New Zealand's 2026 ski season has kicked off weeks ahead of schedule, with Hanmer Springs Ski Area confirming it will open its lifts on Friday 24 April following an unusually heavy autumn snowfall. The announcement came via a characteristically low-key social media post from the volunteer-run club field, which has a quiet habit of beating the rest of the country to opening day.
The 2024-25 ski season set a new global record with 399 million skier visits worldwide - more people on snow than ever before. Nine countries account for nearly 80% of that total, with the US, France, and Austria holding the top three spots. Japan posted the biggest jump of any major market, driven largely by Australian and North American visitors chasing powder.
Late-season snowfall has delivered 30-40cm of fresh powder to Mammoth Mountain, one of only two California resorts still operating. The storm triggered delayed openings and widespread lift holds as crews tackled avalanche mitigation work.
Ski Montcalm in Quebec will launch night skiing operations for the 2026-27 season, covering nine trails and three lifts from Thursday through Sunday. The resort is adding light projections and soundscapes to one run, positioning the offering somewhere between traditional night skiing and a multimedia experience.
Park City Mountain Resort is converting the previously free Cabriolet lot at Canyons Village to paid parking from the 2026-27 season. The US$29 daily charge represents another reduction in free parking options across Utah resorts, though several workarounds remain available.
Prinoth has released the Leitwolf E-Motion, claiming it's the first fully electric snow groomer in the large-segment category. The machine features a 4.5-metre working width and bidirectional charging that could function as mobile grid storage when not grooming runs.
Canterbury ski areas are tracking up to 80 cm through Thursday morning as a multi-day storm system moves through New Zealand's South Island. Mt. Hutt and Porters sit in the bullseye, while the North Island faces stronger wind than snow and Queenstown-area resorts remain on the periphery.
St. Anton's annual Der Weisse Rausch race sends 555 skiers and snowboarders down 7.3 kilometres of slushy, mogulled terrain after the lifts close. The course includes uphill boot-packing and a final obstacle section that participants navigate with skis in hand.
Mt Rose closed for the 2024-25 season on Sunday with icy conditions marking the final day. The Tahoe area resort wrapped up a winter that locals describe as leaving "much snow to be desired", though some late-season storms briefly improved coverage in April.
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