Legacy outdoor brand the North Face crossed into a new frontier of exploration early this week with the launch of their latest line of winter gear, a collaboration with Skims, the intimates and shapewear brand headed by Kim Kardashian. The 14-piece collection includes a mixture of baselayers, puffer jackets, hats, gloves, balaclavas, and footwear and has already sold out in stores and online since the Dec. 10 release.

A main piece of the collection includes a jacket reminiscent of retro North Face style but in the neutral colorways that Skims fans will instantly recognize. “Kim Kardashian has a love of skiing. She also has a love of the North Face’s archival design,” says Sandra Clark, director of global brand marketing at the North Face. “You may have seen her in one of our Nuptse jackets [named for the Himalayan peak]. She’s got a few of our iconic pieces and she’s even tailored some, so we used that input in our design.”

The collection includes a range of winter gear, including insulated jackets, performance-oriented base layers, and essential accessories for skiing and cold weather. It emphasizes warmth, functionality, and iconic styles, with pieces suited for both casual and technical use. Prices range from mid-range to luxury, from $60 to $1,200 (Skims brought in $713 million in 2023, ).

The Refina is a baselayer capsule within the collaboration collection, featuring a quarter-zip top, leggings, and a one-piece. Designed for performance, the Refina pieces use a material brand-new to the North Face, combining Skims-esque Lycra with their FlashDry technology. This innovative fabric wicks moisture away from the skin, keeping you dry, cool, and comfortable during high-intensity activities. The pieces blend Skims’ body-conscious design—evident in features like the high neck and cinched midsection—with the North Face’s technical expertise, delivering both style and functionality. “It’s all about stretch and compression, giving you that secure fit you would expect from Skims,” says Sandra Clark, director of global brand marketing at the North Face. This material will also feature in future North Face products, including their Spring ’25 collection.

Other pieces in the collaboration feature the North Face’s DotKnit moisture-wicking fabric, also used in their Summit Series line. The leggings and top fit are slightly looser than the Refina, making it ideal for high-intensity activities like touring. The Skims-inspired design includes a high-waisted legging and a top with a signature neckline, combining functionality with modern style.

Social media posts teasing the collab went live last week, featuring skiers in tidy formations atop snowy peaks in the Chilean Andes at El Colorado. By featuring a mix of professional models and skiers, including , and, the two brands aimed to highlight a message Clark hopes is evident to consumers: This collaboration promotes exploration for everyone and invites more women into snow sports.

The public response, however, has been mixed. While some consumers praised the aesthetics, others criticized the collaboration for prioritizing fashion over function, questioning its utility for serious skiers and its alignment with the North Face’s sustainability values.

One Instagram user commented, “North Face disappointing again. This is a fashion collab designed for women’s bodies to be looked at, but the functionality is useless. Where would you actually use this beyond the bunny hill or après?”

Amid the critiques, commending comments also appeared, such as one user who enthusiastically wrote, “Damn, ima figure out how to board for this.” One Reddit user wrote, “As a Seattle Native, North Face is like our designer brand. I have friends who have never once mentioned the Kardashians to me, and they talked about this [collection] today.” The mixed responses underscore the polarizing nature of blending fashion-forward designs with a traditionally performance-driven sport.

Cassie Abel, founder of the sustainability-focused , who designs with backcountry and freeride skiers and riders in mind, acknowledges the market for women-led resort outerwear brands to lead the way in style.

“I think there is a place for all of us, and I’m thrilled to see other women taking the lead in making products we want and need, no matter the style or skill level,” says Abel. “I don’t believe there is a right or wrong here—it all comes down to personal preference and use cases.”

However, when it comes to attracting more women to snow sports, Abel, who founded , an annual holiday encouraging everyone to shop from , is skeptical that a collaboration between the North Face and Skims hits the mark.

“I’m disappointed in this one. As a leader in the outdoor space, I’d expect the North Face to have better filters in place to ensure they’re working with brands with aligned values,” she says, referring to the low scores Skims has received on many human rights and environmental policies. A report by advocacy group Remake gave Skims a zero score in its 2024 accountability report, citing issues with transparency, wages, and environmental impact.

