Another Miracle: How Lake Placid Could Again Host The Winter Olympics
Olympic Cities
LIVE! FROM LAKE PLACID NEW YORK! The 2042 WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES!
Likely to happen? Probably not!
Impossible? Not necessarily!
In the world of Winter sports, no event is as large or magnificent as the Winter Olympics. First held in 1924, the recent Games featured more than 2,800 athletes from 90 countries competing in 116 medal events, over a two week period in one country.
In four years, the host will be the French Alps – a region, not a city, a town, or a village. In 2034, the games will be back in the US, based in Salt Lake City where they were held in 2002. They were last in North America in 2010 where they were based in Vancouver, Canada. Since then they were held in Russia, Korea, China, and most recently, Milan/Cortina Italy. .
So where does Lake Placid stand in the array of possible future host sites?
Well for starters, there are plenty of people who would like to see it happen. It is not just nostalgia in the small village of 2,800 in Northern New York that is one of only four places ( St. Moritz Switzerland, Innsbruck Austria and most recently Cortina are the other three) that have hosted twice before – in 1932 and 1980. Today, Lake Placid, with major on-going support from New York State, continues to regularly host major winter sports competitions at first rate facilities including rare international venues for bobsled, luge, skeleton, ski jumping, speed skating and biathlon. Maintaining those current facilities is a far easier reach than building them from scratch and recent history suggests that the state is willing to allocate funds tor that purpose.
And there is an organization in place; the Lake Placid Olympic Regional Development Authority that since 1982 has been charged by New York State to organize and coordinate international sports events. Like in Salt Lake, having an experienced organization in place is a major leg up in planning and carrying out the games.
But comparing Lake Placid to Salt Lake City is a long stretch. In addition to a much larger population base and big city accommodations and existing infrastructure like its modern, large international airport, Salt Lake is capable of handling major global events right now.
Lake Placid? Not so much. The nearest significant airport is more than an hour away, and being a small village is a charm residents want to retain. Right now, highway access is mainly on winding two lane NY Route 73 that runs 32 miles through the Adirondack Mountains from the nearest interstate.
So what is all the talk about hosting another winter Games?
At one point, there was talk of a cross border Olympics with New York and the Candian Province of Quebec sharing host honors. But Montreal, two hours away, has lingering fallout from hosting the 1976 summer games and with the difficulties of cross border sponsorship, that idea never gained much traction.
But in the US? Entirely within New York State?
For more than 10 years, it has been a topic of discussion. In most cases “Lake Placid” serves as a euphemism for what has been called the I-87 games, a Winter Olympics that would stretch from New York City to the Adirondack Mountains, a distance of about, 260 miles, connected mostly by interstate highways.
The idea has merit. First of all facilities for the games already exist. The various figure skating competitions would be a natural in New York City. There are several options for skiing’s technical races , curling, and snowboarding competitions in both the Catskills and Southern Adirondacks between New York City and Lake Placid, and tested venues for Winter Olympic sports already exist in the region. The hockey competition could be hosted in several locations but the finals would be in Lake Placid, of course.
This would not be the retro small village Games that many associate fondly with past Olympics. In 1980, the greatest distance between sports venues in Lake Placid was 14 miles. But this kind of cozy arrangements hasn’t been the case at Winter Games for many years now. Most recently, Milan/ Cortina competition sites were more than 300 miles apart. In the two games before that in Korea and in China, main venues were some 150 miles apart. In the French Alps in 2030, home base in Nice on the Mediterranean and other proposed competition venues in the mountains are as much as 200 miles away.
While the ideal has always been for many nations to have the opportunity to host the Winter Games, the cost associated with the Olympics today is such that many potential candidates take a look and bow out. Lake Placid wants in and, certainly as the most recent Winter Games demonstrates, it is already a part of the conversation.
With the 2034 already set for Salt Lake City, it is unlikely that the International Olympic Committee would award back to back Games to the same country. If that remains true, the next possible opportunity to host in the USA would be 2042.
And why not?
Do you believe in miracles?
