J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by J2SkiNews

Utah's Park City Mountain has opened for its 24-25 season with 325 acres of terrain available, about 5% of its full area. Ten trails and the 3 Kings terrain park are open so far, served by lifts and carpets across two base villages.

It joins a growing list of now more than 100 US ski areas, including most of the country's well-known destination resorts, opening ahead of the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend in the country later this week.

The resort is poised to quickly open additional early season terrain in Canyon's Village thanks to a new snowmaking enhancement project on Another World and Chicane runs. There's been about 30 inches of natural snowfall too through November.

This investment in snowmaking delivers an expanded early season offering while improving guest access to other parts of the mountain and it adds to the Park City's snowmaking operation – Utah's largest.

"We are incredibly excited to welcome everyone back for the 2024/25 season on Friday. I have immense gratitude for our entire Park City Mountain team, whose dedication, passion, and hard work have made this all possible," said Park City Mountain Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Deirdra Walsh.

This season is the first since Park City Mountain was named an official venue for the Olympic Winter Games, hosting men's and women's snowboarding halfpipe, snowboarding slopestyle, freestyle skiing halfpipe and freestyle skiing slopestyle 32 years after hosting snowboarding events at the 2002 Games.

A major upgrade to the ski area above the Aosta Valley resort of Pila will see the opening of the new 10-seater 'Couis 1' gondola lift and a new slope connecting Couis 1 to Couis 2.

The new lift, which represents the second section of the Pila-Couis route to be completed, will replace the historic double chairlift which dates back to the late 1980s. The gondola is part of the Pila - Couis project, an advanced lift that will allow skiers and non-ski tourists to reach an altitude of 2,700 metres in just 15 minutes.

At the top visitors will be able to enjoy a breathtaking panorama taking in many of the most iconic peaks of the Alps, including Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa, the Grivola and Gran Paradiso.

"The project, designed by the architectural firm De Carlo - Gualla, stands out for its integrated approach to the environment. The new cableways and stations represent a combination of avant-garde architecture and engineering, characterised by the use of innovative materials and technologies, as well as a futuristic design specifically conceived for high altitudes," a Pila spokesperson said.

The complete system features a 10-passenger gondola lift in two sections, with two further intermediate stations, which will connect the arrival station of the current Aosta-Pila gondola to the Platta de Grevon (Couis 1) area.

The departure station in Pila, located at an altitude of 1,800 metres, will be equipped with an innovative service centre, while the arrival station upstream, with a special star-shaped design oriented towards the main Aosta Valley peaks, will house a panoramic bar-restaurant and services for the public.

Currently, three lifts and about 60 minutes are required to reach Couis 1 from Pila on skis. With the new infrastructure, it will be possible to access this point in only 30 minutes, starting directly from the centre of Aosta, climbing 2,200 vertical metres.

Construction work on the Pila Gorraz station and intermediate station will begin and be completed during the spring and summer of 2025, with the inauguration of the entire facility scheduled for December 2025.

Along with the completion of the latest gondola stage, a new ski slope will be unveiled this winter connecting Couis 1 to Couis 2, equipped with a snowmaking system. This will allow access to all the slopes on the Couis 2 side from the arrival of the Couis 1 gondola.

In addition, the existing red slope n° 7 – Plan de L'Eyvie, has been widened and improved and black slope n° 8 – Tsa Creusa has also been improved. Finally there's also a new alternative route to red slope n° 9 – Couis 1.

The French ski season is underway with Tignes and Val Thorens the first two resorts to open this morning. Both resorts report snow depths at the metre mark on their highest slopes after heavy snowfall earlier this week ended a long spell of dry, sunny weather.

Val Thorens has the most terrain open posting 23km of slopes available for its 'Grande Premiere' opening weekend.

"Thanks to the return of the cold, the continuous snowfall this week and the work of all the teams, for the occasion of La Grande Première: Funitel Péclet, Funitel Grand fond, Moraine, Cascade, Lac Blanc, Portette, Cairn lifts as well as four magic carpets are operating," a Val Thorens spokesperson said.

The Cime Caron Motte cable car is currently closed whilst an investigation is carried out following an accident with workers when the lift was under manual control on Tuesday. The resort has been keen to stress that operations then were different to the fully automated safety functions normally in place when the lift is open to the public.

"The cable car was in construction mode to transport workers for work at heights. This mode of operation, partly manual, is very different from the complete automation used during the season for transporting skiers. Our thoughts and support go out to those affected by this accident," the spokesperson added.

Tignes reports 10km of slopes open initially. The Palet, Tovière, Grande Motte and Aiguille Percée sectors are open with more than a dozen chairlifts in operation.

"The Grand Motte cable car will be closed. Planned reopening soon for Lanches and Vanoise following yesterday's snowstorm," a Tignes spokesperson said on Thursday.

The Snowtrax dry ski slope centre in Christchurch, Dorset, has announced that it's hosting a ski show over three days from next Friday November 29th, through to Sunday December 1st 2024.

The free-to-visit Southern Snow Show, at Snowtrax Alpine Activity Centre, will be a "winter sports extravaganza" its organisers promise.

"We're incredibly excited to bring the Southern Snow Show to the South Coast," said Adam Halstead, Managing Director of Snowtrax. "It's a fantastic opportunity for people of all ages to experience the thrill of winter sports. With a world-class facility, top-notch instructors, and a vibrant atmosphere, we're confident that this will be an unforgettable Alpine inspired weekend."