“At this stage, I would expect every outdoor brand to uphold the highest levels of respect for people and the planet,” Abel added. “If not from a values standpoint, because our industry depends on it.”

This is not the first time the North Face has received mixed attention for their collab projects. The brand has a history of collaborations with pop culture and mainstream brands, often in the designer sphere, like Gucci, Supreme, Comme Des Garçons, Maison Margiela, Timberland, and Vans. However, the partnership with Skims represents a new direction for the company. Dave Whetstone, the North Face’s director of global collaborations and energy, says this collaboration pushes the brand’s boundaries by integrating Skims’ body-conscious designs and neutral color palettes with the North Face’s technical performance wear.

“Skims has a price point that’s more accessible than other fashion collab. This one felt more unexpected but also more accessible,” Whetstone explained.

He says this collab is about an inclusive introduction to the North Face and exploring new possibilities, especially as Skims is innately feminine, something the North Face hasn’t explored as much with other projects.

“We are always looking for brands that are innovating and in tune with culture, and Skims is doing that, especially for women when it comes to fit, function, and style,” says Clark. “We are proud that we were able to honor one another’s DNA.”

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It’s officially that very special time of year again.

The newest Warren Miller film is coming soon, and this year marks a major milestone: the feature film’s 75th anniversary. The first movie produced by the iconic filmmaker debuted back in 1949 as the world was introduced to a whole new way to watch skiing. And today the first official trailer for “75” is live.

“The film showcases a diverse mix of snowsports icons, Olympic hopefuls, and emerging talents,” said Warren Miller Executive Producer Josh Haskins. “It’s unlike anything we’ve crafted before and is poised to ignite excitement and winter stoke in theaters nationwide this fall.”

The official film premiere is Oct. 15 in Boulder, Colo.—an especially meaningful day that would have marked Miller’s 100th birthday. () Celebrations will extend far off the silver screen with a festival-style street party. If you can’t make it to Boulder, the film is going on the road for an almost 100-city North American tour.

This year’s film lineup features 10 all-new segments that will deliver 90 minutes of action and storytelling. The itinerary will take fans to powder stashes and iconic destinations worldwide, from Canada, Colorado, California, and Utah to Finland, Japan, Austria, and New Jersey.

The athlete lineup for Warren Miller’s “75” is stacked, featuring skiers including Max Hitzig, Lexi duPont, Caite Zeliff, Aaron Blunck, Alex Ferreira, and Cassie Sharp, plus snowboarders Shaun White, Zeb Powell, Toby Miller, Danny Davis, and 15-year-old phenom LJ Henriquez.

There’s a 25 percent discount for all new and current şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř+ members who snag tickets before Sept. 19, and tickets for the general public are on sale now at full price.

For more information about the tour, including the schedule, visit .

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A helicopter transporting skiers crashed in the Pennine Alps of Switzerland Tuesday morning, leaving three passengers dead and another three injured.

The crash took place shortly before 9:30 a.m. near a heliski landing site on the northern face of Petit Combin, according to The victims have been identified as 45-year-old American ski guide Adam George, helicopter pilot and father of two Jerome Lovely, and James Goff, whose nationality has yet to be verified. George, a New Hampshire native, was an established mountaineer and ski guide. He leaves behind his wife and fellow ski guide , and their young daughter.

Seven rescue aircrafts, including helicopters from Zermatt and Swiss Air rescue unit REGA, were deployed to help locate and recover the victims, (translated to English). Survivor Edward Courage of the UK is believed to have saved the other two survivors, brothers Teddy and Guy Hitchens, also believed to be from the UK, by pushing them out of the helicopter as it began to slide down the mountainside, Ěý°ů±đ±č´Ç°ůłŮ˛ő.

Courage, of the Courage Brewery family that lives in Verbier, was found after about five hours of searching. The skier had fallen into a 98-foot crevasse but landed on a ledge. He was located by his beacon and airlifted to a nearby hospital where he underwent surgery to repair several broken bones.

The helicopter, a B3-type operated by , was en route to the top of the Petit Combin near Verbier when it began to side down the northern slope. The Telegraph also cited eyewitness testimony that the helicopter was consumed by an avalanche, leaving only debris at the initial crash site.

