by Skier & Snowboarder publisher Frank ‘Scoop’ Baldwin
Let’s be honest, however much we try and remain positive about the start of the 20/21 ski and snowboard season it is very difficult as each day seems to bring another hurdle to overcome.
During the summer, tour operators and ski areas did their best to reassure customers precautions had been put in place to protect them from covid 19 during their stay in the mountains.
But the pandemic has already taken its toll. The Skier & Snowboarder magazine has reported that some UK ski tour operators have gone out of business, others have ruled out any chalet holidays or trips in December, while at least one announced it was going to cancel all its bookings and shut up shop until next season.
Research shows there is a pent-up demand from UK skiers and snowboarders who want to get away this season – although having to pay for a covid test on top has become a thorny issue – but the latest news from European resorts and beyond is creating more confusion.
Talk of a vaccine has given people hope but mass distribution may be just too late for this ski season even though predictions are that there will be a late surge of bookings from March onwards.
Here we take a whistle-stop tour of what we know at this stage about the main ski destinations, but like so many covid related issues, this information, plus conditions and restrictions, could change again by the New Year.
But also in the New Year there could be better news, so stay prepared to head for the slopes before the end of this season.
AUSTRIA
Austria went into its third lockdown on Boxing Day (26 Dec 2020) . This means all nonessential shops have to remain closed for three weeks and movement is restricted until 24 January. People are only allowed to leave their homes for work, shopping or for outdoors exercise.
Ski lifts can stay open despite the lockdown but with restricted capacity and with distancing requirements. Although there are reports that some ski areas have decided to close completely for the time being.
In Austria, wintersports holidays are a key part of the economy. For this reason, the country’s finance minister was not keen on the EU initiative to close all ski resorts until 10 January. He said if this initiative was imposed the EU would need to pay €2 billion compensation to Austria to cover lost revenue for the festive period alone.
Resorts in Austria’s Arlberg region, which includes world famous areas such as St. Anton, Lech and Zurs had planned to open on 17 December. But government officials in Austria announced on Wednesday (2 December 2020) that skiing would not be possible until Christmas Eve and hotels, restaurants and bars would remain closed until 7 January.
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said: “From December 24, individual sports outdoors such as skiing will be possible again so that the Austrian population has the chance to engage in sporting activity over the holidays.”
But the move appears to be aimed at Austrians only and non nationals are being deterred from visiting the country’s ski areas.
SWITZERLAND
Switzerland, which is not in the EU, believes the wintersports industry is too important to its economy and Alain Berset, the country’s health minister, has said ski resorts will stay open – at least for the time being – as long as there are strict safety measures in place to stop the virus from spreading.
This statement generated an increase in bookings from the UK, but these holidays now look in doubt following an announcement on the Swiss government website. An update on Saturday 19 December 2020, stated: ‘If you are a UK national you may not enter Switzerland for non-essential travel (e.g. for the purpose of tourism) from 1 January 2021 for as long as the UK is categorised as a high-risk country by Switzerland.’
The lifts staying open has created what the authorities in the Portes du Soleil have describe as ‘an unprecedented situation’. The giant ski region – 600km of slopes – straddles the French / Swiss border with ski runs accessed from around a dozen separate ski resorts on either side.
“In Switzerland the ski lifts will be open in December above the resorts of Morgins, Champéry, Val d’Illiez Les Crosets Champoussin and Torgon. In France the ski lifts will remain closed,” confirmed a statement from the region.
You can see a report from Reuters on two neighbouring resorts on opposite sides of the border by CLICKING HERE
FRANCE
French government sources say they believe French ski resorts will be able to reopen their lifts on 7 January, assuming the coronavirus situation has not got any worse. The news came following a meeting between Prime Minister Jean Castex and ski resorts’ representatives, although at time of writing this has not been officially announced.
While addressing the nation recently, President Emmanuel Macron said that French ski areas would not be able to open for the busy Christmas and New Year holiday periods. Shortly afterwards another French government official confirmed ski lifts would not be running until January. The announcement led to several protest meetings involving resort representatives and lift workers. Some ski areas attempted to mount a legal action against the lift closures, but France’s highest administrative court recently dismissed their appeal.
The country’s finance minister Bruno Le Maire later issued a statement saying that €400 million euros had been set aside in the 2021 budget to support ski resorts forced to close for Christmas holidays.
Some French resorts have said they will open during the festive period – but that lifts would not be running. This could be good news for ski tourers and split boarders who will still be allowed to take advantage of the mountains.
For example, Pays de Gex continues to encourage visitors from the UK. Yan Baczkowski , director of the tourist office and its Monts Jura resort, said: “Following the announcement that ski resorts will remain closed, one can still head to a resort to enjoy fresh air and the great outdoors. The Pays de Gex and its Monts Jura Mountain Resorts in France will be open but not as you know it.
“We want the UK to know that there is a brilliantly simple way to discover a winter wonderland and escape the UK this Christmas and have a great outdoors holiday in the snow.”
It is unlikely these visitors can indulge in any apres ski as bars and restaurants across France are expected to remain closed into January. If the health situation allows it, restaurants will be allowed to reopen from 20 January but there’s no announcement yet regarding bars.
Although virus infection rates in France have dropped in recent weeks, health authorities in the country’s ski regions have warned that they would quickly be overwhelmed if virus cases surged when skiers and snowboarders descended on resorts.
