Crowdfunder For Relaunch Of The World’s Most Comprehensive Ski Area Measurement Ranking

One of the most respected data projects in global ski tourism is making a comeback. After six years offline, The Skiresort Report – List of the Largest Ski Resorts in the World is being revived through a new crowdfunding campaign.

Created by ski-area analyst Christoph Schrahe, who first made world headlines in 2013 for accurately measuring ski area sizes. Schrahe, a trained cartographer, revealed that many ski resorts in the Alps were significantly exaggerating their claimed run lengths, sometimes by as much as threefold.

His initial report used a consistent methodology based on measuring the centre line of the slopes via digital mapping and satellite data. The findings triggered an international media echo, with the story going viral and being picked up by publications in numerous countries worldwide including the UK’s  Sunday Times, Le Figaro in France and La Stampa in Italy.

Schrahe's work led to the International Federation of Lift Operator Associations (FIANET) evaluating and approving his methodology as a standard for measuring all ski runs, and some resorts have since adopted his "Verified Length of runs" seal of approval.

Schrahe also launched The Skiresort Report – List of the Largest Ski Resorts in the World as the only independent, fully verifiable source for comparing the true size of ski resorts worldwide.  But the report has not appeared in six years and this is the effort to fund its rebirth.

At the core of the report is a unique metric: the Skimeilen©. Developed to replace misleading piste-kilometre comparisons, Skimeilen© combines ten factors, including vertical drop, skiable acreage, and total slope length into one clear, experience-based value. It offers a far more realistic representation of what skiers actually encounter on the mountain. Traditional metrics such as total slope length and skiable area remain part of the report as well. For years, inconsistent measurement methods have made it difficult for skiers to compare resorts—and for ski areas to show their true scale.

“Christoph’s innovative approach allows us—as the only specialist publication worldwide—to offer a genuine standard for ski area size,” said Timo Böckenhüser, Editor-in-Chief of SKIMAGAZIN.

Analysts like Laurent Vanat and operators from leading resorts also highlight the value of Schrahe’s meticulous methodology.

The updated Skiresort Report introduces a unified, transparent standard designed to benefit both sides.

For skiers and snowboarders it will give clear answers to key questions like: How big is the resort really? How long are the runs? How far can I ski without changing lifts? It also offers neutral, advertising-free data for better trip planning, a realistic picture of terrain size and ski experience.

For ski resorts it will add credibility by providing independent, traceable measurements that boost credibility, increased visibility with the “Certified Slope Length” label, reliable benchmarking against competitors worldwide and stronger media attention thanks to trustworthy data

A global project of unmatched scale, the base database includes around 6,000 ski areas worldwide, with over 1,000 major resorts precisely measured—600 of them through in-person assessments. The upcoming edition will re-measure and re-evaluate the world’s leading ski regions using updated methods and the Skimeilen© standard.

To support this work, the crowdfunding campaign is aiming to raise € 20.000, and offers packages for both skiers and industry partners—from digital and printed editions of the report to benchmark analyses, data services and the official “Certified Slope Length” seal for resorts. Supporters also enter a prize draw for ski passes, including 10 × 3-day passes in Les Trois Vallées, 5 × 2-day passes in the Skicircus Saalbach-Hinterglemm-Leogang-Fieberbrunn, and 5 × 2-day passes with OK-Bergbahnen.

Skiers can additionally contribute insights through an online survey exploring the question: What truly defines a connected ski area?