Julia Schneemann | September 28, 2025 |

In a bid to keep one of Switzerland’s largest ski resorts in local hands, the municipalities of Flims, Laax and Falera announced plans on Wednesday, September 24, to jointly purchase the infrastructure of the Flims-Laax-Falera ski area for CHF 94.5 million ($118 million).

In a bid to keep one of Switzerland’s largest ski resorts in local hands, the municipalities of Flims, Laax and Falera announced plans on Wednesday, September 24, to jointly purchase the infrastructure of the Flims-Laax-Falera ski area for CHF 94.5 million ($118 million).

The proposal, shared by the three municipalities son Wednesday, outlines how the three villages intend to acquire the Weisse Arena Gruppe’s lifts, restaurants, avalanche barriers and other facilities through Finanz Infra AG, a company already responsible for financing of the area’s snowmaking operations. The “sell-and-lease-back” model would see the infrastructure sold to Finanz Infra AG and leased back to Weisse Arena Bergbahnen AG, which will continue to operate the lifts and manage day-to-day mountain operations.

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Reposted from SnowBrains

U.S. Resort Operator to Create Largest Ski Area in South America

Published May 10, 2024

SAMANTHA BERMAN

The majestic and sprawling Tres Valles region of the Andes—7,000 skiable acres that stretch as far as the eye can see—is home to some of the best skiing on the globe. The region’s three ski resorts of Valle Nevado, La Parva, and El Colorado are close enough to ski between but operated by different entities. Until now.

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Reposted from Ski Magazine

Big White, BC’s Master Plans Up to 2089:

Doubling Lifts, Skiable Terrain, & More

Liam Abbott

January 12, 2021

Big White is known by many as one of the go-to destinations for skiing and snowboarding in British Columbia and Canada. Its proximity to a Kelowna, family-oriented resort-style, large skiable area, and year-round operations make it stack up against any other major ski resort. With Big White now unveiling their master plans until 2089, all of these aspects will only become more true.

With Big White submitting a 37-page proposal to the Government of British Columbia, there is a lot to breakdown. There are nine main sections:

Skiing:

Currently, Big White offers 16 lifts servicing 119 designated trails on 1500 acres (607 hectares) of skiable terrain with a total uphill capacity of 28,700 skiers per hour. They also offer the largest night skiing terrain in western Canada, with 38 acres (15 hectares) of lit-up terrain. In the proposal submitted to the Government of British Columbia, Big White proposes increasing the number of lifts they have from 16 to 25 by adding two new double chairs, nine new fixed quads, nine high-speed detachable quads, a new eight-person gondola, and one new pulse gondola. These new lifts will bump the 1500 acres of skiable terrain to 2523 acres (1021 hectares), almost doubling it.

All in all, these new ski expansions will increase Big White’s comfortable carrying capacity (CCC) by over 200%, from 9,390 people to 25,624 per day.

Lack of Diversity in Ski Runs:

Big White has acknowledged that one of the biggest current problems with their ski resort is the lack of terrain diversity. Currently, Big White comprises of 18% beginner runs (greens), 54% intermediate (blues), 22% expert (blacks), and only 6% extreme (double blacks). This is great for families, but as Big White continues to expand, they want to appeal to all skiers types. Within the new expansion, Big White is aiming to expand more on difficult and expert terrain.

• Related: 136 Covid-19 Cases Now Linked to Big White Ski Resort, BC

Other Winter Activities:

Big White plans to expand its ski operations in the winter and a variety of other winter activities. For example, Big White plans on increasing Nordic skiing (cross-country skiing) capacity by 300%, add 50% carrying capacity to ice skating, doubling the capacity of snowmobiling, while also introducing ziplining, fat biking, spas, an alpine coaster, winter camping, and horseback riding (equestrian).

Summer Activities:

In 2017, Big White opened its lift-serviced mountain bike trails, and since then, they have been expanding them each year. In their 2089 master plan, Big White plans to continue this expansion with mountain biking and a variety of other summer activities.

Big White also plans on building two new 18-hole golf courses, one based in Happy Valley and the other one in East Peak Village Base. The Happy Valley golf course would incorporate the use of Lara’s Gondola to return players to the village at the end of the course.

