Ski Resorts

At least eight US ski areas are expected to be open this weekend, thanks to snowfall across the western side of the continent, including some of the first decent dumps of fall in California. Mammoth Mountain has announced it will open nearly a week earlier than planned, this Saturday. A number of other Californian ski areas have hinted they might open, but have not yet confirmed. Sugar Bowl in California Brian Head has also announced it will be the first to open in Utah. Colorado will have five areas open with Loveland joining Arapahoe Basin, Keystone and Winter Park, which posted its earliest ever opening earlier this week on Halloween. The Midwest actually had the first areas open in North…

By Contributor Mike Humphrey  Intrepid travelers, are you looking to find unknown wintery Japan Ski destinations? Japan's powder, vast expanses, and friendly locals make it a favorite destination for international skiers. Most end up heading to Niseko, Hakuba Valley, Nozawa Onsen, or Shiga Kogen. But Japan has over 500 other resorts offering unique Japanese ski experiences. The following list is different from what you find on most sites. For those adventurous few we’ll have you clicking into your bindings away from the crowds. Not for the faint of heart, this list will require you to brush up on your Japanese and get out of your comfort zone. We scoured Japan's renowned alpine resorts to bring you a list of 11…

Most of New Zealand’s ski areas have now ended their 2022 seasons, but half-a-dozen or so are planning to keep open for a week or two more, with one aiming for at least partial operation into November. Mt Hutt currently has the deepest base in the country and plans to keep its runs open until November 24th.  It then plans to keep its terrain park operating for ‘spring sessions’  for another fortnight through to at least November the 6th - …less than four weeks from the start of summertime in the country. “Bust out that Hawaiian shirt, pack the sunscreen and get the rig ready for an additional two weeks of park focused skiing and riding. Some choose to don…

The 2022 edition of the China Ski Industry White Book has been published – updating the statistics available on skiing in the country as of the end of the 21-22 season, which included the Olympic and Paralympic period in February this year. China has seen a meteoric rise in the number of ski areas operating across the country from just a handful at the turn of the century to reaching over 700 in 2020.  This gives them currently the most ski areas in the world numerically – although many are small, simple centres with just one or two carpet lifts and a snowmaking machine. The new China Ski Industry White Book, authored by long-time China ski industry expert Wu Bin,…