Indy Pass Adds 16 Resorts for Next Season
Indy Pass continues to grow, which is a good thing, because it offers bargain rates and other perks to smaller, independent areas at less than half of other multi-destination season passes. It’s also different than Ikon, Epic and Mountain Collective because sales are capped, meaning that if you snooze, you lose the chance to get one.
For next season, Indy Pass has added more than a dozen downhill and XC resorts in the United States, Europe and Scandanavia, for an annual pass fee of $369 for new adult passholders; $20 less for renewals. An annual pass for just XC is just $99.
For that price you get two days at each area – there are 300+ areas on the Indy Pass.
Additional days are discounted, and there are no blackout dates.
New Resorts for the 2026/27 Season
Including Les 7 Laux, France; Bergbahnen Hohsaas AG, Switzerland; Valmorel, France; Stöten i Sälen, Sweden; Levi, Finland; Murray Ski Ridge, BC; Pebble Creek Ski Area, ID; Thrill Hills, ND; Stranda Ski Resort, Norway; Bethel Village Trails XC, NH; Franconia Inn & Outdoor Center XC, NH; Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center XC, NH; Northern Maine Community Trails XC, ME; Steamboat Ski Touring Center XC CO; Haymaker Nordic Center XC, CO; and The Loppet XC, MN.
Year-Round Skiing
Indy’s expansion into South America, Scandinavia, and Europe allows year-round ski opportunities for passholders, when conditions permit.
The current 2025/26 Indy Pass provides ski access through the summer season until August at Corralco, Chile, while the 2026/27 Indy Pass begins in September with skiing in Austria at Pitztaler Gletscherbahn and Kaunertaler Gletscher.
Indy Pass promises to add additional resorts over the off-season and expects major additions before the 2026/27 season.
Northstar – a Gem Discovered
One chair of the Liebman Mob
The 2025-2026 ski season will be remembered for its lack of snow all throughout the Rockies and Sierras. At the end of January, SnoCountry’s ski reports showed many ski areas with bases of around 20 inches. When I was in college back in the 60s, we called these conditions “fast grass.”
So, it was with great trepidation that three generations of Liebmans ventured out onto the slopes at Northstar in late January, early February. The reported base ran from 30+ to over 50 inches with temps in the upper 30s! However, despite the lack of snow, 100% of Northstar’s trails were reported open.
Forests line Northstar’s trails which prevents the sun from shining directly on the runs all day. Despite the below-freezing temperatures and night and the warm temps during the day, there was very little really hard snow. The mountain manager deserves a medal for the way the runs were groomed
We all thought the conditions were great. For the record, the “we” totaled nine and included boarders and skiers ranging from 14 to 80. Ability ranged from one beginner to those of us who have been skiing for decades.
Northstar is very easy to get around. We moved easily from The Backside where the expert runs will keep the best recreational skiers entertained. Like the rest of the runs on the mountain, they were long, undulating, and had changes in pitch and angle that forced one to pay attention. A strong advanced intermediate skier could handle them if he/she so desired.
The most difficult terrain was in the Northwest Territory. The runs are steep and narrow. From the top of the Martis Camp Express, one can ski down a fun run – Deerskin – to the Tahoe Zephyr Express to bring you back to the heart of the mountain.
Getting from Backside to Mount Pluto was simple. Ride up either Backside Express or Promised Land Express and then ski down to the Comstock Express. This opens up a nirvana of blues that will keep experts and intermediates entertained for days. Ski any of these runs non-stop, and your thighs will be talking to you. Yes, they’re that long.
Chair lifts. All had safety bars, and most, but not all, had footrests. At my age, not having the weight of skis, boots, and bindings pulling down on my 80-year-old knees is a blessing.
Bathrooms. At both the Lodge at Big Springs and Zephyr, the bathrooms were either on the entry level or there was an elevator available. Blessings on you, Northstar!
Food on the mountain. There was variety at both lodges and the prices were typical for a ski area and tasty. $29 bought me a cheeseburger, fries, and a bottle of water.
Lift tickets. Northstar is an Epic area.
We’re planning to come back to Northstar either this season or next so that tells you a lot about whether or not we liked Northstar. Pray for more snow, lots of it!!!
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