August 2026

 Ski Giants Vail, Alterra and Others Sued Over Alleged Price-fixing. Vail ​Resorts, Alterra Mountain Company and two smaller rivals were sued in federal court ‌in Colorado for allegedly colluding with a ski-industry trade association and a research firm to fix prices for multi-mountain season passes and lift tickets. More. Reuters via Google Alerts

Approval for Disputed Park City Lift Improvements Upheld. Lift replacements at Park City Mountain that had been delayed due to opposition by members of the local community were, for now, given the green light by a municipal hearing officer following an appeal of the Park City Planning Commission’s June decision to approve the projects. More. SAM

Eagle Point (UT) Resort to remain closed for 2026-27 season after fire, flooding. Eagle Point Resort will not be open for skiing this winter due to damage from the Cottonwood Fire and Beaver floods. The locally popular resort is in central Utah.  More. KUTV Salt Lake City  via MSN.com

It Takes a Village. Killington’s base village expansion relies on willing collaboration between resort, developer, and the local community. More. SAM

Donner Ski Ranch (CA) Posts Signs Encouraging Guests to ‘Rat Out’ Lifties. The Tahoe-area resort recently took to its Facebook to reveal a new sign that will be posted at the bottom of every chairlift and carpet. The sign encourages guests to “rat,” or report, on lifties using their cell phones while working the lifts. More. Snowbrains Ed. Note: Donner Ski Ranch is a family friendly ski hill across the road from more well-known Sugar Bowl Ski Resort.

 Vail Resorts to Invest in Changes to Rentals, Private Lessons, Dining. Vail Resorts believes the company’s future growth will come by offering an improved guest experience rather than acquiring more ski areas. More. SAM

Aspen Snowmass Partners with Snow Secure to Extend Winter. Aspen Snowmass has enlisted Finnish company Snow Secure to help save snow at the end of each winter, leading to lower energy costs and less water consumption. More. Freeskier

Construction Site July 2026. Infrastructure projects large and small got underway across North America this spring. More. SAM Magazine

Updated North Carolina Winter Sports Safety Act Signed into Law. The North Carolina General Assembly passed Senate Bill 648 this week and Gov. Josh Stein signed it into law, codifying an update to the state’s Winter Sports Safety Act that includes a variety of “needed changes” to the legislation, according to the North Carolina Ski Areas Association. More. SAM

Students Invent Device That Could Save Skiers From Tree Wells. The Tree Well Guardian, a device affixed to a ski boot, kicks into action when skiers get stuck headfirst in the snow. More. Powder

The 11 Most Annoying Things Anyone Can Do on a Chairlift Ride. After receiving over 1,000 comments, Snowbrains dug through them all and tallied the pet peeves that came up again and again. From the obvious to the truly horrifying, here are the 11 most annoying things you can do on a chairlift ride, plus a few honorable mentions that deserve a shout-out. More. Snowbrains

The Future of Chairlifts May Be Liftie-Free With Doppelmayr’s AURO System. Austrian ski lift manufacturer Doppelmayr debuted its first Autonomous Ropeway Operation (AURO) lift in December 2020 with the Kumme gondola in Zermatt, Switzerland. What makes the Kumme gondola and AURO lifts special? They do not need lifties. Instead, they rely completely on modern technology to safely and comfortably move skiers up the mountains. More. Snowbrains

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WOLFPACK is proud to partner with NSCF, and excited to offer members 20% off their first purchase. WOLFPACK is the ultimate family ski bag. Thoughtfully designed to organize and simplify every ski trip, helping families spend less time packing and more time enjoying the mountains together.

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HOTEL LE MOTTARET – MÉRIBEL,  3 VALLEYS

Located in Méribel-Mottaret, Hotel Le Mottaret enjoys a true ski-in / ski-out position at the heart of Les Trois Vallées, the world’s largest connected ski area with over 370 miles of pistes.

Guests enjoy doorstep skiing, indoor pool and spa facilities, south-facing terraces and easy access to the legendary resorts of Méribel, Courchevel and Val Thorens.

HOTEL IBIZA – LES 2 ALPES – outstanding value for over 200km if slopes,  from 1420 € for 7 nights, with breakfast, dinner, 6 day lift pass AND airport transfer (round trip)

For clubs seeking outstanding value and high-altitude skiing, Hotel Ibiza offers access to one of France’s most exciting resorts.

Les 2 Alpes rises from 4,625 ft to almost 11,800 ft, delivering over 7,000 ft of vertical terrain, glacier skiing, lively après-ski and more than 200km of pistes.

Exclusive Ski Club packages can include accommodation, 6-day lift passes and return airport transfers, with the option for guests to add a memorable ski day in neighbouring Alpe d’Huez,  with helicopter transfer, for just 110 € !

DISCOVER MORE WITH MADAME VACANCES

Alongside Méribel and Les 2 Alpes, Ski Clubs can also discover our hotels in:

• Les Arcs – high altitude skiing with direct access to Paradiski
• Les Menuires – fantastic value in Les Trois Vallées
• Chamonix – one of the world’s most iconic mountain destinations

Contact the Madame Vacances team today to start planning your Winter 2027/28 Ski Club trip.  Groupes2@eurogroup-vacances.com

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June-July 2026

 Mt. Bachelor Announces Game-Changing Upgrades to Northwest Lift. The project will upgrade the utility power supply to the chairlift and replace the electric motor, auxiliary power unit, and all interior equipment, while preserving the foundation, towers, haul rope, terminals, and chairs. More. Powder

Timberline Lodge and Ski Area, OR, Pivots Away from Long-Delayed Mount Hood Gondola Project. The ambitious vision of a modern gondola rising from Government Camp up the slopes of Mount Hood has been discarded. Timberline Lodge and Ski Area has scrapped the high-profile project, choosing instead to re-engineer how guests transition between its lower and upper mountain terrain. More. SnowBrains

