Despite the lack of snow, the Catalan ski resorts of Font-Romeu, Les Angles and Porte-Puymorants are ready for the holiday.

Catalan resort bosses crossed their fingers and constantly checked all the weather monitoring sites before admitting they had calmed down twenty-four hours before the start of the four-week snow holiday. It must be said that they are expecting a providential disturbance this Saturday morning, which promises light snowfall and a return to temperatures more consistent with February.

“This means night temperatures will drop to -8° and -10° and we will be able to make artificial snow again, although we stopped using the cannons from January 5th. Today, before the drop in temperature that we are promised, 80% of the ski slopes are in working order. For cross-country skiers who don’t benefit from snow cannons, it must be admitted that it will be more difficult, since there are only two runs open on thirty slopes. The station’s occupancy rate is 74% for 40,000 beds,” explains Jacques Alvarez, director of Font Romeu-Pyrénées 2000.

In Le Anglais, on this pre-holiday Friday, 60% of the slopes are declared open with a snow cover of at least 40 cm. “All our sectors are open with both natural and artificial snow. The occupancy rate in the first two weeks is 90%. The extra ski activities and our entertainment program (Chantal Ladessus, Le Djamel Comedie Club) are very attractive to those who are primarily looking for the mountains. And this snowfall will recreate a real winter landscape,” comments Jerome Meunier, director of the Les Angles resort.

Scandinavian skis damaged

At the other end of the spectrum of the high Catalan cantons, Porte Puymorance is pleased to be able to open eight ski areas, that is, twenty-four slopes out of thirty-six, and this year again support nightlife, which is very successful. “In Porte-Puymorance and Cambrai d’Az the places are full and there are a lot of people there too,” says Eric Charre, director of Trio Pyrénées, a group of three resorts.

In Cambrai d’Az the situation on the slopes, however, is much more difficult: twelve of the twenty-four active slopes are in the lower part of the resort, between 1600 and 2000 m, with a height difference of 400 m, that is, rather for beginners and beginners saved from mild weather using cannons, while the natural snow in the upper part of the station could not withstand, despite its orientation to the north. In Formighera, the Kapsir resort, the area is divided into two parts. The snow front operates at an altitude of 1600 to 1800 m, again for beginners. To ski at altitudes between 2000 and 2400 m on established natural snow, you will have to use the new mixed cable car, and your ski return will be guaranteed on a green slope.

For the three Trio resorts, the price of a day pass remains at 37 euros with the possibility of skiing at one of the three resorts of your choice. On the other hand, skiing in European countries is in decline. The Nordic Capcir has only been operational for two weeks and will require significant snowfall to operate on sport skis in February. Without snow cannons there is no salvation.