That familiar itch to get out on the slopes comes every year, but there’s always something new to get excited about. Check out our 2025-26 roundup of snowsports trends down below, and start getting hyped for the best winter yet!
Arctic Lights Night Tubing
Tubing at Cranmore is one thing that never goes out of style for our guests, and it’s only getting better this year with our new Arctic Lights Night Tubing event.
While revamped tubing experiences are growing in popularity among resorts across the country, this will be the first of its kind in New Hampshire.
Beginning in late December, guests will be able to tube under the stars with ever-changing (and synchronized), colorful lights and music every Friday, Saturday and Wednesday night until 8 pm (9 pm during holidays and vacation weeks).
Women-owned Brands
There are a variety of women-owned retail brands that are gaining popularity on the slopes.
One of these brands is Skida, which was founded in 2006 by a cross-country skier named Corinne Prevot when she started sewing bright, patterned hats for her teammates at Burke Mountain Academy in Vermont. Skida’s roots are in headwear and accessories (hats, neck gaiters, etc.), with a strong emphasis on playfulness, pattern and color that you're sure to notice on the mountain this winter.
Kari Traa is another brand founded by a Norwegian ski champion who wanted to make athletic clothing “for her, by her.” The focus is not only on creative and fun designs, but also on fit and functionality.
Similar to Kari Traa, former Olympic freestyle skier Kiley McKinnon, along with Ariana Ferwerda and Karelle Golda, saw a need for ski and outdoor apparel made by and for women. Their brand Halfdays breaks away from the “shrink it and pink it” model by making gear and apparel with intentionality, allowing for optimal technical performance and style.
You should also keep your eye out for items from Wild Rye, an apparel company that was launched to inspire more women to get outside. Wild Rye is size-inclusive, and prioritizes fit, performance and contemporary style in its pieces.
Making your gear more you
“Good style” is really about having a personal style.
Skiers and riders are embracing this mentality by customizing their Kinco mittens and gloves with a variety of designs—everything from intricate, colorful patterns to detailed sketches of their home mountains. Many artists, particularly on sites such as Etsy, are taking advantage of this trend and accepting orders in which customers can ask for any design that speaks to them.
Folsom Custom Skis is also a result of this fast-growing personalization trend. Customers can choose from a variety of existing topsheet graphics on their skis, but are also encouraged not to “let these limit your imagination. We can add images, initials, or logos to any graphic, or work with you to design something completely original, bringing your creative goals to life through your skis.”
Cleaner Snow Production
As skiers and riders, we’re always striving to take better care of the outdoors that we love so much. Across the industry, that commitment is showing measurable results. For instance, implementing new snowmaking equipment and energy-efficient processes has allowed resorts like Greek Peak Mountain to save nearly 1.95 million kilowatt-hours of electricity in the 2023–24 season alone.
Cranmore also continues to improve its sustainable mountain operations with the addition of the PistenBully 600 E+ to its fleet of eco-friendly grooming equipment. The cleanest and quietest snow groomer in its class, the 600 E+ features a Tier 4 engine that reduces fuel consumption, noise, and CO2 emissions by up to 20%.
This new machine replaces Cranmore’s first E-Cat, introduced back in 2016, reaffirming the resort’s long-term commitment to greener grooming and responsible slope preparation.
Ready for the best winter yet?
No matter what trends you’re looking forward to seeing, there’s never been a better time to get out and make this winter your own. Make sure you're ready for the best ski year yet by grabbing your season pass today!