The long weekend will include exciting activities for both novice and seasoned skiers and boarder, including complete beginners.

Visitors can look forward to a range of attractions, including the chance to meet Eddie the Eagle, who'll be making a special appearance. Fans will have the opportunity to meet the legendary Olympic ski jumper and get autographs during an exclusive signing session.



There will also be ski and snowboard taster sessions for complete beginners, giving them the chance to try skiing or snowboarding for the first time with expert instructors, for just £7.50 per person.

There'll also be a Park Jam freestyle competition featuring both aspiring and experienced riders.

In the Winter Slalom Series the centre's Race Squad and Alpine Rocket groups will go head to head through the slalom poles.

Visitors will also be able to discover the latest winter gear and exclusive deals in the ski store and the centre's Alpine Pub will be Serving traditional Alpine Classic meals as well as hot chocolate and Gluhwein

Scottish ski centres are celebrating early snowfalls, although not yet quite enough to be able toi announced opening dates.

The Lecht has opened as early as Halloween in years past and has a reputation for opening whenever there's enough snow for a run to be completed.

"Looks like winter is on its way. There's not quite enough yet for snow sports yet, but as soon as there is enough we will let you know. Keep snow dancing," a spokesperson for the centre said on Thursday morning.

Glencoe also has a reputation for opening whenever they can and last year used their all-weather snowmaking system to open sledging and nursery slopes early in December. Snowmaking has been underway for several days and with cold weather continuing in the forecast kit remains to be seen if it is able to open some terrain soon.

"We're delighted to report chair maintenance is finished and the Access chairlift is open for the winter season. Keep snow dancing," a spokesperson for the centre said on Thursday morning.

Both Cairngorm and Glenshee (pictured top this morning) also posted images of a dusting of snow on their slopes and access roads. It's not clear if they have turned their snowmaking systems on yet, Cairngorm has previously said they plan to start their season at Christmas week. Nevis range have said they don't expect to open until the February school holidays unless there's unusually good conditions before then.

The much-heralded big snowfall in the Alps is getting underway. Les Arcs, which reports 20-cm of snowfall so far, is pictured above this morning.

Ski resorts in the Western Alps have reported up to 50cm (20") of snowfall so far and lighter snow has also been falling further east into Switzerland and Austria. Cervinia in Italy has reported to biggest accumulation on its high slopes so far.

The snowfall is expected to continue throughout this week with some centres in the Western Alps likely to see a metre in total by the weekend, when skies are expected to clear.

The French ski season is due to start this Saturday at Tignes and Val Thorens so, after a mostly dry and sunny November, the snowfall; appears to be arriving with perfect timing.

However Val Thorens unfortunately suffered a cable car accident on Tuesday morning when a number of employees were injured so it's unclear yet if that will impact its opening plans.

https://apnews.com/article/cable-car-accident-france-alps-val-thorens-722fde3cb9b5c4180e3ebc4a0e19b606

More terrain will open on the Italian side of the shared Cervinia – Zermatt 'Matterhorn Glacier Paradise' ski area from tomorrow, Wednesday November 20th, it has been announced.

Zermatt's glacier ski area has been accessible again from the Italian side since October 26th, after an approximately two-month closure. About 30km of runs have been open already, one of the largest areas open in the world so far at this early part of the 24-25 season. It also has Europe's highest lift-served terrain.

Most of the open terrain has been on the Swiss side so far though, but from Wednesday there'll be skiing possible on the Italian side too.

"In anticipation of the snowfall predicted in the next hours from tomorrow, the Plan Maison, Fornet and Bontadini slopes will open to the public, with adjacent run too, joining the upper part of the snowy Ventina which has been available to skiers for a week already," a Cervinia spokesperson said.

The amount of fresh snowfall expected by the weekend continue to change, but it currently in the region of 20-40cm over the next four days.

The region's Italian-slopes only ski pass will be available again from tomorrow priced at 55 euros.
However it only allows skiing on the slopes of Breuil-Cervinia. Instead, and the more expensive international pass must be purchased to ski the full area and use Zermatt's lifts.

French altitude ski resorts Tignes and Val Thorens have both confirmed they'll be opening the French ski season this coming weekend.

Val Thorens have said they'll definitely be open whilst Tignes are currently promoting their opening weekend as if there could never be any doubt.

The Alps had had a largely dry and sometimes warm November until recently but 10-20cm of snowfall last week is due to be followed by much heavier snowfall this week which appears to be perfectly timed. It appears the main issue this coming weekend, if forecasts are correct, could be too much snow.

Both resorts have opening weekend deals and festivities planned. These include ski gear tests, parties and fun competitions and events.

At Val Thorens its their Grande Première weekend on 23rd and 24th November 2024

"It's official, we're opening on November 23! Thanks to the commitment and work of all the teams, we are delighted to inform you that the opening of the ski area and the resort is confirmed, as planned, for Saturday, November 23. La Grande Première is an unmissable event for ski enthusiasts, offering the ideal opportunity to warm up, sharpen up and plan for the approaching winter," a spokesperson said.

Facilities include a test village on Place Caron where all the latest in ski equipment, snowboards, accessories, touring skis, freeride skis, and much more will be available to try out.

The weekend also promises, "Mini fun areas, fiery live concerts, exciting quizzes, delicious raclette party, bewitching fireworks show, and captivating projection of mountain films," the VT spokesperson added, continuing, "This is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the long-awaited launch of the winter season! Don't miss this unique experience in Les 3 Vallées!"

Both areas plan to be open for more than five months through to May 2025.