Return to topThe latest conditions and suggestions for skiing around the world. Click on the links for more details. This page was last updated on 15-Oct-99.
| Latest snow and resort news | Most resorts are still closed, though a few have been open for Glacier skiing. Are you really keen? See who is likely to be the first to open! |
| Glacier Skiing and Boarding | Really keen? Well head high in the Alps and you'll find snow on the glaciers. |
| Warming up for the season | So, while you are thinking about all that skiing you hope to do this season - how are your muscles doing? I know it's not the real thing, but a few hours at the dry slope might refresh the memories and dust off the cobwebs. |
| London Ski Show | Great deals on holidays, skiing and boarding equipment, live fashion shows and boarding displays, test out your boarding and skiing skills - from Friday 29 October for 10 days |
That was then: May 2nd was for many the end of the alpine ski season. Most resorts closed their lifts while the lift operators went down the mountain to give the bars their last major income for a while. And it was a fine way to go out; sunshine across most of the Alps made the high altitude transition straight from winter to summer seem entirely logical - a time when the emphasis changes from 'ski, ski, ski, beer, ski' to 'sunbathe, ski, beer, bit of ski, sun, beer'. With so much snow around resorts above 1200m you had to descend much further to realise that spring is here, too.
But this is now:
15th October, USA: Crested Butte resort reports the first snow of the season -
'The snow has ended :( The skies are blue and the mountains are showing off their fresh new coat of white' Hey, it's only a dusting, but I was happy to see they have their Cam shots up and running already. Crested Butte Webcam shot
5 October, France. 60cm of fresh snow in Argentière - Locals awoke to snow covered slopes and beautiful sunshine in Argentière, France. Snow fell overnight down to 1244m. The top of the Aiguille du Midi saw 50-60cm fresh snow last night. There have been a number of snowfalls already - but mostly only down to 2000m. Good base building up on the glaciers though - about 50cm at the top of the Aiguille du Midi. Take a quick look up the Bossons Glacier towards Mont Blanc, Chamonix webcam courtesy of Chalet Beaumont.
It's late October, and many of us are getting our ski kit out again (if it ever got put away) and waiting for the snow to fall. The question is, where will it fall first. Traditionally the North American ski season starts earlier than that in the Alps, with a good chance that the higher resorts will be opening for business this coming weekend (29th October), and Skiweb will have someone banging on the door of the ticket office, ready to give you the news. The most promising early resorts this year are Crested Butte, Breckenridge and Keystone, and Vail has been making snow since September.
Or, how to blow the cobwebs off your ski and/or snowboarding gear, without the expense of intercontinental flights. Think of a high glacier in the Alps - a ridiculously large lump of ice above 3000m is going to retain a covering of snow throughout summer, whatever the sun might chuck at it. Some such glaciers can be found at Tignes, Saas Fee, Zermatt, Les Diablerets, Zell am See and Hintertux.
Glacier resorts are always the best bet if you are determined to fit in a really early ski holiday. Even if it does not snow much before you get there - the height of the resorts will give you the best chances, and the glacier runs, although not seriously steep, can give you a good start. Glacier skiing is less suited to advanced skiers as most glaciers have a relatively gentle gradient (mostly green to blue slopes, with a bit of red), and steeper glaciers tend to have big scary holes called crevasses in them (off piste is definitely not on the cards!). But these slopes can be ideal for beginners, and most areas have realised the benefits of creating half-pipes and snowparks for snowboarders and freestyle skiers.
Here are the glacier resort and high resort opening dates for Winter skiing in 1999:
| Hintertux - open all year | Tignes - June 19th |
| Saas-Fee - open all year | Flims - June 12th |
| Zermatt - open all year | Laax - July 3rd |
Welcome to the London Daily Mail Ski and Snowboard Show: demonstration, big air, vacations to Sweden, France or Austria, new boots, boards and the latest winter fashions. With more than 100,000 eager snow fans in attendance last year, the annual show pumps up English outdoor enthusiasts for the upcoming season.
The exhibition, which has celebrated its 25th anniversary, is Europe’s largest consumer ski and snowboard show and features skiing and snowboard demonstrations on an indoor artificial slope.
Resorts exhibit here in order to entice English skiers and snowboarders into a winter getaway. And though most attendees are checking out the latest gear and destination playgrounds for their holidays, there are other reasons - last year a Scottish snowboard instructor left a French ski resort's booth with a guarantee of work for the season.
Clothing and retail manufacturers offer special discounts for those who buy on the spot.
"Most people attend the show in hopes of finding a ski bargain or catch up with friends," explained British Olympic downhill skier Martin Bell. "It’s also a good way to get prepared for the season and plan a vacation."
Each year the show becomes bigger and bolder, and attendance keeps growing larger. But don't just shop - get out and ski too!
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