Alpine skiing: France, Switzerland, Norway, Austria are ready

Alpine skiing: France, Switzerland, Norway, Austria are ready

During the current week several other ski resorts of Europe started ski season.

So, the French ski resort Les 2 Alpes will try to dispel the rumors about the snow problems this season. Les 2 Alpes is preparing to officially announce start of the ski season on its slopes on December 3, 2011. Les 2 Alpes is one of the most famous ski resorts in France. Despite the rumors about problems with snow Les 2 Alpes will ensure 100% natural snow on the slopes. In total Les 2 Alpes will open 16 ski lifts on 10 ski slopes on December 3.

Les 2 Alpes follows Swiss Zermatt and Italian Cervinia. Both alpine resorts, which are united by a common ski pass, reported about opening of all ski tracks. From now on Zermatt-Cervinia offers its guests 177 kilometers of prepared ski slopes.

Despite the snow problems at a number of ski resorts in Europe, there are those, who believe in successful ski season. In the first place it is northern Europe. Ski resorts in Norway got some fresh snow last week. At several resorts in the country the snow level exceeded 50 centimeters.

Austrian Sölden was also blessed by the weather gods, who sent additional 24 centimeters of snow to the resort.

Among the most prepared ski resorts in Europe can unexpectedly be found Spanish Sierra Nevada. Sierra Nevada, the southernmost ski resort on the continent, due to the heavy snowfalls could open the season earlier than many well-known Alpine resorts.

Val Thorens, the most mountainous resort of the Alps was also able to announce opening of the season this week.

Some resorts still need artificial snowmaking to maintain an acceptable level of snow cover. Here among the leaders is Ischgl. This Austrian resort spent one million Euros to ensure the proper snow quality by snowmaking. As a result, Ischgl was able to open this season in total 77 kilometers of tracks, which are currently served by 24 lifts.

Ilya Kalachev

Date: 06/12/2011