FIS News
Where to ski in July
July may be one of the warmest months of the year in the northern hemisphere but more ski areas are open in the Alps than in June and as winter kicks off in the southern hemisphere nearly 100 areas should be open south of the equator by the end of July.
In the Austrian Alps for example, some 50 cm of snow were reported in the last week of June. South of the equator the season has got off to a great start in New Zealand where up to 3 metres of snow has fallen and many resorts in South America have had big snowfalls too.
Northern hemisphere
Austria has more summer ski glaciers open than any other country in the northern hemisphere. The Stubai glacier is nearing the end of its 10 month season while year-round Hintertux had 40cm of new snow. The Kitzsteinhorn opened until 21st July and the Molltal glacier re-opened for its near 11 month season.
Having started June with no ski areas open, three French glacier areas opened on successive weekends and all remain functioning into July with Les 2 Alpes and Tignes keeping its lifts running in to August.
In Italy Passo Stelvio remains open with 20km of runs and Cervinia has just re-opened after a two-month closure, with cross-border skiing to Switzerland’s year-round Zermatt whose neighbour Saas Fee is due to join from 27th July.
In Scandinavia, Norway’s three glacier ski areas are the only remaining options in this area - all open since May for summer skiing at Folgefonn, Galdhøpiggen and most recently Stryn.
In North America, Timberline in Oregon (USA) is in good shape with a 2m base. A second option, Beartooth Basin on the Montana/Wyoming basin is open to 13th July. In Canada Whistler Blackcomb’s glacier has re-opened for snow sports until 28th July.
Southern Hemisphere
It has been cold but sunny on the slopes of Afriski in Lesotho and Tiffindell in South Africa. There are runs up to 600m long with machine made snow up to 80cm deep and the lifts are turning.
Argentina’s ski season has had a slow start with little natural snowfall up to the end of June. Las Lenas ski area had only a few centimetres of snow similar to the continent’s largest ski area Catedral.
The snow is looking good for the start of the season in Chile, Portillo has a 1.2m base for the start of July. It is a similar story at other Chilean resorts.
Australian areas opened regardless of snow conditions in early June with first snowfalls building 20-40cm bases at the end of the month and conditions are continuing to improve.
New Zealand has seen record snowfall since resorts began opening at the start of June. Mt Hutt was forced to close within a week of opening as up to 3 metres of snow blocked access roads and made the slopes dangerous. Cardrona, which opened on 22nd June with 80 cm of fresh snow reported on some of “the best opening conditions in the ski area’s history” attracting 1’300 skiers and boarders on opening day.
In the Austrian Alps for example, some 50 cm of snow were reported in the last week of June. South of the equator the season has got off to a great start in New Zealand where up to 3 metres of snow has fallen and many resorts in South America have had big snowfalls too.
Northern hemisphere
Austria has more summer ski glaciers open than any other country in the northern hemisphere. The Stubai glacier is nearing the end of its 10 month season while year-round Hintertux had 40cm of new snow. The Kitzsteinhorn opened until 21st July and the Molltal glacier re-opened for its near 11 month season.
Having started June with no ski areas open, three French glacier areas opened on successive weekends and all remain functioning into July with Les 2 Alpes and Tignes keeping its lifts running in to August.
In Italy Passo Stelvio remains open with 20km of runs and Cervinia has just re-opened after a two-month closure, with cross-border skiing to Switzerland’s year-round Zermatt whose neighbour Saas Fee is due to join from 27th July.
In Scandinavia, Norway’s three glacier ski areas are the only remaining options in this area - all open since May for summer skiing at Folgefonn, Galdhøpiggen and most recently Stryn.
In North America, Timberline in Oregon (USA) is in good shape with a 2m base. A second option, Beartooth Basin on the Montana/Wyoming basin is open to 13th July. In Canada Whistler Blackcomb’s glacier has re-opened for snow sports until 28th July.
Southern Hemisphere
It has been cold but sunny on the slopes of Afriski in Lesotho and Tiffindell in South Africa. There are runs up to 600m long with machine made snow up to 80cm deep and the lifts are turning.
Argentina’s ski season has had a slow start with little natural snowfall up to the end of June. Las Lenas ski area had only a few centimetres of snow similar to the continent’s largest ski area Catedral.
The snow is looking good for the start of the season in Chile, Portillo has a 1.2m base for the start of July. It is a similar story at other Chilean resorts.
Australian areas opened regardless of snow conditions in early June with first snowfalls building 20-40cm bases at the end of the month and conditions are continuing to improve.
New Zealand has seen record snowfall since resorts began opening at the start of June. Mt Hutt was forced to close within a week of opening as up to 3 metres of snow blocked access roads and made the slopes dangerous. Cardrona, which opened on 22nd June with 80 cm of fresh snow reported on some of “the best opening conditions in the ski area’s history” attracting 1’300 skiers and boarders on opening day.
Source: the official site of FIS