Sun Valley Upgrades Two More Bald Mountain Lifts for 2026. The existing Lookout Express lift is being replaced with a high-speed, six-person chair that cuts the ride time down to 8.5 minutes. The existing Christmas lift will remain a detachable four-person chair but will be upgraded to a high-speed quad. More. Freeskier

With Another New Lift, Deer Valley Will Reach 4,500 Acres Next Winter.  The most visible addition during the 2026-27 season will be the Hail Peak Express, a high-speed quad that departs from the new East Village area and brings skiers to the top of the nearby Hail Peak. The Express adds another 200 acres of terrain and seven new runs. More. Powder

Four New Chairlifts Are Coming To These 3 BC Ski Resorts Starting Next Season. The new lifts are set to be built at Fernie Alpine Resort, Kimberley Alpine Resort, and Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in 2026 and 2027, in some cases significantly changing how visitors can move through the mountains. More. Powder

Three New Midwest Ski Resorts Added to the Ikon Pass. Three new Midwest ski resorts are joining the Ikon Pass. Here’s what skiers need to know about Snowriver, Lutsen and Granite Peak before winter arrives. More. Freeskier

Eagle Point UT Assesses Significant Damage Following Cottonwood Fire. Approximately 300 of its 600 skiable acres were affected by the fire. The central Utah resort reported that Canyonside Lodge, one of its two day lodges, was destroyed, along with more than 100 condominiums and 30 cabins. Four of the resort’s five chairlifts also sustained damage, along with other buildings and equipment. More. SAM

When Does a Ski Pass Pay for Itself? Ski Calculated the Break-Even Point. SKI analyzed all of the major pass products and calculated approximately how many days it takes for each to beat buying day tickets. It all goes to answering the ultimate question-is a season pass still worth it if I only ski a handful of days? More. Ski

Want To Keep Skiing Into Your 70s? These Septuagenarians Have Some Tips. Don’t let aching knees keep you off your skis. Ski spoke to senior skiers about how they keep their bodies—and minds—in prime ski shape. More. Ski

Those Window-Rattling Booms on Powder Days? The Howitzers Behind Them Are Nearly Gone.  The combination of new avalanche mitigation strategies, dwindling supplies of the surplus ammunition used for mitigation, and retirements of people who know how to service an aging arsenal of howitzers has culminated in a more than decade-long push to eliminate reliance on artillery for avalanche mitigation. More. SnowBrains

An Age-Old Lift Problem. The ski industry in North America faces a significant challenge: nearly half of its lifts are at least 30 years old. That means resorts must adopt more rigorous maintenance regimens and plan for eventually replacing these lifts. However, rising prices, limited means of financing, and a reduction in the number of used lifts entering the market make replacement difficult. More. SAM

11 Largest Vertical Drop Chairlifts in North America, Ranked.  With ski tracking apps becoming more popular in recent years, people have become more conscious about the amount of vertical they are getting in every year. More. SnowBrains

More Skiers Than Ever Are Wearing Helmets and the Trend Is Growing. The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) reported that 91% of skiers and snowboarders in the United States wore helmets during the 2024-25 season. For comparison, only 25% wore helmets in 2002-03. More. SnowBrains

15 Mountain Truths Ski Patrollers Only Talk About After Hours. Ever wonder what ski patrollers talk about when the lifts stop running? From bizarre skier habits to mountain secrets, here is the ultimate after-hours debrief. More. Ski

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Harmonix offers NSCF members exclusive pricing on smart audio eyewear, open-ear audio products, AI translation devices, and OTC hearing products. Enjoy music, calls, hands-free listening, broad translation support, photochromic lenses, blue light filtering, UV400 protection, and modern hearing support while staying aware during resort travel, outdoor activity, commuting, remote work, and everyday use.

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May 2026

 Snow Partners to Launch New Multi-Mountain Product, Expand Snow Triple Play. Snow Partners is launching a new multi-mountain frequency product, Snow Pass. The pass will provide two days of access to each partner ski area and operate as a cooperative. The company is also expanding its three-day multi-mountain product Snow Triple Play to the Midwest. More. SAM

Skier visitation in the U.S. tumbled by more than 6 million in the Rocky Mountain West amid a historically hot and dry winter. Roughly 9 million fewer skiers and riders took to the slopes this season than last, with the Rocky Mountain West accounting for more than two-thirds of that decline, according to preliminary data released this week by the National Ski Area Association. The data counted skier visits, or each time an individual used a lift ticket or season pass to a ski area. More. The Aspen Times via Google Alerts

 Global Skier Visits Hit Record 399M for 2024-25. Global skier visits reached a record 399 million in the 2024-25 season, surpassing the previous high of 392 million set in 2018-19, according to the 18th edition of the International Report on Snow & Mountain Tourism, compiled by Laurent Vanat. More. SAM

These 5 East Coast Resorts Just Had Their Best Seasons on Record. From the longest season to the earliest opening, these are the East Coast ski areas who won the 2025-’26 season. More. Ski

Vail Resorts Visits, Revenue, and Pass Sales Down. Skier visits, lift revenue, and other season-to-date metrics reported by Vail Resorts were down for the North American ski season through April 19, 2026, compared to the same period through April 20, 2025. More. SAM

Bought a Ski Pass and Didn’t Use It? Here’s What You Can (and Can’t) Get Back. Common sense dictates that since you didn’t use the service you paid for, you should get your money back. Right? Right?!?!? Unfortunately, usually not. More. Ski

$1 Billion Expansion Plans Could Make Nordic Valley, UT, One of the Premier Ski Resorts in the State. A major approved development plan could transform the Ogden Valley ski area into something far larger, with new lifts, expanded terrain, hundreds of lodging units, chalets, condos, hotel rooms, employee housing, and a full village-style base area. More. SnowBrains

Homewood, Sugar Bowl, Lee Canyon Working To Debut Lifts Next Season. A trio of lifts highlight the summer construction season in the Far West, including the ongoing resurrection of a ski and snowboard mountain on Lake Tahoe, and the latest version of a one-of-a-kind, parking lot-base gondola. More. SnowCountry

