J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by J2SkiNews

The two ski areas on Mt Ruapehu, Tūroa and Whakapapa, on New Zealand's North Island, which had been operated by one company claiming the stats for the two separate areas combined comprised "New Zealand's largest ski area" are to be run by two separate businesses, the country's media is reporting.

Ruapehu Alpine Lifts (RAL) entered voluntary administration earlier this year owing $45 million, a victim of the pandemic followed by a no/low snow season last winter, having also invested in major infrastructure upgrades in recent years, as well as warnings of Mt Ruapu erupting leading to an exclusion zone around the summit of the volcano for a period in 2022.

Now New Zealand's government is recommending a local business take over Tūroa, while Whakapapa may be run by a private equity firm with connections to some well known names in the New Zealand ski industry, NZ media company Newshub claimed, sating there had been four bidders for the ski areas.

"Owners of businesses and those who depend on the tourists that the mountain attracts are ecstatic about the developments," the NZ Herald reports.

Nexus: One Is Not Enough, a feature-length ski film featuring an all-female cast of skiers, will come to London for the first time this May. ALS Ski are excited to present an exclusive charity screening of Nexus in support of Protect Our Winters UK and Women of Winter. The screening will take place on the 30th May at the world renowned in Kensington.

"For years, top women in the ski industry have heard the same sentiment 'we already have a girl in this segment, one is enough'," said Michelle Parker, one of the industry's most prominent freeskiers and Nexus athlete. "If we want to see change in this industry, we need to be the ones out there moving it forward. Nexus is a milestone this industry was long overdue for," said Michelle Parker who stars in the film.

Nexus follows five distinct groups of female skiers, their connection to the mountains and how the sport shaped their relationships. From the Chugach Mountains in Alaska to the Grand Tetons in Wyoming, Nexus uses these dramatic backdrops to explore the lessons these athletes have learned on their skis. The film touches on human themes of adversity, strength, and friendship through each powder stash and couloir skied.

The female-produced and directed film is supported by Arc'teryx, Hydro Flask, Red Bull, Ikon Pass, Wild Rye, SMITH, SKIDA, Lensrentals, Hyperice, Anon, EXUM.

Tickets available via: [url]https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/als-ski-presents-nexus-one-is-not-enough-tickets-617708712387
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A late-spring storm brought snowfall to high slopes in Colorado on Friday, 12th May.

Arapahoe Basin, one of the world's highest ski areas (and planning to stay open into June), reported over a foot (13") of fresh snowfall in 24 hours.

For Breckenridge (pictured yesterday), open to the end of May, there was 5" of fresh snowfall reported.

Winter Park is the third ski area still open in the state and promising to stay open "as long as possible" on its Mary Jane slopes. It still has over five feet of snow lying on higher runs and more than 30 miles of runs reported open.

New Zealand's small Manganui Ski Area has opened the 2023 ski season early after heavy snowfall across the country's ski slopes.

The club operated ski field is believed to be the first in the southern hemisphere to open for the 2023 season, more than a month ahead of its expected opening date.

Up to 40cm, of snowfall was reported across New Zealand's ski slopes on Thursday, with Coronet Peak posting one of the biggest accumulations.

Manganui has four drag lifts serving a 420m vertical but no snowmaking and opens whenever the snow is good. Last winter it missed a lot of the season due to poor snow, but opened in November, a month aftermost southern hemisphere ski areas have ended their seasons, thanks to late spring snow.

There have been more significant snowfalls on high slopes in the Alps, continuing two months now of predominantly snowy, wintery weather after a fairly dry and sunny winter itself.

Most ski areas have now closed for the 22-23 season in the Alps of course, but Austria has five centres open and Hintertux has reported 50cm (20") of fresh snowfall this morning.

The new snow follows regular, smaller accumulations, with Tignes and Val d'Isere posting 30cm (12") of fresh snowfall on their glaciers a week ago on May 1st, when they were still open for skiing. Both closed for the ski season last weekend but will re-open for summer glacier skiing next month. Les 2 Alpes has already done that, opening early for summer skiing this year after closing for the last week of April at the end of their winter season.

The latest snowfall has been down to lower elevations with thew bike park at about 2,200m in Passo Tonale in Italy, where all ski areas are currently closed, receiving a white coat today too.

More than two-dozen US ski areas are still open for the 22-23 season, but the country's National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) reports that from season-end numbers already posted, there was record visitation at the country's ski areas for the 2022-23 season.

NSAA report a total of 64.7 million skier visits were recorded, a 6.6% increase over the 21-22 season and the highest in the 45 winters the group has been tracking skier visits since the 1978-79 season. A skier visit is recorded every time an individual uses a lift ticket or pass at a ski area.

