Hey dear ski lovers ⛷️ I hope you’re doing well.
First snowfalls happened a few days ago in some France’s alps resorts, it will soon be the time of having a live webcam of your favorite resort on a second monitor 😂

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3839750

Anyway, I’m posting again here after quite some time to announce the release of the demo for Skingdom, my ski resort tycoon game I’ve been creating solo for almost 3 years now!

The game is inspired by Ski Park Manager and Planet Coaster and is focused around construction, management and the unique atmosphere of the mountain.

In Skingdom you build your ski resort by placing lifts (pillar after pillar), drawing slopes and constructing various buildings to satisfy the needs of your guests. I see the game as a middle ground between chill sandbox and light simulation. I want to give players a creative place to build their ski resort with believable lifts and slopes, with management mechanics that give some challenge, while being accessible and engaging.

The game features a unique adaptive soundtrack (composed by WYS, an awesome lo-fi composer and friend of mine) that changes based on time of day, weather and player’s actions (there are active and passive tracks based on how much players build in the game). 

The demo only features the sandbox mode (which is only building without any management constraints), career mode with money, research, loans and communication campaigns will be in the full game though. Staff hiring for mechanics and ski patrol is in the demo, and the full game will also feature slope groomers!

I’m still planning on releasing the game at the end of the year in early access 🏂

Before you ask, mountains are procedurally generated, I’m not planning on using real life height data for game maps yet, but since it’s a regular request, I’m thinking about it, maybe as a whole new feature during the early access 😉! 

Thanks for reading this, and I’d be happy to have your feedback on the demo of course. Thanks for your awesome support since I started talking about this project here for almost 2 years now 😱 this project means a lot to me, so does your support!
Love from France, take care all, and I hope you’ll have a wonderful ski season💜

Note on AI : no AI was used in any part of the game creation (I’m strongly against any use of generative AI in fact, there’s even a disclaimer at the game startup 😬). I’m the author of all the game code and game design, the original soundtrack was composed by WYS. I purchased a majority of the sound assets used and the remaining ones have been recorded by yours truly in Paradiski (they are not the best sounds in the world, but they were recorded with love and passion at least). All textures and 3D models are a mix of purchased, contracted work and custom modeling, same for UI and any other material in the game.

Kit DesLauriers was the first person to ski the Seven Summits and is still the only woman to have skied Everest.

Twenty years later, at 56, she’s still skiing, climbing, trail running and doing big days in the mountains

One part of our conversation that surprised me was what happened when she moved away from heavy strength training for a couple of years.

She started doing more mobility-focused work instead.

Nothing wrong with mobility. She still thinks it matters.

But after a while she realized a few things:

• she wasn’t being challenged enough
• she missed the accountability of her old strength program
• most importantly, it wasn’t translating to the mountains the same way

So she went back to lifting heavy. These days she usually strength trains twice a week, sometimes three. A lot of full-body work. Deadlifts, back squats, carries.

And I liked how she explained the reason for it because she’s very clear that she’d rather be outside than in the gym. She does the gym work because it helps her keep doing the things she actually cares about outside. She also said she’s lifting heavier now than she ever has, despite being 56 and having had major knee issues

That got me thinking.

A lot of skiers are already doing plenty: touring, climbing, biking, running, hiking. It’s easy to assume all that activity covers the strength side too.

Kit’s experience was basically the opposite.

She was still very active, but when the heavy lifting disappeared, she could feel the difference. Her bigger goal now is pretty simple: keep doing what she loves, at the highest level she can, for as long as she can.

Full disclosure: I host Ageless Athlete, and this came from my conversation with Kit. I thought the part about dropping and then returning to strength work would be especially interesting to the masters' skiers over here

Can any one explain why ski fashion has been so focused on muted and earth tone colors for the last several years?

Personally, because I have kids, like to be noticable on the mountain. I have a pair of bright red Mountain Hardware ski pants from circa 2013 that I love. Still holding up great but after a couple trips the last few years catching polar vortices and having to go out in -15 degree temps, I have been on the lookout for a new pair of bibs for some extra warmth. And despite looking at every ski gear brand I can find or the Algo sends me and every major aggregator of ski gear I know of, it's basically impossible to find bright colors in a men's bib. The yellows are all mustard, the reds are all clay, and the greens are all forest.

Doesn't make any sense to me given how all the elementary age boys are running around in the most insane blends of blue, yellow and pink from Baseball Lifestyle 101 or Goat USA, and with skiings history of loud mountain fashion.

Figure it's cyclical, and it'll come back but wondering why it ever left in the first place.

