Snow Report, August 22

Yes, yes, this week’s snow report is coming…

But first of all– have you seen this?

There’s been a lot of unhinged video coming out of the French resort of Tignes this summer – for example, the Mountain-Bike Airbag, and the certifiably-bonkers Flyboard. But the Blob Jump is the best. It’s like starring in a your very own Tom and Jerry sight gag. Anyway, hats off the resort for, er, pushing the envelope, and making us laugh.

Second of all, have you seen this?

This is the series seven teaser of Salomon Freeski TV, and I love the way it’s been edited: especially the cut from helicopter countdown to ratty old motorhome, right at the start. If there’s one thing that’s got my fingers and toes tingling for the season ahead, it’s this – nothing else I’ve seen lately nails the joy of skiing so well.

BRING ON WINTER. And may it be another cracker, just like the last one.

Now, onto the snow…

This week, Australia is the place for powder pigs

Did you see the blissed out video from Perisher, New South Wales – posted on Tuesday?

And this photograph from Thredbo, nearby – looking like somewhere on Hokkaido in Japan?

Well, there’s been even more of the white stuff since then – and Perisher’s snow report is boasting of 62cm of snow in the last seven days. This comes on top of heavy snow last week, too – making it a memorable August in the Snowy Mountains by anybody’s standards.

Here’s today’s video update.

One thing to bear in mind though is that the weather is about to change. There’s another dump on the way, and then at the beginning of the week it’s going to warm up. The time to be skiing there is now.

The sun has got his hat on in the Andes

Above is how it was looking in Portillo, Chile on Tuesday. Most of the week has seen t-shirt conditions in the Andes near Santiago, but it’s set to cool down again now and some snow flurries are expected over the weekend.

In New Zealand they could do with another dump

In the South Island of New Zealand, August has been marked by several small top-ups of snow, but nothing significant. The photo above was taken at The Remarkables this morning, and sums up conditions nicely. It was a day to be cruising groomers in the sunshine. Spring conditions prevail: the snow’s hard first thing and softens up during the day as the sun gets to it.

Meanwhile, in the Alps…

It’s been warm and sunny for most of the week in the Alps – check out the midday temperature at 3000m in the photo, above. Summer skiing on the glaciers continues, and conditions are pretty good – especially if you consider the time of year. But to be honest, with September approaching thoughts are turning to the winter ahead. I wonder how soon it will be before we get the first decent snowstorm at altitude?

	France: the Pisaillas glacier above Val d’Isere has now closed for skiing, but there are still turns to be had above Tignes and Les Deux Alpes. According to Les Deux Alpes’ snow report, the white stuff on its glacier is still 130cm deep – which is pretty good for late August.
	Switzerland: You can still ski on the glacier above Zermatt, and links over to Cervinia are open too. At last, Saas Fee’s glacier is open for summer skiing, too.
	Austria: you can currently ski on the Hintertux and the Molltal glaciers. The Kitzsteinhorn glacier closed to skiers on July 21 and expects to reopen in mid to late September. The snow on the Hintertux glacier is now up to 95cm deep in places – a drop of 40cm since last week.
	Italy: access to high-altitude skiing above Cervinia is now possible – mostly on the Swiss side of the border above Zermatt.
	Andorra: Andorra’s ski resorts are now closed for the summer.
	Western USA: all the mainstream ski resorts are now closed, but you can still make turns at Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood in Oregon.
	Western Canada:  The glacier above Whistler has now closed for summer skiing.