An annual study of lift ticket prices charged by more than 500 ski areas in 35 countries worldwide has reported that prices for British guests are well up this season to most international ski destinations.

The findings are published as part of the World Lift Ticket Price Report 2009, the eighth annual edition of the Report by Scottish based independent research company Snow24. The Report compares the cost of a six-day, high-season, non-discounted ticket bought in resort in hundreds of resorts around the world including off-the-beaten-track ski destinations like Argentina, China, Iran and Romania.

The Report converts more than 20 regional currencies for comparison in US Dollars, Euros and British Pounds. It found that Brits had to pay more to ski in Europe and North America than most other nations this season with only Australian and New Zealand currencies performing a little worse (Making those two ski destinations cheaper for Brits this summer!)

Prices were up the most of Japan, followed by the USA, Switzerland, Canada and then the Euro-zone.

Following years of having the highest lift ticket price inflation in Europe, Andorra retained its position as the most expensive country for lift tickets in the continent with a 6.8% rise in the average ticket cost in Euros to 190.50 Euros.

For Brits the weak pound meant that prices actually rose by a much greater percentage of 28.8% to around 172 pounds for a six day pass. Coming on top of a 19% rise in cost for Brits spread over the previous two seasons, it means that Andorra’s lift ticket prices have risen by nearly half over the past three years for British buyers.

There has been a great deal of fresh snow in the past day in Switzerland, Austria and Germany, with more expected during the day. The avalanche risk reaching 4 in many areas across the Alps (the highest is level five).

“For the staff on the slopes and from the road department it’s a very tough job these days to get the slopes, roads, pavement and hiking trails fit for service quickly.” Rolf Köberle of Kleinwalsertal Tourismus, an area hit by heavy snow, said.
“The team are working especially hard however as sunny weather and warmer temperatures are expected from Friday onwards and we expect a lot of skiers will want to get here to enjoy the great conditions.” Mr Köberle concluded.

There is lot of new snow again in Austria with some areas reporting up to 95cm (over three feet) in the past seven days. Important resorts like the Skiwelt region, Saalbach, Hochfügen, Ischgl and Silvretta Montafon each had at least 20cm (eight inches) during the last 24 hours. St. Anton and Kaprun/ Kitzsteinhorn had 30cm (a foot) each yesterday, so the latter has more than four metres (13 feet) on the glacier now.

In Switzerland alone there have been more than 50 powder alarms this morning. Five resorts reported more than a metre in seven days. Andermatt-Gotthard now has a 500cm (17 feet) base on upper slopes and some Swiss ski areas report up to 140cm (4.7 feet) of new snow in the past seven days.

In France, the snow kept falling from 6 March through Monday 9th March in La Plagne, Montchavin – Les Coches, Saint Jean d’Arves and Pralognan la Vanoise. More snow is falling in the French Alps today.

The Pyrenees continue to be the snowiest part of the country with snow depths reaching 500cm (17 feet) in Gourette. In Piau Engaly, the snow depth is 300cm (10 feet) at the summit and 250cm (eight feet) in resort. It has received the most new snow in the past seven days with 155cm (over five feet) of new snow.

“We have not seen so much snow so early in the winter for at least 15 years.” said Blandine Vernardet, manager of the resort.

In Andorra there have also been more fresh snowfalls, if a little less spectacular than over the border in France, however all ski areas in the principality report upper base depths of at least 2.5m (over eight feet) and some are nearing three metres (ten feet).

In Spain the country’s sensational winter 2008-9 continues in to a fourth month of regular powder snow. The greatest snow depths in the country have reached five metres (18 feet) at Sierra Nevada, the continent’s most southerly major ski area.

Italy has had plenty of snow too, particularly in the north with Piancavallo reporting 180cm (six feet) of snow falling in the past seven days alone. Maximum snow depths have passed six metres on upper slopes for the first time in a number of resorts including Sella Nevea 640cm (21.5 feet). The Presena glacier above Passo Tonale is just 10cm (four inches) behind at 590cm.

This week is the biggest of the season for ski competition in Sweden as Scandinavia’s leading resort, Åre, which staged the alpine world Championships in 2007, hosts the World Cup Finals. The Men’s and Women’s Downhill races were scheduled to go ahead today.

In Eastern Europe conditions are reported to be good at Bulgaria’s major resorts despite a wide variation in snow depths. Bansko claims the most impressive tally of 240cm (eight feet) whilst Pamporovo has a more modest 90cm (three feet) on upper slopes.

In Scotland all five ski areas are near to full operation as a second week of more snowy weather has continued to enhance conditions after the dramatic thaw that ended a fortnight ago decimated the great cover a month ago.

The snow deluge in California seems to have eased although several resorts have doubled their base depths in recent weeks with Squaw Valley now reporting more than four metre (14 feet) of snow lying on upper slopes – be aware of avalanche danger. There’s been some fresh snow in the Rockies with many resorts in Colorado reporting up to 30cm (12 inches) of fresh snow.

There’s still more than two months of the season left at some Western Canadian resorts including Sunshine and Whistler and conditions in the region are continuing to improve still further with up to a foot (30cm) of fresh snow helping to further build bases and very cold temperatures maintaining snow integrity. On the East Coast too leading resorts like Tremblant reported another 10cm (four inches) of snow keeping base depths above 1.5m (five feet).

Although the start of winter in the southern hemisphere is more than two months off, Mt Hotham in Australia reported snow flurries last Thursday (March 5th), surprising ‘summer’ guests.