New Year fall on the weekend this year, so VIP SKI is offering mid-week to mid-week ski holidays + some short break options. NEW

13th September 2023

Extent of Summer Glacier Melt Revealed

In 2022 Swiss glaciers recorded their worst melt rate since records began more than a 100 years ago. This summer the decline has slowed slightly, but the melt continues. The picture looks grim across the Alps and the Pyrenees.

12th September 2023

PlanetSKI at Ski Launch 2023

London’s Copthorne Tara Hotel played host to the annual Ski Launch winter season curtain-raiser event for the UK ski industry.

11th September 2023

Snow Camp Praises Partnership with Maison Sport

Maison Sport teamed up with the snowsport charity last winter to help raise money. Snow Camp helps to open up the world of snowsports to young people from deprived inner city areas. NEW

7th September 2023

Cairngorm Funicular Set to Return

The funicular railway at Cairngorm Mountain, near Aviemore, could be back in service before the end of this month. It bodes well for the approaching ski season.

6th September 2023

Ski Deals for Winter 2023/2024

* Ski France Lift pass offer (time sensitive)
* Save 20% with Pierre et Vacances at Portes du Soleil
* Guaranteed discount on ski & snowboard rental
* Save 5% on airport transfers with Ski Lifts UPDATED

1st September 2023

Body of British Climber Missing for 52 Years Identified

His remains were found in Saas-Fee in Switzerland a year ago. It is the latest in a series of discoveries in the Alps as glaciers retreat. NEW

1st September 2023

Summer Ski News

– Swiss Ski Museum Set to Open
– New Disabled Ski World Record Set
– Glacier Melt Continues in Canada
– What the FWT
– Andorra Bans Foreigners from Buying Homes…LIVE & UPDATED

28th August 2023

Huge Rockslide in French Alps

700 cubic meters of rocks came crashing down in the Mauriene Valley narrowing missing vehicles on a road below. It was caught on camera.

23rd August 2023

Melting Austrian Glacier Reveals Body of Missing Skier

It is the latest finding as the alpine glaciers retreat at an alarming rate as climate change impacts.

20th August 2023

Three Injured in Chairlift Accident in Australian Resort of Thredbo

Three snowboarders were injured after a chair fell from the Kosciuszko lift at Thredbo. An unusually strong gust of wind is thought to be to blame. UPDATED

16th August 2023

Cairngorm Funicular Legal Cases Settled

They are historic legal cases relating to the original design and construction of the Cairngorm funicular railway in the 1990s and early 2000s and guarantees in place with the previous operator.

14th August 2023

Melting Glacier Above Zermatt Reveals Body of Another Missing Person

The person has been identified as a 63-year old Italian ski tourer who went missing in March 2019. NEW

4th August 2023

Family Hunt for Missing British Hiker in Swiss Alps

29-year old Aidan Roche was last seen in the Grindelwald area. An extensive search has failed to find any trace of him.

2nd August 2023

Two Hikers in Separate Groups Die in Mt Blanc Rockfall

A Dutch and a French hiker were hit while ascending the Aiguilles du Tour on Mont Blanc. Climate change is making the mountains more unstable.

1st August 2023

August’s Summer Ski News

– Volunteers Needed for First Cross Border World Cup Ski Race
– Mt Ruapehu Claims Deepest Snow Base in the World
– Thieves Steal Donations to Swiss Climbing Club
– ISTM Heads to Obertauern in Austria
– Fancy Owning a Ski Area?…LIVE & UPDATED

29th July 2023

Melting Swiss Glacier Reveals Human Remains

It is the latest discovery as climate change leads to glaciers melting & revealing their secrets. This time it’s the discovery of German climber missing since 1986. UPDATED

19th July 2023

Forest Fire Rages in Swiss Alps

200 people have been evacuated from their homes in the Alps near the Italian border. It follows high temperatures with strong winds making the situation worse.

12th July 2023

Deadly Summer Avalanches in California

For the past 13 years the US state has seen no deadly avalanches in the summer months. So far this summer there have been two fatalities.

11th July 2023

Direct Travelski Express to French Alps Axed for Next Winter

The direct Eurostar service from St Pancras, London to Moutiers & Bourg St Maurice in France will not operate this winter. Travelski Express describes it as ‘regretable’. UPDATED

9th July 2023

Auction Prizes Requested for Snow Camp Charity Ball

2023 is the 20th Anniversary of the snowsports charity. The Ball is part of a series of celebrations and fund raising events across the year.

6th July 2023

Ski Parents Angry as Insurance Company Refuses to Pay Out

A Brighton school had to cancel an Easter ski trip to Italy because of delays at Dover last winter. No refunds have been able to be claimed.

4th July 2023

PlanetSKI Visits St Jacob’s Cross as Our Summer Trip to the Tirol Continues

We popped in on our way from Kitzbuhel to Innsbruck. In Kitzbuhel we strode down the Streif as we hiked the Hahnenkamm. UPDATED

1st July 2023

July’s Summer Ski News

– Fancy Working for FIS?
– Polish Ski Mountaineer Makes Skiing History
– 73-Year Old Skier Dies in Thredbo
– World’s Oldest-Known Glacier Identified
– TV Doc on Gwyneth Paltrow Ski Collision Court Case…LIVE & UPDATED

27th June 2023

PlanetSKI Goes Hiking & E-Mountain Biking in the Tirol

We’re continuing our summer Tour of the Tirol in St Johann. We’ve been E-mountain biking & now we’re hiking. Summer in the Alps…UPDATED

19th June 2023

Swiss Voters Back Cuts to Carbon to Tackle its Melting Glaciers

Voters in Switzerland have backed a new climate bill designed to cut the use of oil and gas. It aims to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

15th June 2023

Luxury Ski Travel Market Resilient & Back to Pre-Covid Levels

A MTN survey conducted in partnership with the Ski Club of Great Britain shows the workings of the luxury ski market and how it compares to the rest of the market. We have the full survey and details.

