2015 – 2016 ski season forecast: What’s new on the slopes

Forget holiday shopping! It’s time pull out your boots, wax your skis and book your first ski trip of the 2015/16 season! For most travelers, ski season kicks off Thanksgiving weekend, the first chance we get to hit the slopes and check out what’s new at North America’s dozens of world-renowned resorts. Whether you’re betting on great early-season snow or planning for a big trip in the spring, we’ve got the scoop on everything from opening dates to new amenities at some of our favorite top resorts.

New gondolas at Quicksilver, Park City

Park City, Utah

Opening date: November 21, 2015

What’s New: Park City and Canyons have been combined and transformed into one massive resort with over 7,300 acres of skiable terrain. The combined terrain along with critical upgrades to the infrastructure makes this $50 million project by owner Vail Resorts, one of the most ambitious and impactful capital programs in U.S. ski industry history and will create the largest ski resort in the United States.

New lift installation at Avanti, Vail | AndrewTaylor

Vail, Colorado

Opening date: November 20, 2015

What’s New: Vail Mountain continues its wave of investments, replacing the Avanti Express Lift with a six-passenger lift. The Avanti Express Lift is a primary lift on the front side of Vail Mountain, serving intermediate and advanced terrain, dispersing skiers and snowboarders from the Lionshead area to mid-mountain. Upgrading the lift will reduce wait times and improve reliability. A loading conveyor and gates will improve efficiency and increase capacity by up to 30 percent, vastly improving skier and snowboarder circulation.

Jackson Hole

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Opening date: November 26, 2015

What’s New: It’s a big year for Jackson Hole Ski Resort as they celebrate the big 5-0! The high-speed quad Teton Lift will open Dec. 16, with 200 acres of new terrainbeing accessible from the lift. And as part of their anniversary celebration, the resort is welcoming all skiers and snowboarders with a valid 2015-16 winter resort season pass from ANYWHERE in the world to come to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and receive 50% off a lift ticket for skiing and riding between January 11 – 31, 2016. Now that’s a pretty great anniversary gift!

Terrain Park | Credit: Nick Pease / Breckenridge Ski Resort

Breckenridge, Colorado

Opening date: November 13, 2015

This Rocky Mountain favorite has seen unprecedented upgrades over the past five years. In 2013, the addition of Peak 6 increased the resort’s skiable acres by 23 percent with 540 acres! This season Breck has added snowmaking on Peak 6, ensuring a holiday opening date for the lower part of the peak, regardless of Mother Nature. And listen up ladies! The resort officially launches its Women’s Ski Week, Feb. 12-21, 2016 and includes Ski and Snowboard School programs like Ultimate 4 lessons for women and the popular Women & Wine program, as well as gear demos and First Tracks access.

Stowe Mountain Resort, Vermont

Stowe, Vermont

Opening date: November 21, 2015

Get ready for a bigger and better Stowe experience this year. To meet the growing popularity and need for more slopeside amenities, this Northeast staple is set to unveil their latest development this season, which will offer more family services at Spruce Peak as well as retail shops, food markets and restaurants. Visitors will also enjoy a new ice rink and surrounding facilities that will also serve as a community plaza and green during the summer season. Look for a new children’s Adventure Center with ski & ride school, kids activity center and day care as well.

Ample snow on opening day at Northstar, Tahoe

Lake Tahoe, CA

Opening date: November 14, 2015

The Northstar resort in Lake Tahoe has some big changes underway. Look for fully revamped gondolas, plus even more of the slopeside holiday traditions you’ve come to expect here: Ski in for a complimentary champagne tost on the mountain each day, and then freshen up with free s’mores in the Village.

Killington, Vermont

Opening date: October 18, 2015

This year, Killington is putting $1.2 million into upgrades to lifts and systems, helping bring efficiencies to mountain operations and an improved guest experience, as well as a 3.5 million investment into a new Snowshed Adventure Center, and a complete reimagining of the Ovations restaurant at the Killington Grand Resort Hotel, creating the premier destination for après ski dining and drinking in the Killington region.

Tagged: Family time