Perfect powder: Swiss ski resorts have best start to the season in 30 years
By Jan de Boer
Ski resorts in Switzerland are predicting the best ski season since the 1990s. Resorts have already seen record snowfall, despite only being a few weeks into the official skiing calendar.
Heavy snowfall and perfect skiing conditions in Swiss mountains
In the last few days, resort officials in Andermatt and Engelberg were pleased to find over two metres of snow had fallen. Even lower altitudes around Grosser Mythen and Ibergeregg saw 80 centimetres, a sign that a highly positive ski season is on the way.
Frédéric Füssenich, CEO of Rigi Bahnen AG, was pleased, noting, "The snow conditions are excellent - we expect another metre of fresh snow by the end of the week.” The area saw a rush to the mountains earlier in the week, and it is expected that the Christmas holidays will only accelerate that trend.
Ski resorts expect to be fully open by Christmas
There's similar good news in Stoos, where Sandro Widmer from Stoosbahnen AG claimed “The snow conditions are record-breaking. Since the 90s you haven't been able to look forward to so much snow at the start of the season.” He said that the good conditions meant all areas of Stoos will be open this weekend.
Andermatt will be opening its' slopes gradually over the next few weeks, as the weather improves, with a full opening due to take place in a fortnight. It is hoped that the perfect snowy start will lead to a memorable ski season.
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Jan studied History at the University of York and Broadcast Journalism at the University of Sheffield. Though born in York, Jan has lived most of his life in Zurich and has worked as a journalist, writer and editor since 2016.
While he has plunged head-first back into life in Switzerland since returning to the country in 2020, he still enjoys a taste of home at pub quizzes and karaoke nights.Read more