Resort News

President Biden has ordered all private companies, including ski resorts, with more than 100 employees to make vaccinations compulsory. Those who refuse will need to be tested each week. It comes as ski resorts release details of their Covid-19 rules.

Western Europe’s other mountain range is often overlooked, but it has some fabulous skiing and snowboarding in France, Andorra and Spain. We look at what the region offers with the specialist, Absolutely Snow.

A decree has been signed looking forward to ski resorts operating from 15th October with an 80% capacity in cable cars and gondolas. Other rules will also be in place. It is the first ski nation to give a clear indication of what things may look like next season.

The government is encouraging the introduction of passes for ski holidays in France this winter. Other ski nations in Europe have restrictions already operating or planned for the winter. UPDATED

The Austrian ski area has 80 ski resorts with more than 3,000 kms of pistes. There’s fabulous skiing & snowboarding, delicious cuisine, and stunning scenery. See what’s new for this coming winter.

The California ski resort has changed its name after the term ‘squaw’ was widely seen as derogatory. It was described as racist and sexist. NEW

The building at the top of the Scottish ski resort includes the UK’s highest restaurant, as well as a shop, exhibition space and viewing platforms. It  has been closed to the public since the funicular was taken out of service in 2018.

The glacier ones are the first to open this month and then into October. A handful of resorts open in November with the vast majority then starting in December. We also look at the entry requirements in these Covid-19 times. UPDATED

The two main resort operators, Alterra and Vail Resorts, have announced when their lifts start spinning for the 2021/22 season. Many UK skiers and snowboarders are looking across the pond as they plan a bucket-list ski trip as the pandemic begins to be brought under some sort of control. Fingers crossed. UPDATED

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has announced another delay to the repair works. It will come as a blow to the Scottish resort and those that ski and snowboard there.

Two people died in an area last winter and now an access gate has been closed indefinitely. The area is just outside the boundaries of the resort in Utah, USA, but can still be reached by experts.

Ski Resorts in Victoria are set to welcome back skiers and snowboarders but Covid-19 travel restrictions remain in New South Wales. NEW

For the first time in two years, skiers and snowboarders have been able to hit the slopes in Chile as ski areas open with strict Covid-19 rules in place.  Resorts in Argentina are also starting up. UPDATED

Ski areas in Australia and New Zealand are being hit by the effects of Covid-19 for a second winter.  The wider Sydney region has gone into full lockdown for two weeks, putting the local New South Wales resorts out of bounds for residents. And New Zealand has paused its quarantine-free travel bubble with Oz. UPDATED

The latest Ski Resort Report produced by the Post Office and Crystal Ski Holidays says skiers and snowboarders can halve their holiday costs next season by choosing carefully.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

It follows a series of raids in St Anton that revealed widespread abuse. The Interior Minister has now said the government will ‘intensify controls’.  Local Austrians have welcomed the move as some general restrictions in Austria are eased from Monday 8th February.

The extra funding is welcome news for the snowsports industry just as the Scottish Government announces the nation will stay in lockdown until at least the end of February.

The government had said it would make an announcement on Wednesday 20th but it looks as if the half-term ski holidays will not be happening. It is an economic short-term body blow to the resorts, but some think the right decision in the long run to stop the spread of Covid-19. UPDATED

Why? Because the resort tells it like it is with accurate and informative news. Er, not something we always receive from some PR people in ski resorts and certainly not in these dreadfull pandemic times.

Tighter new restrictions come into force next week including the closing of non-essential shops but ski lifts continue to turn. Covid-19 cases in Switzerland are still high, but stabilising.

Canada’s second-most populous province is to have a 4-week lockdown, including a strict curfew that will affect night skiing. Quebec contains the ski resorts of Le Massif, Mont St Anne and Stoneham.

The French Alps resort that’s a favourite with the British is reporting a busy holiday period despite the closure of ski lifts and a lack of visitors from the UK. UPDATED

Nevis Range cancelled a while back before even opening, then Cairngorm closed just as it opened. Now others are being order to close to stop the spread of Covid-19.

It was stated in December as Xmas and New Year restrictions were put in place that the lifts would open on January 7th – that’s today. The government is making an announcement later and it is expected they will remain shut. UPDATED

It opened up some ski areas on Saturday for local residents only and hopes to allow international visitors this weekend. UPDATED

That is the date that was announced by President Macron as he ordered the lifts to shut. Some doubts remain, but there are signs of hope. Whether UK skiers can get there is another matter altogether as Covid-19 coincides with Brexit. UPDATED

Val Thorens is turning up the dials for a virtual one from the slopes. It normally hosts a huge celebration with 10,000 in the resort. It is not to be this year, so it’s doing its best.

Ski resorts in Austria have opened for local skiers only, but the resort in the Tirol that was an early spreader of Covid-19 is shut until towards the end of next month.

They opened on Xmas Eve but now come under tighter restrictions. Outdoor exercise is allowed, though in resort most of the facilities remain closed. UPDATED

The Scottish resort shuts at the close of play on Xmas Eve following new rules announced by the First Minister. Glencoe & the Lecht say they will remain open as Scotland goes into Level 4 restrictions from Boxing Day.

9 out the 26 cantons have decided to close their ski areas – the well-known resort of Andermatt will see some of its slopes shut. The rest are smaller resorts. The majority of ski resorts in Switzerland remain open. The Federal Government has said they may have to close if the R-rate goes above 1.2. New restrictions have been announced. UPDATED

The Saslong lift company operates part of the slopes in Val Gardena and it has said it will not open due to the chaos and confusion of Covid-19 restrictions.  It highlights the extra pressure put on hospitals if ski areas open and criticises the handling of the pandemic by the regional and national authorities.