Village Expansion:

One of the most important stats that Big White currently has is that 100% of their overnight accommodations are considered ski-in, ski-out. In comparison, Whistler’s is only 20%. Big White has stated that even as the resort continues to expand, they want to keep 100% of their ski-in, ski-out accommodations.

Big White is currently requesting for approval of an additional 20,600-bed unit, which would almost double the current amount of bed units to 44,555.

In addition to the expansion of overnight accommodation, Big White plans to double ski-related spaces (ski school, ski rental, lodges, & other ski-related facilities) from 215,133 square feet (19,986 square meters) to 485,965 square feet (45,147 square meters). Big White has also acknowledged that they will need to transform their ski village into an actual fully functioning town with such a large expansion. This means adding essential services such as a grocery store, liquor store, post office, hardware store, theatre, and other essential retailers.

Besides adding essential services, Big White also plans to expand tourist-oriented businesses such as restaurants, bars, cafes, sporting goods stores, and specialty stores. All of these new buildings will be built to have the current Lower Village as the town center.

Short-Term Goals:

2089 is a long time away, and the reality is most people reading this article won’t be skiing by that point in time. Big White has outlined some of the short-term goals within the outlined proposal they want to see complete.

These include:

1. Obtain all high-level approvals for development.
2. Improve the existing on-mountain and base area facilities.
3. Expand summer operations.
4. Develop the East Peak as a Cat Skiing operation.

Working with the Local Indigenous People & Environmental Impact:

One of the first things Big White said in their proposal was how they have and will continue to work closely with the local indigenous group, the Westbank First Nation, on making sure the plans and proposals are okay with them and that they will not only benefit the resort itself but the people who live there.

When it comes to environmental impacts, Big White has taken this opportunity to do several environmental studies, which concluded that “climate, geology, and vegetation did not present any obvious constraints to development” (Big White Ski Resort Draft Master Plan, October 2020 Edition). Nevertheless, Big White has committed to expanding in an environmentally cautious and sustainable way.

Interactive Model:

If you are still curious about learning more about Big White’s new plans, I would highly recommend checking out the interactive model Big White has put together. It lets you explore the ski resort and what they plan to do in a comprehensive 3D model.

Conclusion:

Big White may not be the biggest or most extreme resort in the Rockies, but it sure is fun. This family-oriented all-season resort is only going to continue to improve, offering more facilities and activities to fit anyone’s needs. If everything in this proposal is complete, Big White’s Comfortable Carrying Capacity (CCC) will increase to 25,624 skiers per day, with an additional 4,151 guests per day for other various activities bringing their total daily winter capacity to 31,825!

While working with local indigenous groups and making sure they expand in a sustainable and eco-friendly way, Big White will serve as a hallmark of skiing in North America.

What are your thoughts on these plans? Is Big White biting off more than they can chew, or are these changes a sign of a strive towards a better resort community? Please let us know!

Posted from SnowBrains

Bluebird Backcountry at Peak Ranch will offer $50 access, $50 guided instruction on 1,500 acres of gladed terrain below Whiteley Peak in the Rabbit Ears range.

January 27, 2020

Jason Blevins

he country’s first human-powered ski area opens next month near Kremmling.

Erik Lambert and Jeff Woodward and their Bluebird Backcountry project are developing a lift-free backcountry ski area on 1,500 acres of private land flanking Whiteley Peak, the prominent volcanic plug on the southern end of the Rabbit Ears range. The pair of entrepreneurs have spent 18 months hosting test events and searching the state for slopes to anchor their dream of building a ski area with all the trimmings of a traditional hill — ski patrollers, instructors, guides, a base hut, gear rentals, a mountain warming hut, trails and avalanche hazard reduction — minus the chairlift.

“People are ready to get away from the crowded resort experience. They are maybe a little bored with traditional resorts,” Lambert said. “Part of going outside in the winter is this special experience you get communing with nature and it’s hard to do that at a crowded resort. That’s a big part of what people are seeking in the backcountry: more solace. They are looking for the soul of skiing.”

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This story first appeared in The Outsider, the premium outdoor newsletter by Jason Blevins. Become a Newsletters+ Member to get The Outsider at coloradosun.com/join. (Existing members, click here to learn how to upgrade)

Posted from The Colorado Sun via Snocountry.com

SnowBrains

January 24, 2020

Skiing is the quintessential winter pastime. But recently, the multi-billion dollar industry is in decline. The number of skiers is falling fast and the industry is scrambling to make up the difference. Is this going to be the end of the ski resort?

