© Breuil-Cervinia
It’s never too late to start planning your 2017/2018 ski and snowboarding holidays! If there’s one thing we’ve learned from last season’s bizarrely early snowfall, it’s that you should seize every chance you can get to head to the mountains. From France to Austria, from Switzerland to Italy, ski areas across the Alps start gearing up for the winter season as early as September. Why not book the perfect half-term holiday with the kids, or take advantage of the cheap deals to go on the ultimate skiing trip with a group of friends? Here are just some suggestions to get you on your way!
Early-season skiing might just be nature’s best-kept secret. The list of advantages goes on and on: low prices, no crowds, relatively warm weather and of course the right to brag to all your jealous friends back home! While snow cover is never 100% reliable, the ski areas on this list are your best bet if you’re seeking a snow-sure resort. Season opening dates are based on the best information available at the time of writing.
Popular with professional ski teams thanks to its steepness and reliable snow cover, the Grande Motte glacier at Tignes opens at the start of October, one of the first ski areas in the Alps to start the winter season so early. Snow cover is guaranteed to some extent thanks to Tignes’ snowmaking equipment, but individual lift opening dates are staggered depending on weather conditions. When the heavy snowfall arrives later in the season, Tignes links up to Val d’Isère, providing access to 300km of slopes in the Espace Killy ski area.
© Tignes
Breathtaking views of Monte Rosa and the Matterhorn frame the linked ski resorts of Zermatt and Breuil-Cervinia. Zermatt has skiing all year and is considered one of the trendiest Swiss ski resorts. The ski season at the more modest Cervinia runs from late October all the way until mid-May. Snow cover is guaranteed thanks to their shared glacier and to the superb snowmaking facilities at Zermatt, which can function even in non-freezing temperatures.
© Breuil-Cervinia
Sölden will once again host the giant slalom opening events for the FIS World Cup this October. As a result of its high altitude, glacier skiing (at Rettenbach and Tiefenbach) and efficient snow-making infrastructure, the popular and versatile ski resort guarantees snow from October to May. The modern lift system, après-ski scene and variety of terrain make the Austrian ski resort a hit with children and adults alike.
© Sölden
Pitztal Glacier boasts the highest glacier skiing in Austria and excellent snowmaking facilities which function even in above-zero weather. The glacier alone offers over 20km of pistes and a snow park, and can open as early as mid-September. With something to offer for everyone from beginner to advanced skiers, Pitztal Glacier is particularly known for its freeriding and cross-country trails. Down in the valley you’ll find a cluster of peaceful, traditional villages with a good selection of bars and some nightlife.
© Pitztal Glacier
Kaunertal Glacier has announced it will open for the winter season on the weekend of October 13-15. The ski area is well-suited to beginner and intermediate skiers, while more advanced skiers will be interested in the off-piste guided tours and the fun park. Kaunertal doesn’t have any accommodation at the glacier itself so visitors can choose from several picturesque villages in the region.
© Marc Obrist, Kaunertal Glacier
Val Senales-Schnalstal offers staggered opening times all year round, with winter season lift opening dates starting in early September and snow guaranteed from October onwards. This compact Italian glacier on the border with Austria is a well-kept secret. Despite being a regular training spot for professional ski teams, it draws nowhere near the crowds of other Tyrolean ski resorts. The calm atmosphere and good childcare options make it an ideal choice for families.
© Val Senales-Schnalstal
The Glacier 3000 at Les Diablerets, Switzerland is open almost all year long. After a short maintenance period, it reopens every year for the winter in the last weekend of October. Glacier 3000 reaches up to 3000m in altitude and has some 25km of long downhill pistes, as well as off-piste skiing. Freestylers will enjoy the snow park, which is already open in October and kickers, rails and boxes for all abilities.
