Boom time for Scottish resorts as European skiers choose Highlands

GROWING numbers of skiers are choosing the Scottish mountains instead of heading abroad during school holidays.

With the approach of the English half term break, the five Scottish resorts are gearing up for another bumper period with good conditions on the pistes.

SkiScotland reported yesterday that snowfall and drifting this week has considerably improved conditions at all centres and fresh snow overnight provided deep and wide cover.

Cairngorm Mountain has already had more than 63,000 skiers this season, which is only 2,000 fewer than at the same point in last winter's epic record-breaking season.

Marketing executive Colin Kirkwood said spirits were high at the resort, with some of the best skiing conditions ever.

He added: "We had 2,000 skiers here on Thursday enjoying superb overhead and underfoot conditions with blue skies and packed pisted powder on the slopes where all lifts were open, and we expect much the same over the weekend.

"We have had some fantastic accumulations of drifted snow and the machines have worked through the night preparing the runs and we expect to be busy again over the weekend with half term holidaymakers."

The forecast for today is for 35-45mph winds with more snow falling, but tomorrow the wind is due to drop to 25-40mph with excellent visibility.

Cairngorm's season ran to mid-June last season, and with more snow forecast over the next few weeks operators are hoping for much of the same this season.

Conditions at the Lecht were yesterday said to be excellent on all main runs, while Glencoe reported "fantastic sport on offer across the mountain for all abilities", although poor visibility had closed some runs.

At Glenshee, overnight snow topped up the runs and the centre reported great skiing and snowboarding.

A spokesman said: "We've had fresh snow over the last few days so its looking very good. This week we've had 1,200-1,300 a day on the slopes.

"The English holidays will keep us busy and there is no question that more people are coming to the Scottish resorts rather than going abroad.

"It's because we are on their doorstep and considerably cheaper. It's partly to do with the economic situation and also, on the back of a good season last year, a lot of people have decided to go to Scotland."

Nevis Range was preparing for 120mph winds forecast overnight but hopes for good business over the weekend and next week when its snowsports school is almost fully booked.

Heather Negus, marketing manager at the resort and chair of SkiScotland, said: "Our local schools have been on holiday this week and with the English schools off next week we will be pretty busy.

"Anecdotally, people who ski in Europe are choosing to spend time in Scotland which is good news. You have factors like the exchange rate and the economic downturn which mean more people are taking staycations.

"People are also making holiday decisions closer to the time rather than far in advance so its easier to do that if its Scotland rather than organising to go overseas at the last minute."

Meanwhile a pilot programme raising awareness of avalanches in the Cairngorms will be running tomorrow.