While there was very little snow in many ski resorts this time last year, a thick carpet of snow has already fallen in several ski regions over the last few days, resulting in them opening their doors earlier than expected, Het Nieuwsblad reports.
In November 2022, ski resorts were praying for snow, but this time around the Alps are already under a thick, white carpet, with many ski resorts in Austria, Switzerland and France choosing to open earlier than planned. There is a nice layer of snow, and ski passes are three times cheaper than usual.
Some say that the surprisingly early snowfall may be due to Storm Ciarán, notes meteorologist Roel Van den Bekerom. "But to me that seems a bit of an exaggeration. I rather think that we have been lucky that areas of low pressure with very cold air have passed over the Alps in recent weeks."
Due to the heavy snowfall over the past week and a half, a layer of 40 cm of snow has fallen in France's Val Thorens, Europe's highest ski resort at 2,300 metres. With so much snow, Val Thorens is now welcoming skiers this Saturday 18 November instead of the original opening date of 25 November.
Ski lift passes from just €10 a day
It has been years since so much snow fell in the resort at the start of the season. With equipment and instructors having to be ready a week earlier than planned, "it is all hands on deck," says Michel Van de Vijver, Flemish technical director of the local ski school. "Shops in the village are also doing everything they can to open earlier." There are currently only three lifts open.
As they are opening unusually early, resorts are also offering bargain prices: visitors can buy a lift pass for as little as €20 a day this weekend, but would usually pay triple the amount. Tignes – a resort 2,100 metres above sea level – also opens this weekend and a day pass costs barely €10.
Meanwhile in Sölden, Austria, people can usually ski on the glacier around this time of year, but the ski resorts around it are also now open ten days earlier than planned. In Sölden, there are also only a limited number of lifts open. People wanting to ski this weekend or next week are therefore advised to choose an area near a glacier, as hotels are more likely to be open.
Interest peaking
Most people now jump in the car and arrange their skiing holiday without a tour operator, according to Adriaan De Keuster of Aktief Ski in Antwerp.
"We are noticing many more bookings for later this year. August and September were very busy with bookings for winter sports holidays, then interest fell back a bit, but since last week it has flared up sharply. There is still some availability in popular ski resorts during the first week of the Christmas holidays, but for the week after New Year it is more difficult."
All ski resorts that are open early this year can be found here.
