Austrian Resorts Open Early Following Bumper Snowfall
Tuesday, October 30th, 2007
Ski holiday enthusiasts are looking forward to a busy season as slopes begin to open six weeks ahead of the official season.
Early snowfall and frosty temperatures have ensured many alpine pistes are thickly covered, a vast change to last year’s snow-free slopes, the Telegraph reports.
In 2006, the snow came late to many resorts and they were forced to delay their opening and the professional World Cup races were cancelled due to inadequate snow cover.
Betony Garner, from the Ski Club of Great Britain told the newspaper it was an "encouraging start" to the season.
"It is a very different picture from the one we were seeing this time last year and even later into the season. The Austrian resorts really suffered as there wasn’t really a significant snowfall until January," she said.
Schladming-Dachstein, the Austrian ski resort, opened on October 25th this year, one month earlier than planned. The Ski Club of Great Britain reports there is at least 30cm of snow as far as the middle station.
