With great anticipation and excitement the full ski season is literally just around the corner. Yes, some ski resorts have already opened but most are mere weeks away now, so it is time to put ski holiday in to action. If you haven’t already checked your equipment now is the time to do so, dust of the skis, check your ski boots and everyone buys something new even if it’s a woolly hat so check out the latest trends.
If you usually ski with a group of friends, by now you will probably have met up and discussed where your next trip will be. There are some excellent ski deals still to be taken advantage of and if you plan Christmas and New Year away I’m envious! If you still haven’t booked, there are a range of beautiful catered chalets for rent which will enhance your Christmas spirit so look at the latest deals.
For now here is a list of resorts opening dates in France and Switzerland. Please note these dates are subject to change depending of course on snow coverage. Estimated opening and closing dates should soon be confirmed and hopefully the partial opening dates will soon be confirmed as full opening dates.
| SKI RESORT | OPENS | CLOSES | INFO |
| FRANCE | |||
| Alpe d Huez | 1.12.18 | 27.04.19 | |
| Avoriaz | 14.12.18 | 22.04.19 | |
| Chamonix | 9.12.18 | 22.04.19 | Estimated opening & closing dates |
| Courchevel | 8.12.18 | 22.04.19 | |
| Flaine | 22.12.18 | 22.04.19 | Partial opening from 15.12.18 |
| La Plagne | 15.12.18 | 27.04.19 | |
| Les Arcs | 15.12.18 | 27.04.19 | |
| La Clusaz | 16.12.18 | – | Closing date to be confirmed |
| La Tania | 15.12.18 | 22.04.19 | |
| Les Gets | 22.12.18 | 14.04.19 | Partial opening from 15.12.18 |
| Les Menuires | 8.12.18 | 22.04.19 | |
| Meribel | 8.12.18 | 22.04.19 | |
| Morzine | 22.12.18 | 14.04.19 | |
| Serre Chevalier | 15.12.18 | 22.04.19 | |
| Tignes | 24.11.18 | 01.05.19 | Estimated opening & closing dates |
| Val d’Isère | 24.11.18 | 22.04.19 | |
| Val Thorens | 17.11.18 | 05.05.19 | Partial opening from 17.11.18 |
| SWITZERLAND | |||
| Davos Klosters | 23.11.18 | 22.04.19 | |
| Grindelwald | 17.11.18 | 28.04.19 | |
| Gstaad | 15.12.18 | 17.03.19 | |
| Saas Fee | 14.07.18 | 28.04.19 | |
| Verbier | 01.12.18 | 29.04.19 | Estimated opening & closing dates |
| Zermatt | – | – | The Matterhorn, Gornergrat & Rothorn glacial areas are open year round |
The latest snow reports for the Alps are encouraging and it looks like we are finally saying goodbye to summer and hello to winter. It’s quite a change and we are seeing freezing point above 3000m but the high pressure is moving west. It may start slowly but it’s expected that cold air and a fair amount of heavy snowfall will be apparent in the Austrian Alps and part of Switzerland to begin with. Freezing point as a result of this weather will be around 2100m.
Starting Thursday 25th October and going in to Friday the high pressure will be back but by the weekend it’s expected that Europe (western) will get a cold snap. The mountains will be covered in a blanket of the white stuff and we will be seeing snowfall at low altitudes and snow will fall for a number of days. At this stage of the beginning of winter, the weather may turn a little warmer again. With this in mind if you are planning an early ski trip opt for the high altitude resorts where you will have ample snow and hopefully the weather will improve. If in any doubt it may be an idea to head to the glaciers at Zermatt.
A much needed fresh fall of snow is required especially for the glacier ski areas, as the opening races of the World Cup ski season on Solden’s Rettenbach glacier beginning on the 27th October could be problem. The skiing so far this season has been rather limited so fingers crossed all goes well for the 27th.