This week in spring skiing news: Alterra goes all-in with Canadian-made electric snowmobiles, Sun Peaks offers 50 percent off to season pass holders of other ski areas anywhere in the world, Vail Resorts report lower participation so far this season, and a new global study predicts a significant drop in natural snow cover by 2100. Plus, The New Yorker chimes in with a cover illustration that says it all about the warm ski season of 2024.
SNOWMOBILES GO ELECTRIC
Fleets of Canadian-made electric snowmobiles will be employed at Alterra ski resorts starting next season. Montreal’s Taiga Motors Corp has been chosen to supply Nomad “sport-utility” snowmobiles to Alterra Mountain Company Resorts, including Tremblant, Blue Mountain, Steamboat and Palisades Tahoe. “We’ve been using our Nomad snowmobile for three months and have put it through its paces across the mountain,” says Éric Gadoua, Mountain Operations Director at Tremblant. “While our guests have been loving their odourless and quiet ride, our operations team is equally impressed with their performance and reliability.” Taiga is calling the Nomad “the world’s first mass-produced 100% electric snowmobile.” The company says the EV is emission-free, quiet, requires no powertrain maintenance and doesn’t use gas or oil. The snowmobile has a range of up to 100km and a towing capacity of 511 kilograms (1,125 pounds). Our question is: How well do the batteries stand up to the Canadian cold?
NEW STUDY PREDICTS SIGNIFICANT DROP IN NATURAL SNOW COVER BY 2100
A new global research article quantifies future trends in natural snow cover at seven major global skiing regions. Using different climate change scenarios, Global reduction of snow cover in ski areas under climate change finds that within all major skiing regions, snow cover days by the year 2100 are projected to decrease substantially under every assessed climate change scenario. “Thirteen percent of all current ski areas are projected to completely lose natural annual snow cover,” the study states, “and one fifth will experience a reduction of more than 50% by 2071–2100 relative to historic baselines.”
SUN PEAKS GIVES 50% OFF TO SEASON PASS HOLDERS FROM OTHER MOUNTAINS
Sun Peaks Resort is offering season pass holders from any ski area anywhere in the world, 50% off skiing to close out its 2023/24 winter season. From March 25 to April 7 (closing day), skiers with a valid alpine season pass just need to show their pass, ID, and proof of purchase at Sun Peaks Guest Services. The discount is also offered to multi-resort pass holders from any company worldwide. Spring events at Sun Peaks include the new Sip, Savour & Ski Festival, March 28-31—craft beverage tastings, artisanal food, games and music. Wonder Weekend (April 6-7) features the annual Slush Cup, Retro Days, Snow Way Down Bike Slalom, and Top to Bottom’s Run.
HEADS UP: WHISTLER’S BIG SPRING FEST IS COMING BACK
Born out of “a love for all that is mountain culture,” Whistler’s World Ski & Snowboard Festival (WSSF) has been the ultimate après of the winter season since 1996. The annual celebration of snow sports, music, arts, and culture runs April 8-14, 2024. Returning this year: 72-Hour Filmmaker Showdown, the Sea to Sky Photo Challenge, and the Saudan Couloir Race Extreme Presented by Helly Hansen. More info here.
VAIL RESORTS: SKIER VISITS DROP BY 9.7%
In its second-quarter report March 11, Vail Resorts revealed season-to-date total skier visits decreased 9.7% compared to the same time last year. “The results for the second quarter were negatively impacted by challenging conditions at all of our North American resorts,” said Kirsten Lynch, Vail CEO, “with approximately 42% lower snowfall across our western North American resorts through January compared to the same period in the prior year and limited natural snow and variable temperatures at our Eastern U.S. resorts.” She added that while visitation declined, total lift revenue increased 2.6% through March 3, 2024, a rise credited to this year’s increased cost of lift passes. Ski school revenue was up 5.5%, dining revenue down 0.5%, and retail/rental revenue for North American resort and ski area store locations was down 9.3%. Vail Resorts’ ancillary businesses performed well, said Lynch, “in particular our ski and ride school, dining and rental businesses experienced strong growth in spending per visit compared to the prior year.”
WATCH: SUSPENDED IN SPACE, A SURREALISTIC SHORT FILMED IN THE YUKON
“Suspended in Space” is among the first “surrealistic” ski films to showcase Canada’s Yukon Territory. The six-minute short premiered at the Whistler Film Festival and stars female pro skiers Kajsa Larsson and Celeste Pomerantz. Film notes describe the skiers as “entranced in time as the frozen winterscape awakens their souls” in heli-ski scenes and traditional dog mushing. The film is directed by two-time Cannes YDA nominee Cameron Thuman and produced by NativeFour, a team known for “winter films that redefine the snow-to-human connection.”
PARTING SHOT
As we close out an iffy and warm ski season of 2023/24, especially in the East, Peter de Sève’s “Downhill” illustration on the cover of the March 18 edition of The New Yorker says it all.
