Snow Sports Industry Digest: November 2026

October was a slow, nervous start to the 2026/27 European season. A record-warm Alpine summer left the glaciers short of snow, so openings were late and thin. The World Cup still went ahead in Sölden, and forecasters are pointing to a record El Niño and a mild, wet winter. For UK skiers the takeaways are clear: book high, expect variable snow, and turn up with kit that can handle ice and slush.

Top Stories

Sölden World Cup opener: a first win on new Van Deer skis, and a GB breakthrough

American Paula Moltzan, 32, won the women's giant slalom on the Rettenbach glacier for her first World Cup victory, beating Albania's Lara Colturi by 0.01s. Moltzan is the first woman to win on Van Deer skis, the brand founded by Marcel Hirscher. In the men's race, Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen won ahead of Loïc Meillard and Marco Odermatt. Britain's 19-year-old Freddy Carrick-Smith finished 12th and scored his first World Cup points.

Record El Niño points to a mild, wet Alpine winter with a high snow line

The Niño3.4 index hit +2.84 °C in September, the highest monthly value since records began in 1982. Seasonal models point to a milder, wetter winter across most of Europe, with plenty of snow above 1,800–2,000 m and rain in the valleys. Forecasters warn that low runs are at risk, especially around Christmas, and that rain on snow followed by a freeze turns pistes hard and icy. The advice is to go high, choose snow-sure resorts and stay flexible.

Dolomiti Superski opens claims for up to 30% back on past ski passes

After proceedings by Italy's competition authority, the 12 Dolomiti Superski resorts have set aside €30 million for customers. Anyone who bought a single-resort "valley" pass of 1–31 days in 2022/23, 2023/24 or 2024/25 can claim either a 20% cash refund or 30% credit towards a new pass. Eligible resorts include Val Gardena, Kronplatz and 3 Zinnen. Claims opened on 15 October through an online portal, are handled first come, first served and are limited by each resort's budget.

New European ski hotels and lodges opening for winter 2026/27

• Euronews rounds up the new and reopened properties for this winter:

  • The First Cortina in Cortina d'Ampezzo

  • Fahrenheit Seven in Les Menuires, ski-in to the 3 Vallées, opening 11 December

  • The Ski Lodge, a boutique hotel in Verbier

  • The Green Resort in the Zillertal

  • Schiefergut, a family resort in Flachau

  • Garance Hotel & Spa, the former Les Airelles, plus a renovated Hôtel Le Tremplin, both in Morzine

  Les Gets is marking 90 years since its first ski lift with a new beginners' snowpark. Raffles (2028) and One&Only (2030) are heading to Courchevel 1850.