Great Skiing In Scotland (03-Jan-10)

Scotland, January 3, 2009 - CainGorm Mountain's head of ski patrol

CairnGorm Mountain’s head of ski patrol Colin Matthew says Scotland is offering great skiing at present, as he came in from checking the thigh-deep powder snow which has blanketed Scotland’s premier ski resort right over the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

The centre is currently enjoying its best start to the season for 14 years with ever improving conditions since it opened in November.

Over 1000 skiers and snowboarders celebrated New Year’s Day at the resort above Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands by skiing on the mountain although overhead conditions were less attractive than on some recent days with falling snow reducing visibility.

The keenest skiers even spent Hogmanay in the car park at the resort in order to be first onto the slopes; several large campervans were parked there overnight in freezing conditions and falling snow.

By New Year’s Day 16000 skiers have enjoyed the early snow on CairnGorm during 29 days of skiing since the resort first opened this season on 28th November 2009. In the same period last season only 4000 skiers took to the slopes and there were only 16 days on which it was possible to ski.

Spokesman Colin Kirkwood commented: “It is unusual for us to have such deep and persistent snow this early in the season and a real bonus for both our regular skiing customers and the many who are visiting us for the first time with several saying that they have opted to ski here rather than in their usual habitat of the Alps. And with temperatures forecast to remain below freezing for the next week to ten days and more snow due to fall, we are building an excellent base which we should be able to hold onto for some considerable time. This all serves to increase awareness of and interest in skiing in Scotland –and of its rewards and challenges.”