Zermatt, Switzerland: no cars, no roads in, and the Matterhorn towering over the whole valley. This week, Where to Ski with John Morgan heads to one of the biggest names in skiing for a local’s guide to the resort.

Our guest is Henry Hardy, a ski guide who has lived and worked in Zermatt since January 2000. A marine biologist by training, he arrived for what was meant to be one more ski season and never left. He is certified by BASI and Swiss Snowboard, and he’s here to tell you how to ski the real Zermatt.

In this episode:

• How to get to car-free Zermatt, and why the train beats driving
• How the three ski areas work: Sunnegga, Gornergrat and Klein Matterhorn
• The best runs for beginners, intermediates and advanced skiers
• Skiing over to Italy: how to plan the day
• Off-piste skiing in Europe, avalanche control, and why you should hire a guide
• Snow, weather and glacier skiing, and why March is Henry’s favorite month
• Where to stay, plus Henry’s favorite mountain restaurant and the best après-ski
• His honest take on the one thing he’d change about Zermatt

Grab your skis. It’s time to see Zermatt like a local.

Fifteen miles from Jackson Hole, on the other side of the Tetons, there’s a ski resort with 500+ inches of snow a year, 2,600 acres, and basically no lift lines. This week, Where to Ski heads to Grand Targhee, Wyoming.

Our guest is Gary MacKenzie, Executive Director of the Grand Targhee Ski and Snowboard Foundation, a former freeride head coach, and a Driggs, Idaho native who has skied Targhee since he was three. Gary breaks down how to ski the mountain like a local.

In this episode:

• How to get there, and why the roads (and Teton Pass) sometimes close
• Fred’s Mountain vs. Pequod, and the 2022 Coulter lift
• Where to go on a deep day, and why wind is Targhee’s friend
• Why Gary packs a 110mm+ ski
• Tree wells, rime and low visibility: how to stay safe in 500 inches
• Mary’s Nipple, the backside cliffs, and the backcountry options, including guided tours and yurts
• How many days to plan for, and where to stay in Alta and Driggs
• Why the best tip is to make a new friend on the chairlift

Grab your skis. Targhee might be your new favorite.

Ever stood at the top of a run and wondered if your legs have anything left? This episode fixes that.

With about eight weeks until ski season, we head to Boulder, Colorado, to the Alpine Training Center. Owner and head coach Connie Schiolino holds a master’s in exercise science from Montana State and is certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association. She shares exactly how to get ski-fit this fall, whether you’re a weekend warrior or chasing first chair every day.

In this episode:

• Why your summer running, hiking and biking already count
• “Balance strength”: quads vs. hamstrings and left vs. right
• The best exercises for skiing, from Bulgarian split squats to box jumps (and a BOSU ball for home)
• Sets and reps for squats and deadlifts, and why muscular endurance matters
• Hip mobility and the Jane Fonda moves that actually work
• Aerobic vs. interval training that mimics a ski run
• A sample weekly ski workout schedule
• ACL injury prevention for women, mobility for men, and recovery for older skiers

Start now, and you’ll be ready when your buddy says, “You got this.”

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A record-setting El Niño is on the way. Here's what it could mean for your ski season.

After a rough winter out West, everyone wants to know if this year will be better. OpenSnow meteorologist and operations manager Alan Smith joins us from Jackson, Wyoming, to cut through the hype (sorry, moose videos) and break down OpenSnow's 2026-27 winter outlook.

In this episode:

• El Niño explained in plain English, and why this one is so strong
• Why warm temperatures and high snow levels are the big wild card
• California and Utah: above-average snow indications
• The Southwest sweet spot: the San Juans, Taos and Arizona Snowbowl
• The Tetons and Colorado: a true coin flip
• Tough signals for western Canada, New England and the upper Midwest
• Bonus outlooks for the Alps and South America
• How to plan around any forecast: stay flexible and watch 10 to 14 days out

Just remember: an outlook tips the odds, it doesn't guarantee anything. Mother Nature always gets a say.

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Ischgl, Austria, is famous for its après. But the skiing might be the best-kept secret in the Alps.

