Bits and Pieces For The New Season
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Junior in the air in 1957 Photo credit: Harriet Wallis
As always, our favorite downhill destinations have been busy all summer upgrading trails and snowmaking, freshening up mid-mountain lodges, adding new chairlifts and ticket deals, even planning for following seasons.
Here’s a quick tour of what’s new and wonderful. But first –
A belated congratulations to the legendary Junior Bounous of Utah for being honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award earlier this year by The International Skiing History Association.
He was honored for his lifelong activities promoting skiing and its culture. At 100 years old, Junior is known as a “Pioneer of the American Ski Industry,” and is still skiing.
Junior’s ski career started in 1943 with the Civilian Defense Corps at Timp Haven (now Sundance Mountain Resort), directed the ski school at Sugar Bowl i California, then joined Alf Engen in Alta as one of the first certified ski instructors in Utah, eventually becoming the Director of Skiing at Snowbird, where he developed popular programs for us senior skiers.
Perhaps most important because it affects each and every one of us who skis – Bounous was a founding member of PSIA and developed its program for accrediting instructors and how they teach. His biography, Junior Bounous and the Joys of Skiing, written by his granddaughter, Ayja Bounous, won an ISHA Book Award in 2024.
Sundance Mountain Resort opens more than 100 acres of new terrain, via Electric Horseman, a brand new high-speed quad lift and Storyteller, a 1.7 mile groomed ridge run. The new quad was designed to dramatically improve access to back mountain terrain while increasing uphill capacity, reducing congestion, and also open new skiable terrain. With over 1,850 vertical feet per lap, it enables direct access to the entire back of the mountain in just 6 minutes.
SilverStar Mountain in British Columbia joins Ikon Pass with 3,304 acres of terrain,nearly 2,500 feet of vertical, and 133 runs for all levels of skiers and riders. Set high in the Okanagan Valley, there are flowing uncrowded groomers frontside and steep chutes and double-blacks on the back, plus 100% natural snowfall and a ski-in, ski-out village. Passholders get seven-day access with no blackout dates; Base Pass holders get five-days with select blackout dates. SilverStar Mountain is also available on the Ikon Session Pass.
The Aosta Valley, Italy’s highest region, opens three new gondolas and the first Italian lift opening of the season, on October 24. The new 10-passenger gondolas are at Courmayeur Mont Blanc and La Thuile, replacing four lifts: the Chécrouit cabin lift and Maison Vieille chairlift at Courmayeur, and the La Combe and Terres Noires-Chaz Dura chairlifts at La Thuile. Combined investment is $85 million. Ikon Pass holders receive seven days across the five areas and Skyway Monte Bianco; Ikon Base Pass holders receive five, without blackout dates. The five ski areas: Cervino Ski Paradise, Courmayeur Mont Blanc (plus Skyway Monte Bianco), La Thuile, Monterosa Ski and Pila. Combined, the areas offer more than 500km (350 miles) ofgroomed trails, eight terrain parks and extensive off-piste terrain.
Mt. Tremblant, Quebec, is opening a new beginner area this winter as part of a multi-year investment and expansion plan. That includes next year’s 2027/28 season, with a new high-speed quad chairlift and 62 additional acres of skiable terrain in the Versant Soleil area.
Vail Resorts has announced these opening dates –
- As soon as possible in October – Keystone Resort (CO)
- November 6 – Breckenridge (CO)
- November 13 – Vail Mountain (CO)
- November 20 – Whistler Blackcomb (BC), Park City Mountain (UT), Heavenly (CA) and Northstar (CA)
- November 25 – Beaver Creek (CO) and Crested Butte (CO)
- December 4 – Kirkwood (CA) and Stevens Pass (WA)
The Vail Valley Foundation, International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) and Stifel U.S. Ski Team have added a second women’s downhill race to the 2026 Stifel Birds of Prey Audi FIS Ski World Cup, December 3-13. The addition expands the women’s race weekend to three events, including two downhills and a super-G. Combined with the four men’s races the previous weekend — two downhills, a super-G, and a giant slalom — means this will be the largest Birds of Prey World Cup festival in history.
All seven World Cup races are on the iconic Beaver Creek course across back-to-back weekends, more than at any previous Birds of Prey since the course made its World Cup debut in 1997. The 2024 festival was the first time women competed. Adding a second women’s downhill in 2026 continues that momentum.
- What’s New in Colorado for the 2026/27 Season - November 4, 2026
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- What’s New in Utah for 2026/27 Season - October 22, 2026
I had the fun coincidence while skiing at Snowbird with my wife in 1996. We got off the tram and waited for the crowd to clear on the Peruvian side. We found ourselves alone with Junior and two guests.
As he descended Junior’s skis and legs were a blur while his body steady as if on a railroad track! At 80 he was an inspiration to me. I’m now 75 and hoping to continue skiing for many years.
For years, Junior had a regular morning group called Junior’s Seniors – you had to be 65+ and be able to keep up with them, because they were that same blur you describe.