Nearly 2,000 Ski and Snowboard Instructors Join Labor Suit Against Vail Resorts. Nearly 2,000 current and former ski and snowboard instructors have joined a collective action Fair Labor Standards Act lawsuit against Vail Resorts, according to reports citing consent forms filed in federal court in Colorado last week. More. SAM

One Staff Member Killed, Another Injured After Work Basket Falls at Mt. Hood Skibowl. Two Mt. Hood Skibowl employees were in a work carrier when it fell from the line of the Upper Bowl chairlift Thursday morning, killing one and injuring the other. More. SAM

Parents Charged with Endangerment After 5-Year-Old Falls from Lift.  The parents of a 5-year-old boy who fell from a chairlift at Blue Knob All Season Resort were each arraigned this week on a felony charge of endangering the welfare of a child. The boy was riding the lift alone when he reportedly turned to adjust his goggles, slipped off the chair and fell 20 feet to the trail below. He did not sustain any major injuries. More. SAM

Official Report on the Castle Peak, CA, Avalanche That Killed 9 Reveals Critical Decision Errors, Undeployed Airbags, and Victims Buried 8 Feet Deep. The Sierra Avalanche Center has published its official investigation report on the February 17, 2026, Perry Peak near Frog Lake/Castle Peak avalanche that killed nine skiers and guides northwest of Lake Tahoe. The report is publicly viewable on Avalanche.org. More. SnowBrains

Skier Killed After Sluff Knocked Them 2,000 Feet Down a Cliff in Rogers Pass, BC. A skier died after a small loose-snow avalanche knocked them off their feet and sent them tumbling 2,000 vertical feet (600 vertical meters) down the northeast face of Swiss Peak in Rogers Pass, Glacier National Park, British Columbia. More. SnowBrains

Taxing the Mountain: Vail Resorts’ Blended Sales Tax Angers New Hampshire Residents.  When a skier in New Hampshire buys an Epic Day Pass or full Epic Pass to Attitash, Wildcat, Crotched Mountain, and Mount Sunapee, they’re now paying an Epic Pass sales tax of approximately 3.2% at checkout, even though New Hampshire collects no such tax on retail transactions. More. SnowBrains

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Finding the perfect flight often feels like a high-stakes game of cat and mouse with an invisible algorithm. However, while airlines use complex data to hike prices, you can use the same logic to bring them down. By shifting your strategy from “buying a ticket” to “hacking the system,” you can save hundreds of dollars on your next adventure. Here are 10 essential tips for finding cheap flights.

READ MORE

Posted from Wandertrivia

The post If you want the best deals, you need to master these 10 booking hacks appeared first on Ski Federation.

Below are 12 practical, travel-tested tips to help you pack less, stress less, and move more freely, whether you’re heading out for a weekend getaway or a long-haul adventure.

Before you even open your suitcase, write a list based on what you’ll actually do on the trip. Think in terms of activities and settings: walking all day, dinners out, beach time, chilly evenings; rather than vague categories like clothes or toiletries. This helps you avoid packing ‘just in case’ items that never leave the bag.

Once your list is done, trim it. Challenge each item with one simple question: Will I realistically use this? If the answer is “maybe,” it probably stays home. A shorter list upfront saves you from overpacking later.

READ MORE

Reposted from Wandertrivia

The post Are You Overpacking? Here’s How to Travel Lighter appeared first on Ski Federation.

GIBBON is the leader in dynamic balance training. Our slackline based training tools help athletes build balance, strength and mindfulness for better performance on and off the slopes.

NSCF members save 10% on all GIBBON balance training products including SlackBoards, slacklines and SlackRacks.

All NSCF members will receive this discount when checking out of your cart at the vendor site.  (You will need to login to our site to access the Members Only section to retrieve the discount code for this vendor.)

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Most of us have that one little blue book tucked away in a “safe place”, the spot we swear we’ll remember but always seem to forget up until the last minute before heading to the airport. When we finally find it, we do the same thing every time: flip straight to the first two pages. Those opening pages do far more than just list your name and photo. They’re filled with codes, hidden symbols, and subtle markings that help verify your identity and prevent fraud. Here we’ll decode the secrets behind those official-looking details tucked inside your passport.

READ MORE

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April 2026

Indy Pass Adds 16 Resorts for Next Season. Indy Pass continues to grow, which is a good thing, because it offers bargain rates and other perks to smaller, independent areas at less than half of other multi-destination season passes. More. Seniors Skiing

Ikon Pass Adds SilverStar, Giants Ridge. SilverStar Mountain Resort in British Columbia has joined Ikon Pass as a partner resort and Giants Ridge, Minn., has been added as a bonus mountain on the 2026-27 pass. More. SAM

MCP Details $37.5M in Planned Capital Improvements. Mountain Capital Partners (MCP) plans to invest more than $37.5 million in capital improvements across its Power Pass network ahead of the 2026-27 season in the United States and the 2026 season in South America, with projects focused on snowmaking expansion, lift infrastructure, and terrain development. More. SAM

Ikon Pass Adds Partners, Benefits, and Other Changes for 2026-27. Alterra Mountain Company’s 2026-27 Ikon Pass suite of products is on sale  with new partners, access, benefits, and numerous other changes. More. SAM

A New Lift Will Unlock 1,000 Acres of Steep Expert Terrain at Powder Mountain (UT).  Powder Mountain’s new expansion will bring a chairlift to the steep “DMI” (short for Don’t Mention It) terrain pod while adding a new base lodge and other amenities. More. Ski

$1 Billion Expansion Plans Could Make Nordic Valley, UT, One of the Premier Ski Resorts in the State. Nordic Valley has long been one of the state’s more low-key ski areas. If built as envisioned, Nordic Valley would go from a modest ski hill to one of the more dramatically reimagined resorts in the West. More. SnowBrains

Mont-Sainte-Anne Details Lift Replacements, Other Improvements. Mont-Sainte-Anne has ordered three new lifts to replace four existing lifts as part of a CA$100 million investment plan that operator Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR) is undertaking in partnership with the Québec government to modernize the resort’s lift infrastructure. More.

