While the inflationary context is of great concern to mountain professionals, they are nonetheless betting on the 22/23 season after several up and down seasons due to the health crisis. Numerous challenges await these actors, from snowmaking problems to the increase in operating costs and the sustainable transition of the resorts. The resorts must now reinvent themselves and adapt to the current context as well as to the new expectations of the visitors, notably on the sustainable aspect.
To discover the first part of this analysis of the upcoming winter season, click here.
Ski resorts are in the starting blocks
As the launch of the 2022/2023 winter season is fast approaching, the lack of snow cover is tarnishing the party as previously explained. Thus, the launch of the winter season has been postponed by one week in Val Thorens due to the mild weather. Initially scheduled for November 19th, the famous resort will finally launch its season only on November 26th. But Val Thorens remains optimistic with snowfalls expected by Saturday 26th.
All the teams are already ready to prepare the ski area. We are looking forward to welcoming our holidaymakers until the end of the season on 8 May 2023.
Bruno Gabet, President of the Val Thorens Tourist Office
The same is true of Val d'Isère, which is postponing its opening date due to a lack of snow to ensure an optimal skiing experience for its visitors. The launch of the season, initially planned for November 26th, will only take place on December 3rd. The "Premières Traces" event, which launches the winter season in Val d'Isère, has therefore also been postponed to the weekend of 3 and 4 December. Nevertheless, the resort specifies that it will be possible to ski until May 8th 2023, instead of May 1st initially planned, and "if the snow conditions at the end of the season allow it".
The small Savoyard resort of Bessans has decided to tackle this snow problem head on. It used the technique of snow farming, a technique originating from the Nordic countries which consists of preserving the snow from the previous winter, both natural and artificial, under a thick layer of sawdust which limits its melting. The site chosen to store the snow was well selected...
France
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