Ski areas in South America seem to be doing the best of the southern hemisphere’s three skiing continents in the first month of the 2014 ski season south of the equator.
Chile’s Lagunillas was the first area in the hemisphere to open last week and large snowstorms brought up to 1.5m of snow to the continent’s ski slopes in falls earlier this week.
Now Valle Nevado in Chile has announced that due to the heavy early snowfall, the ski resort will open two weeks before the scheduled date for the 2014 season, this Friday, June 13.
“While El Niño weather patterns have forecasted favourable snow weather conditions for the central Andes this year, the amount of snow received in the past few weeks has exceeded expectations, and promises an even better season than previously rumoured,” said a resort statement.
Valle Nevado currently has nearly three feet of snow, with more flurries predicted in this week’s forecast. Valle Nevado’s hotels will remain closed until June 27, however most trails, select restaurants and other services will open for day skiers and those lodging in condominiums.
There has been good snowfall reported in Chile too and across the south pacific in New Zealand, where Mt Hutt has announced it too will open this weekend.
Ski areas in Australia and Southern Africa have also opened but with limited, machine-made snow cover so far.
Chilean ski areas are hoping for bumper business from the US this year as a few months ago the country joined the U.S. visa waiver program and the $160 reciprocity fee for U.S. visitors has been lifted, making air travel to Chile more convenient and affordable than before.
In Valle Nevado’s case the resort also just became one of the very first southern hemisphere members of the Mountain Collective Pass. U.S. pass holders for 2014-15 receive 2 free lift tickets during Valle Nevado’s 2014 season, and “top-tier” pass holders from member resorts receive 50% lift tickets for up to seven days.