© Glacier 3000
The Titlis glacier at Engelberg is famous for its off-piste run, which drops down over 1000m from the top of the glacier. Open from October onward, the glacier reaches an altitude of 3238m, which means snow cover shouldn’t be an issue. Engelberg is relatively unknown to British skiers and visitors will find themselves staying in a tranquil village set in an old monastery, which nevertheless offers an abundance of choices for après-ski.
© Titlis Glacier Engelberg
Among the best-known ski areas for freestyling in Switzerland, Laax also boasts a high-altitude glacier, Vorab, which sits at 3200m and opens for the season in October. Despite being a glacier, the pistes on Vorab could not be considered short by any means. In addition, the glacier enjoys good snow cover thanks to its snowmaking machines. Clustered around the glacier are a range of accommodation options; those looking for a more elegant village will want to stay in the nearby Flims.
© Laax
The ski area at Les 2 Alpes opens for a short stint during the October half-term (festival from October 21-November 1 this year) for the “Enjoy the Glacier” snowsports festival, and then closes again until early December. The glacier at Les 2 Alpes reaches up to 3600m, meaning guaranteed snow cover from real snow throughout the season. The ski resort is a favourite with young people and you’ll have no trouble finding rockin’ nightlife during the festival!
© Office de tourisme Les 2 Alpes by Bruno Longo
The Kitzsteinhorn Glacier at Zell am See - Kaprun is blessed with powder snow and high altitude, meaning it can usually open in early October. Kitzsteinhorn is the only glacier in Salzburg and is known for its snow park, which features Austria’s largest freestyle super-pipe. The high-altitude glacier generally stays open until late in the summer, making it also a good choice for late-season skiing.
© Kitzsteinhorn Glacier at Zell am See - Kaprun
With so many ski areas to choose from, you’re probably itching to start booking your ski holidays for the coming season! Just keep in mind, of course, that season opening dates can always be affected by changing weather conditions. It’s always a good idea to double-check the snow reports before you book your holiday. And if the winter isn’t coming as fast as you wanted, why not consider checking out ski resorts open in the summer, or one of the UK’s indoor ski halls?
© Breuil-Cervinia
It’s never too late to start planning your 2017/2018 ski and snowboarding holidays! If there’s one thing we’ve learned from last season’s bizarrely early snowfall, it’s that you should seize every chance you can get to head to the mountains. From France to Austria, from Switzerland to Italy, ski areas across the Alps start gearing up for the winter season as early as September. Why not book the perfect half-term holiday with the kids, or take advantage of the cheap deals to go on the ultimate skiing trip with a group of friends? Here are just some suggestions to get you on your way!
Early-season skiing might just be nature’s best-kept secret. The list of advantages goes on and on: low prices, no crowds, relatively warm weather and of course the right to brag to all your jealous friends back home! While snow cover is never 100% reliable, the ski areas on this list are your best bet if you’re seeking a snow-sure resort. Season opening dates are based on the best information available at the time of writing.
Popular with professional ski teams thanks to its steepness and reliable snow cover, the Grande Motte glacier at Tignes opens at the start of October, one of the first ski areas in the Alps to start the winter season so early. Snow cover is guaranteed to some extent thanks to Tignes’ snowmaking equipment, but individual lift opening dates are staggered depending on weather conditions. When the heavy snowfall arrives later in the season, Tignes links up to Val d’Isère, providing access to 300km of slopes in the Espace Killy ski area.
© Tignes
Breathtaking views of Monte Rosa and the Matterhorn frame the linked ski resorts of Zermatt and Breuil-Cervinia. Zermatt has skiing all year and is considered one of the trendiest Swiss ski resorts. The ski season at the more modest Cervinia runs from late October all the way until mid-May. Snow cover is guaranteed thanks to their shared glacier and to the superb snowmaking facilities at Zermatt, which can function even in non-freezing temperatures.
© Breuil-Cervinia
Sölden will once again host the giant slalom opening events for the FIS World Cup this October. As a result of its high altitude, glacier skiing (at Rettenbach and Tiefenbach) and efficient snow-making infrastructure, the popular and versatile ski resort guarantees snow from October to May. The modern lift system, après-ski scene and variety of terrain make the Austrian ski resort a hit with children and adults alike.