• Related: Reverse Ski Bum… What Is It and How Do I Get In On It?

According to the video, skier visits down were down 11% last year, to the same participation 30-years ago, and it’s the Baby Boomers that are leaving the sport. As they get older, retire, and die, the Millennials behind them are not replacing them in the same numbers. Right now, Boomers represent 21% of all riders, down from 36% a decade ago.

The Millennials share is growing, but they don’t ski as often, take shorter trips, and don’t have the spending power of the generation that had everything. For every Boomer that gives up skiing, 2 Millenials are required to generate the same income.

Post from Snowbrains vis Facebook

Jenny Wiegand

Mar 26, 2019

I was a 31-year-old Aspen-virgin. Despite having lived in Crested Butte, Colo.—just 24 miles south of Aspen as the crow flies—for a number of years, I’d never made it to the ski mecca located just on the other side of the Maroon Bells.

At first, it didn’t bother me. In my mind Aspen was the go-to destination for the glitterati, not the serious skier. But then I started running into more and more skiers on my wavelength (caring mostly about expansive expert terrain, annual snow totals, and minimal lift lines) who all flocked to Aspen.

I began to wonder—was I missing out?

FOMO (and copious amounts of peer pressure), led me to finally take the plunge this season. I was resolute, yet anxious. What if it didn’t live up to the hype? What if it became clear through my awkward bumbling around the mountain that I was a total noob?

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Posted from Ski Magazine

Are you trying to reach out to the millennials?  The NSAA Journal, Winter 2016 issue, published a chart which should help you understand millennials.  The chart was put together by the NSAA and RRC Millennial Study.

Millennials:

Are currently aged 21 to 36.

Are seekers of authentic experiences.

Are far more health conscious than the generations that came before them.

Have an affinity for high-quality “crafted” items (e.g., food, beer, axes).

Have a strong desire to feel connected to greater causes or communities.

Tend to be much more spontaneous in their travel purchase decisions.

Like to travel in social groups.

Like to be independent but in a group environment (think Starbucks lounges).

Are highly emotionally connected to their technology.

Value convenience and technology over personal interaction.

Are thrifty (deal seekers).

Are much more risk averse than their predecessors.

Have a deep fear of failure and embarrassment.

Are primed for the “idea” of outdoor adventure, but their reality of what this means Is much different from the traditional ideals.

Are not motivitated by the same aspirational nature to be the first/best/biggest that drove the Gen Y and Xers before them.

Are skiing and snowboarding far less by days than the older generations that came before them.

Hold the key to the future success of the ski industry.

This list gives some powerful insights into the psyche of a typical Millennial.

Excerpts from NSAA Journal/Winter 2016 Article “Growing Snowsports in the Age of the Millenial” by Hugh Reynolds

Credit: AP/ORDA/Whiteface Lake Placid

This Jan. 14, 2015 photo provided by ORDA/Whiteface Lake Placid, shows Megan Gardner, right, as she teaches participants in a lesson at Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington, N.Y., near Lake Placid.

By JOHN KEKIS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Posted: January 15, 2017 at 1:48 a.m.

WILMINGTON, N.Y. — When Aaron Kellett peers out the window of his office at Whiteface Mountain, these days he’s usually smiling.

“My office is right next to our beginner trail, and when I look out I see people on our beginner trail,” said the 38-year-old Kellett, who’s been the manager at Whiteface for four years. “That means we’ve got new people learning how to participate in our sport.”

And that’s a good thing. As baby boomers begin to pull back from the athletic activities of their youth, ski resorts are focusing on attracting new participants to the slopes. The idea is to get them there and keep them, and the millennial generation — those between the ages of 18 and 34 in 2015 — tops the target list.

According to the latest demographics from the Colorado-based National Ski Areas Association, baby boomers — aged 52 to 70 in 2016 — and those 71 and older have steadily become a smaller share of the visitor base as they’ve aged. Combined, in the past decade they’ve declined from 36.2 percent of visitors to 21.3 percent.

Millennials, on the other hand, represent the largest group of snowboarders and skiers, but they also have the fewest number of days per season. The figures show that the industry will need to increase the frequency of the millennial participant to match that of the exiting baby boomer.

