If you go skiing soon, don't forget to bring your sunglasses.
photo: Roman Millan
THE CURRENT WARM weather indicates that winter in Slovakia is indeed over. Temperatures in ski resorts at altitudes around 1,000 metres reached as high as 10 degrees Celsius during the last few days. This means real trouble for the snow cover. Some snow was even seen evaporating right before skiiers' eyes, mainly on southern slopes during somewhat cloudy weather and relatively strong wind.
But this week, things could change. Meteorologists are forecasting a fall in temperature and, at the end of the week, even the chance of more snow. But this will most likely fail to rescue the skiing season in most resorts, leaving only those above 1,200 metres to offer good skiing conditions.
Also, events planned long in advance may have to be cancelled or replaced. Vrátna should host the European Cup in Snowboarding between March 17 and 19 and the popular Snow Show, but potential visitors should keep updated through www.ski.sk. Similarly, the competition of krňačky, wooden sledges used in the last century for transporting logs from forests, scheduled in Donovaly for March 17 will take place only if snow conditions are suitable. The May slope in Jasná will be the setting for the International Downhill Skiing Championship, Pilot Ski Challenge, on March 17. The Slovakia Ski Region contest will culminate in Veľká Rača on March 17, and includes a raffle for a brand new Suzuky Swift! Because of the melting snow, ski centres will be offering reduced prices on ski passes.
If you plan to spend a ski weekend or holiday in the Tatras or the Malá Fatra, you'll have the opportunity for some excellent spring skiing. These mountains are the most likely to have enough snow. But the sun is already quite strong, so don't forget to bring along some suntan cream, sunglasses, a T-shirt and a bathing suit.
Ski resort - price of daily ski pass - snow depth on 8.3.2007
Jasná-Chopok
Sk790
60 cm***
Chopok-Juh
Sk590
80 - 300 cm***
Štrbské Pleso
Sk750
150 cm***
Donovaly
Sk750
30 cm***
Skalnaté Pleso
Sk690
330 cm****
Veľká Rača
Sk680
30 cm**
Vrátna
Sk680
30-80 cm***
Skipark Ružomberok
Sk690
30 cm**
Martinské hole
Sk630
90 cm***
Plejsy
Sk400
40 cm**
Conditions:*limited**good ***very good
