20 ski resorts open in the Alps this weekend
Winter arrives in time for resort opening

It's all happened so fast we have barely had a chance to get our cameras out let alone our skis on, but the ski season has officially arrived in the Alps.

Epic snowfalls have put an end to the pre-season dry spell.

Our snow reporters have been twiddling their thumbs for the past few weeks in anticipation of the start of the season wondering what they will report on but now it seems we've had our Christmas's & Birthday’s all rolled into one with up to 60 cms of fresh snow.

With a week and a half to go before the official start of the season for most resorts, confidence is back and resorts are opening up by the dozen this weekend.

Last weekend Courchevel opened up and gave away free passes for their opening weekend, Les 2 Alpes, Tignes & Val d'Isere have had some of the best early skiing of the season out of all the resorts and Val Thorens managed to open only a week later than expected. Verbier opened Lac de Vaux to a crowd of skiers at the end of November.

To add to the bill of open resorts Les Arcs, Avoriaz, Chamonix Grands Montets, Chatel, Flaine, Les Menuires, Meribel, Orelle, Peisey-Vallandry, La Plagne, La Tania, Alpe d'Huez and Valloire will open this Saturday.

So for any pessimists out there we suggest you book yourself a last-minute ski-away to come and make the most of the conditions but for everyone else we'll see you out in the snow for Christmas, New Years, Half Term or Easter...

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