“That’s a significant wake-up call for us. There’s some challenges there,” said Nate Fristoe, director of operations at RRC Associates, which last year produced a report on the millennial generation. “We have this funny little dilemma. We’re trying to build participation. We know we have to grow participants, but we also know that on most of our weekend days we’re hitting capacity.

“It’s a fascinating conundrum,” Fristoe said. “Yes, we have a product offering that has appealed to an older generation for years. It also appeals to this generation in many ways, but there are ways in which we need to tweak it.”

To be sure, millennials are different. They embrace the environment, like to plan spontaneously, prefer to travel with friends and crave healthy food. They also relish sharing their adventures on social media.

“Millennials are harder to attract, for sure. It’s not as cut and dried as it was even 10 years ago,” Kellett said. “They want the best deals and they’ll do whatever it takes to get the best deal. They don’t mind spending money to do what they want. It’s the experience. It’s so much more than just skiing.”

Kellet says online ticket sales have been “huge” for Whiteface because of the savings they offer.

Whiteface, which has plenty of post-ski entertainment in nearby Lake Placid, offers a Parallel from the Start program for beginners. It costs $169 and includes everything needed to start skiing, except the clothing — lesson, equipment rental, and three days of skiing. “It’s an awesome way to be introduced to the sport. It works,” Kellett said.

In neighboring Vermont, the cost is $129 for a Take 3 pass — three ski or snowboard lessons that include rental equipment for the day and access to beginner terrain. The Green Mountain State also offers a $49 beginners package during January, national Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month nationwide.

“Cost can be a hurdle, so anytime we can lower that hurdle a little bit, especially for beginners, we see more people participate for a longer period of time,” said Sarah Wojcik, marketing director for Ski Vermont. “Getting new people to the slopes with incentives and then keeping them are two of the biggest goals nationwide.”

The granddaddy deal of them all might be the Epic Pass offered by Vail Resorts. It’s the most popular pass in the ski industry and features unlimited, unrestricted skiing at all of the company’s mountain resorts. It also will include Whistler Blackcomb next winter season (2017-18), and offers five days at 30 resorts in Europe.

With the rise of social media and mobile phones, most ski resorts are trying to provide easy-to-navigate websites and free Wi-Fi so visitors can share their experiences digitally — think Snapchat. Excellent cellphone service is a must.

“Your website being mobile-friendly is kind of millennial-speak 101,” Wojcik said. “If you can’t look it up on your phone, it’s really difficult to get the message out there.”

At Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico, which was cited by the Ski Areas Association for having the best overall marketing campaign for 2016, millennials aren’t separately targeted but the demographic is important.

“Millennials are big on experience, and Taos Ski Valley has long been known for delivering an authentic, unpretentious and culture-rich winter mountain experience,” marketing manager Dash Hegeman said. “That is something we work very hard to protect and cultivate.”

SundayMonday Business on 01/15/2017

https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2017/jan/15/ski-resorts-woo-millennials-to-replace-/?business-national

Ski season kicks off November 24, 2016, at Telluride Ski Resort, where there is something for everyone to enjoy both on and off the snow. ( Ben Eng/Telluride Ski Resort/TNS)

TELLURIDE, Colo. — A sapphire sky on a sunny day. The aroma of rich, creamy mushroom soup. Larmandier-Bernier Champagne chilling. Bon Vivant restaurant puts a luxurious twist on the skier’s outdoor picnic lunch — just one of the refined touches at Telluride Ski Resort, where the season kicks off Nov. 24.

Since I first skied here 20-plus years ago, the once rough-hewn edges have been polished to a fine sheen. The on-mountain food is among the best in the Rockies. And as of Dec. 17, new Great Lakes Airlines service from Denver makes it even easier to reach.

The mountain isn’t huge — just a little more than 2,000 skiable acres. But it still boasts more than its share of expert terrain, which was its original lure, while offering an abundance of intermediate and beginner runs as well.

Runs such as Spiral Stairs, Plunge and Power Line rise above the town and dare skiers to test their mettle on the double black-diamond pitches. When the resort opened in 1972, these were among the steepest runs in the Rockies. The above-tree-line runs on Black Iron Bowl and Palmyra Peak opened in the early 2000s, and they challenge even the most skilled skier.

