J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by J2SkiNews

An annual study into resort pricing has found that a slide in the value of Sterling compared the 12 months ago means prices are up in all resorts it studies, except Andorra's Soldeu (Grandvalira), where it claims overall prices are down due to lower ski tuition costs.

The 19th annual Post Office Travel Money Ski Resort uses pricing data from 32 Crystal Ski Holiday destination resorts. Using local prices for a lift pass, ski equipment, tuition, meals and drinks researched by Crystal Ski Holidays and converted into sterling by Post Office to calculate one week resort costs for a family of four, Italy's Passo Tonale was rated best value for the second year running. Despite recording an above average increase of 14.4 per cent year-on-year, the barometer cost of £1,797 in Passo Tonale was half that of the most expensive ski resort, Saalbach, where prices rose 20.5 per cent for Brits to £4,060. Overall Italian ski resorts dominate the best value top 10 for adults and families, but lesser-known Nordic ones are rising up the ranks

"Families may have to dig deeper in their pockets in the coming ski season but there is still great value to be had if they choose carefully. The free lift passes for younger children in Passo Tonale makes it an unbeatable choice for parents with kids under nine, while the fall in prices we picked up in Soldeu makes this family-friendly ski resort an attractive option too," said Laura Plunkett, Head of Post Office Travel Money, "However, parents on a limited budget need to be aware of the widely varying prices for ski school if their children need tuition. Pyha, which is new to the Ski Resort Report this year, offers excellent value at half the price families could pay in more expensive French resorts. Our advice is to check prices before booking."

In the main barometer chart for adult skiers, Bardonecchia tops the rankings for the third year running at a one-week cost of £601pp and is one of six Italian resorts to feature in the best value top 103. Although prices in Bardonecchia have risen 10.5 per cent for Brits since last season, the report found, skiers will pay over 11 per cent more in Borovets, runner up in the resort with a total cost of £668pp, almost 19 per cent more than last season. In fact, Bulgarian ski resorts have recorded the biggest price increases this year. A second resort, Bansko, has fallen to fourth place in the barometer table after prices rose by 23.3 per cent to £706.

Norway's Geilo takes third place with a barometer cost of £704 – only marginally higher than a year ago (+0.1 per cent) and the smallest increase across the 32 ski resorts surveyed for adult skiing.

The increased prices come about because of both sterling's falls against European currencies in recent weeks and higher local charges for the eight barometer items. Rises in the cost of lift passes are the biggest driver of these local price increases. British skiers travelling to European resorts can expect to pay an average of 10.7 per cent more for a six-day lift pass than a year ago and in some cases that cost has more than doubled over the past decade.

Laura Plunkett added: "As a result of sterling's fall in value against European currencies in recent weeks, costs in ski resorts are likely to play a big part in destination choice this year – especially as our research again found that prices vary dramatically across Europe. The weaker pound makes it vitally important for skiers to do their homework before booking and factor in the higher cost of ski passes, equipment and ski school in resorts to the package price. The great value available in Italy and Bulgaria make their resorts a good choice for cost-conscious skiers.

It's a very different start to December from a year-ago in the Pyrenees when resorts were struggling to open much terrain for the first full week in December, a key one in the region with multiple bank holidays meaning skiers can hit the slopes for 7 days but only need to take a day or two of their annual leave.

The good news this year is that is plenty of snow, with ski areas reporting the best early season conditions since the pre-pandemic season six years ago. 72-hour snowfall totals of up to 47cm (19") have been reported on the French side of the range, 20-40cm over the same period on the Spanish side. Most ski areas not yet open do so this weekend and those that are open have much more terrain open than usual for this early in the season.

Spain's Baqueira Beret (pictured above this week) which opened at the end of November is in a battle with the region's largest ski area, Andorra's Grandvalira, to open the most terrain. So far Baqueira Beret has the most open with 83km (52 miles) of slopes and has announced it plans to have over 100km (63 miles) of slopes open through the weekend which translates into more than 80 open slopes and 34 out of 36 ski lifts.

Grandvalira has opened with 77km of slopes skiable, about a third of its full area, but is also expected to open more this weekend.

The deepest snow in the region is on French side with Cauterets saying they have 1.2m (4 feet) lying up high already after 47cm fell over the past three days.

Ski areas in Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland are competing to see which can offer the most terrain to early season skiers.

The precise amount open varies by the day but up to Wednesday (3 Dec) currently four areas have had up to 160km (100 miles) of slopes open in November. They include the cross-border Italian – Swiss Matterhorn Glacier Paradise area of Cervinia-Zermatt; the cross-border Austria – Swiss Silvretta Arena area of Ischgl – Samnaun as well as Sölden in Austria, which has had the most terrain open for much of November up to now and Tignes- Val d'Isère, after the latter opened for its season on Saturday.

