J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by J2SkiNews

Bulgarian resorts are now closing.

Yes the science was a bit beyond me too, I just nodded knowingly like I knew what they meant...

The coronavirus pandemic, and the ski industry's response to it, is a fast moving situation and things continue to change by the hour, but as at 1900 GMT in Sunday 15th March, resorts in some countries are stressing they're still open and intend to stay open …unless their governments tell them to close.

Although East and West Canada's leading ski areas Mont Tremblant and Whistler have closed, along with quite a few other Canadian resorts, some because they are owned by the giant Alterra and Vail groups, many of the country's big-name areas remain open. Revelstoke reported a few hours ago, as it seemed most of North American skiing was going into meltdown, that it was another beautiful day ahead on the slopes.

Banff posted a video from a medical expert suggesting that it was better to go skiing than stay home in the coronavirus crisis, drawing criticism from some.

Marmot Basin near Jasper posted, "We're wide open until May 3rd. We have an above average snow pack this year and conditions are excellent. Come on up for fresh alpine air, stunning mountain vistas and sweet spring turns."

US resorts are announcing closures all the time, but some remain open. Although some of the big groups, as mentioned above, and states including Colorado, have announced they've closed all resorts, some not in the groups or states that insist all must close, are staying open for now.

In Scandinavia although most Norwegian ski areas have closed, most ski areas in Finland and Sweden remain open for now.

And ski areas in Scotland are open too. Glencoe issued this statement earlier today,

"In answer to the many questions that we have been asked over the last few days our current position is that we plan to stay open until told otherwise by the UK or Scottish Government. This could be days, weeks or even the end of the season on 4th May. As advice from the Government is changing on an hourly basis the hundreds of enquiries we get a day asking " if we are still going to be open next Thursday" really are a waste of your time and ours."

Japanese ski areas are mostly still open, despite there being a 'state of energency'.

All still open ski areas are stressing their efforts to fight the spread of coronavirus.

A new French government order this evening seems to make it inevitable that all of the country's ski areas must close due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The new directive orders most businesses in France to close including all "non-essential services."

Only a few hours ago leading French resorts were reassuring skiers that they had no plans to close and with this being 'changeover day' new arrivals in French resorts were getting ready to ski tomorrow. However the ban begins at midnight tonight.

The move is very similar to that seen in Austria and Switzerland in the past 48 hours, where changes in government legislation led to mass resort closures.

With ski areas also closed in Andorra, Italy, Norway and Spain as well as the Czech Republic, Poland and the Slovak Republic the countries where ski areas are still open is rapidly diminishing.

However ski areas are currently expected to open next week in Bulgaria, Canada, Finland, Japan, Scotland and Sweden.

Most resorts are also open in the US, although some have closed, but the US has closed its borders to European skiers and boarders.

"So presumably that'll be all the ski resorts...."

Looks like it, sadly, here's Val Thorens: https://www.valthorens.com/en/useful-informations/covid-19-valthorens?fbclid=IwAR30LDJAzm58q8-MPJTcGkRB8G79WwPfzOzoI_iUq8PPN-xtiuTm20AYmdw

Really gotta feel for the folk who arrived in resort today expecting to ski tomorrow :(

Yep despite all the rumours French resorts seem adamant they're staying open until Monsieur Macron says otherwise. Seeing first US resorts are closing, mostly small places (some look to have just closed a week or two earlier than they would have as snow not great anyway). Taos in New Mexico maybe biggest name so far but they're staying open another week and closing early on 22nd.

It now seem to be all Swiss resorts closing(?). Have seen Saas Fee and Verbier announcements. Believe all Spanish areas closed too now.

Ski areas in Andorra have also announced they are closing tomorrow. Saas Fee in Switzerland hints there might be "an announcement" later today but noting definite.