Where to Ski And Snowboard - Snow storms help ski resorts open early

Snow storms help ski resorts open early

28th October 2013, by Abi Butcher

Some 3,000 skiers and snowboarder enjoyed fab conditions in Les 2 Alpes last weekend

It’s not just the UK that has been in the grip of a storm — in the past 24 hours there has been heavy snowfall in Canada’s Banff-Lake Louise-Sushine Village. The tourist office has issued a statement saying “skiers and snowboarders should be on standby for first chair, winter is here”.

Lake Louise and Sunshine Village are due to open on 8 November, but Mt Norquay is likely to be the first ski resort in Canada to open — it is scheduled to open its lifts on 1 November.

Breckenridge in Colorado is also opening on 8 November — and has now released its 2013/14 piste map including its new ski area, Peak 6, with 543 skiable acres. Also in Colorado, Copper Mountain has announced it plans to open a week earlier than initially planned — on 7 November.

Meanwhile in France, Chamonix has announced that it will open early, thanks to early snow falls. Opening dates for the ski area have been pushed even further forward than in recent years — with Les Grands Montets opening partially on weekends in November, then fully on 7 December.

Opening of the other ski areas — Brevent, Flegere and La Balme — has been brought forward to 14 December.

Over in Les Deux-Alpes, more than 3,000 skiers and boarders enjoyed excellent snow conditions last weekend (pictured), where the glacier is open until 3 November.