ITALY
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte is keen to follow a similar path to France and wants his country’s ski areas to stay closed until January. He has asked Italians not to take their traditional Christmas ski holiday in the mountains.
Conte is supporting an initiative being put forward by France, Germany and Italy to keep all EU ski areas closed until 10 January, but at time of writing this still had not been agreed.
Lucio Furlani, Head of Tourism for Courmayeur Mont Blanc, in the Italian Alps, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming back guests to Courmayeur Mont Blanc for the 2021 winter season. Our main priority will be managing the spread of Covid-19 and we will be taking all the necessary precautions to protect the health and safety of all our guests, in accordance with all local and government guidelines.
“All of our ski lifts remain closed for skiers until the new year with an official date yet to be announced by the Italian Government. Upon reopening, we will be limited to a smaller capacity to ensure a metre’s distance between each person.
“We will also be encouraging contactless check-in and advanced bookings where possible to ensure smaller queues and shorter waiting times at all facilities and hire shops. Everyone will be required to wear a mask and gloves whilst on the slopes and all social distancing restrictions will remain in place, including the rule of six. Cafes, bars and restaurants will be operating in a similar fashion and apres-ski will be carefully controlled too with the removal of dance floors at various outlets.
“Skiing is a wonderful sport which lends itself well to social distancing, so we look forward to when we can welcome back our UK guests, hopefully in the new year, for an active holiday spent in the clean alpine air.”
SPAIN & ANDORRA
Ski areas including the Spanish Pyrenees and Sierra Nevada originally said that they are determined to open with pandemic precautions in place – once there is enough snow.
Several Spanish areas originally said they would stay closed until restrictions are eased or until the situation becomes clearer but resorts in the Catalonia region have been allowed to open.
For UK visitors, the latest Foreign Office advice is that you should only travel to mainland Spain for ‘essential reasons’ and you have to have a quarantine period on your return.
Holidays are still being offered in Andorra, but UK tourists have to enter through France or Spain where travel restrictions already apply.
SWEDEN
Some resorts are already open in Sweden. Are, a popular resort for British skiers and snowboarders, has said it will open on 18 December.
The country has been in the headlines for its approach to covid 19 as it has, up to now, never imposed a national lockdown although precautions have recently been tightened.
Anders Tegnell, a state epidemiologist, told the media during a recent interview that visits to Swedish ski resorts can go ahead during the winter season, but one has to travel ‘responsibly’. In order to achieve this, the Public Health Agency is currently holding talks with Swedish ski resorts over future safety measures.
FINLAND
The country says it is reopening to international travel on 14 December. At the Finnish end you can go for up to 72 hours without needing a virus test/self isolation but a longer stay requires 72 hours self isolation on arrival. Inghams pulled out of Finland this season, but resorts such as Levi and Ruka have already been open for two months.
NORWAY
Resorts such as Geilo and Hemsedal are opening but there are currently isolation rules in place for arriving visitors.
BULGARIA
Bulgaria is not a supporter of the suggested EU initiative to close all European ski areas. A second national lockdown in the country ended recently and Pamporovo opened on 19 December, with covid precautions in place. The resort is also offering a special lift pass offer until 27 December.
On the opening day Pamporovo had snow cover of 90cm approx which was enough for seven pistes and six lifts to be in operation.
NORTH AMERICA
The good news is several well-known American and Canadian ski areas are already open. The bad news is you are unlikely to get travel and health insurance to cover you while you are there this season.
Plus, the UK Foreign Office website is giving this current guidance for the US: “British nationals cannot enter the USA and its territories if they have been in the UK within the previous 14 days. If you are eligible to enter the USA, you must be prepared to self-isolate for up to 14 days after arrival.”
For Canada, it says: “Entry to Canada is limited, except for temporary foreign workers, most international students, Canadian citizens and permanent residents or their immediate and extended families, provided they remain in Canada for 15 days or more. If you’re eligible to enter Canada, you will need to self-isolate for 14 days after arrival.”
Whistler Blackcomb has opened for the ski season, but this appears to be for locals only. The Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry has advised against any non-essential travel as British Columbia tackles rising COVID-19 cases. For this reason, the resort wants tourists to stay away for the time being.
For current UK Foreign Office Advice on all the countries mentioned above go to:
www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
SCOTLAND
With so many overseas travel restrictions currently in place could Scottish Ski areas attract more skiers and snowboarders this season?
Cairngorm, Glencoe, Glenshee, Nevis Range and The Lecht (pictured) already cater for close to 250,000 visitors each winter and Europe’s pain could be the highlands’ gain.
But it is another case of swings and roundabouts. Scotland is tackling its own covid problems and some ski areas are restricting ticket sales to ensure social distancing. Travel between tiers is also currently illegal in Scotland so coming from outside the Highlands for ‘non-essential’ reasons is actually against the law. However, once these restrictions are eased it will be a chance for the Scottish ski areas to show what they have to offer.
Nevis Range has said it won’t open until snow and trading conditions improve as they are looking to make up a reported £1m loss last season.
Cairngorm closed its ski lifts on Christmas Eve and will remain closed for the rest of the lockdown currently underway in Scotland. The ski area isn’t quite ready for a massive rise in skiers as work to repair the funicular railway which serves the top station of the ski area above Aviemore is just about to start.
The lift last operated over two years ago when it was closed over safety concerns centred on the concrete track supports of the 20-year-old structure.
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