The easing of lockdowns in countries around the world means that ski areas in a growing number of countries expect to be open in June.
All will operate with measures in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Of the over 100 ski areas in 14 countries expecting to re-open in June, operations will be very different to before.
Most ski areas will operate entirely for skiers living in the countries where the ski lifts are. In most cases borders remain closed and travel remains difficult, unsafe and sometimes impossible.
The bounce back in areas open comes after the number of areas open dropped to all time lows worldwide in May, getting down to single figures.
It is largely down to the start of the southern hemisphere’s ski season. Most northern hemisphere glacier summerski areas will now open too though.
In total, all being well, 80+ ski areas will open in 6 countries in the southern hemisphere. Nearly 20 areas will be open in 8 or 9 countries in the northern hemisphere.
Countries Where Ski Areas Expect To Re-Open in June
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Argentina: Argentina’s 2020 ski season is due to get underway in June.
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Australia: Most of the country’s resorts hope to open in early June, but this has not been confirmed by government yet and it may be late June or July. Picture above Mt Hotham on May 1st.
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Austria: At least 4 glaciers will re-open. Hintertux, Kaunertal and the Kitzsteinhorn from 29 May, the Molltal from 6 June.
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Chile: Chile’s 2020 ski season is due to get underway in June.
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France: Val d’isere hopes to open its glacier for French National Team training from 6 June, Les 2 Alpes (pictured top) and Tignes hope to from 20 June. All resorts say they are currently talking to the various authorities to confirm details.
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Italy: The Italian ski team hopers top resume training on the Passo Stelvio summer ski centre’s slopes on June 1st, but is awaiting official permission.
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Japan: The Gassan summerski area hopes to re-open after May 31st.
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Lesotho: Lesoho’s Afriski Centre is aiming to open on schedule in early June for its 2020 season.
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New Zealand: All of the country’s ski areas expect to open for their 2020 season in June or July.
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Norway: All three Norwegian glacier ski areas are opening during May.
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South Africa: South Africa’s only ski resort, Tiffindell, expects to open for its 2020 ski season in early June.
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Sweden: Riksgransen is believed to be opening for its annual midsummer ski weekend in around 21st
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Switzerland: Normally year-round ski area Zermatt expects to re-start its glacier lifts from June 8th, all being well. Saas Fee aims to open in July.
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USA: Timberline in Oregon will re-open from this Friday, 15 May; the Beartooth Basin summer ski area from 30th May. Arapahoe Basin in Colorado looks like it will also re-open in late May if given permission and other US ski areas may too.
In addition there still appears to be a chance that skiing and boarding on the Horstman Glacier at Blackcomb Mountain at Whistler in BC, Canada, may happen in some form if restrictions are lifted, but that remains uncertain at present.
