Snowstorm sets up resorts for a great ski holiday season

A massive snowstorm which fell over the European Alps last week has seen many resorts buried under a thick white blanket after more than a metre of snow fell in just 24 hours.

Early heavy snowfalls help set up resorts for the months ahead as it creates a good base and enables ski areas to prepare the pistes for the early season, particularly the Christmas and New Year period. It gives skiers and snowboarders more confidence when booking their ski holidays.

It also generates a ‘feel good’ factor among businesses and employees working in the resorts as it enables them to open on time, or even earlier than usual, which boosts the local economy. It also reduces the need for expensive and energy-intensive artificial snowmaking.

Here are some examples of resorts that already have great snow cover:

Saas-Fee, Switzerland: Saas-Fee currently has one of the deepest snow bases in Europe, mainly because of its high altitude and recent accumulation.

Val d’Isère and Tignes, France: With 105cm of fresh snow at 3000m altitude and 58cm in the village, Val d’Isère all sectors of its ski area are already open. The resort’s connection to Tignes is also already open. Tignes put on a spectacular new addition to the opening festivities, with 100 ski instructors and members of the Tignes Sports Club descending from the Grande Motte glacier at 3,456m altitude in a ‘ballet of light’. The procession lit up the slopes down to Val Claret and was followed by a festive après-ski celebration for the start of the new season.

The 3 Vallées – Val Thorens, Meribel, Courchevel, Les Menuires – France: Val Thorens is already open and Meribel, Courchevel and Les Menuires will follow on 5/6 December. There is great snow cover across the whole of Les 3 Vallées area, with up to 130cm on the upper slopes and 80cm at the base.

Cervinia/Zermatt, Italy & Switzerland: This cross-border ski area continues to lead Europe in early-season openings. Zermatt has expanded its accessible terrain.

Jungfrau Ski Region, Switzerland: Around 30cm of fresh snow fell in one day, and more is forecast to fall in the next week. There is already around 80cm on the upper slopes of the Wengen-Kleine Scheidegg area. Grindelwald will be open from 20 December.

Les Gets, France: There is already snow right down to the village of Les Gets in the Portes du Soleil and locals are predicting that this will produce the best conditions at the start of a season for a number of years. The resort’s official opening date is Saturday, 13 December 13.

Sölden, Austria: Recent snowfall allowed nearly two-thirds of the domain to open.

* These are just some examples of the great snow conditions already available in the Alps. To find out what the snow conditions are like in your favourite ski resort, and the wide choice of available accommodation, contact the experts at Ski Line using the telephone contact details or the online chat facility on the website.