Coronavirus Impact on Skiing & Snowboarding

2nd November 2020

Last modified on May 20th, 2021

The team at PlanetSKI is reporting all the news & developments as it affects the snowsports world in our ever-popular rolling blog. If you want to see its impact and the response of skiers & snowboarders then read on… NEW & UPDATED

Worth remembering in these difficult times…with thanks to the Tirol and all other mountain areas.

Sunday 8th November

With news eyes on America at the moment we too turn our attention across the Pond.

To snowsports news:

Save Our Season

That’s the message form Arapahoe Basin that will be opening later this month.

“Save our Season and yours. We and Summit County, Colorado live for winter.

“Support our Season. Be the reason we have a season. We live for winter. Support our businesses.

“Let’s all take a pass on the partying now so that we can hit the slopes all winter long.

“Please support our winter season, our jobs, and our businesses by following the Six Ways to Stop the Spread:

– Wear a face Covering
– Keep 6 feet of distance, avoiding gatherings
– Stay home if you are sick
– Get tested if you are sick
– Get a flu shot
– Wash your Hands

Jackson Hole Reduces Capacity of its Iconic Tram

It normally takes 100 people but next winter it will be 25, plus one operator.

It is “to allow for physical distancing and to keep guests and staff safe”.

“During tram travel, all windows and vents will remain open to maximise airflow within the cabin.

The operator will be separated from skiers with clear plexiglass barriers and the cabin will be cleaned and sanitised hourly with aerosolised disinfectant.

“All operations and number of people per cabin are subject to change pending mountain conditions and state, local and health guidance,” added the resort.

People will be required to wear face coverings over both nose and mouth at all times while on board, when loading, and when standing in the tram line.

They will queue in the tram line maze, which will be configured to maximise physical distancing.

PlanetSKI was last in Jackson Hole back in 2017 – our one and only visit.

Jackson Hole….

We intend to return as soon as we are able to.

Jackson Hole, USA. Photo credit – PlanetSKI

And staying with ski news from the USA…

Uphill Skiing Set to Boom in USA

With Covid-19 restrictions and a desire to get away from the crowds in town, on the slopes and in lift queues ski touring, or uphill skiing as it is called in the USA, is on the rise.

One of the resorts that has been championing it is Aspen in Colorado.

It is booming in the resort and the authorities believe new rules and guidelines are needed for the good of the majority.

It has called a town meeting to discuss the issue.

“Looking to earn your turns this season? On Nov. 10th, you are invited to a virtual Town Hall to learn more about our uphilling on resort policies for this season,” said the resort.

“We will share information, discuss changes to process, inform you on our operations and take questions that you have.

“We look forward to talking with you about this topic that so many of us are passionate about.”

Winter Park Delays Opening

Fire, Covid-19 and predicted weather have led to the Colorado resort to move its opening date to November 30th instead of November 18th.

“The impacts of the East Troublesome Fire on Grand County, combined with public health guidelines, and current weather conditions have made this decision necessary and the right thing to do,” said the resort.

“It is in the best interest of all to allow time for more terrain to open to have more space for skiers and riders on the mountain.

“We can’t wait to welcome you back when the time is right, and we truly appreciate your patience as we navigate these unprecedented times.”

We last visited Winter Park back in 2018

PlanetSKI visits Winter Park

The journey to Winter Park

Winter Park by train. Photo credit – PlanetSKI

Keystone in Colorado Opens for Winter

It is the first resort along the I-70 road in Colorado to fire up its lifts.

Full Covid-19 restrictions are in place.

The first resort in the state to open was Wolf Creek as we reported earlier on PlanetSKI, US ski resorts open.

There were 3 miles of slopes and 60-acres of terrain open.

Most of it was on man-made snow.

Lift queues to ride the River Run Gondola, Summit Express and Montezuma Express lifts were reportedly not too bad with social distancing enforced.

The resort’s indoor facilities were limited, with only bathrooms in the base area as well as bathrooms and food and beverage service at the top of Dercum Mountain.

“Happy Opening Day! We’re excited to welcome you back to play this winter season!” said the resort on Facebook.

“Don’t forget that all guests are required to have a reservation and a face covering to join us today, and every day this winter.