Pico (VT) Ski Resort Retires Historic Chairlift. Pico Mountain announced that the Outpost Double chairlift is now closed for good. Earlier this ski season, it experienced a main drive-shaft failure. After further review, an engineering analysis revealed that further repairs are no longer possible. More. Unofficial Networks

Berkshire East and Catamount Join Bear Den, New Mountain Alliance Formed. Berkshire East and Catamount Resorts in Massachusetts have joined Bear Den Partners, formalizing an ownership transition that brings the Schaefer family’s two ski areas into a growing portfolio alongside Vermont’s Burke Mountain and Smugglers’ Notch. More. SAM

Mountain Collective Pass Adds Referral Bonus for 2026-27. The 2026-27 Mountain Collective pass is on sale and has retained all the resort destinations around the world that it offered in 2025-26. More. SAM

New Hampshire Will Become Headquarters for Indy Pass and Parent Company. Erik Mogensen has announced that he will buy out all early investors in Black Mountain and return the ski area to 100% private ownership. He will also permanently relocate the headquarters of Entabeni Systems to the Jackson, New Hampshire, site, as well as the headquarters for the Indy Pass. More. SnoCountry

Oregon Legislature Passes Waiver Reform Bill. Oregon lawmakers finally passed a bill that strengthens the enforceability of liability waivers in the state after several previous attempts to quell what had amounted to a crisis for the state’s outdoor recreation providers failed to progress over the past decade or so. Senate Bill 1517 passed the Oregon House 55-2 on March 5 and the Senate 29-0 on March 6. More. SAM Ed. Note: The Northwest Ski Club Council carried out an extensive letter writing campaign to support the legislation.

Vail, Alterra Named in Antitrust Class Action over Pass Pricing. Vail Resorts and Alterra Mountain Company have been named in a federal antitrust class-action lawsuit challenging pricing and competitive practices tied to their Epic and Ikon passes, respectively. the complaint alleges the companies engaged in anticompetitive conduct by bundling multi-resort access and setting single-day lift ticket prices high enough to steer consumers toward season passes. More. SAM

Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz Opens Up About Expensive Lift Tickets, Crowding In Wall Street Journal Interview. In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz gave some insight into how he and Vail Resorts view high ticket prices, crowding, and dwindling Epic Pass sales. Katz seldom gives interviews, so his conversation with WSJ Correspondent Roberto Ferdman gives a rare glimpse into his thinking on some of the more contentious issues facing skiers today, More. Snowbrains

Ski Helmet Usage Just Hit An All-Time High of 91% In The 2024/25 Season. According to a report from the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), overall helmet usage among U.S. skiers and snowboarders reached a national all-time high of 91% during the 2024/2025 skis season, up from just 25% back in the 2002/03 season. That’s a generational shift in behavior playing out over two decades. More. Unofficial Networks via Google Alerts

More Than Just a Sticker: How Mips Is Changing Helmet Safety in Skiing. SnowBrains spoke with Mips CEO Max Strandwitz to better understand what the technology does and why it has become increasingly common across snow sports and beyond. More. SnowBrains

La Niña Fades as NOAA Expects El Niño by Summer With Significant Impact on Winter 2026-27. The climate pattern that has shaped global weather for the past year is nearly done. La Niña is weakening quickly, and by summer, its warm-water counterpart El Niño could take over. More. SnowBrains

 Germany’s Last Glacier Ski Resort Disappears as Zugspitze’s Platt Lift is Torn Down. An era in German winter sports is drawing to a close as the final ski lift on the Zugspitze glacier area is being dismantled this week — a sad sign of how climate change is reshaping alpine landscapes. More. SnowBrains

Don’t Knock ’Em Till You Ski ’Em. Why Appalachia’s Resorts Are Worth Exploring. Once you get past the stigma, the Southern Appalachians are an unexpected ski region that doesn’t deserve the overlook it gets. More. Ski

I Thought It Was a Gimmick—Until This $60 Boot Hack Saved My Toes at Zero Degrees. Bootcaps, low-tech toe wraps for your ski boots, add a crucial 20 degrees of warmth to keep you on the mountain all day .More.  Ski

The post NSCF Newsbeat April 2026 appeared first on Ski Federation.

February-March 2026

Ikon Pass Reveals 2026-27 Price, New Resorts, and Access for Skiers. The Ikon Pass, one of the two biggest multi-mountain ski passes, is back on sale soon with new resorts, deals for younger skiers, and expanded Colorado access. More. Powder

Indy Pass Adds 16 Partners, Launches Auto-Renewal Requirement for 2026-27 Sales. Indy Pass has added 16 new alpine and cross-country ski area partners and opened 2026-27 pass sales Feb. 25 to existing pass holders under a new automatic renewal structure the company said is designed to manage demand. More. SAM

Epic Pass Drops 20 Percent In Price, But Only For This Age Group. Vail Resorts announced a 20-percent discount for skiers aged 13-30, slashing the price of an Epic Pass to $869 and the price of an Epic Local Pass to $649. The 2026-’27 prices will debut at $1,089 for an adult Epic Pass and $809 for an Epic Local Pass. That’s about a 3.6 percent increase (which is a smaller increase from last year’s 6.5 percent). More. Ski

How Premium Season Passes With Exclusive Amenities are Quietly Influencing the Ski Industry. Resorts across North America are experimenting with ultra-expensive products that promise first tracks, shorter lines, private lounges, and a host of VIP perks to those willing to pay thousands of dollars for the privilege. More. Snowbrains

