 Poster: A snowHead
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The Future of Skiing – Until When Can We Keep Going Like Now?
Hey everyone!
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the future of skiing, especially with climate change, technology, and renewable energy on the rise. I wanted to get your thoughts — how long do you think skiing (the way we know it now) will actually last?
Let’s brak it down into three possible future scenarios, from worst to best:
 Scenario 1: Business as Usual (Fossil Fuels Continue, Little Global Action)
Global temperatures rise by 3 °C or more.
Snowfal under 1500 m becomes extremely unreliable by 2040–2050.
Skiing below 1800 m becomes nearly impossible without artificial snow.
Even artificial snow gets harder to prduce due to high temps and water limits.
Natural skiing ends in most lower-altitude resorts by ~2060–2070.
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 Scenario 2: Moderate Climate Action (50–70% Renewables, Mixed Policies)
Global warming slows to around 2–2.5 °C.
Resorts at 1200 m (like Les Arcs 1200) can still operate with heavy snowmaking until ~2050–2060.
Highher resorts (above 1800 m) still have natural snow, but with shorter seasons.
Skiing survives in most popular areas until around 2070–2080, though heavily dependent on tech and energy.
Scenario 3: Strong Climate Action + AI + Renewables (80–95% Clean Energy)
Warming is limited to around 1.5 °C or less.
AI optimizes snowmaking, lift energy, and sustainability.
Resorts use solar, hydro, and battery systems to run entirely off renewaables.
Lower resorts with snowmaking can hold on until ~2050.
Resorts above 1500–1800 m stay open, potenntially into the 2100s, especially with smart energy use and year-round tourism strategies.
What Do You Think?
Given all this – until when do you think we’ll be able to ski "normally"?
Will we still have traditional ski holidays in the 2070s? 2090s? Or ar we going to see a huge shift to summer tourism and muntain biking?
Drop your thoughs below – optimistic, realistic, or skeptickal – I’d love to hear them!
What year do you think skiing, as we know it, will be gone (or saved)? And what shold we be doing now to protect it?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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There will be skiing, plenty of it.
In different locations, with Winter starting and finishing later.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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> Given all this – until when do you think we’ll be able to ski "normally"?
about 2020
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Scenario 4: The collapse of the North Atlantic Gulf Stream
It seems that there is evidence that this is happening, though slowly.
If it speeds, and there are those who think it will/might, up we'll all be skiing 8 months of the year, living in a totally changed climate which is very, very, cold in Europe.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Too pessimistic imho. Nuclear winter will provide great condition all around the globe.
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Thu 26-06-25 11:23; edited 1 time in total
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| Mike Pow wrote: |
There will be skiing, plenty of it.
In different locations, with Winter starting and finishing later. |
Head in sand attitude to climate change wont help resolve the problem.
It is beyond doubt that seasons are getting shorter (later start / earlier finish) and the snow line is getting higher.
The changes to the Alpine climate in last 20 years are unprecedented, visible and remarkable.
Good tree skiing in the alps is becoming much rarer. The snow line is rising closer to 2000m. Alpine glaciers are literally vanishing.
Closer to home in Scotland the "seasons" are slowly moving to the wrong side of marginal.
Scotland only has about a total of about 2C temp rise (~300m altitude) to play with before there wont be any skiing.
Unfortunately climate change can only make skiing more gentrified and expensive.
The small / cheap resorts that were typically frequented by families & locals (closer to towns & population) will become unviable.
No doubt places like Tignes or Val Thorens will still have generally reliable skiing for another 40 years.
However they are going to become much busier and more expensive.
Skiing will be still be a thing for the duration of our lifetimes.
Though sadly perhaps not for the next generation. 2c warming is an absolute certainty.
Presently looking more like 3c.
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| rungsp wrote: |
Scenario 4: The collapse of the North Atlantic Gulf Stream
It seems that there is evidence that this is happening, though slowly.
If it speeds, and there are those who think it will/might, up we'll all be skiing 8 months of the year, living in a totally changed climate which is very, very, cold in Europe. |
That is an interesting point.
Edinburgh on same latitude as Hudson Bay.
Collapse of gulf stream would be good for skiers.
Not so great for European food production.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Quote: |
Resorts at 1200 m (like Les Arcs 1200) can still operate with heavy snowmaking until ~2050–2060.
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I assume you mean la Grange, even now skiing that low only happens a few days per season. One piste down to it was removed a couple years ago and I've never seen the beginners lift down there running for at least 15 years. Sorry but even now skiing below 1400m in the western alps is rare.
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| Haggis_Trap wrote: |
| Mike Pow wrote: |
There will be skiing, plenty of it.
In different locations, with Winter starting and finishing later. |
Head in sand attitude to climate change wont help resolve the problem.
It is beyond doubt that seasons are getting shorter (later start / earlier finish) and the snow line is getting higher.
The changes to the Alpine climate in last 20 years are unprecedented, visible and remarkable.
