Vail Resorts Stacks its Winter Calendar with World-Class Ski and Snowboard Competition and Community Sporting Events

• Guests can watch the world's best athletes up close, or grab a bib and become a legend themselves
• The best seat in the house is with an Epic Pass, with prices increasing after November 15

BROOMFIELD, Colo., Nov. 4, 2026 /CNW/ -- As resorts begin to open and anticipation builds for the winter ahead, Vail Resorts is doubling down on top-tier sporting events and competitions, bringing World Cup and World Championship racing and community race days to its mountains in North America and Europe. This winter, the world's best ski resorts like Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Park City Mountain, Whistler Blackcomb and Crans-Montana will host new events and returning favorites from the first weeks of the season to the last, putting guests on the course, in the crowd, and at the finish line.

Whistler Blackcomb

Beaver Creek hosts the biggest Birds of Prey ever, with 11 days of festivities and seven days of men's and women's World Cup racing. In Switzerland, Crans-Montana welcomes the world's best alpine racers for 14 days of competition at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. Breckenridge debuts signature terrain park builds during the Rockstar Energy Open and welcomes back the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix for the first time in 12 years, while Park City Mountain's 22-foot superpipe returns as the new home of Shaun White's The Snow League. These events complement Vail Resorts' Epic Experience commitment to deliver the industry's best and most differentiated guest experience in skiing and riding. Guests who want a front-row seat to the action should lock in an Epic Pass before prices increase after Nov. 15.

"This winter, we're packing even more skiing and riding competitions into the calendar, because nothing gets people more fired up than watching incredible athletes show us what's possible on snow," said Jody Churich, Senior Vice President of Vail Resorts' Destination Resorts. "A World Cup downhill at Beaver Creek and a hand-dug halfpipe at Breck showcase the unique experiences across our network. Each one gives guests something they'll talk about long after the snow melts."

World-Class Competition on the Mountain

From World Cup and World Championship racing to slopestyle and superpipe, the world's top athletes will compete on the same mountains guests ski and ride every day. Here's where to catch the action during the 2026/2027 ski and ride season:

Beaver Creek, Birds of Prey (Dec. 2-13) – This winter marks the biggest Birds of Prey ever, with 11 days of festivities and seven days of men's and women's Audi FIS Ski World Cup racing on the legendary Birds of Prey course, a favorite stop among athletes and coaches. Live music, après celebrations, ski films, beer tastings and village-wide festivities run alongside the racing. Schedule: men's downhill Dec. 3 and 4, super-G Dec. 5 and giant slalom Dec. 6; women's downhill Dec. 11 and 12 and super-G Dec. 13.

Breckenridge, Toyota U.S. Grand Prix (Dec. 10-13) – Returning to The Kingdom of Breckenridge™ after a 12-year hiatus, the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix brings elite freeski and snowboard slopestyle competition to one of the sport's most celebrated mountains Dec. 10-13. The event opens the 2026-27 domestic FIS freeski and snowboard World Cup tour as one of 13 domestic World Cup stops this season and kicks off the Grand Prix's 30th anniversary winter.

Breckenridge, Rockstar Energy Open (Dec. 18-20) – Returning Dec. 18-20 for its second year, the free three-day snowboarding and music festival puts snowboarding at the center of a weekend of live music, art and action sports culture, giving riders the space to innovate and fans a front-row seat to the future of the sport. Men's and women's divisions will again compete on a rider-designed course shaped by Charles Beckinsale and Snowpark Tech. 

Park City Mountain, The Snow League and 22-Foot Superpipe (Jan. 21-23) – Park City Mountain's 22-foot superpipe returns this winter as one of the nation's premier superpipes and a training ground for athletes from around the world. New this season, Olympian and winter sports legend Shaun White brings season two of The Snow League to the pipe Jan. 21-23, as the world's elite freeski and snowboard athletes face off over three days of competition, live music, après and more. White also narrates Park City Mountain's new Larger Than Life™ brand campaign.

Crans-Montana Mountain Resort, FIS Alpine World Ski Championships (Feb. 1-14) – In Switzerland, Crans-Montana hosts the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, Feb. 1-14. Over 14 days of competition, the world's best alpine racers will chase world titles on the resort's Mont Lachaux and Nationale slopes. This event returns to Crans-Montana's sun-drenched slopes 40 years after the iconic event in 1987.