“It’s also important to know that Summit County, where Keystone is located, has recently moved to a Safer at Home: Level Orange/High Risk. This new level comes with increased restrictions, including those for retail stores and dining.

“We join Summit County leaders in encouraging all our guests and employees to follow the county’s Six Commitments to Containment.

“The state of Colorado also recently debuted an exposure notification mobile app to help reduce the spread of COVID.

“Let’s all do our part to stay safe this winter and kick off a successful ski and ride season!”

Keystone, and the other ski areas owned or run Vail Resorts, has a reservations system for tis winter due to Covid-19.

Only pass holders will be able to book reservations until December 8th.

After that day lift tickets can be reserved.

Breckenridge is set to open November 13th to pass holders, followed by Vail on November 20th.

Saturday 7th November

France Sees Record Daily Covid-19 Cases

It has had 60,486 new coronavirus cases in one day, its highest one-day total since the pandemic began.

A further 828 deaths were confirmed on Friday.

The number of people admitted to hospital over the past 24 hours was 553 – the smallest one-day increase in almost three weeks.

Almost 40,000 people have now died from the virus in the country.

France is one week into a second lockdown with ski resorts delaying their November openings and Tignes, that was open, needing to close.

French ski resorts close and delay openings as France goes into second lockdown

France. Image © PlanetSKI.

Val Senales to Allow Racers Only from Sunday

The Italian resort had been continuing to offer skiing and snowboarding to the general public despite an order from central government for ski resorts not to do so.

Val Senales is now set to follow the instruction.

“We just learned that our ski area will continue to remain open, but from Sunday, November 8th onwards only for ski clubs and training groups preparing for national and international races,” it said in a statement.

“We hope, however, to see you again and to be back on our tracks soon for exciting new snow adventures!

“Meanwhile we hope to look forward to the future with confidence and optimism, behaving responsibly and above all… staying healthy!”

It is one of the few ski areas currently open in Italy as Lombardy, Piedmont and the Aosta Valley have been placed into the “Red Zone” meaning people must stay home, except to go to work or shop for essentials.

The whole of Italy is under a night curfew.

See our full report here:

Italian ski areas in lockdown

Here is our report from when Italian resorts opened at the end of October, and were then instructed to limit operations.

Some ski resorts in Italy remain open

Friday 6th November

Italian Ski Areas Head into Lockdown

The Aosta Valley, Piedmont and Lombardy have been declared “Red Zones”.

People can only leave their homes for essential reasons and skiing is not one of them.

Covid-19 is surging in Italy as winter approaches.

The areas are home to some of the finest ski resorts Italy has to offer.

Aosta Valley – Cervinia, Pila, Courmayeur, La Thuile and a host of fabulous local ski hills

Piedmont – Sestrietre, Sauze d’Oulx and the resorts in the Monterosa ski area that overlap with Aosta: Alagna, Gressoeny and Champoluc.

Lombardy – Livigno, Bormio and the resorts of Passo de Stelvio and Passo Tonale.

These regions, along with Calabria in the south, will face the strictest form of lockdown in Italy from Friday.

No one will be able to leave or enter the “red zone” regions.
People must stay home, except to go to work or shop for essentials.
They can also exercise near their homes and while wearing masks.

Read more here in our full report: Italian Ski Areas Head into Lockdown

Ski resorts have already been ordered to close except for professionals and ski racers after social distancing appeared to be flouted as Cervinia opened last month.

Cervinia opens then closes

Cervinia, Italy

Freeride World Tour Cancels Events in Canada and Japan

It comes as no great surprise given international travel restrictions.

The organisers say they will re-schedule the events to Europe, but question marks remain over whether the FWT will take place at all.

With international travel becoming increasingly difficult due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the FWT and local organisations have decided to cancel the 2021 events in Hakuba, Japan, and Kicking Horse/Golden in Canada.

They were due to take place on January 12th – 15th 2021 and February 8th – 13th 2021 respectively.

“This decision was made to ensure the health and safety of the athletes, staff, partners, fans and local organisers,” said the FWT.

“FWT organisers are actively working in conjunction with local authorities to make sure each competition is compliant with current regulations.

The FWT is already in discussion with various European resorts to replace these cancelled events.

