Relaxed skiing, snowboarding and tobogganing on around 50 lifts

Cool, dry, partly sunny: another beautiful winter sports weekend ahead

It's no longer the Kaiser weather, but pleasant temperatures, some sunshine and good winter sports conditions: If you want to enjoy some relaxed skiing, you can do so now. At the weekend, around 50 lifts in almost ten ski resorts in the Sauerland winter sports arena will be open. The big rush is over for now.

Alpine skiing

The snow-covered ski slopes have survived the turbulent first half of the week. They present themselves with snow depths of up to 70 centimetres and mostly good winter sports conditions. Firm, grippy pistes can be expected on Saturday in particular. At the weekend, winter sports operations are expected at around 50 ski lifts in the region from Willingen via Winterberg and Schmallenberg to Olpe. Up to ten snow-covered ski areas are expected to be open. Purely natural snow slopes are no longer accessible. Info: www.wintersport-arena.de/alpin

- Floodlit skiing is possible in the ski areas on Fridays, Saturdays or Wednesdays. Info: www.wintersport-arena.de/skifahren-boarden/flutlicht-und-funparks

- The fun park in Neuastenberg is open for snowboarders and freeskiers. The large Pro Snowpark is available from Saturday morning with a completely new setup. The beginner park on the upper eastern slope is also open daily and will also be freshly shaped at the weekend. The shape crew is rebuilding the obstacles and repairing the lines so that everything is in the best possible condition again.

Tobogganing

Toboggan lifts run exclusively on the snow-covered pistes. There is a good base of technically produced snow there. Around ten toboggan lifts are expected to be running throughout the region at the weekend. In Neuastenberg and Willingen, tobogganing is also possible under floodlights. Information on toboggan lifts can be found at www.wintersport-arena.de/rodeln/rodellifte.

Cross-country skiing and winter hiking

Natural snow trails are no longer open. The Snow Park in the Westfeld cross-country skiing centre is open. This is a technically snow-covered, modelled course with a 4.3-kilometre trail.

The natural snow has disappeared from the landscape. Nevertheless, dry and partly sunny weather at weekends makes for a lovely hike in the mountains.

Weather forecast

The weather will calm down from Thursday. After a wet Friday, it becomes drier and sunnier. On Saturday, it clears up, the sun shines brightly and temperatures drop to well below freezing during the night. This is good for the existing snow cover. They become firm and are easy to groom again. Sunday will be partly sunny, mild and dry. This will be followed by a changeable first half of the week. Most of the existing winter sports facilities will remain open.

Events and activities

A great way to get in the mood for the highlight of the season: one week before the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup in Willingen, two Continental Cup men's ski jumping competitions will be held on the Mühlenkopf ski jump on 27 and 28 January 2024. On Saturday from 2 pm and on Sunday from 9.30 am. The FIS competition series is the second-highest competition class and serves as a springboard for younger jumpers to gain a place in the World Cup team. It is quite possible to see World Cup athletes. It is not uncommon for jumpers to switch between the World Cup and Continental Cup several times during a season.

On 27 and 28 January, the Postwiesen Snowboard Freestyle Testival will take place in the ski village of Neuastenberg. The Postwiesen Park will be ready with a completely new setup. Visitors can test snowboard stuff from twelve leading exhibitors free of charge on the spot. All visitors need to do is present a lift ticket and ID.

Sustainable travel to the snow

Travelling to the snow regions by bus and train is environmentally friendly and, with the Deutschlandticket, also cheap. There is a railway connection in Willingen and Winterberg. The Willingen ski area is within walking distance of the railway station. In Winterberg, the ski bus commutes daily between the largest ski areas. Holders of a Skiliftkarussell+ ticket (one and two-day tickets) or a Wintersport-Arena Card (3 to 7 days) can use it free of charge to explore the region's ski areas. The Skilift Carousel+ Ticket is valid in the Winterberg ski lift carousel, in Neuastenberg, in the Altastenberg ski carousel, in the Sahnehang family ski area and in the Ruhrquelle tobogganing paradise. The Wintersport-Arena Card is also valid in the Willingen ski area and in Bödefeld-Hunau.

Calendar of events

27 - 28 January Continental Cup Ski Jumping in Willingen

27-28 January Postwiesen Snowboard Free-Testival

2-4 February FIS Ski Jumping World Cup in Willingen

3 February Bataleon 20Y Anniversary, Postwiesen Park in Neuastenberg

10 February Cross-country skiing action days, Pastorenweise Wunderthausen (relocated from Girkhausen)

10-11 February The Takeover - Snowpark Event at the Winterberg ski lift carousel on the Kappe

19 February to 3 March BMW IBSF World Championships Bobsleigh and Skeleton in Winterberg

9 to 10 March Snowboard World Cup on the Poppenberg in the Winterberg ski lift carousel