The middle portion of the mountain is awash with superlative groomed runs. The Village Express and Polar Queen Express chairlifts serve acres of intermediate terrain, and the Sunshine Express lift provides access to some stellar family-fun and learning runs.

Polar Queen, Humboldt Draw and Silver Tip are just three of the trails that can easily fill up an afternoon of cruising.

The mountain’s terrain is clustered according to ability; it’s difficult for skiers to take a wrong turn and end up on a run that’s over their head.

The scenery is breathtaking from almost every run but especially on the aptly named See Forever, which traces the spine of the resort. The trail is skiable by an intermediate and shouldn’t be missed. The true test on this run is to find a place to stop at the side and take in the beauty without getting in the way of other skiers.

For a relatively small resort, visitors still have plenty of choices. There are two centers for lodging, meals and entertainment. At the base of the mountain is the town of Telluride; about 800 feet higher on the mountain is Mountain Village. Each has its own appeal.

Home to roughly 2,300 permanent residents, Telluride has all the flavor you’d expect from a town that’s been around since the 1870s. A walk along Main Street makes it easy to imagine what it was like at the height of the late 19th century mining boom.

Visitors can pause outside the Mahr Building and visualize the old San Miguel Valley Bank, the site of Butch Cassidy’s first bank robbery. Funky shops and restaurants are neighbors with the well-stocked, old-time hardware store.

Restaurants range from local hangouts like La Cocina de Luz (www.lacocinatelluride.com), serving superb Mexican food and margaritas, to the exquisite French cuisine of La Marmotte (www.lamarmotte.com), located in an old ice house.

The New Sheridan Hotel (www.newsheridan.com) has been open for nearly 125 years. The rooms, updated in 2008, make for a great marriage of history and comfort.

Designed with convenience in mind, Mountain Village is a cozy collection of excellent resort-style lodging and restaurants that are good but don’t measure up to the selection in town. Amenities differ among the properties; the 32-room boutique hotel Inn at Lost Creek was perfect for my needs (www.innatlostcreek.com).

What makes this sort of split personality work is the Mountain Village-Telluride gondola. Celebrating its 20th anniversary this month, the free gondola runs between the village and the town from 7 a.m. to midnight, eliminating the need to drive or take a taxi.

Perched on a ridge at the 10,550-foot midpoint of the gondola trip is the resort’s premier dining spot, Allred’s (www.tellurideskiresort.com/allreds). Huge windows deliver diners unparalleled views to go along with outstanding, locally sourced food and a fabulous wine list.

Those who wonder how skis are made should take the Wagner Custom Skis factory tour (www.wagnerskis.com), which plans to move from Placerville to Mountain Village later this year. Tours can be arranged by calling 970-728-0107.

“Golfers who are serious get their clubs sized specifically for them,” founder and owner Peter Wagner told our tour group. “I thought that would be a good idea for skis too.”

Although Wagner’s focus is on high-end, custom-made skis, the company also makes a line of rental skis available at Telluride facilities; inquire at the rental shop.

Ski resorts are becoming hot spots for distilleries, and Telluride is no exception. Telluride Distilling Co. (www.telluridedistilling.com) is just 10 minutes outside of town. It makes vodka from 100 percent sugar cane instead of grain or potatoes. The result is an ultra-smooth version of the old standby, perfect for a martini or bloody mary.

Combine a great mountain with a historic town, season with fine food and amenities, and you have the recipe for a ski resort that consistently is ranked among the best in North America.

My Palm Beach Post, November 16, 2016 – By Randall Weissman – Chicago Tribune  

The past three decades have been great! I have skied and written about more than 200 ski resorts in North America, another 200 European ski resorts — and a half-dozen resorts in both Japan and in New Zealand. I’ve traveled to and writen about touring destinations in Morroco, Turkey, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Russia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Belize, Spain, plus Peru’s Macchu Picchu, the Outback and Great Barrier Reef of Australia, Yellowstone in winter, whitewater trips in Utah, Texas, and Colorado, and cities such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, Tokyo, Prague, Rome, Amsterdam, London, Zurich, Athens, Sydney, Aukland, Vancouver, Quebec, New York, San Francisco, and many others.

My plan is to publish the March and May 2016 issues, continue researching content for next season’s issues, and to seek a buyer for the magazine who will continue publishing The National Ski Club Newsletter and its Newsflash email beginning with the November 2016 issue. We’ll see how that plan works out.