A controversial decision determining whether Christmas Ski holidays in my home town of Verbier, can be celebrated in a year of covid lockdown.
Swiss ski resorts have been given the green light, insisted Christophe Darbellay the regional government chief in the southwestern canton of Valais.
“We’ll ski at Christmas“
Sixty one resorts in Switzerland are currently open. The famous resorts of Verbier & 4 Vallees, Zermatt, Arosa, St Moritz, Flims & Laax, Port Du Soleil, Davos & Klosters, Saas-Fee,Crans-Montana,Villars, Glacier 3000- Gstaad are open to name a few. A link for all open resorts follows; https://www.skiresort.info/snow-reports/switzerland/filter/open-ski-resorts/
Last Monday we ski toured from La Chaux up to the Col de Gentianes, Mont Fort, bluebird sky’s and powder under foot!
Swiss ski resorts are taking all the necessary precautions to stay open safely, while surrounding ski nations of France, Italy and Austria are a No Go for annual celebrations. Relations with neighbouring countries are strained with reports that the European Union, with particular insistence from Germany, are trying to unify the close down of all European ski resorts. A recent headline in an online report published by the local.ch satirises the current tension.
“Merkel piste-off about plans to ski over Christmas“
The snow is now falling and Christmas trees have been delivered, courtesy of the Swiss commune, so twinkling lights are dancing in the windows, Christmas cakes are baked and skis are waxed ready for fun despite restrictions.
For now the capital of Switzerland, Bern is opting to trust people to respect the protection measures put in place by ski schools, chairlift operators, bars and restaurants, including face masks requirements everywhere on the ski slopes
“More than ever, people need fresh air, snow, space“
Christoph Darbellay voiced his disbelief at the decision in neighbouring France to shut down ski lifts, but not the Paris metro. The opening of the ski resorts synchronized with a week of near non-stop snow fall, and a cautiously optimistic backing by the Swiss President, Simoneta Sommaruga, who said she was “counting on the population to help us ensure this is a successful winter”
“counting on the population to help us ensure this is a successful winter“
So with a few changes in place, it’s business as usual with kids ski racing, ski touring adventures, artistique ice-skating and powder skiing all underway in Verbier. Happy times after a bleak year, and what better backdrop to enjoy our winter sports?. Here in the Valais let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!