First European Resorts Open Amidst Mixed Weekend
Updated: Sep 28
The first European resorts have opened for the autumn and winter this weekend, as still more postpone opening dates following disastrous summers.
This summer was the first to see no skiing anywhere on the continent for the first time in six decades as hot temperatures rendered conditions unusable on many high alpine glaciers, including Zermatt and Les 2 Alpes.
This weekend therefore comes as a relief, as Pitztal Glacier joins Val Senales and Passo Stelvio in Italy in opening for skiing.
Amidst snowfall at high altitudes across Europe and the North American Rockies, Pitztal has scraped together enough snow to stick to its committed 26th September opening date.
All eyes will now be on Soelden, Austria, in the coming weeks however - normally a safe bet for a late September or early October opening, it was forced to cancel opening this weekend along with Kaunertal and Hintertux. With the FIS Alpine World Cup due to kick off in Soelden in a skier's edge under 30 days, the pressure is on to see if things can be turned around ahead of this annual festival of skiing.
Zermatt/Cervinia remains closed, with no forecasted date for reopening.
