Training gates below the famous Matterhorn on the Zermatt Glacier. | Picture: FIS Ski
Zermatt Bergbahnen has temporarily suspended public summer skiing on the Theodul Glacier in Switzerland, marking the first time in decades that there is no year-round lift-served skiing available anywhere in the world. The decision comes after weeks of exceptionally warm weather across the Alps.
According to Zermatt Bergbahnen, persistently high temperatures, warm nights that prevented the snowpack from refreezing, repeated thunderstorms, and rapidly changing glacier conditions have made it impossible to maintain safe, high-quality skiing for the public. While recreational skiing has been paused, training slopes prepared by Zermatt Bergbahnen will remain open on a limited basis for select Swiss-Ski national teams.
“The safety of guests and staff is always our top priority,” Martin Hug, CEO of Zermatt Bergbahnen, said in a press release. “At the same time, we attach great importance to ensuring that our guests can enjoy good and safe conditions throughout the entire operating season. If these conditions are no longer met, operations will be responsibly adapted to the natural circumstances.”
The closure affects only public summer skiing. Mountain lifts, sightseeing operations, hiking, and other summer activities continue to operate, while maintenance crews will continue preparing the glacier slopes and transport infrastructure. Resort officials say conditions are being monitored daily, and skiing will resume as soon as natural conditions allow.
Italian Olympic champion Federica Brignone had shared a video the day before the announcement of herself training on the Theodul Glacier. The decision to limit training to Swiss-Ski teams is also likely to disappoint international race programs that traditionally rely on Zermatt for summer training. The move may also revive criticism from some international teams, who have previously argued that access to Swiss glacier training has favored domestic athletes.
Marcel Hirscher training in Zermatt in 2025. | Image: Marcel Hirscher IG
Zermatt Bergbahnen emphasized that summer skiing remains strategically important not only for the resort but for alpine ski racing as a whole. The glacier plays a crucial role in developing young athletes and providing essential training opportunities for national teams. The company says it remains committed to offering summer skiing whenever natural conditions permit, in partnership with Swiss-Ski and numerous international ski federations.
Summer skiing management changed significantly in 2025 after Swiss-Ski took over responsibility for the training program following the cancellation of the Matterhorn World Cup races. In the 2024 summer, professional team training on the glacier was suspended before returning in 2025 under the new partnership between Swiss-Ski and Zermatt Bergbahnen.
Swiss-Ski Alpine Director Hans Flatscher thanked the resort for continuing to support elite training despite the difficult conditions. “Thanks once again to the excellent work of Zermatt Bergbahnen, we have found superb conditions on the Theodul Glacier since the end of June,” Flatscher said. “We are very grateful that at least some of our teams will have the opportunity to complete training sessions in Zermatt over the coming days, despite the challenging circumstances.”
Zermatt became the world’s last destination offering year-round lift-served skiing after Hintertux Glacier in Austria began closing for several weeks each summer in 2024. During the 1980s, more than 50 European glacier ski areas offered summer skiing. Today, only around a dozen remain in operation, and many now have increasingly short and weather-dependent seasons.