© Sölden
Pitztal Glacier boasts the highest glacier skiing in Austria and excellent snowmaking facilities which function even in above-zero weather. The glacier alone offers over 20km of pistes and a snow park, and can open as early as mid-September. With something to offer for everyone from beginner to advanced skiers, Pitztal Glacier is particularly known for its freeriding and cross-country trails. Down in the valley you’ll find a cluster of peaceful, traditional villages with a good selection of bars and some nightlife.
© Pitztal Glacier
Kaunertal Glacier has announced it will open for the winter season on the weekend of October 13-15. The ski area is well-suited to beginner and intermediate skiers, while more advanced skiers will be interested in the off-piste guided tours and the fun park. Kaunertal doesn’t have any accommodation at the glacier itself so visitors can choose from several picturesque villages in the region.
© Marc Obrist, Kaunertal Glacier
Val Senales-Schnalstal offers staggered opening times all year round, with winter season lift opening dates starting in early September and snow guaranteed from October onwards. This compact Italian glacier on the border with Austria is a well-kept secret. Despite being a regular training spot for professional ski teams, it draws nowhere near the crowds of other Tyrolean ski resorts. The calm atmosphere and good childcare options make it an ideal choice for families.
© Val Senales-Schnalstal
The Glacier 3000 at Les Diablerets, Switzerland is open almost all year long. After a short maintenance period, it reopens every year for the winter in the last weekend of October. Glacier 3000 reaches up to 3000m in altitude and has some 25km of long downhill pistes, as well as off-piste skiing. Freestylers will enjoy the snow park, which is already open in October and kickers, rails and boxes for all abilities.
© Glacier 3000
The Titlis glacier at Engelberg is famous for its off-piste run, which drops down over 1000m from the top of the glacier. Open from October onward, the glacier reaches an altitude of 3238m, which means snow cover shouldn’t be an issue. Engelberg is relatively unknown to British skiers and visitors will find themselves staying in a tranquil village set in an old monastery, which nevertheless offers an abundance of choices for après-ski.
© Titlis Glacier Engelberg
Among the best-known ski areas for freestyling in Switzerland, Laax also boasts a high-altitude glacier, Vorab, which sits at 3200m and opens for the season in October. Despite being a glacier, the pistes on Vorab could not be considered short by any means. In addition, the glacier enjoys good snow cover thanks to its snowmaking machines. Clustered around the glacier are a range of accommodation options; those looking for a more elegant village will want to stay in the nearby Flims.
© Laax
The ski area at Les 2 Alpes opens for a short stint during the October half-term (festival from October 21-November 1 this year) for the “Enjoy the Glacier” snowsports festival, and then closes again until early December. The glacier at Les 2 Alpes reaches up to 3600m, meaning guaranteed snow cover from real snow throughout the season. The ski resort is a favourite with young people and you’ll have no trouble finding rockin’ nightlife during the festival!
© Office de tourisme Les 2 Alpes by Bruno Longo
The Kitzsteinhorn Glacier at Zell am See - Kaprun is blessed with powder snow and high altitude, meaning it can usually open in early October. Kitzsteinhorn is the only glacier in Salzburg and is known for its snow park, which features Austria’s largest freestyle super-pipe. The high-altitude glacier generally stays open until late in the summer, making it also a good choice for late-season skiing.
© Kitzsteinhorn Glacier at Zell am See - Kaprun
With so many ski areas to choose from, you’re probably itching to start booking your ski holidays for the coming season! Just keep in mind, of course, that season opening dates can always be affected by changing weather conditions. It’s always a good idea to double-check the snow reports before you book your holiday. And if the winter isn’t coming as fast as you wanted, why not consider checking out ski resorts open in the summer, or one of the UK’s indoor ski halls?
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
