News from the French Alps, Scandinavia and North America as heavy snowfall has allowed ski resorts to open earlier than expected. This is wonderful news for those chomping at the bit to go skiing and snowboarding. We have seen more than fifty ski areas open already in ten countries in the northern hemisphere.
Some of the resorts already opened for business are:
Europe
Cervinia, Engelberg, Kitzbuhel, Saas Fee, St Moritz, Solden, Tignes, Andermatt, Verbier and Zermatt.
North America
Killington, Lake Louise, Breckenridge, Mammoth and Winter Park.
The Alps
Heavy snowfall of around one metre has been seen in the glacier areas and the snow began to fall in early November. As there are over fifteen glaciers this has made a huge impact on the early ski season opening dates. It’s reported the resorts of Val Thorens and Obergurgl will be opening very soon. Across the Alps up to 90 centimetres of snow fall has been seen at least.
This week alone, Tignes has had snowfall of 105 centimetres (3.5 feet) making its overall depth base so far to 1.8 metres (six feet). It’s currently the deepest in the northern hemisphere.
Switzerland has some of its resorts open earlier than expected, due to favourable snow conditions and Laax is due to open soon. However, there could be a slight delay due to storm conditions expected.
Austria has ten of its ski resorts open already and four are open in Italy.
Another bonus to this snowy weather in the Alps, is that the snow making systems have been working hard due to the very cold temperatures.
Scandinavia
Ruka opened in October, using snow farming so they could be one of the first resorts to open early. However, there has been fresh snow fall too. There are ten ski resorts open in Finland and Norway in the likes of Beitstolen, Levi and Trysil.
UK – Scotland
Excellent snowfall has been seen in Northern Scotland and everyone got quite excited that the ski resorts would open earlier than expected. No such luck, as the ski opening dates have not been brought forward at this moment.
The Dolomites, Pyrenees and Eastern Europe
Good snowfall has been seen here too, however the ski resorts are not opening earlier than planned, which is quite surprising. They will open at the end of November or early December as advertised.
North America
Due to the cold snap, ski resorts are opening in the Midwest and in the East of US earlier than planned. The first resort to open was in Vermont in the resort of Killington.
The cold weather conditions has brought the ski opening season forward, with more than twelve ski areas open since the beginning of November. This means there are now at least twenty ski resorts open in over ten different US states. Most of these resorts are in Colorado (no surprise there) which saw unprecedented snowfall in October, with up to 1.5 metres (five feet).
The smaller ski resorts of New Mexico and Nevada have also opened earlier, with the help of snow making machines. Mammoth in California has opened its resort already.
Canada
Sunshine, Norquay and Lake Louise known collectively as the Banff ski areas, are opening imminently. Also expected to open soon are the Alberta ski areas, Marmot Basin, Quebec and Nakiska.
It doesn’t matter where you want your next ski destination to be, around the ski areas of the world you have options of various locations either close to home or further afield. Early snow fall means a great winter season is expected, so book that ski holiday now!