The cold weather makes it possible. The snow cannons are running in Saxony's ski areas. The season is scheduled to start in mid-December.
Oberwiesenthal/Altenberg (dpa/sn) - After two years of corona-related restrictions, winter sports enthusiasts in Saxony can look forward to carefree skiing fun. "We started the snow cannons this weekend," said the boss of the Fichtelberg suspension railway, René Loetzsch. The start in Saxony's largest alpine ski area is planned for December 16th. "If the weather conditions allow it by then".
Around 100 snow cannons are to be used to make snow on a large part of the approximately 15 kilometers of slopes in the coming days and weeks. The artificial snow is the basis for skiing, Lötzsch emphasized. "Despite the high energy prices, there is no turning back. The natural snow often avoids our area."
Some of the higher costs will be passed on to the skiers: the price for the day pass on the Fichtelberg has been raised from 35 to 39 euros. Skiers who also want to use the slopes on the Czech side of Klínovec pay 73 euros for a 1.5-day pass for the Interski region, and 223 euros for a whole week.
Also in Altenberg in the Eastern Ore Mountains you have the winter sports season firmly in view. "Our three snow cannons and 15 lances are running," said operations manager Manuel Püschel. Here, too, the start is planned for mid-December. "With perfect weather conditions, we need about five days and nights to produce sufficient snow cover for our descents," explained Püschel. The lift operators cannot rely on natural snow either.
"In any case, the natural snow is only there to make it look nice and wintry," explained Püschel. Even if there were 30 centimeters of fresh snow, it would not withstand the hardships of the skiers for long and it would need a layer of artificial snow. But skiers in Altenberg also have to pay a little more for the day ticket: the price increases by 2 to 20 euros.