The weather on the morning of the crash was reportedly sunny with the occasional gust of wind. The cause of the crash is under investigation by both the Swiss Federal Prosecutor’s Office (MPC) and the SESE (Swiss Safety Investigation Service).

This crash is believed to be the third helicopter in Valais this year, and the first commercial incident. This incident also occurred nearby but is unrelated to Monday’s , which killed three.

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Meet AspectAvy, an app made exclusively for skiing and riding in the backcountry using avalanche data to help users better predict when and where catastrophic events will occur in real time. 

“This one app has the ability to save hundreds of lives in the backcountry every year,” Co-founder Jeff Banks explains.

“Statistics on avalanches show a clear relationship between the stability of the snowpack and the slope angle in which avalanches occur,” “We use this information to provide recommendations that take the guesswork out of determining where the safe slopes are.”

Since the 2020 through 2021 season, there have been approximately 84 U.S. deaths in the backcountry due to avalanches, according to the . The vast majority of deaths are skiers which almost always double than any other activity including hiking, or snowboarding. 

The team behind AspectAvy, a tech designer and an American Mountain Guide Association trainer and test administrator believe that all of these deaths could have been prevented, and that if users had been closely following the app they may still be here today. The app will take into account live data from the North American Public Avalanche Danger Scale, which works much like a fire safety danger sign that you may see outside of a campground or state park and rates avalanche conditions based on a variety of factors. The scale also notes that there are different danger levels depending on the elevation a skier is traversing through. 

The app will also take into consideration which are generated through four different factors including the type or description of the avalanche, the location, the likelihood of an avalanche occurring, and the potential size. While it is nearly impossible to predict exactly what type of avalanche will occur, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center notes that avalanches have myriad personalities and the four factors will help predict as closely as possible. 

In addition to the data from the avalanche danger scale, and avalanche problems the app will offer a map feature that will give users the safest possible route through the backcountry based on the information available. Using , the same technology used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration AspectAvy will help users find the path of least danger for a backcountry tour. 

“Lidar, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges (variable distances) to the Earth,” according to the NOAA. “These light pulses—combined with other data recorded by the airborne system — generate precise, three-dimensional information about the shape of the Earth and its surface characteristics.”

Finally, the app will offer coaching to help users find their “blind spot” and address what might be keeping them in harm’s way, “We help riders identify their blind spots by coaching them to avoid their biases, improve their planning and execute on processes that will effectively manage their risk,” according to the app. 

The app launches in the app store for iPhone today, and you can . The creators note that the app is not a substitute for formal avalanche training. 

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They say only about 1 percent of the world’s population will run a marathon. That may be true, but once you see the crowds at the starting village of a marathon, you might find yourself thinking, Just how big is that 1 percent?

It’s no surprise that organized races and the popularity of running have increased since the pandemic. According to the World Athletics Organization, four in ten people consider themselves to be runners. And one trend to come out of the whirlwind interest in running is the idea of marathon travel.

It sounds somewhat oxymoronic: running a marathon while on vacation. However, many destination races give runners a reason to travel and bring loved ones in tow.

There are essentially two categories of races: the Abbott World Marathon Majors, and everything else. The Abbotts are exactly what their name assumes—major international events that attract elite runners and amateurs alike. Many runners seek to run all six of them to earn the highly coveted Six Star Medal and a permanent place in the Abbott Hall of Fame. For the average runner, race day offers unparalleled cheering crowds, support, and up to 50,000 fellow participants.

Better yet, the six races are in awesome locations that know how to pull off festive, successful big sporting events, giving runners and spectators all the more reason to sign up for the experience, whether you’re running, cheering someone on, or just going for the fun energy. The Tokyo, Boston, and London marathons take place in the spring, and those in Berlin, Chicago, and New York City occur in the fall. Each is known for something unique, like Boston’s fast racers and New York’s electric crowd. Abbott will be adding a seventh race in 2025, either in Sydney, , South Africa, or . The decision will be announced in 2024.