Patrick Walter is a state-certified ski guide, owner of Silvretta Guides, and an examiner for the Tyrolean and Austrian Ski Instructor Association. That means he trains the instructors (he calls himself "the bad guy"). He takes us past the table-dancing and into the terrain most visitors never find.

In this episode:

• An 11 km run from the top of Greitspitz, close to 2,900 m, straight down to the village
• Why Ischgl's off-piste is easier to reach than St. Anton's, and why it stays untracked for days
• The 20-minute trip that gets you 1,000 vertical meters of powder
• A hidden-valley lunch at the Heidelberger Hütte
• Skiing into Switzerland for duty-free Samnaun
• How 1,000+ snow cannons keep the season going
• Which weeks to avoid, and where to ski when it's dumping
• The mountaintop concert that closes every season

🎿 Enjoyed it? Share it with the friend you ski with, and follow Where to Ski so you don't miss an episode.

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Why did Colorado and Utah struggle for snow while the Northeast and the Alps saw massive storm cycles?

In this episode of Where to Ski, we break down one of the strangest ski winters in recent memory with two mountain weather experts:

• OpenSnow meteorologist Alan Smith
• WePowder forecaster Coen Verrijn Stuart

We dive into the weather patterns that shaped the season, including persistent high-pressure ridges over the western U.S., huge snowfall events in the Alps, and why avalanche danger stayed elevated for weeks.

We cover:

• Why Colorado and Utah saw a snow drought
• How the Northeast ended up with one of its best winters in years
• What drove huge storm cycles in Europe
• Why avalanche conditions were so dangerous
• What skiers should watch heading into next season

If you spent this winter chasing snow — or wondering where it went — this episode explains it all.

🎧 Listen now for the weather story behind one of the most unusual ski seasons in years.

Southern Vermont has been one of the most important skiregions in the eastern United States for decades. Within just a few miles of each other sit three legendary mountains: Stratton Mountain Resort, Bromley Mountain, and Magic Mountain Ski Area—each with its own personality,terrain, and deep roots in the history of New England skiing.

In this episode of the Where to Ski podcast, we talk with Benzi Ross, who grew up skiing these mountains and knows their terrain, culture, and evolution firsthand.

We explore why southern Vermont became such a hub for EastCoast skiing, from storms that seem to stall over the valley to thoughtful mountain design that created some of the best cruisers and learning terrain in the region.

Benzi shares how Stratton was built with progression in mind—from beginner areas with magic carpets to flowing groomers that follow the natural shape of the mountain. We also talk about the sunny slopes of Bromley, one of Vermont’s oldest ski areas, and the rugged steeps and powder stashesthat give Magic Mountain its loyal cult following among expert skiers.

Along the way, we dig into trail design, classic Vermont skiculture, why this valley has produced generations of passionate skiers, and what keeps people coming back year after year.

From smooth corduroy to tree skiing and old-school NewEngland character, southern Vermont delivers a skiing experience that blends history, community, and great terrain.

🎧 Listen now to discover why Stratton, Bromley, and Magicremain icons of East Coast skiing.

If you haven’t heard much about Andermatt, that’s exactly why you should listen.

Located in the heart of the Swiss Alps, Andermatt has quietly transformed from a sleepy mountain town into one of Europe’s most exciting ski destinations — without losing its authentic alpine soul.

In this episode of Where to Ski, we explore what makes Andermatt truly special: reliable snowfall from multiple storm directions, steep high-alpine terrain, and the legendary Gemsstock — a freeride playground known for pitch, powder, and technical skiing.

Our guest, Swiss big-mountain skier Leonie Zopp, grew up here. A former Swiss national junior champion turned freerider and psychology student, Leonie shares how Andermatt shaped her skiing.

We break down:

• Why Gemsstock is a mecca for advanced skiers
• How Sedrun and Disentis expand the ski region
• What to expect from Europe’s off-piste rules
• Where to ski when visibility drops
• Why Andermatt’s small-town vibe still feels authentic

From steep alpine faces to sunny cruising terrain, Andermatt offers serious skiing with Swiss precision — and just enough development to elevate the experience without overwhelming it.

If you’re looking for luxury party scenes, look elsewhere.
If you’re looking for terrain that builds great skiers, this is your mountain.

🎧 Listen now and discover why Andermatt may be Europe’s best under-the-radar ski resort.