PlanetSKI

We go to many industry events at this time of year to hear what is new at resorts for the coming season, what the trends are and simply to have fun, network and savour the approaching ski season. NEW Last night it was a pleasure to be back to one of our old stomping grounds. 25 years ago we just called it The Westway now it is The Westway Sports and Fitness Centre and was the scene for the winter launch event for the resort most popular with the Brits – La Plagne. La Plagne Winter Launch 2026/27.

There’s been some snow in Canada with resorts around Banff preparing to open in the first week of November. In the USA it’s been snowing in a number of the ski states with snowmaking being tested. NEW In the USA there has been some snow this week in Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. It has fallen in modest quantities and it will melt, but it is a sure sign that winter is on its way. Some resorts are posting images and video of the snow falling.

It shut last July after the summer heatwaves took their toll. It brings the total number of glacier ski areas now open in the Alps to nine. NEW The Zermatt/Cervinia glacier ski area plans to be open year-round but it was forced to close on  July 31st and has been shut ever since.

There are new lifts, new hotels and new attractions. Several glacier ski areas have already opened and with resorts preparing for the approaching season. NEW Soelden and Stubai opened on Friday, joining the already open areas of Hintertux and Pitztal. Kitzsteinhorn is due to open on Saturday.

UK skiers and snowboarders could win a trip to Big White in British Columbia by shopping with participating SIGB retailers in the UK. NEW The Snowsports Industries of Great Britain (SIGB), in partnership with Big White Ski Resort and Frontier Ski, is giving UK skiers and snowboarders the chance to win an unforgettable snow holiday to British Columbia, Canada.

The latest storm delivered over 1m of snow and the resort says it will close on November 8th. It will be the longest season in the resort’s 38 year history. NEW The resort has seen over 7m of snow this season and the new closing date means the resort will have had a 143-day ski season. It opened on June 19th. “And yes… by everyone’s request, we continue skiing,” said Vallee Nevado on social media.

More people are heading to Italy, with Austria also seeing an increase. Plus there’s a growing number of people taking two or more trips per winter, with hotel stays increasing according to WeSki’s report. NEW The Slope Report comes from WeSki’s booking and survey data as a window into how British skiers actually plan, book and take ski holidays. The 2026 edition analyses two full ski seasons : 2024/25 and 2025/26.

Snowsports Industries America says participation has increased roughly 9% to 10.6 million people during the 2025/26 season. That is up from 9.7 million the year before. NEW Snowboarding has now grown in seven of the past eight seasons in the USA. Participation has increased from 7.1 million riders in 2017-18 and has led to nearly 50% more participants than it did at the start of that period.

Markus Waldner has informed the International Ski & Snowboard Federation that he will not be at the helm for the men’s events this season. The first race is in Soelden later this month. NEW Waldner says he will support the transition period of his successor throughout the 2026/27 Alpine season as the two sides discuss options for him to take on new responsibilities within FIS. The job involves supervising course preparation, race postponements and safety decisions.

It comes despite uncertainty over her future in the sport as she recovers from surgery following a crash at last February’s Milan-Cortina Olympics. NEW Despite her injury, Vonn was ranked 12th overall last season and fifth in the final downhill ⁠standings. She was also the highest ranked U.S. female skier in Super-G. She has said she was unsure if she would return to competitive ski racing after suffering a ⁠complex tibia fracture in a crash during ⁠an Olympic downhill race on February 8th.