Scotland’s Ski Season Running Ahead of Record-Breaking 2010
Scotland’s Ski Season Running Ahead of Record-Breaking 2010
Published : 27-Jan-2011 08:42
Glenshee At The Weekend
Figures from Scottish ski centres published today have revealed that business is up 3% on last winter, which was itself the best since 1995-6. Since opening in November or December, CairnGorm, Glenshee, Nevis Range and The Lecht have welcomed 110,284 skiers and boarders, approximately 3% more than at 27th January 2010.
The good news was unveiled by ski-scotland, a marketing consortium which has promoted snowsports in Scotland collaboratively for more than 20 years. It currently comprises the five mountain ski areas (CairnGorm Mountain, Glencoe Mountain, Glenshee, The Lecht and Nevis Range), the sport's governing body Snowsport Scotland, indoor real-snow centre SNO!zone Glasgow and VisitScotland.
"We are absolutely delighted to be slightly ahead of last year", said Chair of ski-scotland Heather Negus. "What we often find is that our numbers drop off when the snow thaws at lower levels and farther south. This year it seems that skiers are much more aware that when it rains at low level, it's snowing in the mountains and the ski areas are getting a nice top up of white stuff, and so they have continued to come, boosting our figures as a result."
Other factors could be that the snow cover is more consistent across all five areas than last winter, when Cairngorm was so inundated by snow in January 2010 that the centre was closed for nearly two weeks as lifts, roads and restaurants were dug out in a heroic effort by staff, later recognised by an exhibition at the centre and a specially branded whisky. However in 2010 early cover at some of the other centres was more problematic.
Several of the five ski areas have had new snow over the last couple of days, followed by clear sunny days.
Glenshee also opened its new rail park, featuring a 21m long "monster", C curve and kickers.
CairnGorm reported 10 cm of new snow, giving superb snowsports from mid mountain upwards and especially on the White Lady, M2 and in the top bowls where they have areas for beginners as well as advanced skiers.
In the west, the groomers are even running a "groomer taxi" to access the Summit runs and terrain park at Nevis Range, where the Goose and Warrens runs are also good and at Glencoe, the Main Basin and Happy Valley have a good cover of hard-packed snow.
Ski-scotland have also produced a short film commercial which can be viewed on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynjBOVm2pXo
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