"Skier visits are a key performance indicator for the ski industry. Two consecutive seasons of record visitation signals that the U.S. ski industry is healthy, and that the demand for outdoor recreation is strong. Factors contributing to this record season include: a robust snow year in the Rockies and Pacific Southwest regions; growing options of season passes and frequency products; and an increased desire to get outside, especially among lapsed skiers who have returned to the slopes since the pandemic," an NSAA spokesperson said.

Two of the six US ski regions recorded record skier visits, with the Rocky Mountain region reporting a record high number of skier visits for the second consecutive season, totalling 27.9 million. The Pacific Northwest region also finished with its best year on record, totalling 4.5 million. Other regions with increases in season-over-season skier visits were the Northeast and Pacific Southwest (3rd best year on record). Only two regions – the Southeast and Midwest – reported small decreases in skier visits compared to 2021-22.

The NSAA also posted a number of other positive numbers.

Firstly, the number of operating US ski areas is up from 473 last season to 481 this season, another positive indicator.

Second, capital investment by ski areas was at record levels, totalling $812.4 million in the 2022-23 season. The majority of capital expenditures was invested into lift infrastructure, with 63 new and 86 upgraded lifts installed at ski areas across the country. This made the average investment $26 per skier, a significant increase over the previous three-season average of $15 per skier.

Third, average snowfall at ski areas nationally totalled 224", a 30% increase over the 10-year average of 173". As a result, the average length of season was 116 days, an increase of six days over the previous season.

For the fourth season in a row, the NSAA reports that season passes including the Epic and Okon passes surpassed day tickets in share of skier visits. Season pass holders made up 50% of visits nationally, with standard day lift tickets claiming 33% of visits.

The US ski industry is also recorded as gradually recovering from last season's staffing challenges, with only 60% of ski areas reporting being understaffed, down from 81% last season. The average number of positions left unfilled also decreased from last year's high of 72 to an average of 39 positions this season. Average ski area wages increased 18% from the 2021-22 season, well outpacing the US national average of 4.6%.

Approximately half of all ski areas said they are planning to increase their workforce housing capacity, the NSAA reports.

Gurgl – the name for a number of neighbouring Austrian Tirol villages, the most famous of which is Obergurgl – have announced they'll be staging their first ever World Cup Slalom race this November, the opening slalom race of the 23-24 season.

Slalom stars like Britain's Dave Ryding, who is already sponsored by the resort, as well as Norway's Lucas Braathen and Henrik Kristoffersen, will gather for the first time at the resort promoted as the "Diamond of the Alps." The race will be staged on 18 November on the slopes of Kirchenkar in Hochgurgl.

The new race means that autumn 2023 will see the Ötztal region, where Gurgl is located, will become the centre of alpine ski racing twice within a few weeks. At the end of October, the FIS Alpine World Cup traditionally celebrates its season kick-off with two giant slalom events held at Rettenbach Glacier in Sölden.

Gurgl is traditionally one of the first winter ski areas in the Alps to open each season, in mid-November, which apparently helped convince International Ski Federation (FIS) that it weas a reliable location to stage an early season event after most had to be cancelled for lack of snow in October/November last season, except Sölden.

"This is a truly unique opportunity for us. In addition to the opening event on the glacier, we are now also putting our winter sports and snow expertise in the spotlight of the international public in Gurgl," explains Oliver Schwarz, Managing Director of Ötztal Tourismus. Both happiness about hosting this race and the commitment are great: "Our ambition is to establish Gurgl as an annual venue. We will prove that we are capable of doing so."

Even if the focus is on the professional athletes on 18 November, the Gurgl ski opening from 16 to 19 November will see the slopes open to all. The first of its 112 kilometres of runs served by 25 lifts with ski-in/ski-out options will be available.

Image credit: Ernst Lorenzi

Copper Mountain has announced it will be upgrading two of its key lifts, but not until winter 24-25.

The Colorado resort ended its 22-23 season on Sunday, but kept spirits up by announcing what it described as its largest investment plan in over a decade ahead of next winter.

Even though the 2022-23 ski and ride season is coming to a close at Copper Mountain Resort on Sunday, May 7, guests have plenty to look forward to next winter at the resort.

The biggest chunk of the money is going on a new mid-mountain restaurant, the Aerie, being built at the top of the American Eagle lift. It will be a 25,000-square-foot, two-storey building, with the gondola accessing the second-floor deck directly.

The Aerie will offer a full-service restaurant, bar and lounge, cafeteria and 270-degree views of the Gore and Tenmile Ranges.

On mountain there'll be expanded snowmaking, unspecified improvements to the Carefree trail, Lower Enchanted and Lyman Lane and five new terrain groomers.

In terms of the new lifts, the U.S. Forest Service recently gave Copper permission to replace both the Timberline and Lumberjack lifts and the resort is currently discussing option with both Leitner Poma and Doppelmayr with the aim of working starting in summer 2024.