While summer is in full swing in the Northern Hemisphere, the southern part of the globe is enjoying favourable snow conditions with a number of FIS competitions underway.
Snow depths in Argentina and Chile are approaching the two metre mark after the heavy snowfall that kick-started the season nearly a month late.
Argentinian ski areas are claiming the deepest snow with 1.9m lying on upper runs at Catedral near Bariloche. Las Lenas, which had 30cm of fresh snow in 24 hours last Saturday is in second place with 1.7m on its summit slopes.
In Chile most areas are reporting 60-70cm at base areas and Portillo says it has the deepest snow depth on the continent with 1 metre on upper runs.
FIS Cross-Country races are currently underway in Ushuaia (ARG) at the Cross-Country arena of Jerman. In conjunction with the races, a one-week training camp for young athletes from 8-12 years is staged along with a coaches seminar which provides updates on the organisation of competitions, competition structure and talent recruitment. Both are led by FIS TD and Cross-Country expert Georg Zipfel (GER).
In New Zealand, Mount Dobson, Cardrona and Coronet Peak all reported excellent snow conditions in the past few days with fresh snow expected in the middle of next week.
Cardrona is currently gearing up for the Audi Quattro Winter Games from 21st-30th August 2015 which will feature FIS ski and snowboard slopestyle and halfpipe competitions and mark the start of the 2015/16 FIS Freestyle and Snowboard World Cup seasons.
Meanwhile, Australia is expecting a series of cold fronts in the coming days which should bring 5 to 10cm of fresh snow every day or two into next week. The ski areas reporting the biggest snow base (snowmaking) are Falls Creek and Hotham with more than 90 cm each.
FIS Alpine races are currently underway in Hotham and ski cross and snowboard cross Continental Cup competitions will be staged there from 1st-7th August 2015.
Source: fis-ski.com