Good tree skiing in the alps is becoming much rarer. The snow line is rising closer to 2000m. Alpine glaciers are literally vanishing.
Closer to home in Scotland the "seasons" are slowly moving to the wrong side of marginal.
Scotland only has about a total of about 2C temp rise (~300m altitude) to play with before there wont be any skiing.
Unfortunately climate change can only make skiing more gentrified and expensive.
The small / cheap resorts that were typically frequented by families & locals (closer to towns & population) will become unviable.
No doubt places like Tignes or Val Thorens will still have generally reliable skiing for another 40 years.
However they are going to become much busier and more expensive. |
I'll take my real world feet in the snow experiences over consistently incorrect weather models thanks.
The ski world will certainly shrink for many if they're not prepared to seek out different destinations at different times of the Winter and Spring.
That's without doubt.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Mike Pow wrote: |
I'll take my real world feet in the snow experiences over consistently incorrect weather models thanks. |
My real world experience matches the historical climate data:
- Scottish season are much less reliable
- The Vallee Blanche is shrinking
- Good alpine tree skiing is becoming rarer
- Alpine snow line rising closer to 2000m
I wish it weren't true. Sure, it can still snow. Just less often than before at lower altitudes or marginal locations....
| Mike Pow wrote: |
The ski world will certainly shrink for many if they're not prepared to seek out different destinations at different times of the Winter and Spring. |
Climate change means skiing will become restricted to a smaller number of gentrified high altitude resorts.
As result skiing will simply because less affordable for the masses.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| Haggis_Trap wrote: |
| Mike Pow wrote: |
I'll take my real world feet in the snow experiences over consistently incorrect weather models thanks. |
My real world experience matches the historical climate data:
- Scottish season are much less reliable
- The Vallee Blanche is shrinking
- Good alpine tree skiing is becoming rarer
- Alpine snow line rising closer to 2000m
I wish it weren't true. Sure, it can still snow. Just less often than before at lower altitudes or marginal locations....
| Mike Pow wrote: |
The ski world will certainly shrink for many if they're not prepared to seek out different destinations at different times of the Winter and Spring. |
Climate change means skiing will become restricted to a smaller number of gentrified high altitude resorts.
As result skiing will simply because less affordable for the masses. |
You've told me the same thing twice now. I still don't have to agree with everything you've written.
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| Mike Pow wrote: |
You've told me the same thing twice now. I still don't have to agree with everything you've written. |
Excuse my disagreement: climate change denial (and rejection of the historical data) a dangerous thing
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You know it makes sense.
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| Haggis_Trap wrote: |
| Mike Pow wrote: |
You've told me the same thing twice now. I still don't have to agree with everything you've written. |
Excuse my disagreement: climate change denial (and rejection of the historical data) a dangerous thing |
Jesus mate, get off your high (altitude) horse.
I'm not denying climate change and rejection of (your) historical data.
I have a different opinion and different potential scenarios where hopefully my skiing won't be as affected as you're prophesising.
If I live to 2070 (I'll be 104) and I'm wrong I'll be the first to say I was wrong.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| Mike Pow wrote: |
Jesus mate, get off your high (altitude) horse.
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Not on any high horse... As someone who has skied all over the globe (NZ, Argentina, Canada, Europe) I freely admit I am part of the problem.
Sadly our generation now has pragmatic responsibility to try and leave the planet in a place where the kids can enjoy the same skiing adventures / opportunity that we did.
Last edited by Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name: on Thu 26-06-25 15:08; edited 1 time in total
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Poster: A snowHead
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| johnE wrote: |
| Quote: |
Resorts at 1200 m (like Les Arcs 1200) can still operate with heavy snowmaking until ~2050–2060.
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I assume you mean la Grange, even now skiing that low only happens a few days per season. |
Tell me about it, largely man made slush below 1500 meters on NW facing slopes in la Plagne in February this year. Fortunately there is a lot above that altitude at somewhere like la Plagne.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Jack_nice wrote: |
The Future of Skiing – Until When Can We Keep Going Like Now?
Hey everyone!
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the future of skiing, especially with climate change, technology, and renewable energy on the rise. I wanted to get your thoughts — how long do you think skiing (the way we know it now) will actually last?
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Long enough to see me through to hanging up my ski boots & retiring from the snowy mountains.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@davidof, is the OP one of your AI bots at work again? The style of writing is very budget-LLM-esq.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@snowdave, I don't have any AI bots, PM the OP but I'm not sure AI's make spelling mistakes.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@Jack_nice, what is your interest here?
For me, there are to many unknowns/variables to say what the situation will be in 2050, mind about 2070.
And more to the point I think there are bigger issues in regard of climate change than whether we get skiing holidays.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Who knows what will happen in 40 years.
40 years ago the predictions were that we would be heading into a new ice age!
One thing is for sure, unintended consequences will come into play somewhere down the line. I have a strong suspicion that they are coming into play already.
I work in renewables. Pretty much every renewable installation or anything to do with the transportation of electricity on an industrial scale has SF6 as an insulating agent.