Some hotels have stepped up to help runners and spectators feel at home. Guests at participating Westin Hotels, a brand that  are treated to that offers top-of-the-line Hyperice massage guns, compression sleeves, and vibrating rolling balls, perfect for breaking up the plantar fascia after a long day of travel. Guests can also take advantage of equipment from Bala and borrow ankle weights or stretching equipment. 

During marathon weekends, guests and visitors are encouraged to visit the Westin Marathon Zone, which is equipped with a poster-making station, snacks, full-leg compression sleeves, and plenty of positive energy. It’s also a resource for runners to meet one another and coordinate their trip safely to early-morning start corrals. 

While the six majors take much of the spotlight when it comes to destination marathons, they aren’t the only races worth traveling for. I’ve also got my eye on marathons in Honolulu, California’s Napa Valley, Australia’s Gold Coast (where I studied abroad), and Ireland’s Dingle County.

Runners looking for a challenge (because sometimes 26.2 miles isn’t enough) should consider Switzerland’s Jungfrau Marathon, with almost 6,400 feet in elevation gain; California’s Big Sur Marathon (often noted as one of the nation’s most scenic and challenging races); South Africa’s Big Five Marathon, where you may see some native animals as you run the hills; or China’s Great Wall Marathon, which takes place on the Unesco World Heritage site.

 

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Looking for pure fun? Disney World, in Florida, is home to several races and hosts running festivals in which participants can complete a 5K, 10K, half, and full marathon in a week. Or travel to France for the Marathon du Medoc, which has 23 wine-tasting stops and oyster and fine-meat stands. Plus, racers dress up in costume. 

Jamie Aranoff is a digital editor for Ski magazine and an avid skier and runner. She ran in the 2022 New York City and 2023 Chicago Marathons, both for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. Her goal is to complete all six (or soon to be seven) world major marathons.

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Two Vail resorts are transforming their gondolas with custom-made art from two separate artists, each with a unique tie-in.

At Stowe, artwork will be taking over a handicap-accessible gondola, on the SkyRide line, and at Park City ’s diversity-inspired piece will wrap a cabin on the QuickSilver lift. Both artists were hand-selected by the Vail team for their artistic abilities and unique backgrounds that inspire such creativity.

For Harris, art has always been part of his life and a way to express himself. However, he noticed a “sharp distinction” in his creative process after a kiteskiing accident left him with a life-altering spine injury in 2014, causing paralysis. Now, as a walking paraplegic who finds himself frequently on skis, Harris has a strong commitment to helping others with disabilities enjoy time on snow.

“I feel passion involved with the adaptive sports scene at Stowe,” Harris explains. “Stowe has a strong adaptive ski and sports program, and even without having a previous history of visiting it’s really easy to feel some sort of kinship with a place that cares and has similar goals for accessibility.”

The handicap-accessible cabin on Stowe’s SkyRide gondola is wrapped with Harris’s signature landscape-based, topographic map-inspired artwork. The cabin is ADA-accessible and physically bigger to accommodate wheelchairs and necessary apparatus for skiing.

The inspiration for Harris’s piece “Creating Your Line” came after his first visit to Stowe last March. “My work is landscape-based, and I really like looking out at land and terrain. Pre-spine injury I was really good at reading maps and there’s almost this skill with looking at topographic maps… [as an artist], I try to be faithful to what the terrain actually looks like and create optical illusions on paper so its a little bit less work than having to read a map.”

About 2,300 miles West of Harris’s topographic map splendor in Stowe, Lamont Joseph White is bringing his artistic lens of diversity to the slopes at Park City. As a fine artist, painter, and digital designer White has been working in the arts for 30 years. His artwork “brings something different” and he hopes when people see his work it will not only inspire a conversation but also bring joy.

In “Uplifted” White tries to encapsulate the idea of “feeling different in the mountains” through using people he knows to serve as models and amalgamations for his artwork. Raised in New York City, White didn’t have the traditional mountain upbringing like many of his now peers, and part of his artwork journey tells his story of feeling somewhat out of place in a contrasting environment.

“I want to bring something different to the mountain, something different than our traditional norms to mountain or snow sport spaces, it’s a place I’ve recreated in for close to 30 years and it is close to how I’ve felt to some degree, just different in the mountains than most of the people I saw there,” White said. “And I’m hoping that because I did explore that subject that’s why they [Vail] chose me for the project, to show something different than the norm.”