Oregon Introduces the ORCA Act of 2026 to Address the State’s Liability Insurance Crisis. A bipartisan coalition of Oregon lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 1593, also known as the Oregon Recreation Commerce and Affordability Act of 2026 (ORCA), for consideration in the upcoming legislative session. “Oregon’s liability laws are broken, and it’s not just hurting recreation providers,” Representative  Jeff Helfrich (R-Hood River) said. “It’s hurting small businesses of every kind that rely on basic liability waivers to operate.” More. Snowbrains

Steamboat’s Long-Held Local’s Only Side Country is Now Open to the Public. Now, two seasons after Alterra Mountain Company invested $200 million over three years on its “Full Steam Ahead” project, Steamboat is still finding its equilibrium between massive infrastructure improvements, increased visitation, a passionate local user base, and how people can best utilize the expanded mountain and base area. More. Freeskier

$100M Investment, Major Changes Coming to Mont-Sainte-Anne. Mont-Sainte-Anne and operator Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR) have reached an agreement with the Quebec government to fund substantial capital improvements at the resort, including the replacement of four lifts with three new ones, new snowmaking infrastructure, and installation of warm-season attractions. More. SAM

ORDA Commits $15.9 Million for Upgrades at Whiteface, Gore, and Belleayre. The New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) board of directors approved $15.9 million in capital investments across Whiteface, Gore, and Belleayre mountains, continuing a multi-year run of infrastructure upgrades at the state-owned ski areas. More.  SAM

Burke Mountain (VT) Revival Has Begun. After nearly a decade in receivership, Vermont’s Burke Mountain is coming out of hibernation. New owners Bear Den Partners are prioritizing long-deferred capital improvements and operational stability, having already accomplished a variety of projects after taking ownership in May 2025, with more on the horizon. More. SAM

Bear Den Partners Acquires Majority Ownership of Smugglers’ Notch (VT). Bear Den Partners has acquired a majority ownership interest in Smugglers’ Notch Resort from Bill Stritzler, who has owned Smuggs for 29  years and whose family will retain an ownership stake in the resort. Stritzler’s daughter and Smuggs CEO Lisa Howe will serve as an advisor on the future of the mountain. More.  SAM

Pats Peak (NH) Snowmaking Expansion Includes Multifold Increases to Pumping Capacity, Water Storage. Pats Peak will undergo a significant expansion of its snowmaking system this summer that will allow the ski area to double the number of snow guns it can operate at once starting in winter 2026-27. More. SAM

Powderhorn (CO) Launches Limited Three-Year Pass Tied to 60th Anniversary, Lift Investment. As it approaches its 60th anniversary season, Powderhorn Mountain Resort is introducing a limited three-year season pass, positioning it as both a loyalty offering and commitment to affordability amid a major capital upgrade and plans for future improvements. More. SAM

Pomerelle (ID) Sold to Longtime Mountain Manager. Pomerelle Mountain Resort in southern Idaho has been sold to mountain manager Zach Alexander and his wife, Crystal, according to Ski Idaho. The Anderson family, which has owned and operated the ski area for decades, finalized the sale this month. More. SAM

Shanty Creek (MI) Acquired by New Ownership Group. Trinidad Resort & Club, LLC has sold Shanty Creek Resort to a new ownership group called Shanty Creek Ski and Golf Resort, LLC. The resort is a 5,500-acre, four-season property that includes two ski areas—Shuss Mountain and Shanty Creek—five golf courses, a variety of lodging and dining options, and several other amenities. More. SAM

Little Switzerland (WI) to Invest $4 Million on Two New Chairlifts. Little Switzerland Ski Area will install two new Skytrac quad chairlifts this summer to replace the ski area’s Lift 1 and Lift 2, a unique “up and over” double chairlift that loads from both the base area and backside of the ski area and transports guests uphill in opposite directions to unload at the summit mid-point. It was originally installed in 1964. More. SAM

What It Really Takes to Build a Modern Ski Lift. No two chairlifts are the same and the engineering and construction must be adapted to the specific terrain and carrying capacity requirements. Replacement of an existing chairlift is a very different process from installing a new one in a new place. More. Ski

Is a $300 Ski Helmet Really Safer Than a $70 One? Ski Found Out. Every winter, Ski’s gear testers try out dozens of ski helmets, putting them through the paces in myriad locations and different weather conditions. Then they collect everyone’s detailed feedback and rate the winning helmets, calling out the best qualities in each one. More. Ski

The post NSCF Newsbeat February-March 2026 appeared first on Ski Federation.

SkyGOAT: High performance mid layers built for mountain adventures. Our Camp Hoodie, Jacket, and Half Zip are made with ultra soft GOATgrid microgrid fleece that is lightweight, warm, and breathable, making them perfect under a ski shell for long days on the mountain.

National Ski Council Federation members receive an exclusive 20% off SkyGOAT apparel.

Stay warm, move freely, and enjoy the mountain in comfort and style.

All NSCF members will receive this discount when checkin out of your cart at the vendor site.  (You will need to login to our site to access the Members Only section to retrieve the discount code for this vendor.)

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QEJA (“kay-jah”) is a family run company based in Park City, Utah making the best socks for all the ways you move. Our top-selling ski socks mix the feel and quality of fine Italian craftsmanship QEJA extends a 20% discount to NSCF Members.

All NSCF members will receive this discount contacting the vendor directly. (You will need to login to the site to access the Members Only section.)

The post QEJA Socks appeared first on Ski Federation.

Jomees brings energy, visibility, and fun to every ski trip. Our bold helmet covers, standout accessories, and premium gear bags make members instantly recognizable on the mountain and unforgettable at après-ski. Stylish, functional, and photo-ready, Jomees helps clubs build community, create memories, and truly get In Line For Fun—on and off the slopes.  NSCF members receive a 10% discount.

All NSCF members will receive this discount contacting the vendor directly. (You will need to login to the site to access the Members Only section.)

The post Jomees appeared first on Ski Federation.