Sulphur Hexaflouride is the most potent greenhouse gas in existence. It is entirely man made and unlike co2 does not disperse into the wider ecosystem. It is a forever gas.
I try and enjoy whatever skiing I can when I can and not worry to much the wider picture. Whatever the future holds, it will probably be pretty far from what we expect it is going to be no matter which steps we take to change it.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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A nice example of the future skiing is Kronplatz from mid April till closure...
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@Jack_nice, and you didn't ask about the effect or what will be the scenario for cross country skiing in the European Alps?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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If by 2070 the main problem of climate change is the shortage of low altitude affordable skiing we should all be very grateful!
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@Origen, I don't think the OP was listening
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| Origen wrote: |
| If by 2070 the main problem of climate change is the shortage of low altitude affordable skiing we should all be very grateful! |
Fully agree : First world problems.
Skiing the least of humanities challenges.
Though take your kids to see a glacier while they still exist ....
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You know it makes sense.
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The forecast is 35c In London on Monday. That’s 95f in old money ! That’s not right for an Island off the north coast of Europe and all that heat is warming up the Atlantic and then ruining winter temperatures.
I’m afraid the great winters of the 1960s, 70s and early 80s are not coming back. The trend has been pretty dire and looks to be heading in only one direction with a general absence of prolonged cold weather. Even at altitude temperatures are becoming marginal. The fear is that things are changing so quickly. It’s really really sad but the predictions have been there for 40 years.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@Peter S, Remember, on average, this will be the coolest summer you'll experience for the rest of your life.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@snowdave, in fact, going on the spelling I'd almost imagine this to be one of admin's posts.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| davidof wrote: |
| @Peter S, Remember, on average, this will be the coolest summer you'll experience for the rest of your life. |
very reassuring!
If anyone has any doubts you can look at the way glaciers have developed over the last 30 years. I was up at Hintertux a year ago. First time since around 2001. Was shocked to see the 'Gefrorene Wand' is a bare rock face these days. Used to be glacier with crevasses n'all... same goes for the glaciers up on the Zugspitze, one of which lost it's glacier status recently.... if you are ever in Pontressina it's worthwhile to visit the Morteratsch rail station and walk the 2.5Km from the station to the glacier. In 1900 the glacier extended as far the station!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| davidof wrote: |
| @snowdave, in fact, going on the spelling I'd almost imagine this to be one of admin's posts. |
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Who is OP with his 8 posts? A journalist looking for comments for an article?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@James the Last, good catch
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has val d allos with 1500m , worst winters als e.g. les gets with 1.000m? or some other resorts nearby with are a little bit lower? or the big factor is that val-d-allos is in the south alps?
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| Haggis_Trap wrote: |
| Mike Pow wrote: |
There will be skiing, plenty of it.
In different locations, with Winter starting and finishing later. |
Head in sand attitude to climate change wont help resolve the problem.
It is beyond doubt that seasons are getting shorter (later start / earlier finish) and the snow line is getting higher.
The changes to the Alpine climate in last 20 years are unprecedented, visible and remarkable.
Good tree skiing in the alps is becoming much rarer. The snow line is rising closer to 2000m. Alpine glaciers are literally vanishing.
Closer to home in Scotland the "seasons" are slowly moving to the wrong side of marginal.
Scotland only has about a total of about 2C temp rise (~300m altitude) to play with before there wont be any skiing.
Unfortunately climate change can only make skiing more gentrified and expensive.
The small / cheap resorts that were typically frequented by families & locals (closer to towns & population) will become unviable.
No doubt places like Tignes or Val Thorens will still have generally reliable skiing for another 40 years.
However they are going to become much busier and more expensive.
Skiing will be still be a thing for the duration of our lifetimes.
Though sadly perhaps not for the next generation. 2c warming is an absolute certainty.
Presently looking more like 3c. |
I think all it'll take is two more bad seasons and most of Scotland is done for.
I know the Lecht are expanding snow making but I'd be surprised if that's for anything other than providing better cover on the nursery slopes?
It feels like Glenshee hasn't been able to open fully in forever.
Nevis, don't need to comment really. Cairngorm, might do ok if the funnicular keeps running?
Glencoe seems to be fully committed to snowsports so it may have the most potential.
Unless I've severely overestimated the maintenance and staffing costs, there must come a point where it no longer makes sense!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@Jack_nice,
Your scenario 3 is a pipe dream. The world is pretty much at 1.5 C already and speed of increase is higher than forecast.
Scenario 2 is likely to be the only hope but due to the concerted efforts or the fossil fuel industry scenario 1 is where the world is heading.
A sad and scary future for the younger generations and all of those who failed to do anything will go down is history as the planet killers.
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Scenario:
Resorts developed in much higher altitude places. Skiing around with bottled oxygen becomes a thing, or purists start taking much longer holidays with a 3-4 day acclimatisation period.
I've never climbed a decently high mountain but I assume that this is the main altitude limitation?
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FAQ