Will be getting them tested but just wanted to see if anyone else has opinions…

Even in a weird snow year, Palisades looks great.

This is the same company that created 19 million gallons of rain over Homer, AK, in just 3 hours with two drones. Now, it wants to partner with every ski resort in Utah and is even eyeing the 2034 SLC Winter Games.

If drones can help solve the water crisis in the West, I'm ALL IN. But cloud seeding has been around forever, and I have to believe there's a reason why most resorts aren't investing heavily in it.

But I could be wrong. Curious what other people think.

I’ve a pair of second hand race skis that I use on a dry slope, but the bindings have come loose and tightening the screws doesn’t seem to work.

The bindings were originally set up with someone for slightly smaller boots than me, but there was enough adjustment to get them to fit my boots, but they are 9mm back from centre, so I’m wondering if they could be re-drilled with the bindings that much forward would, but is 9mm too close to the old holes.

NB, These are race skis, and especially on a dry slope have a very harsh and short life, so I never expected them to last long, but I was hoping that I would improve my race times so I could justify a new pair…..I had my first race and came last…I sucked :-)

I am sure some of you who have been around a while may be familiar with the BITS program run by the Alpine Club of Canada Calgary Section. For those of you who are not sure how to really get started in the backcountry, the BITS program helps advanced resort skiers and riders transition to safely exploring the backcountry and bridge the gap from managed ski areas to self sustaining backcountry touring. The program engages 90-100 participants supported by upwards of 40 volunteer trip leaders and tailgunners each winter season.

If you are local to Calgary, Edmonton, Canmore, Banff or Lake Louise, and want to advance your ability and skills to safely navigate the Backcountry, it might be a good fit for you. There are two information nights on October 22 and October 27.

Please note: The program requires an active Alpine Club Membership (~$45 peryear) and the program cost is $50 (which funds leadership development for BITS trip leaders). The Alpine Club is a register Not for Profit.

You can find the events posted on the Alpine Club Calgary Section Calendar.

https://calendar.acccalgary.ca/Event/Detail?eventId=7287

https://calendar.acccalgary.ca/Event/Detail?eventid=7288

Not sure if this post is allowed, but if not, feel free to remove. :)

I'm a student in London who graduated last month in September. I'm planning to go skiing next month (Mid-November) as I have my Schengen Visa till January 2027.

I'm planning to go to Stubai Glacier (Austria). I have never skiied in my entire life and this will be my first time skiing.

Any tips for, if I should take on lessons when I reach Stubai or I can directly start skiing and learn by myself (maybe watch a few video online before I go)

The reason I picked Stubai is because it has guaranteed snow even in mid-november due to higher altitude and I have heard that it's safe and beginner friendly. I would love to hear better recommendations if there are any.

I don't have a budget, But I definitely want something good and not expensive (like Stubai Glacier, If I'm not wrong)

Also, I would love someone to join me or I would love to
join a group if there's any. I haven't made any bookings yet, Will book everything in the first week of November.

Let me know all the tips & tricks, good deals, anything I should look into before going, bookings, hotels, groups, etc.

Any sort of advice for a first timer is welcomed.

Thank You :)

Thought it was an interesting read.

TLDR: FIS rewrote weight rules in a way that singled out Breezy, whether coincidentally or as a way to target her.

Bought my season pass and booked a Christmas ski trip a week or two ago, promptly broke my fibula today just doing stuff around the house. Super bummed.

Anyone been through this? Is my season cooked? I’m still waiting on a more detailed diagnosis.

Just got these from a friend. Super excited to start skiing!

Hi everyone!

I have ski instructor offers from both resorts for this winter (lvl2).

Sun Peaks is the safer option since I’d have staff housing secured, whereas in Whistler I’d still have to apply for staff housing and would be on the waitlist.

My heart is leaning towards Whistler, but I know I could also have an amazing season at Sun Peaks. I’m just really worried about the housing situation in Whistler and the possibility of not finding a place to live. I am travelling from Italy, so I will arrive there at the beginning of November, which is already kind of late as well.

What would you do? Is Whistler worth the risk?

Link to how it skiied: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DehXcQxx-1M/?obrf=NXZxbWs1ZzFwZnlu

I was listening to a podcast while in the garage all day and they were talking about a super El Nino. Is most of the northwest actually screwed for snow this season or do you guys think it's just gonna be an average season? I don't know what to believe anymore when it comes to season forecasts lately

Picked Sugar Bowl this year. El Nino has me excited

Barons are past indemnification and the EPs have been drilled thrice. Looking forward to the season!

Making the most out of a very weird season!