By Jane Sandwood

Some things in life are fleeting: snow melts, kids grow, parents get gray hairs. But skiing isn’t one of those things. It’s a recurring family ritual where generations collide on slopes and in lodges, creating memories that outlast frostbite and overpriced hot cocoa alike. But why does this matter beyond the Instagram‑ready snow shots? Why does repeatedly dragging your increasingly uncooperative teenager onto a slope actually keep families more connected across decades? Here’s the heart of it: skiing creates shared challenges that forge stories, cultivates traditions that become emotional anchors, and invites every age to participate in the same adventure. If you’ve ever watched a grandfather cheer on his granddaughter’s first snowplough turn or seen siblings laughing mid‑après ski, you know: there’s meaning here.

Shared Challenges, Shared Stories

There’s something almost absurdly unifying about nearly freezing toes, confusing trail maps, and the universal humiliation of falling on your rear end in front of strangers. Yet these shared challenges bound families in a way that quiet Sunday dinners can’t. When you face something a little hard—say, learning the difference between a pizza and a French fry on skis, in blizzard conditions, at 8 a.m.—you also create stories that get retold. Later, at birthdays or holiday dinners, those stories become the currency of family lore. “Remember when Uncle Greg face‑planted into the snowman?” isn’t just a funny line; it’s shorthand for “we survived that together.” Each shared challenge adds another thread to the family tapestry. Importantly, that tapestry doesn’t unravel over time, it gains layers. Kids grow up hearing about “the trip when Dad got stuck upside-down on the ski lift and waved like a maniac for help,” and suddenly that lift story means something—it’s proof that even grown-ups can be a little ridiculous, and that laughter is a family tradition.

Keeping Everyone Involved

One of the sneakiest benefits of skiing culture is that it invites every age to stay active, more than just physically. Research on winter activities for older adults shows that engaging in seasonal pursuits—everything from gentle indoor snow experiences to festive outings and low‑impact winter movement—doesn’t just improve balance or cardio, but it actually boosts social interaction and psychological well‑being. When seniors have reasons to be part of a family’s vacation rhythm, they don’t sit back and watch, but participate. Grandparents helping with ski school routines, offering encouragement from the lodge, or taking part in alternative snow‑related fun feel valued, seen, useful.

Rituals, Continuity, and Emotional Anchors

If you think about traditions as emotional bookmarks, skiing offers remarkably durable ones. Early breakfasts, trail‑side lunches, that one restaurant you keep returning to because “it just feels like us” — these rituals morph into touchpoints that signal: this is our time. They provide continuity in lives that otherwise spin in rapid, disjointed circles of responsibilities. These rituals matter because human beings are wired to cling to meaning. When a kid who once couldn’t stand in skis becomes the one adjusting their parent’s bindings, that’s a passing of the torch—a moment of generational flip that feels significant. It’s not engineered; it’s organic, and it loops back into deeper familial trust and belonging. Skiing gives families a recurring rhythm, something to anticipate and remember. Whether it’s renting the same cabin, racing down the same bunny slope, or indulging in the same absurdly expensive mulled wine, these repeated acts become emotional anchors. They remind us that no matter how crowded life gets with work, school, or mundane chores, there are spaces where we come together, breathe together, and remember why we opened up our hearts to one another in the first place.

More Than Snow and Sport                                                                Skiing, with all its glory and ridiculousness, gives you shared challenges, meaningful activity for all ages, and traditions worth returning to. And yes, you might end up with sore muscles and questionable tan lines, but you’ll also walk away with something far warmer: connections that stretch across decades, generations, and maybe even grudging teenage smiles.

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January 2026

 Ski Patrol Strike Shuts Down Colorado’s Popular Telluride Resort Indefinitely. Telluride Ski Resort in Mountain Village, Colorado, was shuttered Dec. 27, with no date set for reopening, due to a labor dispute with the ski patrol union over wages. More. CBS News via Google Alerts Update: The Telluride website states the following on Sun. Jan. 4: We will open Lifts 1 and both the Children’s learning center and Meadows magic carpets on Monday, January 5. All uphill and downhill access to the mountain on any other terrain is currently closed day and night. There is no public access, anyone trespassing on the mountain will be prosecuted.

Avalanche Kills Mammoth Mountain Ski Patroller. A 30-year-old Mammoth Mountain ski patroller died Sunday from injuries sustained in an avalanche on Friday. One other patroller was injured in the incident, which occurred about 7:30 a.m., Dec. 26, on Lincoln Mountain, while the patrollers were conducting avalanche mitigation work. More. SAM

Snowmass Puts Up Two Lifts In Its Upper Reaches. Two new replacement lifts, an overhaul of a famed mid-mountain rest stop, and tweaking of on-mountain eateries highlight what’s-new at Aspen Snowmass. More. SnoCountry

New Ownership At Ragged Mountain Pledge To Keep Mountain’s Soul Intact. The group of local investors who have purchased New Hampshire’s Ragged Mountain have promised to keep the mountain’s character intact as it makes improvements going forward. More. SnoCountry

Vail Resorts Loosens Advance-Purchase Lift Ticket Window. Vail Resorts will now offer skiers and riders a discount on lift tickets purchased four or more weeks in advance for 12 of its mountain resorts, loosening the previously limited timeframes that non-Epic Pass holders could buy tickets for less than the highest window rates. More. SAM

Vail Resorts’ Latest Earnings Reveal Pass Sales Decline But Major Upgrades for 2026. Notably, Vail reported a 2% decrease in its season pass sales, but a 3% increase in earnings from season passes. The real gems of this report, though, are in the mentions of the improvements Vail Resorts plans to make during 2026. More. Snowbrains

Seven  Up-and-Coming Ski Resorts To Check Out This Season. Tired of skiing the same resort each year on your annual ski vacation? Look no further than this list of up-and-coming ski resorts. More. Powder

Crested Butte – Still the Last Great Colorado Ski Town. It’s not the easiest to get to, but that’s what makes the town so special. As for the mountain, it’s as close to gnar-nia as a skier might ever come. It’s number three on Freeskier’s 2026 ski resort rankings. More. Freeskier Ed. Note: Crested Butte is  the destination for the Far West Ski Association’s 2026 North American Ski Week.

