Winter returns and improves winter sports conditions
Around 45 lifts should be running - snow production at the weekend - World Cup in Willingen
Winter is knocking: the weather services are once again reporting some snow and increasingly cold weather. This will have little effect on the coming weekend for the time being. Around 45 lifts are expected to be running. The World Cup in Willingen heralds one of the highlights of the season.
Alpine skiing
Falling temperatures from Thursday and a little fresh snow in the night to Friday for increasingly firm pistes. In dry and cold weather, over 40 ski lifts will be operating on the snow-covered pistes. The conditions there are then mostly good. Cold nights will make some snow production possible at the weekend. This will initially freshen up the existing offerings at the weekend. It remains to be seen whether an expansion will be possible in the coming week.
Floodlights
In three ski resorts, skiers and snowboarders can currently ski down into the valley after work or carve into the weekend. Floodlit evenings are on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays or Saturdays, depending on the ski area. Floodlight information at www.wintersport-arena.de
Cross-country skiing
Part of the snow park is still modelled in the stadium area of the Westfeld cross-country skiing centre. Cross-country skiers will find a 1.5 kilometre circuit for classic technique and a 1.5 kilometre circuit for skating. Pure natural snow trails are no longer groomed. Trail information is available at www.wintersport-arena.de
Tobogganing
Some snow-covered toboggan runs are still open. At the weekend, four toboggan lifts are available in Willingen, Neuastenberg and Winterberg. In Neuastenberg and Willingen there are also floodlit runs. Information on toboggan lifts at www.wintersport-arena.de
Hiking
The clear, frosty and sunny weekend is perfect for a hike in the mountains covered in hoar frost and a little snow. There are many kilometres of hiking trails away from the ski areas. The tourist information centres are happy to provide hiking tips.
The weather
Winter is returning. Dry cold and sunshine are on the horizon. Temperatures will drop in the course of Thursday. After some snowfall during the night, it will clear up increasingly from Friday. From Saturday, temperatures may drop well below freezing at night. The following week also promises to be cold, dry and friendly.
Outlook
A few nights of snowmaking are on the cards for the weekend up to and including Monday. The ski resorts will use these to freshen up the open pistes again. If the currently forecast temperatures actually materialise, a few ski slopes will probably be able to reopen in the coming week. It remains to be seen how long the night-time snowmaking phases will last and how effective they will be. The existing offer and the good winter sports conditions are stable in the coming week.
World Cup
Around 40,000 spectators travel to Willingen every year to cheer on the world's best ski jumpers and celebrate a big party on the outrun. The FIS Ski Jumping World Cup from 31 January to 2 February is also an anniversary: 30 years of the World Cup in Willingen. The German team will be led by Katharina Schmid and Andreas Wellinger, who were the best in the DSV suit last winter. The Willingen World Cup arena, known for its great atmosphere, can hold 23,500 fans. Information at www.weltcup-willingen.de
Travel tips to Willingen
Experience has shown that the pistes in the Willingen ski area are free on the World Cup weekend and there are virtually no queues. Travelling to the ski resort is free for those who arrive anti-cyclically. Only light traffic is expected on Friday for the World Cup. There are also no arrival or departure problems for the evening floodlit skiing. To avoid traffic during the ski jumping, the lift operators in Willingen recommend arriving before 10.30 am on Saturday. On Sunday, we recommend arriving before midday. There are free car parks reserved especially for visitors to the ski area right next to the pistes. Another tip is to buy tickets online in advance and load them onto your keycard