It's finally over
Friday May 14, 2010 - Email this article to a friend

This week in the UK it has felt more like winter.

In The Scottish highlands the temperature fell to -6°C and it dropped to -4°C in East Anglia. A few flakes of snow even fell in Newcastle. 

There was a widespread frost and a chill nip in the air.

It has kept the snow in reasonable shape in Cairngorm that is still open at weekends and may even continue into June if there is demand.

This week the International Snowsports Instructors Conference is being held in nearby Aviemore. Quite a coup for British skiing.

Cairngorm is one of just 30 ski resorts open across the world. 10 in The Alps.

There are in fact more places to ski snow indoors than outdoors open at present, with some 60 indoor snow centres open in 25 countries.

PlanetSKI will be reporting from the Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead later this month on how its first year has gone and what it is like to ski there; so keep an eye open for that.

The Snow Centre, Hemel Hempstead

The latter half of May is traditionally the quietest period of the entire year for world skiing as the northern hemisphere's season ends while the southern hemisphere's is yet to begin, and several dozen northern ski areas that will open for summer skiing from June take a few week's break for low season maintenance.

However some people are already booking their holiday for next winter.

"We just want to make sure we can stay in the chalet we want and in the resort we want over half-term next year so we have booked up already," one PlanetSKI reader has told us.  "Also it gives me something to look forward to." 

Others are taking advantage of some of the early season discounts currently available. See the Crystal offers by looking at the banner link below.

Here's our look at what is open and what is not with the help of our friends over at skiinfo.com

AUSTRIA: The country has the lion's share of Spring skiing in Europe now with glacier skiing available at five areas.

At the Kaunertal glacier where all lifts are running and all pistes open, heavy snow showers are expected for the rest of the week topping up the 85-135cm base. 

It's a similar story on the Pitztal glacier, Austria's highest ski area, which is approaching its last weekend of its eight month ski season, which commenced last September.

The Stubai has one of the largest ski areas open anywhere at the moment with 18 runs served by 16 lifts to choose from on an 1.8m base.

You can also ski or board this weekend on the Kitzsteinhorn or Huntertux glaciers.

FRANCE: The ski season has now ended in France and no outdoor snow slopes are open in the country. 

"The Grands Montets finally closed last week-end and needless to say most of Chamonix's hard core skiers were up there enjoying the fresh powder," says Claire Burnett from the area's Tourist Office.

Chamonix is making a concerted effort to attract visitors to the area over the summer to enjoy the wealth of things on offer.

PlanetSKI hopes to report from the region over the next few months on the summer attractions of the Chamonix Valley.

Tignes also shut at the weekend and, along with Val d'Isere and les 2 Alpes, will re-open in June for summer skiing.

First week of May in Tignes

ITALY: There's not much open in Italy either as Cervinia closed last weekend until it re-opens for summer skiing in late June. 

Two other ski centres will also be open for summer skiing. Passo Stelvio, that re-opens for the last weekend of May, and Val Senales, which opens on 12th June.

In the interim however the Presena Glacier above Passo Tonale will remain open until late June. 

It currently has around 4m of snow on the glacier and two red and two black runs to enjoy. 

SWITZERLAND: In Switzerland the weather has warmed up after last week's snow showers and three resorts are still open.  

Engelberg's Titlis glacier as well as the slopes of Zermatt remain open, as does the Diavolezza glacier near St Moritz which has a 1,000m+ vertical to enjoy still, with 50cm of snow at the top.

The ski touring season is well under way and people are still using skins to access the snow in the areas where all the lifts have shut.

See the video below that we made last May in Verbier after the lifts had closed for business.

It gives you a flavour of what it is like.

In Northern Europe several ski areas remain open in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Scotland.

SCOTLAND: There was a heavy frost in the Scottish Highlands with temperatures dropping to -6c in places. 

The mountains have had small falls of fresh snow over the past few days, but no more than a light dustng.

All areas are shut except Cairngorm that is open at weekends only through May.

SWEDEN: The Riksgransen ski area in the Swedish Arctic is stil, in full swing and will begin its midnight sun skiing in the next few weeks.

We hope to have some photogrpahs and a short report from a PlanetSKI reader/reporter who is out there at the moment.

In Finland Riuka still has ski slopes open and in Norway Galdhøpiggen summer ski area is due to join already open Folgefonn, which has a 4m base, this week.

In North America more ski areas closed last weekend.

USA: Some though are still going including Mammoth Mountain in California, Snowbird in Utah, Arapahoe Basin in Colorado and Timberline in Oregon.

Mt Hood Meadows, also in Oregon, is reported to be opening this weekend and next.

Arapahoe Basin has reported another inch of snow in the past three days, topping up its 1.1m base.  Six of its seven lifts are running and about 75% of the total terrain open.

CANADA: Whistler's Olympic ski season continues and Banff's Sunshine ski area is in to the last fortnight of its long winter.

There is though a warning of avalanches in Whistler/Blackcombe as the huge levles of snow melt.

"Variable avalanches conditions changing from frozen snow in the morning to melted snow with loose wet avalanches possible in the afternoon will be the pattern through spring. Cornices are still very large and long hot spring days are likely to cause them to fall," says a statment on it web site.

"Some wet avalanche activity has managed to dig deep down to the December crust."

The lifts are no longer running at Silver Star Mountain in British Columbia but Canada's National Team and development team cross country skiers are enjoying beautiful spring conditions.

Mike Cavaliere, Head Coach of the National Development Team states "The ski conditions are ideal, great grooming and sunny skies." 

Still open for cross country skiing

AUSTRALIA: With a month to go to the start of the new season in Australia, Mt Hotham is expecting some snow later this week.

It follows some earlier snowfalls last week when the heavens opened over Hotham and Dinner Plain with snowfalls down to 1,300m at Hotham Airport.

At this time of the year, early light snowfalls work well to cool the ground and prepare it for snowfalls closer to the season opening.

This also helps the resort to prepare for the commencement of snowmaking as the ground will be ready to hold snow on it.

The first thin strips at Mt Buller

We'll let you know when it happens and, later in the season, we will have reports and pictures from PlanetSKI reporters and readers in Australia and New Zealand.

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