However with France, Italy and Austria already closing its resorts and with Covid-19 cases rising sharply & predicted to get much worse this winter, some observers question whether the tour will happen at all.

Read our full article here: Freeride World Tour Cancels Events in Canada and Japan

Wise Words from Snow-Wise

“We may not be able to travel at the moment but one thing we know for sure is that the mountains will always be there, and ski resorts will be ready and waiting to welcome us back as soon it is safe to do so.”

Thursday 5th November

Sweden and Germany Added to UK Quarantine List

The two countries were added today and people coming to the UK from either country will need to isolate for 14-days.

It is no surprise given the sharply increasing numbers of cases.

Sweden has 181 cases per 100,000 people over a 7-day period.

In Germany it is 137.

We have reported on the spike in Sweden and new measures being taken lower down this rolling blog on Tuesday 3rd November.

Both countries have a handful of ski resorts.

Valais Canton in Switzerland introduces new Covid-19 Rules

The restrictions aim to “avoid saturation of the hospital system” as the virus runs rampage. Switzerland is one the the major coronavirus hotspots in Europe.

Cafes, restaurants, pubs and bars are to close in the Valais.

Up until now they had been allowed to be open until 10pm.

The restrictions come into force on Friday 6th November and will last until at least November 30th.

The Valais has some of the major Swiss resorts including Zermatt, Saas-Fee, Crans-Montana and Verbier.

The restrictions come on top of new measures announced on October 22nd which saw the closing of all entertainment and leisure venues – cinemas, theatres, gyms, swimming pools and sport facilities

“Valais is one of the cantons with the most new cases in proportion to its population,” said the head of the canton’s health department, Esther Waeber-Kalbermatten.

Message from Stubai

“Dear Stubai Glacier friends and fans,

“We look back on special weeks with fantastic skiing , fantastic weather and perfect snow conditions .

“That’s why we want to say THANK YOU to you and look forward to seeing you soon. Until then, stay safe!”

The Austrian glacier resort has seen some excellent autumn conditions but is now temporarily closed under covid-19 restrictions.

Austria ski areas close as Covid-19 spreads

It hopes to re-open in December.

Here is what is has looked like this autumn:

BASI Extends First Aid Requirement

The British Association of Snowsport Instructors has issued the following information

to ensure that members unable to attend First Aid courses can continue to have a valid licence.

• If your First Aid expired between 16 March 2020 and the end of the current national lockdown, we’ll extend your expiry date to 30th April 2021. We’ll keep monitoring the end date of the lockdown and update expiry dates as required

• If your First Aid expired before 16 March 2020, we’re unable to offer an extension

BASI believes there’s huge value in attending a first aid course every 3 years. If you don’t use your first aid knowledge, you tend to forget about it so we hope physical courses will be able to run again soon.

The Association has cancelled all its courses in France until 1st December.

“For courses running in France after 1 December, we’ll be keeping a close eye on updates from the French and if we need to cancel courses, we’ll contact students immediately,” the Association said.

More World Cup Snowsports Events Hit By Pandemic

The World Cup skiing and snowboarding schedule for this winter continues to be affected by Covid-19.

The women’s ski jumping event which was due to be held in January in Zaō in Japan has been cancelled.

In addition, a snowboard parallel event at Lake Bannoye in Russia in early December has been postponed.

Media reports says the Japanese organisers of the ski jump event cited difficulties with travel and accommodation support for athletes and officials from overseas as well as infection control.

The Russian Snowboard Federation says the parallel event will be held in early February to allow for two back to back competitions in Russia and avoid unnecessary travel.

The news comes a few weeks after the Ski Cross World Cup in Innichen/San Candido in Italy from 18 to 20 December was called off.

International Ski Federation. Image © FIS.

Social Distancing Caribou Style

Is it 1m, 1.5m or 2m?

The advice varies.

In North America the advice is much clearer.

It is the length of a caribou.

But don’t forget the small print.

One Caribou Apart

Wednesday 4th November

Last day for Ski Centres and Dry Slopes in England

As the lockdown in England comes into force, Wednesday is the last day they can offer skiing and snowboarding.

“With the national lockdown coming into effect from Thursday, we’re opening late on Wednesday to make the most of the snow while we can still ski and board,” announced the Chill Factore in Manchester.

