Good news for winter sports fans: lifts are set to operate again

Skibetrieb im Traditionsskigebiet Bödefeld Hunau in diesem Winter gesichert

Ski operations in the traditional Bödefeld Hunau ski area secured this winter 

A long period of uncertainty is over for the time being: Just in time for the first snowfall, it is clear: the lifts will be running again this winter in the Bödefeld-Hunau ski area. 

Snow covers the mountains around the ski resorts in the Sauerland winter sports arena. This is not the only reason why the people of Bödefeld are looking forward to the season with optimism. ‘We've never lost our optimism,’ emphasises Timo Hennecke from the Bödefeld-Hunau ski area. The people of Bödefeld have always stood behind ‘their’ ski resort. 

The ski resort on the Hunau is one of the most traditional in the Sauerland. An association is to run it in future. Those responsible have currently reached an agreement with the town and the bank to lease the area and facilities until 31 March. After that, a permanent solution will be sought in peace and quiet. 

The association was founded back in October. Bödefeld entrepreneurs provided the necessary expenses for the winter. The first members were quickly found. Since the beginning of November, dedicated volunteers have been working to get the ski area ‘fit’ for the winter. Despite the unclear situation at the time. ‘The clock was ticking,’ says Thomas Klauke. ‘Winter was getting closer and closer. To be able to offer skiing, you have to make a lot of preparations.’ Mowing, cleaning, maintaining the technology, making sure everything is running smoothly. A suitable energy supplier also had to be found. Now everyone is hoping for a good winter with as much snow as possible. 

The Bödefeld-Hunau ski resort filed for insolvency in September. The past five years have been a challenge for the ski resorts in the region - not just Bödefeld-Hunau - the likes of which have probably never been seen before: The mild winter of 19/20 and the ‘mega winter’ of 20/21, which coincided with the pandemic and forced the ski resorts to remain closed. Quite a few fell through the cracks when it came to coronavirus aid, including Bödefeld-Hunau. This was followed by a winter with high restrictions and another season with little snow in 23/24. ‘We could have built up a good financial cushion in the winter of 20/21,’ says Jörg Schmidt, Managing Director of the former operating company and Chairman of the current association, with conviction. ‘There are always good and bad winters. The bottom line is that it usually works out economically.’ However, due to the complete cancellation, legacy issues and running costs have become too heavy. Some necessary investments have already been made in ski operations in previous years. In order to make the ski area more secure for the future, the operators are considering a possible additional summer operation.