The Norwegian ski resort of Myrkdalen has become the first major European resort to reopen after the coronavirus pandemic forced a premature end to the continent’s winter season.
Following the lifting of some lockdown rules by the country’s government, bosses at Myrkdalen have decided to allow Norwegian guests to visit and make the most of the superb late-season snow conditions on its slopes.
A new closing date has been set for May 3, but this is likely to be extended if new social distancing measures are adhered to and the weather permits.
“The ski resort will be open every day until May 3. After this we will evaluate to extend the opening days based on the weather, conditions and number of guests. Please note that the ski resort will be closed again at short notice if we experience violations of the guidelines,” read a statement from the resort.
The strict rules for visitors could act as a blueprint for ski holidays in a Covid-19 world. All lift passes must be bought online in advance and groups cannot exceed more than five people. Terrain parks will be closed and on the slopes there must be a two-metre distance between guests at all times. People are also advised to ski within their ability and avoid difficult terrain to reduce the number of call-outs for the ski patrol.
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Myrkdalen resort/sverre hjornevik
On lifts and in gondolas everyone must wear gloves and no more than three people are permitted to ride on a chairlift at once, with this number reduced to one person on T-bar drag lifts.
The resort also reserves the right to turn visitors away if more than the permitted amount turn up to ski, as well as anybody who is infected, has been in quarantine, or has symptoms of Covid-19.
The news comes after the American resort of Mount Baldy in California reopened despite state and local orders prohibiting non-essential businesses from operating amid the pandemic. Images from the resort, which has invited only advanced skiers and snowboarders to its slopes, show all visitors wearing face masks and lift passes being checked on entry to the car park. Its opening has reportedly led to other resorts in the US, many of which would usually stay open until July, to consider following suit.
Norway has coped relatively well with the virus, with only 207 deaths and 7,710 confirmed cases to date
“It’s with delight that we have opened Myrkdalen Resort on the west coast of Norway again. Although only available to the local Norwegian markets and with very strict social distancing rules in place, its small steps toward returning to normality in our ski sector which has been hit so very hard by this global catastrophe,” said Trevor De Villiers, CEO of Norway Home of Skiing.
Myrkdalen, which is a 2.5-hour drive from Bergen on the country’s west cost, will open daily from 9.30am to 3:30pm, with small flurries of snow forecast and depths of over 3.5 metres on upper slopes – pristine conditions for late-season skiing.
“The conditions in all our resorts are perfect at the moment, despite it being the end of April, and we are very much looking forward to welcoming all our British guests back to Norway next year, like our campaign message says – stay home today to ski with us tomorrow,” continued De Villiers.
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norway home of skiing
The new measures in place in both Norway and the US provide skiers and snowboarders, as well as resorts around the world, with a glimpse of how winter-sport destinations may operate in the future to prevent the further spread of the deadly virus.
In Myrkdalen, bars remain closed, while local restaurants and its supermarket are permitted to open only to supply guests who are staying in self-catered apartments – hotels are closed.
Last week the Austrian resort of Ischgl sparked concerns among party-loving skiers and snowboarders that the much-loved après-ski culture in many European resorts could be a thing of the past, as social distancing becomes the new norm. The Tirolean resort has faced global criticism after hundreds of cases of Covid-19 were traced back to its bars, restaurants and slopes.
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stefan kuerzi
Despite insisting that its lively nightlife scene is just a small part of its offering, in a statement issued by the tourism authority for the town and the surrounding Paznaun Valley, Mayor Werner Kurz, said: “We will question developments of the past years and, where necessary, make corrections. That means more quality and less party tourism, prioritising skiers and fewer day-trippers on buses who only come to party. We are also thinking with all businesses about what an upmarket après-ski culture can look like.”
With the 2020/21 European ski season more than seven months away, resorts, alongside operators, hotels and airlines, have time to master what the future of ski holidays will look like. Among other opinions, experts predict a rise in popularity of self-drive and self-catered ski holidays that would allow holidaymakers to isolate themselves from others.