The COVID-19 and the domino effect closing ski resorts

A family enjoying the pistes at Val Thorens. Photo: C.Cattin. OT Val Thorens. The COVID-19 and the domino effect closing ski resorts.

The COVID-19 and the domino effect closing ski resorts

I have been a bit away from my blog due to increase work with the mess of having had the COVID-19 affecting all and everyone all over the world.

What seemed to be something distant affecting only China and Asia, now has its epicentre in Europe, and this has caused all ski resorts to close, first in Italy, then the rest of Europe, and now in North America. The resorts that seem to be still working are in Japan and in Scotland, and Hokkaido has just lifted up their state of emergency at the moment of writing.

This is by way non an exhaustive report or list on who closed, as there are tons of information around with more detail.

The party bar at the bottom of Pleney cablecar, great if you like loud music. The COVID-19 and the domino effect closing ski resorts
The party bar at the bottom of Pleney cablecar, great if you like loud music. The COVID-19 and the domino effect closing ski resorts

But how did this start so quickly? We were coming back from Morgex in the Aosta Valley on the 23rd February, when we heard while driving through France, that some cases of COVID-19 where in some towns in the south of Milano (Codogno, and some others) and in the Veneto region, but that the epidemic was pretty localised….then it was extended quickly to lock all the region of Lombardia. This led lots of people to escape towards the mountains before the closing of the region, as everyone felt it was going to be safer there. But then the virus was already spreading exponentially within the community when many of those that came to the mountain resorts, continue in holiday mode, piling in queues by the lifts. When at first I’ve thought of COVID19, I was thinking, people are well wrapped out, they have ski gloves or mittens, goggles, they are pretty safe…maybe ride a cabin only with your family group or whoever you are skiing with, and ride more chairlifts, and you would be fine… maybe lunches in a small cabin would not be a great idea, even though I love having lunch during my ski days….

But then, when it became clearer that everyone was still not respecting the social distancing that the Italian government was asking for, the Aosta Valley had very busy weekends with people from Milano, Torino and Genova still coming, and they decided, in conjunction with the hoteliers, to close the resorts… if not the spread was going to come to their area. All mountain resorts have hospital facilities that are small, as they cater to a much smaller population.

This created people going to another resorts, and even to France through the Mont Blanc Tunnel. Sudtirol, Dolomiti Superski and Trentino followed the closures. The Tyrol in Austria followed through, as there have been some cases in Ischgl, then it was a succession like a domino. France took its time to close, and many tour operators where hit twice, as they scrambled to change trips to ski resorts in Italy and Austria towards France, to be then forced to send back home skiers that arrived on the Saturday, when resorts closed on Saturday night.

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Aspen Snowmass to Celebrate 168 days of Skiing and Riding this Season

Aspen Snowmass photo. Aspen Snowmass to Celebrate 168 days of Skiing and Riding this Season.

Aspen Snowmass to Celebrate 168 days of Skiing and Riding this Season

Aspen Mountain will open for another bonus weekend of skiing and riding Jun. 15-16 over Food & Wine Weekend

Aspen Snowmass announced today two additional days of skiing and riding as part of summer operations over the popular Food & Wine Classic this weekend, Jun. 15-16. making this one of the longest skiing and riding seasons in Aspen history. Skiers and riders will enjoy around 100 acres on a 30-inch base depth.

Group of skiers at Aspen Resort, Aspen, Colorado. Aspen Snowmass. Photo: Aspen Snowmass. Aspen Snowmass to Celebrate 168 days of Skiing and Riding this Season.
Group of skiers at Aspen Resort, Aspen, Colorado. Aspen Snowmass. Photo: Aspen Snowmass. Aspen Snowmass to Celebrate 168 days of Skiing and Riding this Season.

“We love that we can celebrate this historic season of snowfall with both skiing and summer activities in Aspen,” says Katie Ertl, senior vice president of mountain operations. “This is the perfect time of year to get outside, and get in two or even three sports in a day, with skiing, biking, hiking, golfing and more.”

