Skiing despite climate change: How long does the fun of the slopes last?

Skiing despite climate change: How long does the fun of the slopes last?

In Austria, there is a lot of hustle and bustle on the slopes this winter! On Friday, the parking spaces on the Kasberg were almost completely occupied, although the valley descent is closed. The weather conditions are ideal for winter sports enthusiasts, and the operators of the mountain railways expect even more visitors for Saturday. According to orf oö there is also greater interest in skiing in the ski areas Feuerkogel and Dachstein West. The picture on the slopes clearly shows that the utilization typically increases steeply after Christmas, and also in the smaller ski areas such as the Sternstein in Bad Leonfelden.

price adjustments and challenges

The winter season not only brings joy, but also challenges. The discussions about climate change and the associated effects on skiing become louder. This year, three Austrian ski areas are introducing the "Dynamic Pricing", in which ticket prices vary depending on the load and weather. Despite these price increases, the demand remains high, especially for school ski courses and children's ski courses, which are often fully booked, reports ORF OÖ .

However, skiing also fights with membership declines in ski clubs and falling number of participants. Out of 217 clubs with 20,400 members in 2020, the number currently drops to 204 clubs with only 19,400 members. In view of these developments, there is a split mood: While some venture into new altitudes for skiing, there are more and more that no longer feel caught up with increasing prices.