16th April 2021
It is the end of a long and strange season under the pandemic. We have recently reported from the area on how the 4 Vallees and other resorts have coped in this, the strangest of winters. We now hear from some of the people lucky enough to make it to the slopes. NEW
14th April 2021
It was the year when skiing and snowboarding was stopped in its tracks by the coronavirus pandemic. Winter 2019-20 was officially the worst of this millennium according to a major report just published. NEW
12th April 2021
England’s indoor snow centres are back in business as the lockdown eases still further. Most of the slopes have welcomed skiers and snowboarders for the first time this year. UPDATED
11th April 2021
Switzerland took the controversial decision not to close its ski resorts back in December as other alpine nations shut theirs. It is now the final week of this very different season in the major resorts. We report in-depth from the Valais in Switzerland on how winter unfolded in this exclusive report.
9th April 2021
People in England can start thinking about booking foreign holidays again this summer. The government has unveiled further details of its traffic light system, though there is criticism of the testing costs and most European countries still have high levels of Covid-19. UPDATED
6th April 2021
It bodes well for the approaching ski season Down Under and could be a model used in Europe as well to help people get to the mountains later in the summer if cases fall in Europe. No quarantine will be required.
5th April 2021
Boris Johnson has unveiled a ‘traffic light’ system which could determine if, and where, we can go on holiday to the mountains this summer. Details though are in short supply & travel to the main mountain nations in Europe seems some way off.
31st March 2021
Whistler and now Revelstoke have closed with immediate effect. Big White follows suit on Monday blaming increased interest in lift tickets, plus an apres ski party that breached Covid-19 rules.
28th March 2021
The Swiss health authorities say they plan to roll out a certificate for people who have been vaccinated against coronavirus. Austria is planning one for next month and other alpine nations are looking at the issue.
26th March 2021
Cases are rising in many ski areas and countries, with restrictions changing as Easter gets underway. Check out all the latest developments in our rolling and updated blog. UPDATED
25th March 2021
The eastern states of Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland will re-enter a strict coronavirus lockdown on April 1st. It follows rising cases in the states with a record number of people in hospital in Vienna. What may the impact be elsewhere in Austria?
24th March 2021
The restrictions will be in place over Easter when many head to the ski resorts and their cabins in the mountains. Elsewhere in Europe cases are rising in many countries with further restrictions.
22nd March 2021
Some scientists say they are unlikely to take place, politicians have not refuted the claims, the travel industry is angry and the rest of us simply wonder when and if we can go on holiday to the mountains. With predictions of variant viruses for years to come it raises the issue of skiing next winter too.
22nd March 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… UPDATED
20th March 2021
The card will be for vaccinated people, those who have had the virus & people who have tested negative. It’s hoped it will help re-start tourism but much depends on whether countries will allow their citizens to visit Austria as it has rising levels of Covid-19, with only 9% of the country vaccinated.
20th March 2021
They are questioning Erna Solberg after she admitted breaching the country’s coronavirus regulations during her birthday celebrations in the ski resort of Geilo. UPDATED
20th March 2021
Despite a hugely successful vaccine roll out in the UK it is not so in much of Europe. There is talk of vaccine passports, but with the virus mutating and spreading some say borders may be closed with tourist travel banned.
19th March 2021
With cases rising & some criteria not met, the majority of the lockdown measures will continue from today, Monday 22nd March. Ski resorts remain open. Cases are showing a worrying surge across many ski nations in Europe. UPDATED
19th March 2021
21 million people in 16 areas of France will be placed under the measures from midnight today. There areas affected include Paris and other northern cities. The lockdown will last 4-weeks. UPDATED
16th March 2021
The Norwegian government has outlined its Covid-19 guidelines for the Easter holidays. Tens of thousands of people are expected to head to cabins in the mountains as the country faces its biggest threat from the pandemic.
15th March 2021
There are strict new measures across Italy including most of the main ski regions. The whole country goes into a new national lockdown over the Easter weekend. Any hopes for some ski resorts to open at the end of the season remains a distant dream.
15th March 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… UPDATED
14th March 2021
British Airways is the latest and follows Ryan Air, plus others. Will this mean summer travel from the UK is more likely to the mountains and other destinations?
12th March 2021
There are strict new measures across Italy including most of the main ski regions. The whole country goes into a new national lockdown over the Easter weekend. Any hopes for some ski resorts to open at the end of the season remains a distant dream. UPDATED
10th March 2021
Ski France is offering 50 so-called ‘Contactless Chalets’ across some of the major resorts in France. With Brexit rules on employing British staff and Covid-19 restrictions it is a new product on the market.
10th March 2021
It would likely mean the end of any chance of ski resorts opening this Spring. Some resorts have already called it a day with new restrictions introduced this week as cases surge.
8th March 2021
It is becoming more likely as some beach destination countries are introducing them and mountain ones are discussing it. Recent research shows the majority of British travellers are happy to use them, many though oppose the idea. It remains illegal for people in England to go abroad for a holiday until at least May 17th.
8th March 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… UPDATED
6th March 2021
The prospect of opening this season is over for most though some still The government has imposed tighter restrictions in some ski areas as cases of Covid-19 rise. The region of Veneto goes into ‘Orange Zone’ restrictions today. UPDATED
4th March 2021
The UK’s largest ski operator details growing interest and which resorts are proving to be most popular for the season of 2021/22. It says sales are surging as optimism returns. Will it last?