New Living Community for Skiers Above the Age of 55 to Open at Massanutten VA.  Massanutten Mountain Resort, located in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, has broken ground on a 55+ community nestled within the resort’s 6,000 acre property. The resort has 82 skiable acres, 23 trails, seven lifts, a vertical drop of 1,100, and until this year, the only double black diamond trail in the southeast. More. SnoCountry

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NSCF members receive 30% OFF our their selection of meal replacements.

All NSCF members will receive their discount upon checkout using the discount code shown on the Members Only page for this vendor. (You will need to login to the site to access the Members Only section.)

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December 2025

Oregon’s outdoor recreation industry is in the midst of a liability insurance crisis. Earlier this year, Safehold Special Risk, a major insurer for ski resorts, announced it would no longer provide coverage in the state. The decision stems from Oregon’s legal climate, where liability waivers are largely unenforceable following a series of lawsuits, leaving businesses more exposed to lawsuits than in neighboring states. More. Snowbrains

At Long Last, Deer Valley Expansion Is Ready To Be Tracked Up. Due to warm weather and ongoing construction, Deer Valley officials don’t expect to start operations until the week before Christmas. But when the ropes finally drop on the much-anticipated Mayflower expansion, seasoned Deer Valley skiers (no snowboarders) will find 2,900 acres of new terrain, 100 new trails, 10 new chairlifts and a 10-passenger gondola that expands the Utah resort’s footprint to 5,700 acres. More. SnoCountry

Pacific Group Resorts (PGR) has acquired SilverStar Mountain Resort in Vernon, British Columbia, from Powdr. PGR’s portfolio now includes six resorts after its acquisition of Powderhorn Mountain Resort in Colorado earlier this year and Jay Peak Resort in Vermont in 2022. SilverStar becomes by far PGR’s biggest ski area with 133 trails spread across 3,300 acres of skiable terrain served by 10 lifts. More. SAM

Ragged Mountain NH Sold to Local Investor Group. SF Mountain Co., LLC (SFMC), a group of local investors with lifelong ties to Ragged Mountain, has acquired the ski area, which went on the market in March of this year. The group has pledged to keep Ragged affordable and rooted in community while investing in its future as a year-round mountain destination. More. SAM

Mad River Glen Exercises Right to Buy 1,100 Acres Surrounding the Ski Area. The Mad River Glen co-op board of trustees voted unanimously to exercise its right of first refusal to acquire 1,100 acres of land that surrounds the existing ski area. The vote was triggered after a third-party offered $2.5 million to buy the property from the current owner. More. SAM

Wisconsin’s Whitecap Mountains Files for Bankruptcy. Whitecap Mountains Resort has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, a process that halts collection efforts as the resort negotiates with creditors. The petition follows several years of financial strain. More. SAM

Shaun White’s The Snow League Sets New Standard. Crafted by Shaun White, the League is a new global halfpipe competition circuit that stands apart from existing competitions thanks to its unique bracket-style format and record-setting prize purse (the free ski prize purse alone is a staggering $580,000). More. Freeskier

The 10 Best Ski Resorts of 2025, According to USA TODAY. USA TODAY assembled a panel of experts to nominate the top contenders, then readers across the country cast thousands of votes to crown their favorites. The result is a definitive list of 10 resorts that rise above the rest, whether for their vast acreage, historic character, family-focused amenities, or sheer ability to make every run unforgettable. More. Snowbrains

Killington Commits $100K in Hurricane Relief for Jamaican Staff, Unveils New ‘Upward & Outward’ Initiative. Killington Resort / Pico Mountain has launched a new charitable and sustainability program, Upward & Outward, starting with a $100,000 commitment to support the resort’s Jamaican employees whose families were impacted by Hurricane Melissa. More. SAM

Snowboarder Falls from Chairlift at Keystone Resort. The 27-year-old snowboarder fell from the Montezuma Express chairlift at Keystone Resort, according to resort officials. Keystone Ski Patrol responded immediately, and the rider was transported to Keystone Medical Center for evaluation where he was treated for unspecified injuries. More. Snowbrains

Breckenridge Ski Patrol Union Reaches Tentative Deal with Resort, Averting Strike. The Breckenridge Ski Patrol Union (BSPU) and Vail Resorts reached a tentative agreement after a late-night bargaining session on Nov. 13 that ended a planned picket and replaced the patrol’s expiring contract. More. SAM

Jackson Hole Ski Patrol Files Petition to Unionize. Ninety-three percent of eligible Jackson Hole Ski Patrol employees backed a petition filed with the National Labor Relations Board for a union representation election, according to a release from the patrol. If certified, the group would form the Jackson Hole Ski Patrol Union under Communications Workers of America Local 7781, United Mountain Workers. More. SAM

Snowbound and Snowvana Draw Good Crowds, Future Changes Ahead. The stalwart consumer ski and snowboard shows still play an important—and in some cases a growing—role in stoking excitement for winter sports in key markets of the country, and a handful of this year’s events reportedly did well in their current venues as relocation and expansion discussions are being had for 2026. More. SAM

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November 2025

 Will the Drought in the Northeast Curtail Snowmaking This Fall/Winter? Current drought conditions may affect the early season (November/early December). In a “normal” year, resorts might push snow guns aggressively or respond to brief cold snaps. In a drought year, they may have to ration water usage, being more selective about when and where to make snow. The timing of reservoir refill (from late summer and fall rains) is going to be critical. More. Seniors Skiing

Colorado Ski Industry Worried About Slowdown in J-1 Visas That Are ‘Essential’ for Resort Areas’ Workforce. The National Ski Areas Association, which represents over 300 alpine resorts throughout the U.S., said it has heard from ski areas, including in Colorado, that are worried about a potential shortage of seasonal foreign workers on J-1 visas this winter. More. Post Independent (Glenwood Springs and Garfield County, CO) via Google Alerts