The main slope will be open until 10pm.

We reported on the development over the weekend after the UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, unveiled details of the month-long lockdown to try to halt the spread of Covid-19.

Indoor ski centres to close as England goes into second lockdown

The Snow Centre, Hemel Hempstead

Others are encouraging people to have a last blast.

“There’s still time to squeeze in a quick trip to our slopes …. and together let’s keep Snowsports Alive!” said the Snozone that has centres at Milton Keynes and Castleford.

Both Castleford and Manchester are under Tier 3 restrictions, but indoor leisure is permitted as long as guests do not mix with other households.

As well as all the people unable to do recreational skiing and snowboarding across England, it will also impact those who were taking instructor exams and other professionals who are training for the coming season.

A new initiative to get more children interested in skiing and snowboarding has also been affected.

It was due to take place in November.

The National Schools Snowsports Association is behind the grassroots initiatives, which was run in partnership with many of the UK’s snowsports centres and endorsed by Snowsport England.

New initiatives to get kids on skis

Scotland Claims Some Success

The First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, says the Scottish government’s “careful, cautious, public health-driven” approach has put the country “relatively speaking in a strong position”.

She added that there is no room for complacency.

The country has introduced its own five tear system, and is not in lockdown like Wales & Northern Ireland, or England that goes into lockdown on Thursday.

With cases soaring in the Alps and new restrictions being imposed in alpine countries some skiers and snowboarders are looking at skiing in Scotland this winter if conditions, both snow and covid-19 rules, allow.

Skiing in Scotland in Covid-19 times

PlanetSKI in Glenshee. Image © Rod Frazer.

Europeans Urged to Obey Covid-19 Rules

The World Health Organisation’s emergencies chief, Dr Mike Ryan, has urged people to support governments trying to protect populations from coronavirus.

Dr Ryan said European leaders in particular are facing a very difficult situation with limited options.

Lockdowns are happening in many of the skiing nations including Austria, France and Germany.

There are tighter restrictions in Italy, but no lockdown in Switzerland.

In Scandinavia tougher restrictions are now advised in Sweden as we reported yesterday in this rolling blog.

Tuesday 3rd November

Tougher Restrictions in Sweden

“We have a very serious situation,” said the Prime Minister Stefan Löfven as he warned that the virus was “going in the wrong direction”.

The head of the Swedish Public Health Agency, Johan Carlson, warned people in Sweden that “we have a long, tough winter in front of us”.

Last winter it kept its ski resorts open as they closed across the rest of Europe, Sweden Remains Open for Skiing

Sweden has limited to eight people per table in cafes and restaurants, amid a sharp rise in coronavirus infections.

The country currently has 133.1 cases per 100,000 of population over a 7-day period and UK officials are looking at whether to add it its quarantine list.

A decision is expected on Thursday.

Norway has 50 and Finland 26.

Sweden has reported 31 Covid deaths since Friday, taking the death toll to 5,969.

It has 134,000 reported cases, far higher than its Scandinavian neighbours.

Four Swedish regions have increased their coronavirus restrictions and advice.

Avoid non-essential shops, malls, gyms and museums.
Use of public transports is not advised.
Avoid physical contact with those they do not live with.
Officials have also warned against hosting or attending dinners or house parties.

About 70% of the country’s population now live under the new government guidelines, which are voluntary.

The new guidelines will remain in place until at least 17th or 19th November, depending on the region.

The county’s three largest cities – Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo – are affected by the new advice.

Other existing recommendations remain in place, such as working from home if possible.

On 1st November, a legally-binding ban on public gatherings of more than 50 people was lifted.

This allowed socially-distanced sporting and cultural events for up to 300 people to take place.

But few are expected to go ahead, as all regions with tighter recommendations have chosen to keep the limit.

Sweden has enjoyed far more freedoms than the vast majority of countries and has had no lockdown.

However it has come at a price.

Sweden, with a population of 10.5m, has seen 5,969 deaths.

Its neighbours of Norway and Finland, with populations around 5m, have seen 282 and 359 respectively.

Norway and Finland both had lockdowns.

Sweden’s GDP has fallen by 8.6% in the pandemic.

