History of the TLD

.ski is a generic top level domain created as part of ICANN’s New gTLD Program and was delegated into the Domain Name System root zone in 2015. It was developed to provide a dedicated namespace for the skiing and winter sports community and related businesses. The registry operations are managed by Identity Digital.

Main Use and Industry Position

.ski serves brands, organisations, events, service providers and individuals connected to skiing and snow sports. It positions itself as a niche domain that immediately signals relevance to winter sports and ski culture. This makes it suitable for ski resorts, equipment retailers, tour operators, instructors, clubs and enthusiast blogs.

Comparison to Other TLDs

Compared to broad extensions like .com or .net, .ski offers a clearly defined theme that helps industry players and enthusiasts communicate their focus. It is more specialised than general lifestyle or sport extensions, and unlike non‑themed gTLDs it directly aligns with the snow sports niche. This can make .ski more memorable for relevant audiences but less applicable for general business use.

Pros and Cons of the TLD

 Pros

• Distinctive niche identity for skiing and winter sports

• Open registration with no special restrictions

• Supports standard technical capabilities including DNSSEC

Cons

• Less universal recognition than .com or .net

• Not broadly applicable outside the winter sports niche

• Pricing may be higher than generic TLDs at some registrars
  
  

Registration Criteria

.ski domains are available for registration on a first come, first served basis with no special eligibility requirements beyond general DNS naming rules. Registrants do not need to prove association with skiing to register a .ski domain.

Summary

.ski is an active generic top level domain aimed at the skiing and snow sports community. It provides a focused namespace that helps websites and brands immediately communicate their connection to the sport. The extension is suitable for a variety of related uses including resorts, equipment services, instruction, events and enthusiast content. It has open registration and full technical support, but its relevance is strongest within its niche.