Five resorts open for skiing and tobogganing over the Christmas period

Small range of winter sports and alternative programmes for guests

The time over Christmas will be turbulent, at least in terms of the weather. While people sit in their warm cosy rooms by candlelight, the lift operators in the Wintersport-Arena Sauerland are keeping a basic range of ski and toboggan runs open. In five areas, the lift operators are confident that they will be able to open over the holidays.

Alpine skiing

Changeable weather, precipitation and strong winds are currently making it difficult to assess the winter sports programme for the coming weekend. Between 10 and 15 lifts in four ski resorts could be open. It's not just the snow cover that determines whether they open. Due to the storm, lift operators are checking which lifts they can keep running every day. Chairlifts in areas open to the wind could remain closed on stormy days for safety reasons. The situation seems to calm down from Boxing Day. Due to drier and cooler weather, winter sports conditions will improve.

- The following will be open:

Winterberg ski lift carousel: Will endeavour to keep the main axis of the lifts active up to Bremberg. This would provide a basic offer of 5 to 7 lifts, more if possible.

Willingen ski area: 2 to 3 lifts

Postwiesen ski village Neuastenberg: 3 lifts

Sahnehang family ski area: 2 to 3 lifts expected from the second day of Christmas

- Floodlit skiing: Friday evening in Neuastenberg

- The fun park for snowboarders and freeskiers in Neuastenberg should, if possible, remain partially open.

It is advisable to obtain the latest information online: www.wintersport-arena.de/alpin.

Tobogganing

There are snow-covered toboggan runs with toboggan lifts in the open ski areas, some of which are open. Three toboggan lifts are expected to be open at the weekend: in the Willingen ski area, in the Neuastenberg ski village and in the Ruhrquelle tobogganing paradise. Up-to-date information on active toboggan lifts can be found at www.wintersport-arena.de/rodeln/rodellifte.

Tobogganing in the countryside is not possible due to a lack of natural snow.

Winter hiking and cross-country skiing

Hiking in "wild weather" can be a wonderful experience with the right clothing. However, hiking trails may be closed due to the storm. The weather calms down from Boxing Day. However, paths may still be closed even then. If you would like to go hiking, you should enquire in advance at the tourist information centres in the towns.

Cross-country skiing is not possible.

Weather

Up and down temperatures, gale-force winds and precipitation that only occasionally falls as snow: The region is expecting turbulent days. The changeable westerly weather makes a reliable forecast difficult. From the current perspective, Friday and Saturday look set to cool down slightly. After two milder days, temperatures should drop again on Boxing Day. The weather should also become drier and calmer. This means that the winter sports on offer will be stable.

Prospects

A stable winter weather situation is currently not in sight. After the proverbial "Christmas thaw", the turn of the year often brings a change. There are tentative signs of this this time too. However, the situation is very uncertain. The lift operators will do everything they can to provide guests with the best possible winter sports offer during the holidays.

Booking situation and activities during the Christmas holidays

The booking situation in the core area of the Wintersport-Arena Sauerland is good. Anyone who wants to go on a spontaneous Christmas holiday should secure accommodation now. The tourist information centres are still arranging accommodation in almost all categories.

Innovations

The new chairlift in the Altastenberg ski carousel is ready and can go into operation. Snow production on the cold days at the beginning of December on the Kapellenhang was made impossible. As soon as enough snow falls and a stable period of cold weather makes snow production possible, it will go into operation.

Calendar of events

30 December Torchlight hike in the Willingen ski area (Ettelsberg cable car)

31 December New Year's Eve floodlit skiing in Neuastenberg

6 and 7 January EBERSPÄCHER Luge World Cup with Team Relay presented by BMW in Winterberg

10-14 January Upland winter hiking day in Willingen

12 and 13 January Junior World Cup Luge in Winterberg

20 January Intersport Voswinkel floodlight evening in Neuastenberg

24 January Youth trains for the Olympics, cross-country skiing centre Westfeld

26 January Company floodlit skiing at K1 in the Willingen ski area

27 - 28 January Continental Cup Ski Jumping in Willingen

27-28 January Postwiesen Snowboard Freestyle Festival

2-4 February FIS Ski Jumping World Cup in Willingen 

3 February Bataleon 20Y Anniversary, Postwiesen Park in Neuastenberg

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