Norway’s has dropped by 7.3% and Finland’s GDP has shrunk by 3.2%.

Indoor Snow Centre Extends Opening Hours Ahead of Lockdown

“The main slope will be open until 10pm, so book your lift passes now!”

Others are encouraging people to have a last blast.

“There’s still time to squeeze in a quick trip to our slopes …. and together let’s keep Snowsports Alive!” said the Snozone that has centres at Milton Keynes and Castleford.

Both Castleford and Manchester are under Tier 3 restrictions, but indoor leisure is permitted as long as guests do not mix with other households.

Cortina 2021 World Ski Championships Team Making ‘Every Effort To Organise The Event in Complete Safety’

The organisers of the 2021 Alpine World Championships say they are doing all they can to ensure it takes place safely and are preparing for all possible scenarios.

The Championships are due to take place in Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Italian Dolomites from 7^th to 21^st February.

With less than 100 days to go, the President of Fondazione Cortina 2021, Alessandro Benetton, said: “We are confidently facing the last mile towards our world championship finish”.

The event will also mark the expected return of world class men’s skiing to the resort for the first time in 30 years.

“We are facing these last weeks with determination and confidence that separate us from our World Championship goal,” Alessandro Benetton said.

“We certainly did not hope to face this last phase in the midst of a pandemic but we are making every effort to organise the event in complete safety and be able to bring the beauty of Cortina and the sporting strength of our country to the international limelight.

“We continue to analyse all the opportunities on a daily basis, preparing for all the possible scenarios that could arise between now and next February, in order to face every eventuality in the most effective and timely manner possible.

“These -100 days at the World Championships are, however, a sign of the resistance, resilience and stubbornness of the Cortina 2021 team and of the great confidence of the whole territory in this long-awaited event ” .

The Mayor of Cortina d’Ampezzo, Gianpietro Ghedina, said they were proud of the work done so far.

“We face this last phase with conflicting feelings of concern and emotion but we have the organisational ability such that in any scenario we will be able to make our country proud and make Cortina look good .”

Italian officials had asked for the World Championships to be delayed until March 2022 because of the pandemic but the request was turned down by the International Ski Federation.

Cortina 2021 World Ski Championships To Go Ahead As Planned

Austria Ski Resorts Shut Today

In the Tirol two resorts, Pitztal and Kaunertal, remain open for professional training only.

The rest in Austria are closing under new lockdown restrictions introduced by the authorities to combat the rising cases of Covid-19.

They are Hintertux, Stubai, Sölden, Kaprun, Dachstein, Kitzbuehel and Mölltal.

It is a severe blow and comes with some excellent autumn snow conditions.

See here for our full report on the enforced closures:

Austria ski areas close as Covid-19 spreads

Hintertux had this message as it closed its lifts on Monday.

“According to the motto ‘Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it was beautiful’

“Full of gratitude, we look back on a slightly different, but still very beautiful summer and fall (beginning) with many wonderful moments THANKS to all our friends, guests & staff who contributed to safe cooperation on the mountain

“We Looking forward to a healthy reunion expected in December”

Skiing in Scotland in Covid-19 Times

With the Alps looking increasingly difficult and North America near impossible some skiers and snowboarders are looking at following their passion in the UK this winter.

Resorts in Scotland are preparing but Covid-19 restrictions remain unclear.

Scotland has 5 ski areas– Cairngorm, The Lecht, the Nevis Range, Glenshee and Glencoe.

Skiing can start in late November and continue into May, however the weather is unpredictable.

Very unpredictable.

One a good day it can compare to the Alps, but they are generally few and far between.

PlanetSKI in Glenshee. Photo credit – Rod Frazer.

Unpredictable weather is expected in Scotland, but this winter we will also have unpredictable Covid-19 rules and regulations to contend with too.

Travel within Scotland is already under restrictions and people from England might be prevented from coming to Scotland at all .

A new 5-level system has come into force in Scotland this week.

Those are regulations that will need to be looked at once winter starts and the ski resorts open.

See here for our full report:

Skiing in Scotland in Covid-19 Times

Monday 2nd November

Some Swiss Cantons Introduce Tough Local Measures

The authorities in Geneva and several Swiss cantons have decided to impose tougher local restrictions than those announced by the Swiss Federal government.

