Austria and Norway Move Towards Re-Opening Ski Areas, US Resort Re-Opens Too
Austria and Norway are leading the way towards carefully re-opening ski centres as countries that have not been so badly hit by the COVID-19 epidemic as some others examine ways to ease out of their lockdowns as safely as possible.
Norway is allowing small centres to re-open if approved by their local municipalities, which has happened in a few cases where centres still have enough snow left. Strict social-distancing and other initiatives to minimise any risk of operations leading to the spread of disease are in place.
The country has three glacier areas and one of these, Fonna, has reported it will open for its 2020 season on May 1st.
In Austria, although there is as yet no announcement of ski lifts being able to operate again, restrictions are being lifted, including golf courses re-opening on May 1st and restaurants from mid-May, assuming the pandemic does not worsen there.
Ski touring will also be allowed from May 1st and the Austrian Ski Association (ÖSV) are reported to be examining ways to resume training for the country’s elite snowsports athletes.
The detailed proposals, again focussed primarily on safety, and yet to be approved by the Austrian sports ministry, would see small groups, with closed support teams, involved in on-snow and technical activities from the beginning of May onwards.
In the USA one ski area, Mt Baldy in southern California, one of the closest ski areas to Los Angeles, has re-opened following a decision by golf courses in the area to do the same. In an online statement the resort justifies its move by saying April conditions are as good as they can be and that there will be fewer people, more spaced out, than on a golf course.