In total it took White about six months from project start to completion, adding that as a Park City resident, he wanted to see the wrapping in person, adding he is looking forward to seeing it with a snowy background.

Both Gondolas are in service at their respective resorts which plan to open for skiing quite soon. Park City has a scheduled opening date of Nov.17 and Stowe the following day on Nov.18. Both artists are also featured in the online gallery in a series of mini films

The Gondola Galery by Epic plans to unveil one more cabin in Spring 2024 at Whistler Blackcomb featuring artwork and collaboration from the .

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If you’ve ever wondered what 28-year-old and two-time 2023 ESPY award winner Mikaela Shiffrin thinks is the toughest part of racing, well, it’s not actually the physical demands. We recently caught up with her during a quick break between training in Chile and jetting off to Europe to begin the World Cup season, and if there’s one thing clear it’s that Shiffrin is ready to ski, and we are more than ready to watch her season begin.

At the start of her season, it’s always hard to predict what exactly will become Shiffrin’s largest hurdle. And, as she told us, it might not even be a physicality. Shiffrin’s biggest challenge is mental when it comes to racing and competing. And even with her outstanding record and G.O.A.T. status (although ), she takes everything as it comes.

“I think its more difficult to train mentally [than physically] because you can’t train for something when you don’t know what to expect, so it’s more taking it as it comes versus training for something,” Shiffrin says, adding “I don’t know how I’m going to feel at the first race or at the middle or end of the season. I need to use the support system around me, and just take it as it comes.” She also places a heavy emphasis on the people she surrounds herself with who help prop her up.

“That support system is the most important thing, and being able to take advantage of the time that we have together with my family and the closest people around me when I get that time those are things that keep me in a good mental place to be able to go to the races.”

And as the race season commences at the Shiffrin is ready, and excited to be back (and since that means it’s practically ski season in the Northern Hemisphere, we couldn’t be more in sync). We, however, aren’t staring down the slalom wondering if we’ll secure 100 wins, unlike Shiffrin, who most certainly has it in the back of her mind.

THANK YOU to and especially our team (the coaches—Karin and Mark + my physio Regan, as well as my amazing servicemen duo—Robi and Lukas—for working so hard with the tough weather to still make the training days super productive!

— Mikaela Shiffrin (@MikaelaShiffrin)

“Right now, it’s not based off of any kind of record or specific kind of performance I want to have, it really just boils down to— I want to ski fast, I want to still feel like I have the ability that I’m still improving, and I feel good.” Oh, and on that coveted, golden hundred? “It sounds kind of simple to say, and there’s a certain amount of focus I have to put on results, but I try to keep my focus on my skiing and the clarity I want to feel when I’m on my skis and how I want to race. Hopefully, that won’t be the biggest challenge this year since the record happened last year, but now everyone’s talking about one hundred so please just get out of my head,” the latter comment she mentioned while shooing her hand away from her head, giggling.

Numbers and records aside, Shiffrin is already looking forward to her favorite event. It’s not on legendary soon-to-be Olympic snow in Cortina, or even the season opener in Soelden, Austria. Shiffrin has her eyes set on Vermont. will once again take place over Thanksgiving weekend and is set to have one hundred women from 21 nations competing for the podium.

“I’m always excited for Killington. The home races are always really exciting. They always manage to pull it off just before the race because they have the most powerful snowmaking on the planet.” She’s also looking forward to the roar of the crowds, “The people come from all over the East Coast, and they’re the biggest crowds we see on the entire World Cup. The crowds are unbelievable.”

And a face within those massive crowds? Well, that might just be singer-songwriter and famed Vermont native Noah Kahan. Kahan has spectated and performed at the Killington Cup in years prior and recently had a profile written about him as , and the writer? None other than Mikaela Shiffrin, who happened to spend several years living closeby to Kahan’s hometown while attending Burke Mountain Academy.

