Tag: snowbrains.com

One of the most consistent ribbons: Arapahoe Basin, Colorado.|  Image: SnowBrains You either love it or hate it. The snowy strip of snowsport survivalism. The pitiful path of piss-drunk plankers. The frozen freeway of flailing fools. The White Ribbon of Death! Some see it as a trap to be avoided at all costs. Some see…

The view Nor’West from famed Ohau Ridge. Photo: P.M.Fadden Photo Essay From Winter, 2026 October 3rd & 4th marked a sun-drenched winter finale at Ohau Snowfields. The New Zealand snow was softly playful, atmosphere perfectly in-tune; and while a closing date is sadly-sweet as matter of course, it feels somehow like coming full circle. Whimsy…

Lake Louise Ski Resort in Banff, Alberta | Image: Jill Scarpato/SkiBig3 For the past few weeks, a new morning ritual has emerged in my day-to-day. Before I open my inbox, I sip my first coffee along with a little virtual shopping for gear. Sure, I have a closet full of insulated, waterproof, and merino wool…

The popular YouTube channel Direct Weather has released its October forecast, and it’s abundantly clear that super El Niño has arrived. In fact, the charts showing forecast precipitation anomalies could have been plucked out of a meteorology textbook. Super El Niño Has Arrived That means the southern tier of the continental U.S. will likely see…

Our guest today is Jeff Banks, CEO and Founder of AspectAvy, a real-time avalanche location intelligence tool for backcountry travelers across America. But this episode of The SnowBrains Podcast is a little different. Instead of focusing on Jeff’s backstory and the incredible work Aspect Avy is doing for the backcountry ski community, Jeff joins us on…

Credit: ECMWF The South America snow forecast keeps the central Andes in focus as the ongoing storm delivers substantial additional snow through Wednesday, followed by smaller waves into Friday. Valle Nevado, El Colorado, and La Parva lead the remaining accumulation, with colder elevations offering the best snow quality and preservation. Farther south, fresh snow opportunities…

Credit: ECMWF Europe’s snow forecast brings a modest Alpine snowfall Thursday into Friday, followed by a warmer and largely dry spell. Val Thorens has the strongest accumulation signal, with smaller additions across Switzerland and scattered neighboring mountains. Falling snow levels will help whiten higher terrain, but dense snow and subsequent warming make this primarily an…

Street-style skiing and snowboarding feature manmade features like rails, stairs, and boxes. | Credit: FIS The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) Freestyle World Cup is adding a new discipline to the family. At the annual FIS autumn meetings in Geneva, Switzerland, last week, representatives from across the freestyle skiing and snowboarding community gathered to discuss…

Big Sky Resort, MT, was voted the best resort in the USA. | Image: Big Sky Resort Big Sky Resort,  Montana, has been named the No. 1 ski resort in the U.S. in Condé Nast Traveler’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards. Voted on by travelers, the recognition reflects the culmination of Big Sky 2025, the resort’s…

Skier Sander Hadley goes big in Corbet’s Couloir. | Photo: Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Who doesn’t like a good challenge? For many, a picturesque ski day involves long blue cruisers, open fields of powder, and relaxed après at a cozy slopeside lodge. However, for some, the perfect run involves harrowing steeps, mandatory airs, sketchy straight…