3rd March 2021
The Austrian resort says the continuing pandemic and its shared slopes with Switzerland mean it cannot see a way to open the season within all the rules. The resort was seen as a super-spreader of the virus a year ago.
1st March 2021
Some are starting to ease restrictions, others are extending lockdowns or introducing new regional measures. Some resorts are opening while others are closing. It remains a complex picture with changes announced this week. UPDATED
1st March 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… UPDATED
27th February 2021
It is a year since coronavirus started to spread across the world. In our occasional series we hear from PlanetSKI readers who have lived through it out in the mountains. Here’s David Brown from Wanaka in New Zealand.
27th February 2021
The resort closed earlier this month after compulsory Covid-19 tests were needed due to a surge in coronavirus cases in the Tirol. Systems are now in place and some slopes are open. UPDATED
26th February 2021
Operators report a rise in bookings and interest for next season. It follows the roll out of vaccines, easing of lockdown restrictions, plus talk of vaccine passports to allow travel. Is it too soon to be optimistic? UPDATED
26th February 2021
The Bruson area of the Swiss resort is to shut on Sunday March 7th for the rest of the winter. ‘The season has been very complicated’ said the lift company, Televerbier.
25th February 2021
The French Prime Minister, Jean Castex, has said the current Covid-19 situation in some parts of France is ‘worrying’. Cases in the Alps and the Pyrenees remain steady and relatively under control though concerns are rising after the holiday period.
25th February 2021
It is looking increasing likely with a number of countries including Austria & Switzerland supporting the idea. Austria has said it wants a system in place by May or June. The airline industry itself is set to introduce a Covid Travel Pass with trials underway.
24th February 2021
They were outlined earlier this month and now Federal & Cantonal authorities have agreed the details. Restaurants and bars will remain closed, something some ski resorts oppose. The new rules come into force on March 1st.
24th February 2021
Martin Nydegger has said in an interview that so far this winter there have been no big outbreaks of Covid-19 and no serious damage to Switzerland’s reputation. Not everyone agrees with him with Italy blaming Switzerland for spreading variant viruses to other countries.
24th February 2021
The masks have been compulsory in ski resorts since the lifts began turning on December 24th. There has been a rise in cases across the country as some measures have been eased.
23rd February 2021
The new government led by Prime Minister Mario Draghi has extended until 27th March a ban on travel between Italy’s regions. It will have a significant impact on mountain areas.
22nd February 2021
Skiers will be looking at whether it might possible to make some end of season turns or visit the mountains this summer for glacier skiing. Plus, what will be happening to the indoor snowcentres & the outdoor artificial slopes? Might skiing in Scotland be possible in the Spring?
22nd February 2021
Some resorts in the Tirol in Austria have re-opened with a Covid-19 negative test required. Other resorts in Austria remain open for locals only + we look at elsewhere in the Alps, the Pyrenees and Scandinavia. UK citizens remain unable to travel & likely for some time to come.
22nd February 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… UPDATED
21st February 2021
It comes as several cases of the South African and Brazilian variants have been found in the Swiss ski resort. The spread of the variants will determine whether restrictions can be eased next month in Switzerland.
20th February 2021
Nine out of ten residents of Austria’s Ischgl ski resort who contracted coronavirus have retained a long-term immunity a new study has found.
20th February 2021
The travel industry has urged the prime minister to provide a roadmap to get people travelling again this summer and make plans for next winter. NEW
18th February 2021
Resorts in Poland have opened with government backing, those in the Czech Republic have also opened but the authorities wanted them to stay closed. Plus we look at Bulgaria, Slovakia and Slovenia.
17th February 2021
It wants to ease measures on March 1st with sports facilities reopening and more people allowed at private events. In ski resorts ice rinks would be allowed to open though bars, restaurants and sporting events must remain closed to the public.
17th February 2021
It is a year since coronavirus started to spread widely in Europe. In our occasional series we hear from PlanetSKI readers who have lived through it out in the mountains. Here’s Kevin Young from near Chamonix…
16th February 2021
St Anton and Soelden have closed with others expected to follow suit. The Covid-19 test requirement makes skiing impractical for many. The Tirol has Europe’s highest outbreak of the South African variant. UPDATED
16th February 2021
The UK’s largest ski operator has formally announced it will not be running any holidays this winter. Some had hoped there might be a possibility towards the end of the season.
15th February 2021
One of the European countries that has battled Covid-19 well is Norway. Cases & deaths are low with skiing open for its own residents this winter. Conditions have so far been good. New restrictions have forced the cancellation of all remaining World Cup competitions.
15th February 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… UPDATED
15th February 2021
As new quarantine measures come into force today the Save Future Travel Coalition says the Prime Minister needs to use next week’s lockdown update to provide a route forward for the travel industry. This week should have been one of the busiest weeks for winter holidays.
14th February 2021
Some were due to open on Monday and others later this week. Many resorts had spent huge amounts of time, money and effort after being told they could open. One resort defied the ban & opened anyway, there have been demonstrations in others.UPDATED
11th February 2021
Resorts in Lombardy, the Aosta Valley & Veneto have said they are opening next week under strict conditions. Trentino had hoped to open but has just been told it can’t. Resorts in the Milky Way in Piedmont are expected to open next weekend. The extent of openings hinged on regional travel restrictions that are now extended.UPDATED
9th February 2021
The Federal government has declared the Austrian state a ‘restricted’ zone over worries about the spread of variant coronavirus. The German government has closed its border with the Tirol describing it as a coronavirus ‘mutation area’.
