2026 FREERIDE CONTEST GR MT HELMOS FWT Qualifier & Junior by THE NORTH FACE
The 2025–2026 ski season at the Kalavrita Ski Resort was one of the most dynamic and multifaceted of recent years, combining sports, entertainment and significant infrastructure upgrades. Despite the challenges posed by weather conditions, the resort maintained a high level of operation and attracted a large number of visitors.
December – Impressive opening & festive atmosphere
We welcomed winter on December 21 with the “Kalavrita O’Clock Opening Party by Metaxa”, greeting the first visitors of the year at the Ski Resort despite the lack of snow coverage. The New Year was celebrated with a live performance by Iro on December 31, in a particularly warm and festive evening.
New Year’s Eve Celebration
January – Continuous action & themed events
January unfolded at an intense pace, with the “Park Dark Sessions by ΒΙΚΟΣ COLA” series filling the Cantina with DJ sets and crowds. The events shifted to a daytime format, keeping the atmosphere lively and the party spirit alive.
A standout moment was the “Apres Ski Party by ALLWYN”, which transformed the Chalet into a vibrant winter hotspot, full of energy and people. Stealing the show was ALLWYN Champ and Paralympian Eva Nikou, with an impressive downhill run that earned warm applause from those in attendance.
At the same time, important brand partnerships were implemented, with a notable example being the presence of Crocs Greece. Through a two-day activation, it enhanced the overall visitor experience by offering comfortable and warm Crocs for breaks on the mountain. The month concluded dynamically with “Music 89.2 The Snow Party”, where the producers of Music 89.2 once again energized the crowd with their music selections at the Chalet.
An important moment for Kalavrita Ski Resort was the visit of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, marking the first time a sitting Prime Minister has visited the resort. His visit, part of an on-site briefing, gave him the opportunity to experience firsthand the Resort’s latest €20,250,000 investment, see the work being carried out up close, observe the high standards of operation, as well as the added value and development potential of Mount Helmos. During his visit, he went skiing, stopped by the new café at the top of Styga, and had the chance to chat with skiers and visitors.
Park Dark Sessions by ΒΙΚΟΣ COLA
February – A peak month filled with events & competitions
February proved to be the richest month of the season, featuring a wide range of events and sports competitions.
The “Disco Carnival Party” kicked off the month in a dynamic way, with Burger Disco Club setting the tone and LATINA BEER enhancing the experience, together creating a vibrant carnival-style disco atmosphere.
One of the most intense and emotional moments of the period was the “Run Up The Hills – Thanasis Sotiropoulos Vol.2” day, dedicated to ski mountaineering. For the second consecutive year, the Kalavrita Ski Resort hosted the Interclub Ski Mountaineering Races of Southern Greece, as well as the Open Ski Mountaineering & Splitboarding Race “Thanasis Sotiropoulos”, in an event of special significance and strong emotional impact.
A particularly important highlight was the Freeride Contest GR by THE NORTH FACE, held on Clean Monday under ideal conditions, marking a strong comeback after a 2-year break. With participation from both Greek and European riders, the event showcased the scale and international character of the competition, repositioning the Kalavrita Ski Resort on the global freeride map. At the same time, visitors had the opportunity to test the 2026–2027 ski models during the ski tests organized by Board Generation and Climber Klaoudatos, further enriching the mountain experience.
The “ΒΙΚΟΣ Below Zero Sessions Vol. 1” and “Altos Tequila on the Slopes” further strengthened the season’s dynamic lifestyle element, bringing music and positive energy to the mountain.
The “Adventure Slam by THE NORTH FACE Vol. 3” delivered, for the third consecutive year, a two-day experience full of pure outdoor lifestyle for selected guests. Participants took part in bonding games with Trekking Hellas Achaea, enjoyed dinner at 1,930 meters altitude by Nomade et Sauvage, joined gear talks, a movie night, fire-side discussions and spent the night in The North Face tents—experiencing the mountain in a truly unique way.
Run Up The Hills – Thanasis Sotiropoulos vol.2
Freeride Contest GR by THE NORTH FACE
March – Competitive action & intense moments
March maintained its strong momentum, featuring a series of competitions and standout events that enhanced the overall visitor experience.
On March 1st, “Red Bull Winter Vibes,” featuring the Red Bull Event Car, took over the Chalet, delivering a day full of rhythm and energy. The event included DJ sets, ice-cold Red Bull served from a specially designed bar, graffiti art on skis and snowboards, while Red Bull paramotoring athlete Dimitris Kolliakos amazed the crowd by soaring across the resort’s sky.
Subaru Parkoluna #8 by MICROEXTREME was the highlight of the weekend of March 7 & 8, 2026. The two-day action kicked off with the first-ever ALLWYN Banked Slalom at the Kalavrita Ski Resort. This fun-for-all event stood out for its dynamic character, featuring a course that combined smooth flow with technical elements, elevating the overall experience. Participants responded with great enthusiasm, while the crowd created a lively and passionate atmosphere that took the event to the next level. Winners were awarded memorabilia and gear, with everyone leaving with unforgettable moments from this inaugural edition.
The two-day event reached its peak with a slopestyle freestyle competition, a kids’ banked slalom and a snowboard test for the 2026–2027 season, offering action for all skill levels and ages, with participants ranging from just 7 to over 45 years old. The most daring athletes impressed the crowd with jumps over a Subaru Crosstrek, positioned at the Vathia Lakka area, creating unforgettable moments and striking visuals that will be remembered for a long time.
