Industry News
One of North America’s most iconic summer ski destinations has pulled the plug. Whistler Blackcomb has confirmed it will suspend summer skiing on the Horstman Glacier indefinitely, bringing an end to a decades-long tradition that once attracted Olympians, coaches, and aspiring athletes from across the globe.
The decision was first reported by Momentum Ski Camps, a longtime glacier-based program, and later confirmed in coverage by Pique Newsmagazine. The resort cited shrinking snow coverage and deteriorating surface conditions as the primary reasons behind the closure. Summer operations on the glacier have been under increasing pressure in recent years due to a pattern of warmer winters and shorter snow seasons that have steadily eroded the viability of maintaining camps through the off-season. In 2023, all summer sessions were canceled due to poor snowpack. This season’s announcement makes the suspension permanent—for now.
The Horstman Glacier has played a unique role in Canadian snow sports. Beyond recreational skiers and snowboarders, the glacier served as an informal training hub for high-performance athletes. Programs like Momentum hosted hundreds of campers annually, helping nurture talent that would go on to compete in international events. According to Local Freshies, more than 1,200 athletes attended Momentum’s camps in 2023 alone, showing how vital the glacier had become to Canada’s offseason ski development.
With the closure now official, programs that relied on Horstman are adapting. Momentum will continue to run limited spring camps in May, but athletes seeking consistent snow into the summer will need to travel further afield. Many are expected to head to locations like Timberline Lodge in Oregon or training centers in Europe, which maintain snow through aggressive preservation and snow farming techniques. The Andes Mountains of South America, too, may start to become a more desirable location for North American skiers and snowboarders who used to call Whistler their summer training headquarters.
Discussions are underway about how to keep some form of glacier access viable in Whistler. Possibilities include engineering upgrades to the Showcase T-Bar that could extend lift access even during low-snow periods, according to Local Freshies, or a new and extensive snow farming practice.
Whistler Blackcomb has not offered a timeline for any potential alternatives. For now, the closure marks the end of an era in the mountain’s history—one defined by summer sessions, freestyle progression, and a rare chance to ride snow under the July sun.