From today Geneva is closing all bars, restaurants and non-essential shops and people are being asked to leave their homes only if strictly necessary.

There are also new measures in Jura, Neuchâtel, Obwalden and Lucerne.

The Swiss government introduced new national restrictions on 29^th October but cantons are permitted to impose additional measures.

More Restrictions Planned in Italy

The Italian government is about to introduce a new emergency decree imposing a night time curfew and restrictions on travelling between at-risk regions.

The Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has decided against a national lockdown, according to a report in The Local.

“In light of last Friday’s report (from the Higher Health Institute) and of the particularly critical situation in some regions, we are forced to intervene, with a view to prudence, to mitigate the contagion rate with a strategy that must correspond to the different situations of the regions,” the Prime Minister said.

Italy has closed its resorts to the general public, but there are exceptions.

Some ski resorts in Italy remain open

Ski Resorts in Austria and Snow Centres in England To Close

Following the announcement of lockdowns in both countries the impact has been felt in the world of snowsports.

We reported on both developments over the weekend.

Check out our updated articles:

Austria Ski Resorts Close as Covid-19 Spreads

Snow Centres in England Close as Country Goes into Second Lockdown

Here on PlanetSKI we will be updating both articles with further news and reaction.

Safety Measures for Swiss Ski Lifts

The professional association for Swiss cableways has developed a safety protocol for the cable car and mountain railway sector.

It is likely only a question of time before the resorts in Switzerland close given that Austria has closed its ones and France too.

The central authorities in Italy have asked that the resorts are used only for professional skiers.

Nevertheless here they are in Switzerland and it is how the open resorts are currently running them.

Zermatt, Saas-Fee, Engelberg, St Moritz, Verbier, Glacier 3000, Andermatt and a handful of others currently have some slopes open for parts, or all, of the week.

Safety measures:

The safety concepts employed by cable car companies include the following basic rules:

Cleanliness and organisation: There must be sufficient opportunities to wash hands with soap and water or with hand sanitiser. Surfaces and objects that are touched by multiple people must be thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis. Guests can use floor markings and signage to help them maintain social distancing.
Personal responsibility and capacity restrictions: Capacities for cars, gondolas and chairlifts are not restricted. As on public transport, guests are responsible for maintaining social distancing on the cable cars and lifts.
Avoidance of personal contact: Buy your tickets online in advance to avoid queues at the cash desks and to minimise contact with other guests. If you buy your ticket at the cash desk, please pay electronically in a contactless transaction.
Face masks: Masks compulsory.
Employee protection: The safety of employees is just as important as that of guests. There are clear rules in place that must be adhered to. Maintain social distancing, use a Plexiglass screen, e.g. at ticket desks, or wear a face mask if you are unable to maintain social distancing.

Zermatt, Saas-Fee, Engelberg, St Moritz, Verbier, Glacier 3000, Andermatt and a handful of others currently have some slopes open for parts, or all, of the week.

Verbier Opens as Covid-19 Surges in Switzerland

Opening Nordic Ski World Cup Event to Go Ahead

The FIS Cross-Country and Nordic Combined World Cup opener in Ruka has been given the green light.

It is scheduled to take place from 27th to 29th November 2020 unless Covid-19 circumstances change.

The health prevention plan has been given approval by Finnish health authorities.

The plan includes requirements on travelling to Finland, conditions on site and general organisation around the World Cup competitions.

Here are our earlier rolling coronavirus blogs if you want to look back at all the relevant developments over the past months as we have reported its impact.

We have updated daily since the pandemic began.

All you need to know about the pandemic and its impact on the world of snowsports:

October 26th: Coronavirus impact on skiing and snowboarding

October 18th: Coronavirus impact on skiing and snowboarding

October 11th: Coronavirus impact on skiing and snowboarding

October 4th: Coronavirus impact on skiing and snowboarding

September 27th: Coronavirus impact on skiing and snowboarding

September 20th: Coronavirus impact on skiing and snowboarding

September 13th: Coronavirus impact on skiing and snowboarding

September 6th: Coronavirus impact on skiing and snowboarding

August 30th: Coronavirus impact on skiing and snowboarding

August 23rd: Coronavirus impact on skiing and snowboarding