Fall is officially underway, which means we’re getting close to ski season in the Northern Hemisphere. While you were likely distracted by other sports (hopefully not pickleball), a lot actually went down in the ski industry, some of which could impact things during this upcoming winter and beyond. This included turbulent headwinds for major ski industry players, climate struggles for Europe’s ski industry, and mixed conditions for the Southern Hemisphere.
Here’s a recap of the biggest ski industry stories from this past summer.
Alterra Pivots
The Alterra Mountain Company struggled last ski season. While its eastern mountains had good seasons, Alterra’s Western destinations struggled with below-average snowfall and warm temperatures, which culminated in the surprise departure of CEO Jared Smith. Major events that followed for Alterra included the parting of ways with Steamboat’s President and employee layoffs. They also agreed to move their headquarters to a different part of Denver after being offered incentives from local governments.
Australia Has Historically Bad Winter
Australia’s ski season started normal enough, with cold weather and snow. El Niño tends to not be friendly to Australians, and that was the case this past winter. Australia had many warm and rainy days, which didn’t help operations. After saying crikey many times, many ski resorts closed much earlier than they projected. The season officially concluded on September 25th at Peirsher Resort.
Chile Has Historic Ski Season, With Mixed Bag In Argentina
The ski season started badly in Chile, so much so that international news outlets were highlighting the strange scenes at ski resorts. Then the snow came in monumental fashion. It resulted in historically snowy winters at Las Leñas, La Parva, Portillo, and Valle Nevado. It wasn’t all great, though, as the ski resorts near Ushuaia, Argentina, struggled. For South America, the biggest story was the Chilean government’s rejection of Mountain Capital Partners’ plan to acquire several ski resorts. MCP reportedly remains interested in acquiring the ski resorts, which include El Colorado.
Europe’s Summer Ski Season Melts Away
Typically, a handful of ski resorts in Europe stay open through the summer. Some resorts even made it through an entire year of operations, including Zermatt Bergbahnen. Record temperatures led to closures at Zermatt, Saas-Fee, and the Stelvio Glacier. With Zermatt Bergbahnen closing for a long stretch, it marked the possible end of year-round skiing in Europe. This summer, the entrance to Europe’s most iconic ski trail was destroyed: the Vallée Blanche. Ski season has started for several European ski resorts, but weather is again impacting operational schedules.
Fire Destroys Hotel At Chilean Ski Resort
Not every ski resort in Chile had a great ski season. Earlier this month, a fire broke out at Hotel Altos Nevados at Nevados de Chillán. It spread to nearby facilities, causing further damage. The plan is reportedly to demolish the existing hotel and rebuild it in time for the 2027 season. The season ended for the public on September 20th after one of the volcanoes they’re situated on erupted, a recurring issue for the ski resort.
New Zealand Has Decent Season
After an underwhelming past few seasons, some club ski fields had to alter their operating schedules. While one ski field saw some April skiing and another began offering skiing in late May thanks to an all-weather snowmaking system, several major ski resorts had to delay their opening dates to wait for warmer weather. Following that, most ski resorts in the country have had a good season. With recent snowfall, it’s looking like a solid bounce-back season for the Kiwis. Looking ahead, the big story is The Remarkables’ expansion into The Doolans, which would make it the country’s largest ski resort.
Vail Resorts In The Midst Of Proxy Battle
Vail Resorts’ struggles continued past last winter’s woeful conditions. Conditions in Australia, where Vail owns three ski resorts, likely won’t ease shareholders’ worries. Billionaire Matthew Prince continued his public criticism of the company in an attempt to have Vail Resorts sell him Park City Mountain Resort. Oasis Management has initiated a proxy battle over Vail Resorts, proposing that former Disney CEO Bob Chapek, Olympian Picabo Street, and two others join the Board of Directors. Vail Resorts released its fiscal year results earlier this week, showing the challenges of the past year and the struggles ahead for the company and the ski industry this upcoming winter.
Wildfires Destroy Two U.S. Ski Resorts
Probably the most devastating news from the dry summer was the wildfires that occurred across the West. Two ski resorts in the Western U.S. were drastically impacted by wildfires.
The first one transpired at Eagle Point Resort. The Cottonwood Fire rammed through the Utah ski resort, destroying various buildings and one of its base lodges. The lifts were damaged, and the terrain has been drastically altered. Eagle Point will not operate during the 2026-27 season because of this tragedy, but it is working hard toward a comeback.
The second occurred at Maverick Mountain. The Sand Creek Fire torched the small Montana ski area, damaging the chairlift, buildings around the summit, and the terrain. Luckily, the base lodge and planned lift replacement parts were spared. Maverick Mountain is unlikely to operate this upcoming winter, with a local skier leading a fundraising effort to help them rebuild.
Ultimately, wildfires out West, warm weather in Europe, and inconsistent weather in the Southern Hemisphere show the challenges the ski industry faces in the years ahead as the climate evolves. I’m not using the actual scientific phrase it goes by because it could trigger somebody.
Image/Video Credits: Eagle Point Resort, City and County of Denver, ChamonixSkiBum, Mount Olympus Ski Field
