Ski resorts are delighted with fresh snow: "Rarely have conditions been as good as they are now!"

Winter sports on a grand scale: cross-country skiing, skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing in almost all areas

Wintery cold and abundant snowfall are transforming the Sauerland winter sports arena into a winter wonderland. Around 80 lifts are expected to be running at the weekend. If the forecast snowfall comes, around 200 kilometres of cross-country ski trails could be groomed at the weekend.

Alpine skiing

The ski resorts are starting the second part of the season with snow depths of up to 80 centimetres. After effective snow production since the beginning of the second week of January, a robust foundation is in place. The current snowfall has created a layer of fine powder snow that is easy to ski on. There are only a few days in winter when the conditions are as good as they are at the moment. The conditions on the snow-covered pistes are almost ideal, on natural snow pistes good to very good depending on the snow conditions. At the weekend, winter sports operations can be expected at around 70 ski lifts in the region from Willingen via Winterberg and Schmallenberg to Olpe.

- All snow-covered and most natural snow ski areas will be open at the weekend. Info: www.wintersport-arena.de/alpin

- Floodlit skiing is possible in most resorts, almost every evening there is floodlighting in some area. The Postwiesen ski area is closed to non-registered guests on Saturday evenings due to the Voswinkel floodlight evening: Info: www.wintersport-arena.de/skifahren-boarden/flutlicht-und-funparks

- For snowboarders and freeskiers, the fun park in Neuastenberg will be fully set up for the first time this winter at the weekend.

- With good+ natural snow conditions expected, off-piste skiing in deep snow is possible in some ski resorts, for example in Neuastenberg and Altastenberg.

Tobogganing

Tobogganing is currently possible almost everywhere due to the natural snow. On a hike, parents pull the kids behind them on a sledge on hiking trails that have not been cleared. In many places, there is a small slope in the landscape for some tobogganing fun. Easy, toddler-friendly toboggan runs without a lift can be used free of charge. They are particularly popular in small ski resorts. Other areas have snow-sure toboggan slopes. You can get up there comfortably in the toboggan lift. There could be between ten and 14 toboggan lifts in the entire region at the weekend. In Neuastenberg, tobogganing is also possible under floodlights, on Wednesdays and Fridays in Willingen and on Fridays in Neuastenberg, Fahlenscheid and Bödefeld. Information on tobogganing can be found at www.wintersport-arena.de/rodeln/rodellifte.

Cross-country skiing

Some clubs sent their vehicles out on Tuesday to prepare the first fresh tracks. From just under 100 kilometres of trails in the middle of the week, the number of trails should increase significantly once the reported snowfall subsides. If the predicted amount of fresh snow arrives, at least 200 kilometres of trails should be groomed by the weekend.

The Westfeld cross-country skiing centre plans to open the Snow Park by Saturday at the latest, in addition to the natural snow trails. This is a technically snow-covered, modelled course. The snow there is now one metre deep.

Winter hiking

Rarely do nature lovers get to see such an expansive, snow-covered winter landscape. Walking is easy on cleared or rolled winter hiking trails. If you like, you can trudge through the deep snow in boots. With the expected amount of fresh snow, a guided snowshoe tour is also a good option. Information can be obtained from the tourist information centres in the respective towns.

Weather conditions

After the snowfall subsides on Thursday morning, the weather calms down. Dry, cold winter air will dominate the mountains until at least Sunday. The sun can often be seen. Temperatures will only rise at the beginning of the week. The beginning of the week is expected to be mild and wet. After that, there are signs of dry, cool weather. The winter sports facilities on the snow-covered pistes will remain open.

Events and promotions

Ski and ski boot manufacturer NORDICA is coming to the Winterberg ski lift carousel this weekend to present its latest collection. On 20 and 21 January, visitors can test them extensively. It is not necessary to book in advance. Anyone interested can come to the special offer stand at the Kappe. It will be open on both days from 9 am to 3 pm.

Youth trains for the Olympics & Paralympics on 24 January at the Westfeld cross-country skiing centre. The world's largest school sports competition offers children and young people the opportunity to compete with others in sporting competitions. It is not just about absolute sporting excellence, but also about values such as fairness, team spirit and commitment as well as the Olympic ideal: taking part is everything! The aim is to discover talent and provide a springboard from school sport to training and competition. The competition is an open championship for all types of schools, in which every school in the country's lower and upper secondary levels can take part.

The Winterberg ski bus now runs daily between Winterberg's largest ski areas again. 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 Ski Lift Carousel+ Ticket is also valid in Neuastenberg, Altastenberg, on the Sahnehang and at the Ruhrquelle.

Event calendar

20 January Intersport Voswinkel floodlight evening in Neuastenberg (only for registered guests)

20-21 January Nordica Double Core Tour Stop: ski test, Winterberg ski lift carousel, Kappe

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

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

27 January Cross-country skiing action days on the Steinert in Girkhausen.

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