What's new on the mountain

A helicopter, two ski cross courses, friends and parties, and a season to chase. Here's what's landed in the game lately.

The game has moved a long way in a few days, so here's a round-up of what's landed. The playtest build is still two runs and the Ski School, so most of this is in the full game for now.

The back country

Behind the main mountain there's now a real range, shaped by water, with two long black runs that no lift reaches. A helicopter sets you down on the ridge and leaves you there.

Aquila is the longest wild run we have: 2.7 km and 838 m of drop, from a shoulder on the south range, down a gully and into a long forest valley. Nubes drops 710 m out of the big open cirque at the head of the same valley. The two meet for the last kilometre.

Ski cross

Two new courses sit on the east side: Catulus, the junior one, and Taurus, the big one, with 1,075 m of berms, whoops, rollers and four jumps.

We've always said no jumps, and that still holds everywhere else on the mountain. Ski cross is the one exception, because it isn't ski cross without them. There are still no tricks and no points for style.

Ski cross runs as real heats: four to six skiers, top two go through, all the way to a final.

Ski with your friends

There's a friends list now, parties of up to 8, and private rooms for free skiing and shows together. Online races also match you with skiers at your level, and bots fill any empty places so you're never waiting on an empty hill.

Fair for every scheme

All six ways to play still race in the same race, and nothing ever changes your finishing place. The harder schemes earn a bit more instead: Two Legs and Thumbs get 15% more rewards, and your scheme shows beside your name in the results.

A season to chase

There's a lifetime Skier Level, free for good, a season pass you buy with Ski Bucks, and a Trophy Cabinet for every win. Nothing in the pass or the shop makes you faster.

And the whole game now runs on classic rock.

Better snow and light

The mountain also got sparkling snow, softer powder, sun-lit tracks and shafts of light through the trees. Come and tell us what you think on the community page.