Whistler Blackcomb Indefinitely Suspends Summer Ski Camp Due to Glacial Recession

Summer skiing on the Horstman Glacier at Whistler Blackcomb, BC, has been an institution for decades. The glacier was one of the only spots in North America for skiers and snowboarders to train and ride through the off-season, drawing some of the biggest names in freestyle and racing. Now, glacial retreat is bringing that glorious era of consistent summer riding to an end.

In a blog post, Momentum Camps announced that its operations on the Horstman Glacier are indefinitely suspended. Whistler Blackcomb has confirmed it can no longer maintain summer glacier skiing due to severe snowpack depletion and glacial recession, which have made lift access and safety overwhelmingly difficult.

For many, this news isn’t entirely unexpected. The glacier has been receding for years, with sporadic summer closures dating back more than a decade. In 2024, summer skiing was canceled due to low snowfall, and in 2020 and 2021, operations were paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, with the glacier in retreat and climate challenges mounting, the resort has been forced to acknowledge the long-term reality and shift its attention to springtime activities. The end of Momentum's summer camp shoves a conversation about climate realities and the future of skiing to the forefront.

Momentum Camps started in 1992 and has since played a crucial role in year-round freestyle talent development. Athletes who passed through the program have gone on to World Cups, X-Games, and Olympic podiums. Campers enjoyed an environment vested in progression and camaraderie, making the camp something of a rite of passage for aspiring riders around the world. Here's what they had to say:

It is with great sadness that we must share the difficult news that Whistler Blackcomb has confirmed they can no longer operate summer glacier operations on the Horstman Glacier for the foreseeable future, due to the impacts of snowpack and glacial recession on safety and lift access.

For 32 years, Momentum Camps has been a place where champions were made. From just 43 campers in 1992 to over 1,200 in 2023, we have welcomed freestyle skiers—and more recently, snowboarders—from all over the world. From grassroots groms to National Team athletes, we’ve been honoured to be part of their journey.

The fun, the friendships, the camaraderie, and the memories will last forever. We will miss all of you—the campers, staff, and our legendary pro coaches—who have shaped generations of athletes.

Momentum had previously explored potential solutions, such as reengineering the Horstman Glacier’s T-bar lift and implementing snowmaking systems to counteract declining snowfall. While it’s unclear whether these measures are still on the table, Momentum has stated that discussions with Whistler Blackcomb are ongoing in hopes of making summer skiing viable again.

In the meantime, Momentum is shifting gears. The camp will now focus on its Summer in May Camps, which offer moguls, park, hybrid, all-mountain, and snowboard training on Blackcomb Mountain. These programs provide full-day riding with faster lift access, expanded terrain, and top-tier coaching—still delivering the high-caliber training environment Momentum is known for.

Despite the demise of summer riding in Whistler, Timberline Lodge in Oregon and Woodward Copper in Colorado remain viable choices in North America. But for anyone who grew up with Momentum as a summer tradition, the closure of Horstman Glacier skiing marks the end of a legendary chapter—at least for now. The camp has made it clear-- this is not the end.

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stash member Nico Johnson