At least another another half dozen ski areas are opening today and tomorrow in the Alps and North America as the start of the 2018-19 ski season continues to gain momentum - despite the fact it's only mid-October.
Tignes started the French season earlier this week when it managed to open limited terrain a few weeks later than its planned opening date, putting the achievement down to efforts by its snow ream rather than any arrival of fresh snow.
It is operating an interesting swimming-pool like coloured band system limiting access to either morning or afternoon sessions for skiers and boarders. It also warns terrain is limited and conditions unsuitable to novice skiers.
Today (Friday 19 October) Arapahoe Basin in Colorado and Killington in Vermont (pictured top) are scheduled to open, the former joining Wolf Creek which opened last weekend in Colorado, the latter believed to be the first in Eastern North America to do so. It is season pass holders only allowed for first turns today then the general public from tomorrow.
Tomorrow (Saturday 20th October) sees a third Colorado ski area, Loveland, open unveiling their new quad chairlift along with Cervinia in Italy and the Diavolezza Glacier near St Moritz in Switzerland.
The coming weekend also marks the final few days of the 2018 season in the southern hemisphere were three areas remain open in New Zealand (Cardrona, Turoa and Whakapapa) but will close at the end of Monday, a public holiday in the country.