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Scottish Ski Ticket Sales Overtake Last Season Total Already

Published : 01-Feb-2018 03:44

Ski-Scotland, a marketing group which represents the five ski areas in the Scottish Highlands, says they had already had more skier visits by the end of January than they did all of last season.

Numbers are also reported to be way ahead of the previous season (2015-16) for the start of February and hot on the heels of the very successful winter of 2014-15.

The positive numbers reflect more stable winter weather conditions since Christmas, including one 'perfect' Saturday in January when all five centres operated at capacity and had to close ticket sales and car parks leading to six-mile long tail backs.

It seems that on that one day alone visitor numbers were more than half the total for winter 16-17, which was one of the worst on records for snow cover.

Scotland's skiers and snowboarders have enjoyed some superb January conditions, with waist-deep powder at Nevis Range featuring in a stunning video and photos of massive snowdrifts towering over a piste machine at Glenshee both going viral on social media.

"We predicted that, following a disappointing season last year, there would be good snow this winter. Great snow and weather conditions in early January brought out skiers and snowboarders who'd been frustrated last season. It's almost like there's a pent-up desire to come sliding at one or other of our five mountain resorts," said new Chair of Ski-Scotland Andy Meldrum.

"It's ironic really," continued Andy, "that three of our ski areas have obtained the use of Technoalpin snow factories to make snow in marginal conditions and yet Nature has delivered natural snow for all of our resorts. Long may that continue! We expect interest to grow as a result of the Winter Olympic Games which start in PyeongChang on 9 February."

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