Where to Ski And Snowboard - Zermatt offers more choice for beginners

Zermatt offers more choice for beginners

30th December 2008, by Chris Gill

Zermatt opened a new area for beginners and families in December - the Wolli Park.

The dedicated learning zone is located at Leisse, just above Sunnegga in the Rothorn sector. It has a short connecting lift to and from the funicular, plus three moving carpet lifts, two rope tows and children’s play equipment. The nursery area welcomes all ages on its sheltered slopes and the resort has introduced a special Wolli lift pass - it’s half the price of an adult day pass and covers the funicular and Eisfluh and Findelbahn lifts - so you needn’t miss out on the fabulous eateries in the pretty Findeln hamlet.

Children pay just CHF18 per day, with those under nine years old skiing for free. And the resort has also extended its free Saturday skiing for children to include teenagers up to 16 years old. Swiss resorts already lead the way on deals for kids, offering free skiing up to the age of nine in many areas. And when they do have to pay, the discount is far greater than in other Alpine countries - notably France.

Zermatt has other new attractions this winter too: a revamped restaurant at Riffelberg to improve flow and to increase seating, and the grand addition of a 120-seat restaurant at the top station of the Klein Matterhorn lift to the glacier. The resort is also one of the first to implement use of a smart new snow system that operates in higher temperatures than is normally possible.