So many incredible people on this list. Beyond honored to be a part of this. Thank you so much to for such a kind write up. Upper valley forever

— Noah Kahan (@NoahKahan)

“I got a chance to meet Noah this year, he’s done some projects with the U.S. Ski team, and he did a concert in Killington… and then stayed for [the Women’s slalom] race and watched from the finish area, and at the time I didn’t make the connection. Then [this summer] came to the Taylor Swift concert with my teammates and me, and it was just the most wild experience.” Shiffrin explained that despite thinking he was part of the team when they first met (he was, after all wearing U.S. Ski team gear) they’ve kept in touch.

“And with that connection is why I think TIME asked me to write the piece. They give you the option between doing an interview and having a TIME writer write the piece, or doing it yourself and I said, I have to do this, and make it perfect and meaningful,” adding “If he reads this, I want him to cry.”

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Lindsey Vonn is perpetually in motion. Now that she’s fully retired from her championship career on the U.S. Ski Team, she’s running her foundation, keeping up her wellness routines, and was even spotted at the . She’s also halfway through a series of knee-replacement surgeries to repair the damage sustained across 19 seasons of racing.

After announcing her official retirement in 2019 Vonn has been placing a major emphasis on rest and recovery, mainly so she can live the post-retirement life she’s always envisioned, and do so pain-free. However, retirement has not necessarily been a walk in the park (or should we say a ski down the bunny hill?).

“I knew it was going to be a challenge when I retired from racing,” she said during a Zoom interview with SKI. “I was hoping maybe it would be less of a challenge than it has been, but I have no regrets. Right now I’m working to get a pain-free happy lifestyle.”

To achieve her goal, Vonn has been undergoing several knee surgeries to prepare herself for her full knee replacement, a direct result of her career as a racer. Her first knee-related surgery was back in 2013, and she’s not done yet. The skier is in the process of recovering from her most recent knee surgery now, with a full knee replacement on the horizon.

“It’s been three weeks now and it [the most recent surgery] was more of a bone repair, so that’s why I was able to get back to activity pretty quickly. In total it’ll take four or five months for the bone to fully heal, and I’m doctor-approved to do any activity that doesn’t hurt me,” she explained.

In addition to her grappling with knee pain, Vonn has been open about her struggles in falling and staying asleep due to her insomnia, which she believes began with the onset of her knee surgery ten years ago. “This is actually the first surgery I’ve had where I’m not suffering from insomnia, so it’s a different recovery process for me and I feel like I’m healing better,” she explained.

And when her insomnia does get the best of her Vonn comes prepared. She has a curated routine that includes writing in her journal taking medication, and even has a special nighttime scent (a candle for home and a spray for on the road), , to remind her of home.

“I feel that if I keep those things consistent I’m able to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer,” Vonn says, explaining how the routine helps her to wind down and get to a state where she actually wants to go to sleep.

Feeling well rested has helped Vonn recover more quickly and spend more time doing the things she loves, like getting back on the mountain and skiing with friends and family, traveling, and running her namesake foundation, the.

While skiing isn’t the primary focus of the foundation, Vonn’s philanthropic efforts help give underserved girls scholarships to experience different types of activities, camps, and sports, skiing being one of them. The foundation also hosts an annual gala that took place in mid-August in Park City, Utah. “Every year we do a theme for our big fundraiser, so if readers want to come up with a theme they can DM the , Vonn shared, adding “We don’t get a lot of these suggestions, so any and all are welcome.”

 

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And while she won’t be competing, Vonn already has her eye on a few racers for the upcoming season and on toward the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina:

“Breezy Johnson and Bella Wright. Breezy’s been coming back from a knee surgery last year and I think she’s incredibly strong mentally and physically. Sofia Goggia is a good friend of mine and she’s been working very hard. And of course, seeing Mikaela [Shiffrin] and seeing how many more wins she can get. On the men’s side [Marco] Odermatt is a really exciting racer to watch.”

Vonn also voiced her excitement for the Olympic course. “It’s going to be exciting to have an Olympics in such a classic venue, downhill racers specifically. Sometimes the Olympics aren’t traditionally tracks we race on, so having Cortina be an Olympic track is pretty incredible.”

