In Austria, Saalbach is ready to welcome the new season with new charilists and gondola. Further upgrades and eplacement lifts are also ready to welcome visitors in Hintertux, Schladming and Kitzbühel.

In France, Val d´Isère, already a top-tier resort, now boasts almost 160 ski slopes. Valpark, one of the best snow parks in Europe has installed 8 new snow cannons. The old Rochassons chairlift in Châtel has been upgraded and to a comfortable 6-seater lift up to the 650km of the Portes du Soleil area! Valmorel also has a new 6-seater chairlift which will open for the Christmas holidays.

In Switzerland, Champéry has replaced the Grand-Conche chairlift to the Portes du Soleil ski area.

More news as it becomes available…

The ski season is closing fast and we’re all looking for a great season of endless white powder. Most of the major resorts look to be opening in the first week of December this years with a few exceptions.

Chamonix (France) has already received substantial snowfall. The official resort open is the first week of December, but the area will be open for the last two weekends in November if snow conditions permit.

Resorts opening during the last week of November include Patscherkofel – Igls (Innsbruck, Austria) and Schmitten – Zell am See (Salzburg, Austria).

If you’re planning a ski trip for this coming season, there is a great article in the Guardian UK which lists the top 10 ski resorts for early snow. Of the top 10 ski resorts, the first 8 listed are European:

1. Val Thorens, France
2. Chamonix, France
3. Ischgl, Austria
4. Tignes, France
5. Hintertux, Austria
6. Breuil-Cervina, Italy
7. Obergurgl, Austria
8. Saas Fee, Switzerland

You can read more about these resorts on the SkiEurope website:

http://www.ski-europe.com/

Read the full article here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2007/sep/27/skiing.top10