ΒΙΚΟΣ Below Zero Sessions Vol. 2 marked the final party of the ski season at Cantina, delivering music and entertainment that energized the crowd. Snowboarders, ski enthusiasts and visitors filled the space with energy and smiles, enjoying unique moments of dancing in the snowy landscape.
The season reached its competitive peak with the Slopestyle and Big Air Greek National Championships organized by the Hellenic Winter Sports Federation (HWSF), reaffirming the Center’s role as a key pillar in the development of winter sports in Greece.
ALLWYN Banked Slalom
Subaru Parkoluna #8 by MICROEXTREME
Upgrades & new infrastructure
Throughout the season, significant improvements were carried out:
- Creation of a new café at the top of Styga, offering a unique view of the snowy landscape and hot beverages, providing a pleasant break from skiing and snowboarding.
- Opening of two new black runs on the Artemis lift, bringing more challenge and adrenaline for experienced skiers and snowboarders.
- Upgrade of the snowpark into the “Terrain Park by BΙΚΟΣ COLA,” featuring an airbag landing and new obstacles, creating the ultimate playground for freestyle riders of all levels.
At the same time, this year also marked the launch of Kalavryta Peak, a new modern hospitality and activity destination just outside Kalavrita. It is set to enhance the overall visitor experience in the wider Helmos region and contribute significantly to the further tourism development of the destination.
Operations & visitor numbers
The operation of the Ski Resort was supported by the continuous efforts of its teams, ensuring a stable and reliable experience for visitors. Access remained consistently open and clear, with ongoing maintenance of the road network under all conditions, while public updates were provided in real time through digital channels. Visitor numbers remained at high levels.
The 2025–2026 ski season concluded with great success, as exceptional snow conditions allowed the Resort to remain open until April 19, extending operations through the Easter period—a milestone not recorded for more than two decades.
Acknowledgements
Warm thanks are extended to all visitors for their trust and support.
Special mention should be made of the sponsors and partners who made a decisive contribution to the success of the season: ANYTIME, ALLWYN, ΒΙΚΟΣ COLA, CF MOTO, THE NORTH FACE, SMITH, PHARMASEPT, AYVENS, REAL GREEK DAIRIES, JAMESON, JTI, LAVAZZA, CADBURY, TYRRELL’S, ΜΠΥΡΑ ΛΑΤΙΝΑ, EXPERTIZ.
Special recognition is due to the local supporters, whose contribution to promoting local hospitality and enhancing the overall visitor experience is particularly significant: KALAVRITA COOP, SKIBIIL.GR, KALAVRITA CANYON HOTEL & SPA, KALAVRITA BOTANICA HOTEL & SPA, ANERADA HOTEL KALAVRITA.
Valuable partners continue to be the Ski Schools: PEAK SNOW SCHOOL, 4 SEASONS OUTDOOR, ALTITUDE SNOWSPORTS, KALAVRITA SKI ACADEMY and the snowmobile activity providers, KALAVRITA SNOWMOBILES and WHITE WAYS SNOWMOBILES, who continuously enhance the visitor experience.
Closing the review of the 2025–2026 ski season, we would like to extend a sincere and heartfelt thank you to everyone behind the operation of the Kalavrita Ski Resort. The following acknowledgement is presented in no particular order, as each team made a decisive contribution to the overall functioning of the Resort:
- Board of Directors: For their trust, support and for making swift and meaningful decisions. Without their contribution, the implementation of the overall project would not have been possible.
- Administrative Teams & Department Managers: For coordinating, organizing and managing the Resort’s multiple operations with consistency and efficiency.
- Marketing & Communications Team: For strategic communication, promoting the destination and ensuring the Resort’s strong presence across all media platforms.
- Safety & Slope Operations Team: For their constant presence on the mountain, ensuring the safety of all guests with high professionalism and a strong sense of responsibility.
- Lift Operations Team: For the reliable and uninterrupted operation of the ski lifts, which form the backbone of the ski resort experience.
- Grooming & Snow Clearing Vehicle Team: For their tireless and demanding work in shaping excellent slopes every day, even under difficult conditions.
- Chalet – Cantina – Café Styga Team: For their warm hospitality and excellent service, providing moments of rest and enjoyment to visitors.
- Parking Management Team: For organizing and providing prompt service, ensuring smooth arrival and departure for all visitors.
- Visitor Services Department: For their courtesy, patience and prompt responsiveness, serving as the first welcoming smile of the Resort.
- Rental Shop Team: For their valuable guidance and appropriate equipment provision, contributing to a safe and enjoyable mountain experience.
- Retail Shop Department: For their willingness and professionalism, meeting every visitor need.
- Finance Department: For their quiet yet decisive contribution to the smooth operation and financial stability of the Resort.
- Medical Center: For providing immediate and responsible care, serving as a point of safety for every visitor.
- Shapers Terrain Park Team: For the continuous care and shaping of a safe and enjoyable terrain park for all riders.
- Partner Private Ski Schools: For their high-level instruction and their contribution to the promotion and safe learning of skiing.
- Partner Snowmobile Rental Companies: For providing high-quality and modern equipment, enhancing the visitor experience.
- Hellenic Rescue Team: For its valuable and long-standing contribution to strengthening safety, with readiness, professionalism and a strong sense of service.
Guided by our vision, “A mountain for everyone,” we continue to evolve the Helmos experience.
Next stop: HELMOS MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL 2026, June 19–22!
