Ski resorts open early following bumper snow falls

Winter has arrived in the Alps and it looks like the season is going to get off to a cracking start, which is fantastic news for UK operators looking to sell pre-Christmas packages.

As a result of all the fresh snow this week, there’s already some good skiing in some of the higher European resorts and several resorts, including the popular Alpe d’Huez in France, have announced they will bring forward their opening to this weekend.

The lifts will be running in Courchevel in the vast Three Valleys of France on Friday for a special pre-opening session thanks to all the new snow, while Verbier in Switzerland is also planning to open tomorrow for the start of the season.

In Italy, Cervinia and Val Senales are already open as are many Norwegian resorts including Lillehammer. Hemsedal, Trysil and Geilo are all opening in the next day or so along with Ruka and Levi in Finland.

Elsewhere in Europe, skiing is yet to begin in Germany, Andorra, and Sweden.

In Canada, Sunshine Village is still the only resort offering skiing, but Lake Louise and Marmot Basin are among those planning to open on November 18.

Over in the USA, many resorts are pushing back openings due to lack of snow and warmer than expected temperatures. Killington, Loveland and Arapahoe are all offering limited skiing at the moment.

AUSTRIA
Towards Obergurgl at Pitzal, there was 5cm of fresh snow overnight on Wednesday and conditions on the summit at 3,440m are currently excellent. Likewise, some good off piste options and powder turns can also be found up high at resorts such as Hintertux, Kaunertal and Solden. Both Kitzuhel and Kirchberg are open, where one piste and two lifts are on offer.

More snow is forecast into the weekend, and this should deliver some excellent skiing for the start of next week. Kaprun is set to receive 15cm on Friday while Neustift/Stubai is expected to accumulate around 12cm.

FRANCE
Snow has been falling across France this week, and many resorts have recorded huge early season accumulations. At Espace Killy, Tignes has received a further 25cm of fresh snow, but was closed today due to inclement weather. However, once the lifts open, conditions up on the Grande Motte glacier should be fantastic.

A further 75 cms of snow is expected in Argentiere and Chamonix in the Mont Blanc region before the weekend.

SWITZERLAND
Conditions at resorts such as Engelberg and Pontresina are improving thanks to the arrival of 8cm and 15cm respectively in each area. At Saas Fee and Zermatt have excellent skiing on the upper slopes.

Heavy snow is predicted to continue into the weekend, leaving as much as 95cm in resorts such as Gstaad.

ITALY
Snow is expected to continue in Cervinia and Val Senales for the next couple of days. Three lifts are open taking you a long way up the mountain.

ANDORRA
The start of the season is scheduled for November 26 in both the Vallnord and Grandvalira areas.

GERMANY
The Zugspitze Glacier above Garmisch is set to open up during November.

BULGARIA
Skiing is expected to begin in the middle of December.

NORWAY/SWEDEN
Only a single slope in Kvitfjell in the Lillehammer ski area is open, and only for a couple of hours, but Hemsedal and Trysil are set to open today, and Geilo will open on Saturday.

In Sweden, both Are and Salen are yet to open.

USA
Killington has two miles of skiing available. Colorado, Loveland has one run open and thre lifts on the go and Arapahoe also has one lift on the go. Park rats will be satisfied, however, as the Front Side Terrain Park is also open.

CANADA
Sunshine Village is celebrating its earliest opening for 30 years. It has skiing on 71 pistes. Mt Norquay is hoping to follow suit soon, but a date is yet to be confirmed. Lake Louise will open on Friday.

The snow report is provided by The Ski Club of Great Britain. For more detailed information and weather forecasts, visit skiclub.co.uk.