Snow of the week
January won't go down in history as a vintage time for European snow and some of the best skiing to be had at the moment is in the resorts that are hanging on successfully to their existing snow, rather than receiving new falls. Germany's Oberwiesenthal is one such resort. The last snowfall was at the beginning of the month, but very low temperatures mean that the 130cm of snow on upper slopes is firmly staying put, leading to good boarding and snowing conditions. Mayrhofen in Austria is also doing well; a few more centimetres were recently added to the 104cm that could be found on the upper slopes and all lifts are open, but the real stars are stateside. The resort of Keystone in Colorado had a recent fall of 10cm and low temperatures are ensuring good conditions. Skiing is also good in Breckenridge and Vail.
Deal of the week
A week in Méribel, France, can be had at a huge reduction from Ski Chalets. Accommodation is on a fully catered basis in the Chalet Carriaz, which sleeps up to seven people. The chalet has a large balcony with views over the Trois Vallées and is close to ski facilities. The price of £255 (reduced from £435) is based on London departures on 26 January. Phone 01202 503950 for more information.
Website of the week
This well-designed site offers a wealth of options in easy to follow buttons at the top of the site; resorts, safety and holiday searches are just a few of them. The detailed snow reports include historical records to help you see how your resort has fared over the past eight seasons, and the skiing news is full of detail on both professional and amateur events.