Community Races and Local Competition

Across Vail Resorts' ski destinations, guests can trade a spot in the crowd for a bib of their own:

Whistler Blackcomb, Peak to Valley Race Presented by See Ya Later Ranch (Feb. 26-27) – One of the world's longest giant slalom races returns to Whistler Blackcomb Feb. 26-27, 2027, challenging teams of four to take on this one-of-a-kind race down Whistler Mountain and into the valley below. 

Keystone Resort & Park City Mountain, Women in Powder (March 6-7) – Returning from last season, Women in Powder on March 6-7 brings skiers and riders together for a supportive weekend of progression, adventure and community.

Park City Mountain, Party at the Pipe (March 20) – Action in the resort's new superpipe continues on March 20 with the inaugural Party at the Pipe, a high-energy celebration bringing top athletes, local riders and entertainment together on the 22-foot superpipe.

Breckenridge, The Imperial Challenge (April 3) – Skiers and riders race uphill from town to the top of Peak 8 in this community classic race on April 3. Racers start at the Breck Recreation Center and run or bike to the base of Peak 7, then transition to uphill skis or split boards and climb to the Imperial Chair at nearly 13,000 feet. Then, they race back to the base for après and live music.

Whistler Blackcomb, World Ski & Snowboard Festival (April TBD) – The season at Whistler Blackcomb culminates in April with WSSF, Whistler's annual celebration of snow sports, music, art, film and mountain culture. (April dates announced soon).

Whistler Blackcomb, Oakley Rail Jam – The Oakley Rail Jam is back at Whistler Blackcomb, inviting skiers and snowboarders of all ages and abilities to get in on the action. Free to participate, the event features prizes for tricks, free pizza, a DJ and a viewing area for spectators, making it a must-see highlight of Oakley Community Days. (Dates announced soon).

Whistler Blackcomb, Kokanee Valley Race Series – Whistler Blackcomb's winter calendar is packed with signature community events, including the Kokanee Valley Race Series, welcoming skiers and snowboarders of all abilities. (Dates announced soon).

"You can feel the energy the second you step off the lift," Churich said. "The crowd, the cowbells, the buzz in the air. Whether you came to compete or to cheer, we want you to leave itching to get out there and be a part of the excitement."

Epic Pass Holders Get More Out of Every Event

Guests eager to experience the spectacle this winter can still lock in access and savings with an Epic Pass. Pass prices increase after Nov. 15. With new savings for young adults, skiers and riders ages 13-30 can save 20% on an Epic Pass or Epic Local Pass. Plus, guests who purchase an Epic Pass or Epic Local Pass now will receive five Epic Friend Tickets offering 50% off adult lift tickets, making it easier to bring the crew along and save.

Images Approved for Media Use Available [HERE – LINK]

About Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) 

Vail Resorts operates a network of 42 iconic mountain resorts across North America, Europe, and Australia. Our portfolio includes premier destinations such as Vail Mountain, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Park City Mountain, Whistler Blackcomb, and Keystone; beloved regional mountains like Stowe, Heavenly, and Northstar; and local resorts close to metro areas that help to introduce the next generation of skiers and riders to the sport. Together, these resorts provide guests with an unmatched range of mountain experiences connected through the Epic Pass. We are passionate about providing an Experience of a Lifetime to our team members and guests. Through our environmental and social responsibility work, we are committed to reaching a zero net operating footprint by 2030, supporting our employees and communities, and broadening engagement in our sport. Beyond our resorts, Vail Resorts operates industry-leading ski and ride school programs, rental operations, distinctive dining and hospitality experiences, retail operations, and the Grand Teton Lodge Company. Learn more about our company at www.VailResorts.com, or discover our resorts and Pass options at www.EpicPass.com.

SOURCE Vail Resorts, Inc.

John Plack - Crans-Montana: [email protected], Dane Gergovich - Whistler Blackcomb: [email protected], Sarah McLear - Keystone and Breckenridge Ski Resort: [email protected], Lee Nielsen - Vail Mountain and Beaver Creek Resort: [email protected], John Kanaly - Park City Mountain: [email protected]