The Silver Queen Gondola will be open for sightseeing and the Sundeck, located at the top of Aspen Mountain, will offer food and beverage options as well as a DJ on the deck Saturday. The first Bluegrass Sunday of the summer season will kick off Jun. 16.

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Aspen Snowmass Adds Another Bonus Weekend for Skiing and Riding

Matt Ross skiing at Aspen Resort, Aspen, Colorado. Aspen Snowmass. Aspen Snowmass Adds Another Bonus Weekend for Skiing and Riding.

Aspen Snowmass Adds Another Bonus Weekend for Skiing and Riding

Aspen Mountain Open for Skiing and Riding Jun. 8-9 

Aspen Mountain will once again offer skiing and riding as part of continued summer operations this weekend, Jun. 8-9, with 130 acres of terrain on a 58-inch base depth.

Aspen Snowmass Adds Another Bonus Weekend for Skiing and Riding. Photo: Aspen Skiing Company.
Aspen Snowmass Adds Another Bonus Weekend for Skiing and Riding. Photo: Aspen Skiing Company.

The Silver Queen Gondola will be open for sightseeing and the Sundeck, located at the top of Aspen Mountain, will offer food and beverage options as well as a DJ on the deck Saturday.

The gondola will operate from 9 a.m.—4 p.m. for sightseeing and the Ajax Express chairlift will run from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., as long as conditions permit, for laps on Aspen Mountain’s upper blue runs as well as black runs such as Summit and Blondie’s. Everyone will be required to download on the gondola.

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Now that other resorts are finishing their season on Memorial Day Weekend, Breckenridge, decided to extend their season till June 9th.

Breckenridge Ski Resort Announces Plans to Regularly Extend Winter Seasons through Memorial Day, Beginning this Spring. Photo Breckenridge Ski Resort. Andrew Maguire.

Now that other resorts are finishing their season on Memorial Day Weekend, Breckenridge, decided to extend their season till June 9th.

After A Record-Breaking Winter Season And An Abundance Of Spring Snowfall, Breckenridge Ski Resort Announced Today Plans To Extend The 2018-19 Ski And Snowboard Season For Two Additional Weekends Beyond Memorial Day. The Resort Will Remain Open Daily Through Memorial Day, May 27 As Planned, And Then Will Shift To A Weekend Schedule, Offering Skiing And Riding On Saturdays And Sundays June 1-2 And June 8-9, Weather And Conditions Permitting.

Breckenridge Ski Resort Announces Plans to Regularly Extend Winter Seasons through Memorial Day, Beginning this Spring. Photo: Breckenridge Ski Resort.
Breckenridge Ski Resort Announces Plans to Regularly Extend Winter Seasons through Memorial Day, Beginning this Spring. Photo: Breckenridge Ski Resort.

“It Has Been One Of The Best Winter Seasons I Can Remember During My More Than 25-Year Career, And We Are Thrilled To Keep It Going For Our Guests And Passholders,” Said John Buhler, Vice President And Chief Operating Officer At Breckenridge Ski Resort.

During The Two Additional Weekends, Operations Will Continue To Be Based Out Of Peak 7, With Access To Primarily Advanced- And Expert-Level Terrain, Via The Independence Superchair.

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Due to a slow season Las Leñas and Portillo are closing their seasons one month early.

Las Leñas, Cenidor, a black short steep piste in Las Leñas connecting the two sectors of the mountain. .

This winter season in the Southern Hemisphere in Argentina & Chile has been weird. Unfortunately for some of the resorts of the High Andes, the season has not been good. This is the case for Las Leñas in Argentina and Portillo in Chile. Valle Nevado seems to have a better snow base – maybe due to its altitude, as today was having all lifts opened but one, and only 9 pistes and the boarder cross park are closed.

Las Leñas view from the Piramide shopping center - 6th September 2018.
Las Leñas view from the Piramide shopping center – 6th September 2018.

More in the south, Chapelco and Bariloche seemed to have got better luck and got snow.

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