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Robbie Williams has been unveiled as the act performing at the Schladming Ski Opening 2023 that will launch the 23-24 ski season.

"After a 3-year break, there will finally be another big party in the Schladming-Dachstein region at the start of the season," a Schladming spokesperson said.

In a big media launch at the weekend, William arrived by helicopter, carrying skis, to surprise waiting journalists.



The Ski Opening will take place on December 7th and 8th, 2023, at the foot of the Schladminger Planai.

The Planai Stadium in Schladming is transformed into a spectacular concert arena for the opening.

Ski Opening Packages which include two nights in accommodation of your choice, a two day regional Ski amadé pass, an entry ticket to the warm-up party in the Hohenhaus Tenne on December 6th and a Ski Opening concert ticket are on sale now, priced from 362 Euros, via the schladming-dachstein.at website.

Tignes, the only ski area currently open for snowsports in France, is expected to end its 2023 summer ski season today, as scheduled.

It joins Les 2 Alpes and Val d'Isere, the two other French ski areas still offering summer skiing (down from around 10 in the 1990s), which ended their 2023 seasons a fortnight ago.

Tignes reported the deepest snow in Europe for much of the winter, peaking at over 5 metres deep on its glacier in March when the resorts had about 300km of slopes open shared with neighbouring Val d'Isere. Those stats are now down to 4km of slopes open and 30cm of snow cover on the glacier.

However summer 2023 appears to have been more successful for snowsports in France than 2022 when hardly anything was able to open after poor snowfall in winter 21-22 was followed by a very hot spring to high elevations, melting most snow cover before the summer ski season was due to begin.

Winter 22-23 hit headlines for poor snow in January too, but that was actually at low elevations with higher slopes and glaciers receiving as much or more than average snowfall. That was then followed by a cold and snowy spring 2023.

In addition French glacier resorts adjusted their planned summer ski opening dates to a little earlier in the summer, or in the case of les 2 Alpes, a big change to open through May and June, after just a week's closure at the end of the 22-23 winter season, from previously opening from June to August. It ended up actually staying open for an extra week longer than planned, the first week of July, citing "great conditions."

Four Alpine glacier ski areas will aim to remain open after Tignes closes, although bases are dropping fast in the current summer heat. They are Hintertux in Austria, Passo Stelvio in Italy and the Saas Fee and Zermatt glaciers in Switzerland, the latter also accessible from Cervinia.

It's not yet clear when French glaciers will re-open for Autumn skiing. Last year Tignes targeted early October having moved back from its previous commitment to be open at least one day of every month of the year which meant it tried to offer summer skiing until the start of August and open for autumn skiing before the end of September. In 2022 it was eventually November before there was enough snow for any French resort to open, but for 2023 much depends on late summer and early autumn temperatures and snowfall.

Mammoth Mountain has announced it will be staying open into August following the huge snowfalls there last winter. The resort received 715 inches of snow – over 18 metres.

Mammoth, along with Californian neighbour The Palisades, had an initial target of staying open into July. The Palisades closed after Independence Day but Mammoth said it intended to remain open "through July". It has now finally named a closing date – August 6th.

It's the third time in Mammoth's 69-year history that it has managed to open for skiing and boarding into August. The previous times were 1995 and 2017.

Slopes are open between 7:30 AM and noon daily, with a small number of lifts operating out of Main Lodge, subject to weather conditions.

Timberline on Mt Hood in Oregon is also still open for skiing an boarding.

I need to work on my grammar but I was meaning the ski was larger and the hydrant was unusual. I did worry the hydrant might actually be a vital part of the snowmaking system and removing it may cause catastrophic damage ahead of next winter...

140 Volunteers scouring the slopes of Val d'Isère has removed 300kg of garbage on the resort's annual environment day.

The day was organised by the French Mountain Riders group which has been organising similar clean ups at resorts across the country for the last two decades, as well as leading many other initiatives to promote the cleaner, greener operation of the country's ski areas and cut CO2 emissions.

Among the larger and more unusual finds on the slopes this year were a ski and a fire hydrant. More common items removed included 50 poles and 2000 cigarette butts.

