Though most of the world’s ski areas have been closed due to the northern hemisphere’s summer, the time has come for ski resorts to re-open for the new winter season. And while most ski resorts may have resumed operations at (oddly) normal levels for the season, many are the ones that have changed (and will) in the way they operate. Like every aspect of our daily life during a pandemic, our winter break at a ski resort will undergo some major changes this winter.
Also, it’s important to understand that these changes might vary from one country to another as the rules are ever-changing and countries have different approaches for every situation. So before packing your things for this winter holiday, you’ll need to learn about the significant changes in ski resorts this season:
Buying your lift pass with contactless payments
The use of cash was the main method of payment when buying a lift pass in the past. But times have changed and the contactless payments have taken over in many ski areas. People also buy their lift passes online and in advance for their activities in the re-opened resorts.
This rapid increase in online purchases is due to the limited number of people allowed on the slopes each day, to maximise the safety precautions, which led most ski resorts to sell out their lift tickets in advance.
Taking a lift
Speaking of lifts, riding them will be more of an orderly operation in ski resorts this winter. All the re-opened ski resorts have taken all the social-distancing measures, to protect their visitors. From the floor spacing marking at the lift queue to the double chairs and the T bar lifts, all ski resort residents must follow the precautionary measures. Surely these measures are going to slow down the whole process for the skiers and may be staggered starts for things like ski school and lift openings, in the danger of a bottleneck situation.
Wearing a mask on and off the slopes
Unless we have a drastic change in the coming months, wearing a mask will be the norm for the winter, even if you’re on the slopes or off of them. Who would have thought that we would wear our ski masks outside the slopes and it would be considered normal and not that we intend to commit a robbery, right?
Ski Rentals
An important number of ski resorts that are operating now have not opened their ski rental facilities and for the reason that they might be dangerous spots for virus transmission in these areas. So it is important to check what facilities are available in the resort you plan to travel this winter.
A popular choice for ski free-riders resort, which offers high-quality facilities and services is the Arc 2000 as a part of the wider Les Arcs ski area. Apart from skiing in one of its 118 marked pistes, Arc 2000 can offer you a wide range of restaurants, shops, fitness and wellbeing facilities and even a cinema. Pretty cool, eh? So if you’re planning your skiing holidays to the French Alps and specifically in Arc 2000 through Erna Low travel package, you’ll have no hassle picking up the finest gear and getting onto the slopes with the best deal possible and taking advantage of all the additional services of a winter resort during the pandemic.
Checking your health
Frequently cleaning lifts and public areas, adhering to social distancing and PPE requirements, ski resorts are trying to ensure the health safety of their visitors. Visitors, on the other hand, are requested to provide a health certification to enter at the resort. Some of them have installed infrared cameras to check the body temperatures of people using the lifts or other public areas.
On mountain and resort dining
It is obvious that the same rules that apply for our restaurants in our towns and cities, will also apply in ski resorts. It means that the two-metre gap between tables and floor-to-ceiling screens separating tables are now essential. There may be a large increase in taking away and delivery food, as well as in-room dining in hotels and chalets, avoiding unnecessary contact with third parties.
Ski School
As several ski resorts decided to restart their operation, they also decided not to offer group lessons for their visitors, in part of their precautionary measures.
Après ski
Après ski is French for “after ski”, and it’s a phrase to describe the social activities that take place after a day spent hitting the slopes. The livelier side of après ski will be very different this coming winter and possibly for the years to come as it was expected. And it makes total sense if one considers that in an early stage these concentrations were a source of transmission of the virus. So in order to have a proper après ski party again, we’ll need an après corona situation first.
All these changes in the ski resorts presented above are necessary not only for the protection of the people but also for the businesses. Businesses must adapt their actions to the demands of these strange times, in order to survive until the advent of normalcy. Until then, stay safe.
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