Kaprun - the ski season has been underway for months...
If you have any spare time over the next six weeks or so before the ski season proper kicks off, you'll find 20 or so glaciers in Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland are offering special pre-season deals, events and testing of new 2010-11 gear.
In the case of the Diablerets Glacier, now called Glacier 3000 and owned by investors from neighbouring Gstaadm, there are 'Stöckli Ski Test Days' on 19th – 21st and 26th – 28th November y
At these you can check out several models of new Stöckli ski equipment and a low-priced package deal is available including two nights in a hotel, a two-day ski pass, a welcome cocktail, a technique course with a Stöckli Ski-pro including test equipment and video analysis. You'll also receive a coupon for 70 Swiss francs towards the purchase of a pair of skis.
Similar offers are available at many other European glacier ski areas. On Saas Fee's slopes for example 13 different ski and 15 snowboard brands are currently available to test until 28th November.