Val d'Isère has a target of achieving the goal of zero wild waste in the mountains by 2030 and a spokesperson said that the fact they're finding less and less rubbish each summer is encouraging.

The decision to close the main lifts at the Sattel-Hochstuckli ski area in Central Switzerland is reporting to be causing unease with most local residents.

The decision has been made to permanently close the resort's highest lifts but to keep its nursery slopes open, so that ski school lessons can still be given with the resort's focus entirely on beginners and families.
The reason is that operating the main ski lifts is seen as no longer financially viable due to uncertain snow cover and rising operating costs.

The centre's two highest drag lifts, Bärenfang and Hochstuckli, which took gave the ski slopes a maximum height of 1,491m with nearly 700 metres of vertical from its 800m base. According to SkiResort.info, the Bärenfang drag lifts dates back to 1950. However the slopes got very little snowfall at any level last winter. From next winter reports indicate the plan is to only operate a drag lift and gondola to Mostelberg at top altitude of 1,200 metres.

Most of the local population want the decision reversed, with arguments against the plan including the fact that there'll be no point in buying a season pass any more and the limited terrain will also put off many ski holiday makers.

The popular argument is that snowmaking could be used to build a base during cold periods, however the local ski lift company has responded that last winter it was too warm for snowmaking machinery to work at any point.

Ski holiday provider Club Med has reported a 21% jump in searches for ski holidays next winter within 24 hours on Monday-Tuesday.

The famous French holiday company, now part of a Chinese owned group, is putting the surge down to a response to record heat levels in much of Europe, putting people off booking summer holidays and making them think snow.

It's unclear if they have any evidence for their theory, or are just speculating, but Club Med does sell summer and winter holidays all over the world, including countries in the southern half of Europe that have been seeing the highest 40-46C temperatures this week.

Five glacier ski areas are currently open in the Alps where temperatures have also been reported as high as +10C on glaciers at 3,000m. However the one centre still open for skiing in Scandinavia, Norway's Galdhopiggen, pictured above earlier today, reported a little fresh snowfall this morning.

Australia's ski season is just gathering pace but Perisher Valley, the country's largest ski resort, is already planning the end of the season. It has announced plans to stage its first ever 'Slush Cup Event series' running from September 29th to October 1st to round out the 2023 snow season.

Planned as a family-friendly celebration, events will include The Pond Skim, which will see skiers and snowboarders compete for best wipeout, trick and best costume; The Dash, which is inspired from Perisher's original Dash for Cash event from the 80s where skiers compete to win prize money. There'll also be a Banked Slalom full of plenty of berms, jumps, and bumps to keep the adrenaline pumping.

"Spring skiing is always a good time – bluebird days, light layers and sunshine – it's a great time to visit Perisher," said Maddi Ventura, Field Marketing Manager at Perisher Ski Resort, "We are really excited to run these events for the first time – it's going to be a lot of fun! Why not combine a spring ski trip with the silliness of our inaugural Slush Cup?!"

In The Dash, to be staged on 29 September, participants will face, "the ultimate test of endurance, strength, and grit" as skiers and snowboarders navigate a long, multi-stage course.

"We're talking lung-busting ascents, challenging traverses, and daring downhills all while trying to negotiate a series of natural obstacles. 'At what cost?' we hear you ask. Well, not only will you be a part of Perisher's first-ever 'The Dash', there's also a whole heap of prizes at stake including good, old-fashioned cash," a resort statement says.

Next day on 30 September the Banked Slalom is being promoted as "not a competition for the faint-hearted."

"You'll have just two shots at being crowned Banked Slalom royalty, with your best-timed run counting towards your score. It wouldn't be a competition without prizes, and there will be plenty as well as goodie and merch giveaways throughout the day."

Then the main event on 1 October, the Pond Skim.

"We're sending the season out with a splash by bringing back a fan favourite: the Perisher Pond Skim. What's more fun than launching yourself down a run into a pool of freezing cold water? You'll want to dust off your best costume and bring your skimming A-game with prizes for best fit', trick and, – always a crowd pleaser – best wipeout."

"Come along and celebrate the end of the season with staff, guests and the local community. There is limited numbers for participants, so please sign up early – this will be big!" added Ventura.