Scotland’s weather: skiing season to last till end of June

BY JUNE, even Scotland should be basking in warm summer sunshine, but at the country’s ski resorts winter looks set to linger with a prolonged cold snap that could keep skiers on the slopes until the end of next month.

Unlike the rest of the population, staff at the Cairngorm Mountain resort are celebrating the unseasonal weather, which they believe will revive a poor season and keep it alive well into June.

The skiing industry enjoyed a boost over the Bank Holiday weekend, with thousands of skiers and snowboarders flocking to the slopes.

The only time the season has lasted into June before was two years ago when there was still snow on 21 June, midsummer’s day. It was also the only year that the Cairngorm resort had been able to remain open during a record-breaking seven-month season.

This year, with little in the way of snowfall, the resorts have struggled. It is thought only 60,000 people hit the Scottish slopes this winter, compared with 141,000 in the 2009-10 season. Warm weather in March, which melted the meagre snow cover, led many of believe the season was over.

Cairngorms marketing manager Colin Kirkwood said: “The late snow this season has been a considerable boost for the business, after what had been a very poor season.

“We did not ski at all in March, which is unheard of, so it has been great to have such good snow cover, albeit late in the season.”

He added: “The forecast is for it to stay cold, with perhaps some significant snowfall tonight.”

This year’s poor start to the season followed two bumper years with heavy snowfall that lasted well into the spring. But even last year the resorts did not stay open past April.

Mr Kirkwood added: “Snowsports fans have enjoyed a succession of classic days on the hill in the course of the last two weeks, and with the forecast set to stay cold during the week, there are opportunities for some great sport on fresh powder.

“It can be difficult to get people to keep skiing after Easter, even in a good year when there has been snow continuously up until then; when the snow has been absent for five or six weeks, it is even more of a challenge.

“However, the lack of opportunities to ski earlier, combined with the chance to do so on fresh powder and under blue skies, have drawn our customers out again.”

Cairngorm Moutain was the only one of Scotland’s five resorts with enough snow to remain open.

At Nevis Range, there was not enough snowfall to reopen the tow runs. Apart from a surprise fall of snow on 29 April, the centre has been closed since 19 February. They have only had 10,000 snowsport visitors this season, the lowest ever. In 2010, almost 35,000 took to the slopes.

The weather has led to resort managers branching out into other activities, including mountain bike events. The Scottish Six Day Trials has been attracting competitors and spectators at Aonach Mhor, while the British Downhill Bike Race is being hosted there this weekend.

Glencoe Mountain Resort, Scotland’s oldest ski centre, closed on 27 March. A spokesman said: “Even if we get good cover, you have to consider whether it is commerically viable to reopen.”

The Lecht and Glenshee have had virtually no new snowfall since February.

Heather Negus, chairwoman of Ski Scotland, said: “We’re delighted to have such a snowy end to the season. Although it’s not unusual for the higher-level snowsports areas to offer May skiing, it is unusual for us to be getting fresh snow overnight at this time of year.”

A Met Office spokesman said there was more cold weather on the way.