And even though she finds herself not baking banana bread as much as she did back in 2010, during frequent weather delays at the Vancouver Olympics, Vonn was kind enough to share her secret about her famous baked good with us “There’s no butter. And my secret ingredient is applesauce.”

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An unexpected gust of wind forced a chair to detach from a lift at Thredbo Ski Resort in New South Wales, Australia on the afternoon of Aug.18, injuring three snowboarders.

A “freak gust of wind” on the Kosciuszko Quad Express close to the top of the lift station caused one chair to fall several meters into the snow below, according to the The ABC also reported that wind gusts were measured at around 33 miles per hour at the top of the lift several minutes before the accident took place.

Three riders in their 20s and 30s were hurt. They were taken in for medical care for both back and facial injuries, one requiring a helicopter lift.

In an Instagram story, the resort stated that “Thredbo is committed to the safety of our guests and our people. The incident is being thoroughly investigated by Safework NSW and independent experts.

The Kosciuszko quad express is Australia’s longest lift, and is 33 years old, the ABC reported. Saturday’s incident is not the first for the resort. A chair snapped off of the line in 2019, causing a rider to fall approximately 30 feet. The cause was also a freak gust of wind. On that day, some gusts were clocked at up to 70 mph with an average of 50 mph, according to the resort. In 2016, a similar event occurred when an empty chairlift on the Gunbarrel Chairlift was also blown off by wind gusts.

The resort reopened the lift the following day, and full mountain operations have resumed.

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A new report has been released following the untimely death of a ski patroller at a Park City Mountain resort earlier this year, finding Vail Resorts ultimately responsible.

The report conducted by Utah Occupational Safety and Health (UOSH) and obtained by Ski states that the accident occurred on Jan. 2, when a tree fell on a lift line, launching 29-year-old Christian Helger in the air and into a deep snow bank approximately 50 feet from the lift, and according to the local medical examiner died of asphyxia. The report concluded this is a “serious violation” of workplace safety, and UOSH has fined Vail Resorts $2,500. The report also noted an additional ten or so people on the lift who were all safely evacuated.

A statement released by Vail reads: “The Park City Mountain team is deeply saddened by the tragic death of our team member, Christian Helger. We extend our deepest sympathy to his family and friends.”

Before the accident, there were two days of heavy snowfall, resulting in a fresh and heavy 48 inches of snow settled around the Park City area, according to the report, and on Jan. 1, one day before Helger’s death, a tree fell on the same “Short Cut” lift. The lift was temporarily stopped while staff removed the tree.

The UOSH report also notes that lift employees came forward after the incident on their shortcomings to check for hazards before starting the lifts, and an investigation by also determined that “Utah requires lift lines to have a 5-foot clearance zone free of tree branches and all other vegetation.”

Despite the atrocity of life lost, this is incredibly rare and a “freak accident,” Vermont State University Professor of Mountain Resort Management Concentration Sean Doll says.

“I’ve asked other people, in fact, I’ve asked the lawyer at the National Ski Association, and even he couldn’t come up with a case where there was a fatality with a tree falling on a rope. Personally, I can’t remember anything or conjure up anything on this ever happening and other folks who I’ve talked to over time weren’t able to come up with anything either,” says Doll.

Doll acknowledged that trees occasionally fall on ropes, but in most cases, the tree is brittle enough to break apart as it hits the rope. Adding that, “As a rule, I think most ski areas trim back trees because there is a certain distance from the lift ropeway. Usually, that happens during the Summer, guys will go through and will drop trees, or they’ll trim back branches. During the season, typically, it’s the patroller riding the lift who checks the surrounding area and listens in for anything weird.”

In this case, the tree was not brittle or dying. The OSHA report states the tree was healthy, and Doll suggests that because of this the tree probably wouldn’t have been on the summer trim list.

“If there’s any logic behind this tree falling, that [heavy wet snow] would be it,” he says.

With heavy snowfall in the West, some skiers may be worried about the likelihood of a similar accident. However, Doll suggests otherwise.

“I don’t think people should be worried about getting on a lift.” Adding that there are so many “checks and balances that go into making a lift run for the season with regards to lift inspections and everything else, I don’t think people need to worry about that.”

After the incident, the shortcut lift was closed for the rest of the season.

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