Thursday (4 Dec) saw Ischgl/Samnaun (pictured above) hit a new maximum for the season so far of 180km, or 75% of the maximum terrain.

These four areas are well ahead of fifth-placed area, Austria's Skiwelt, which has just over 80km (50 miles) of runs open so far.
So far giant ski areas like the 3 Valleys, 4 Valleys, Arlberg and the Italian-French Via Lattea (Milky Way) have not fully entered the fray. The Arlberg region is due to start opening from Wednesday and the 3 Valleys say their connections between valleys will open next weekend.

Colorado's Wolf Creek is though to have the most terrain open in the US so far with about 80% of its slopes open. Former early-season World Cup Alpine Ski speed racing hosts Canada's Lake Louise is running second in North America, with almost half of their runs open now.

Italy's Cortina d'Ampezzo is about to unveil a brand-new lift this winter, promising faster access to its famed ski areas and a smoother start to the winter season.

The newly lift begins at 1,334 metres above sea level and rises to 1,558 metres, covering an altitude difference of 224 metres in under four minutes. With 53 cabins seating 10 passengers each and a maximum capacity of 3,000 people per hour, the installation is designed to cut waiting times and maximise time on the slopes. Skiers will now enjoy quicker connections to the Tofane and Ra Valles ski areas, as well as the scenic Cinque Torri, making the resort's terrain more accessible than ever.

Known as the "Queen of the Dolomites", Cortina d'Ampezzo is one of Italy's most prestigious ski resorts. Nestled in the UNESCO-listed Dolomite mountains, the town sits at 1,224 metres and offers access to slopes reaching nearly 2,930 metres. Cortina is also part of the vast Dolomiti Superski area, which spans 12 valleys and connects over 1,200 kilometres of pistes.

Cortina is preparing to co-host the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, staging women's alpine ski racing competitions, as it does World Cup races each winter. Improved infrastructure is central to ensuring smooth access for athletes and visitors alike. For everyday skiers, the new lift should mean less queuing, more skiing, and a faster route into some of the Dolomites' most iconic terrain.

Hochkönig's in Salzburgerland, Austria's new Pink Ribbon Ski Tour is set to turn heads this winter, not just for its panoramic beauty, but for its powerful message. The route follows the legendary Königstour, a 35 km circuit across six peaks with 7,500 metres of altitude change, now reimagined in support of breast cancer awareness.

Marked with pink signage and themed photopoints, the tour invites skiers to show solidarity while carving through Austria's most scenic terrain. Intermediate skiers can complete the route in a day, on red-rated pistes.

Participating huts en route offer themed menus and donation opportunities, while skiers are encouraged to wear pink or Pink Ribbon gear.

Image credit: Skiset & Louis Garnier

This one has been on the cards for more than a decade so hoping this is real progress at last!

There's been heavy snowfall in the Alps over the past few days with total accumulations of up to 70cm reported so far. The intensity of the snowfall led to some road closures, including in the Chamonix Valley.

Around 30 ski areas are already open for the 25-26 season and its's mostly these that are posting their snowfall data, but the biggest totals for snowfall over the weekend and start of this week have come from resorts opening in the next few weeks, including Courchevel (70cm), Crans Montana (60cm) and Alpe d'Huez (50cm).

The snowfall has been heaviest in higher terrain in the Western Alps but has also been reported down to valley floors for the first time this Autumn and extends across the Alps with ski areas in Austria posting 20-40ocm snow totals. It's also expected to keep falling over the coming week.

Already open resorts are battling to open more terrain with the lead changing daily. Sölden currently reports the most open with 98km of runs open already, overtaking Zermatt/Cervinia on 86km.

La Plagne is pictured below this week.

A week of cold temperatures and snowfall has led to the early opening of Cairngorm ski area above Aviemore, with Glencoe also reporting snowmaking underway and offering lift service snowsports on its dry slope.

Cairngorm opened unexpectedly on Thursday after recording around 20cm fresh snow during the day. Thanks to the funicular returning to service the centre currently has a marked run from Ptarmigan Top Station down to the funicular middle station via the Traverse, 105 and Zig Zags with uplift via the Funicular Railway only, opening from 10am. At the top the Polar Express Poma serving limited beginner terrain is also open.

Due to the limited terrain available a reduced-rate Snowsports Day Pass is available a £27 Adults / £17 Juniors but it's advance online booking only with 100 passes available each day. There's no equipment hire open yet either.

The Lecht has had plenty of snowfall too and was briefly cut off on both sides by snowfall earlier in the week but says it needs more to open. Glenshee plans to open in the latter half of December and Nevis range has not really offered snowsports for the past few years but said a year ago it will open lifts and trails if conditions justify doing so.

It's the only one of Scotland's five ski areas that doesn't have an all-weather snowmaking system.