In this 77th episode of The White Out ski Podcast, hosted by Dom from In The Snow Magazine and Rob from Snow.Guide, there is a discussion about ski-resort rankings, Austrian hidden gems, global snow conditions, and gear updates. Sponsored by Ski Independence the episode also includes expert World Cup race insights and an in-depth look at, the U.S ski resort, Park City in Utah:

World’s Best Ski Resorts – Data Debate

The hosts discuss a new ranking from SkiResort.info proclaiming KitzSki – Kitzbühel/?Kirchberg as the world’s best resort, followed by a heavily Austrian-dominated top 10. They note that while Austria’s resorts are excellent, the ranking appears influenced by the platform’s largely German-speaking user base, which may skew ratings. They also highlight how subjective ski-resort preferences are and the importance of personal experience. The list includes many Austrian areas, one Swiss resort, and one Italian, with French resorts not appearing until around 15th place.

Destination Spotlight #1 – Austria’s Hidden Gems

The first destination feature focuses on Austria’s lesser-known regions, which offer quieter slopes, genuine village life, and traditional alpine hospitality. The podcast explores four standout ski areas:

Altenmarkt–Zauchensee
A snow-reliable region with linked villages, great variety, new gondola infrastructure, freeride routes, family-friendly terrain, and extensive off-slope activities such as hiking, sledging, and winter walks. Sustainability initiatives include biomass heating and renewable-energy projects, and the area has deep roots in ski-racing history.

Hochkönig
A family favourite with 120 km of pistes, strong ski-school offerings, beginner zones, the scenic Königstour peak-to-peak route, themed culinary trails, snow parks, cross-country routes, and easy access from Salzburg and Munich.

Carinthia
Located in Austria’s sunny south, Carinthia offers open pistes, lake views, excellent snow records, thermal spas, lakeside saunas, and ski-touring opportunities such as the famed Nockberge Trail. It combines powder areas with family-friendly resorts.

Tirol West
A quiet base with a small local mountain but incredible access via a €10 ski-safari shuttle to major resorts including Ischgl, St. Anton, and Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis. Off-snow highlights include winter hikes, husky tours, cultural festivals, tobogganing, local chocolate, and traditional Alpine cuisine.

News Roundup

The news section covers major developments across the ski world:

  • Wales Indoor Snow Centre: A long-running project takes a major step forward, potentially delivering the UK’s largest indoor slope and generating hundreds of jobs.
  • Avalanche in Austria: A glacier avalanche reached a marked run, triggering a large rescue response but with all skiers recovered. It reinforces avalanche-risk awareness early in the season.
  • Kirsty Muir Wins Big Air Season Opener: The Scottish athlete takes a World Cup victory with exceptional technical jumps.
  • Aleksander Aamodt Kilde Returns: The Norwegian racer competes again after a severe injury, marking an emotional return.

Global Weather And Snow Conditions

The Alps are experiencing one of the strongest early-season starts in years. Northern French Alps, Switzerland, and Austria have deep snow bases, with more snow forecast. Glacier resorts are thriving, and many resorts opened earlier than expected. Italy is improving after late-November snowfall, while North America sees variable conditions—though Banff Sunshine Village boasts extensive terrain already open. Japan’s Hokkaido is forecast to receive above-average snowfall. Overall, early-season skiing looks excellent for Europe and solid for North America.

Gear Spotlight (from Ellis Brigham)

The gear segment covers notable trends including:

Skis: Nordica’s new multi-piste model, Atomic’s Maverick/Maven 88 Cti, Salomon QST 100, and lightweight freestyle options like the Candid Area 91.
Boots: Rapid rise of Dual BOA systems across brands such as Head, K2, Nordica, and Tecnica.
Outerwear: Helly Hansen’s Ski Free program and growing demand for high-performance kids’ gear from brands like Rossignol.
Helmets & Goggles: POC’s new MIPS improvements and Dragon’s expanded magnetic-lens lineup.
Accessories: Heated gloves/socks from Therm-ic and Cardo’s helmet-mounted comms for group skiing.

Ski Racing Segment With Ex-GB Racer Ed Drake

Ed Drake provides a detailed World Cup race update, highlighting strong early-season performances, multiple first-time winners, and Mikaela Shiffrin’s dominant slalom form. He notes challenges in Beaver Creek due to low snow, Canada’s strong forecast for upcoming women’s races, and injury concerns ahead of the next Olympics. British racers Dave Ryding, Billy Major, and Laurie Taylor are performing particularly well, with Taylor narrowly missing the podium.

U.S Destination Spotlight #2 – Park City, Utah

A major feature of this podcast episode is the interview with Olympic medalist Shannon Bahrke Happe, who shares a deep, personal perspective on Park City.

Park City is described as warm, welcoming, and filled with outdoor-minded adventurers. With “the greatest snow on earth,” it delivers terrain for every level—from hardcore all-day skiers to those who simply enjoy mountain restaurants and shopping. Shannon highlights the town’s friendly community, easy access (35 minutes from the airport), vibrant après, luxury hotels (Montage, St. Regis, Stein Eriksen Lodge), and numerous non-ski activities such as snowshoeing, spas, dog sledding, and winter biking. She recommends the Empire lift on a powder day and insists visitors try the horse-drawn-sleigh yurt dinner experience.