Going Skiing in Europe This Winter? New Rules You Need to Know. Going skiing in Europe this winter? Italy now requires helmets for everyone, insurance is mandatory, and France is extending smoking bans to the slopes. Here’s what travelers need to know before hitting the mountains. More. Ski Racing Media

Timberline Prices to Rise Due to Oregon’s ‘Broken’ Liability System. As insurers exit Oregon and available insurance premiums skyrocket in response to the state’s legal climate, in which recreational liability waivers are unenforceable, outdoor recreation providers, including ski areas, are in a precarious position. Timberline, which operates on Mt. Hood, addressed this in a message to Oregonians, warning them that prices will be rising due to “unsustainable financial pressure.” More. SAM

Ikon Pass Expands Access in Asia with Nine New Destinations. The Ikon Pass will significantly expand its footprint in Asia for winter 2025-26, adding nine new ski destinations across Japan, China, and South Korea. More. SAM

Indy Pass Reports Jump in Sales, Redemptions. The number of Indy Pass products sold for 2025-26 grew 60 percent year-over-year, and pass holder redemptions at partner ski areas were up 40 percent for the 2024-25 season compared to 2023-24. With the addition of 50 new ski area partners on the pass, pass holders will have two days of access to each of more than 270 ski areas around the world.  More. SAM

Killington Plans $22M in Improvements for 2026. Killington Resort plans to invest $22 million in on-mountain infrastructure next year, including a new fixed-grip quad and an expanded on-hill restaurant facility. The Snowdon triple will be replaced by a fixed-grip quad chair, a $6.5 million project. An additional $6 million of funding will be used to construct a reimagined Jerk Jamaican Mountain Grill.  More. SAM

FIS Bans Russian Athletes from Milan-Cortina Olympic Qualifiers. The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has voted to keep Russian and Belarusian athletes out of all qualification events for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, reaffirming its firm stance against participation by both nations amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. More. Ski Racing Media

Saddleback, Big Sky Tops in SKI Reader Survey. The results from the 2026 SKI Reader Resort Survey put Saddleback, Maine, ranked top in the East and Big Sky Resort, Mont., as the highest ranked resort in the West. Saddleback improved one place from its No. 2 ranking last year, while Big Sky jumped 23 spots. Rankings are based on responses from SKI’s annual reader survey, which is conducted every spring and asks respondents to rank each ski area in 18 different categories, such as grooming, family-friendliness, value, dining, and access. More. SAM

The 9 Most Outdoor-Obsessed States. To see which states in the nation are the most adventure-hungry, travel brand KÜHL dug into Google search data from August 2024 to August 2025, analyzing interest in 14 outdoor activities across all 50 states and adjusting the results per 100,000 residents. More. Snowbrains

Upcycling— How Fishing Nets Become Ski Jackets. What if we told you that the new ski jacket you just bought for this winter is actually made from a net that was once used for commercial fishing? Brands across the ski industry are utilizing new technology that takes old fishing nets and turns them into high-performance nylon suitable for technical outdoor apparel. More. Powder

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August 19 – 23, 2026

Silver Legacy Resort & Casino in Reno, Nevada

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October 2025

 Best Ski Resorts For Early Season Snow. It’s never too early to start planning for the upcoming winter season, and that includes the popular time around the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. ZRankings has put together an excellent guide to help you find the best snow during the holidays. More. OpenSnow

Alterra Commits $400M to Resort Upgrades, Employee Housing for 2025-26.  Alterra Mountain Company is spending more than $400 million on capital projects, guest amenities, and employee programs across its portfolio for the 2025-26 season, with a major share directed to Deer Valley Resort’s ongoing transformation. More. SAM

Snow Triple Play Pass Partners with Mountain Collective, Adds Kissing Bridge. Snow Partners, parent company of Mountain Creek Resort, Big Snow American Dream, and the Snow Triple Play pass, has formed a strategic partnership with the Mountain Collective pass program. More.

Indy Pass Ended Sales Sept. 18, Added Final Resorts. Since last winter, Indy has added 48 resorts across 14 countries. The latest additions include Donner Ski Ranch, Calif.; Montage Mountain, Pa.; Magic Mountain, Idaho; Leavenworth Ski Hill, Wash.; Kaunertaler Gletscher, Austria; and Kartalkaya Dorukkaya Ski Resort, Turkey.  More. SAM

Indy Pass to Partner With Up to 100 Independent Ski Shops.  Indy Pass announced today that it has allied with the Winter Sports Retailers (WSR), an independent ski and snowboard retailers association, to provide exclusive discounts on gear and tune-ups for Indy Pass holders at participating shops. More. SnowBrains via Google Alerts

Fire Destroys Sugarbush Resort Golf Clubhouse. A fire late Sept. 24 destroyed the clubhouse at Sugarbush Resort Golf Club, which housed the golf pro shop and Hogan’s Pub, resort officials said. More. SAM

Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe Invests $6 Million in Tubing Center and Snowmaking for 2025-26 Season.  Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe has invested $6 million this season to add the new Wildslide Tahoe Tubing Center and expand its snowmaking systems. More. SAM

Year-End Results for Vail Resorts Signal Changes Ahead. In his comments about Vail Resorts’ fourth quarter and full year results reported Sept. 29, CEO Rob Katz acknowledged that the company plans to make some changes to its strategy to combat declines in Epic Pass sales and visitation to its North American resorts. More. SAM

Snowbound Expo Returns to Boston This November to Kick Off the 2025-26 Winter Season. Boston will again become the epicenter for winter sports enthusiasts this November as the Snowbound Expo takes place from November 14 to 16 at the Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center. This three-day event marks the official start of the 2025-26 snow season in New England, bringing together a vibrant community of skiers, snowboarders, and enthusiasts of other winter sports all under one roof. More. SnowBrains

Virtual Silent Auction Flyer for distribution. If you’d like to send the flyer to others or print it, this link will take them to the flyer on the NSCF website.

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