14th June 2023

Crystal Ski Holidays Expands Ski Holidays for Beginners

It’s ‘Slope Starter’ packages mean people can now choose from Andorra and France in packages exclusively for beginners.

10th June 2023

Ski Season Underway in Australia & New Zealand

There is precious little snow in Australia as the season starts, with some resorts only able to open a few runs. Others can open none at all. It is looking better in New Zealand. NEW

9th June 2023

Snow Record & Size of Ski Area are Main Factors for UK Skiers

That’s the conclusion of a survey by Iglu Ski – the UK’s largest ski travel agency. It offers over 200 ski resorts across 18 countries and three continents. UPDATED

6th June 2023

PlanetSKI turns into PlanetBOAT. Again.

Readers with a long memory will recall that in 2021 PlanetSKI didn’t get to the mountains due to Covid-19 restrictions. So, we did a few other outdoor activities in the UK including a 4-day boat trip on the Thames. We’ve just been back for more.

5th June 2023

Burton Confirms Details of Cyber Attack

Some sensitive customer information was “potentially” accessed or stolen last February. Burton Snowboards has revealed more details.

4th June 2023

Higher Than Average Swiss Avalanche Deaths Last Winter

21 people were killed by avalanches, the seasonal average is 17. It comes despite below average snowfall in Switzerland.

2nd June 2023

Austria State Not Responsible for Covid Spread in Ischgl

The Austria Supreme Court has ruled that the state is not responsible for the spreading of Covid-19 in the ski resort. Departing guests subsequently spread it across parts of Europe.

30th May 2023

Four Dead in Boating Accident in Italian Alps

Two Italian intelligence agents and a retired Israeli security forces member were among four victims of a boating disaster. The 50-year-old Russian wife of the boat’s captain was the fourth victim.

25th May 2023

Snowcamp’s 3 Valley Rally Confirmed for 2024

The inaugural event took place last season raising more than £325,000 for the snowsport charity. It is taking place April 13th – 16th 2024.

15th May 2023

PlanetSKI Hits the Road to Go Spring Skiing in California

There has been so much snow in the US state that some resorts have plentiful snow and have extended their closing dates. We have spent a few fabulous days in San Francisco and now it’s time to hit the slopes.

13th May 2023

PlanetSKI Rides the Cable Cars of San Francisco

We are in the city ahead of a Spring ski trip to Palisades Tahoe and Mammoth Mountain. We reckon any ski trip to this part of California deserves some time in one of the greatest cities in the USA.

10th May 2023

Swiss Village Evacuated due to Fear of Rockfall

It is feared 2-million cubic meters of rock could hit the village of Brienz. As the Alps becomes more unstable other areas are under threat. UPDATED

1st May 2023

Summer Ski News

– Summer E-Bike Festival in Verbier
– New Ski Resorts Planned for Ukraine
– New Zealand Talks About A Winter Olympics Bid
– UK Airport Drop-Off Charges Soar
– 2022 Was Hottest Year On Record in Switzerland …LIVE & UPDATED

1st May 2023

Fatal Avalanche in Swiss Resort on its Last Weekend of the Season

Two skiers were hit by a wet snow avalanche in Samnaun. People still skiing are being urged to be cautious with ‘considerable’ avalanche risk in places as the snow melts and becomes unstable. NEW

25th April 2023

Which Ski Resorts Are Still Open?

Quite a few places are open & April conditions are the best in recent years. UPDATED

20th April 2023

Crystal Ski Offers Free Child Places for Next Season

Crystal Ski Holidays is offering families the chance to save on their next ski trip with free child places for season 2023-2024, available from a range of its most sought-after destinations.

20th April 2023

Investigation After Two More Skiers Die on Mont Blanc

They were ski touring when a bloc of ice collapsed above them. The authorities say there were 40 people on the route so it could have been much worse. UPDATED

19th April 2023

Netflix Billionaire Buys Stake in Utah Ski Resort

The co-founder and former CEO of Netflix, Reed Hastings, has purchased a stake in Powder Mountain. It is one of our favourite resorts in the USA.

18th April 2023

Snow Camp Raises £320,000 with 3 Valley Rally

It is the largest ever fund raising event for the snowsports charity. PlanetSKI was in Val Thorens for two days of competition, partying and fun. All in the best possible cause. UPDATED

15th April 2023

Day Two of Snow Camp’s 3 Valley Rally

24 teams of four are battling it out in a series of fun events on snow. It’s all done to raise money for the charity, Snow Camp, that is celebrating its 20th birthday. PlanetSKI is at the event. UPDATED

14th April 2023

Investigation Underway as 3 Trainee Mountain Guides Die in Italy Avalanche

They were in the Grand Paradiso area in the Aosta Valley when the accident happened. They were training with The National Alpine Rescue Corps. UPDATED

9th April 2023