J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by J2SkiNews

US ski areas have been firing up their snowmaking systems as temperatures finally drop across large parts of the country following an unseasonably warm October.

High altitude ski areas in Colorado including Arapahoe Basin, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain and Loveland have also posted images of snowmaking underway and there's also been up to 10" of natural snowfall reported, with more forecast for tomorrow, Monday. Telluride is pictured below on Saturday. Some ski tourers have already made some turns at resorts like Silverton.

It's not just Colorado though, the snowfall has been reported across much of Western US following similar falls in the Northeast earlier this week. Ski centres in California, Utah and even Arizona and New mexico have also reported fresh snowfall and snowmaking systems fired up.

It's just over three weeks until the first scheduled US ski area opening and moist of the country's big name resorts aim to open during November ahead of the thanksgiving holiday long weekend at the end of next month so the next few weeks are crucial.

There's also a PR battle to be able to claim to be the first to open, often won by high altitude resorts in Colorado, but sometimes by smaller centres in other regions which can open faster with fewer staff. Resorts in the Midwest have managed it twice in the past 12 winters and snowmnaking systems have been turned on there too.

After Monday's snowfall it's looking warmer and sunnier next week in the Rockies, but remaining below freezing on high slopes.

Sweden has become the sixth European ski nation to see one of its resorts begin its 24-25 season.

Kåbdalis, in the north of the country, has open one wide, mile-long run, using snow stored through summer having been stockpiled from last winter, then spread back out on the slopes in the process known as snowfarming.

The same technique allowed two Finnish resorts, Levi and Ruka, to open a fortnight ago.

However all three resorts are reporting warmer autumn temperatures than they'd like at present and warn that the snow is currently soft and best in the mornings.

A third Scandinavian nation, Norway, also has a ski area open, however in its case it's not open thanks to snowfarming but because it has the region's highest, glaciated slopes. Whilst the other three areas are newly opened this month, The Galdhøpiggen summer ski area is into the final few weeks of its 2024 run which began last May.

A dozen glacier ski centres are already open for their 24-25 seasons in Austria (7), Switzerland (3) and Italy (2) for a total of 16 open in Europe and the northern hemisphere so far.

There have been pre-season snowfalls in the Pyrenees over the past 24 hours as conditions have turned more wintery there, five-weeks before the hoped-for season start date in the region.

For many ski centres this is the second snowfall in the past few weeks, following lighter accumulations earlier this month.

The ski season is expected to start from 23rd November with Spain's Baqueira Beret (pictured above this morning) and Porte Puymorens in France amongst the area targeting that date. The largest ski region in the Pyrenees, Andorra's Grandvalira, aims to open a week later on the 30th.

Resorts in Andorra and Spain are particularly keen to get their seasons underway by the start of December as the region has three bank holidays early in the month making it feasible for Spaniards to take week long holidays whilst only needing to take a day or two of their annual leave.

As with all ski regions, some autumns there is very heavy early snow which can lead to resorts opening in early November, whilst other years things are more challenging.

French ski resorts are battling to do the most in terms of their environmental efforts, with each of the country's big ski areas reporting on their efforts to battle climate change in a myriad of different ways.

Among the initiatives by Avoriaz in the Portes du Soleil is a decision made back in 2015 not to build any more accommodation but use what they have more efficiently.

The resort is claiming success by seeing a year-on-year increase in visitor numbers, despite not making an increase to their 18,900 guest beds for almost a decade now.

The 23-24 season saw 1,148,000 overnight stays, the most in the resort's history and up 13,500 on last winter to a new record high. In fact, Avoriaz says each of the past six seasons have seen consecutive record highs set.

"It shows that growth is possible without cementing the mountain over more and more," a resort spokesperson commented.

Ski areas in upstate New York have reported the first accumulating snow in the US of the autumn/fall.

Whiteface Mountain posted images of snow lying several inches deep at the top of their gondola, along with a dusting at lower levels mixing with fall colours in the trees.

The snowfall comes as ski areas across North America battle to be the first to open for the 24-25 season.

Normally high ski areas in Colorado would be the most likely to be first but this year, so far, it has been unseasonably warm this October in the Rockies and snowmaking has been limited with no natural snowfall since dustings in September. It is looking colder with snowfall forecast later this week but its forecast to be heaviest further north in states like Utah and Montana.

There is also cold weather and snow forecast in the Midwest, where ski areas have managed to be first to open in North America twice in the past 12 years, opening in the first half of October on both occasions thanks to fast snowmaking once temperatures drop enough.

Snow is also forecast in the Pacific Northwest corner of the continent which is also looking promising for the full-season with a La Nina projection to be colder and snowier than average.

As it is the first centre scheduled to open anywhere on the continent is Banff's local Mt Norquay ski area with a tentative date just over a fortnight away on 2nd November.

Serre Chevalier in the Southern French Alps has been moving its beginner slopes up to the top of the mountain as part of its climate change adaptation strategy which a resort spokesperson says,

"…ensures good ski learning conditions for years to come while reducing the need for artificial snow."

The move began last winter with the new opening of the new Pontillas gondola in the resort's the Villeneuve sector. This winter, the base station will offer ski lockers, an ESF office, a ski shop, automatic ticket machines, and a new restaurant.

The eight-minute gondola ride takes skiers to the Méa sector at 2,255 meters altitude where a 1.9 hectare beginner area has been developed, including a large 150-metre long covered conveyor lift which opens this winter.

This new lift will allowing beginner skiers to easily and safely ascend the gentle slope of the Méa plateau, protected skiers from bad weather and cold temperatures.

In line with its environmental commitments to buy locally where possible, Serre Chevalier have opted for a French supplier, The Ficalp Company.

Further development of this beginner area are planned with a 450-meter long button lift installation to be added for winter 2025/2026.

Members of the Austrian Ski Association met Pope Francis at The Vatican on Thursday ahead of Saalbach Hinterglemm hosting the the FIS World Alpine Ski Championships this winter, from 4 to 16 February, 2025.

The meeting is reported to have taken place in The Sala del Concistoro (Hall of the Consistory), a large hall on the third loggia of the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican City.

"Your homeland, rich in majestic mountains, offers excellent possibilities for alpine sports. Your association, Ski Austria, founded in 1905, aims to promote the various skiing activities nationwide, especially the athletes in their outstanding performances. I would like to encourage all of you to always cultivate in your endeavours the values inherent to sport: such as constancy, sincerity, friendship, solidarity. Constancy, sincerity, friendship, solidarity. In this way you make your contribution to a more fraternal world, because sport creates brotherhood, in order to sing, amidst the wonders of nature in your country, the hymn of praise to the Creator. May the Lord accompany you and the Guardian Angels protect you from every danger. I pray for you and you, pray for me,"

87-year-old Pope Francis told the gathered Austrians.

Although the Ski bike – a bike with skis instead of wheels – has been with us a long time in various forms - the sk'e-bike is a new twist on the concept.

Offered by company called AvélO at the French ski resort of Peisey-Vallandry, located next to Les Arcs and sharing the vast Paradiski area with it and La Plagne, it offers a combination of the two disciplines of e-biking and ski touring.

"Thanks to the electric propulsion of the bike, adventurers have the freedom to set off from the foot of the summits, before reaching the snow-covered peaks on touring skis!" a resort spokesperson explains.

Sk'e-bikers are accompanied by mountain professional William Breysse oin their adventure to ensure as goes to plan.

"Thrill seeking adventurers will be able to make the most of both the snow and optimal sunshine conditions with this totally new sensational activity!" the spokesperson added,

...noting that beginners in both ski touring and riding electric bikes could give it a go alongside those more experienced in both or either activity.