Winter sports at 55 ski and toboggan lifts and many events and activities

Beschneite Pisten sichern den Wintertourismus bis in die zweite Hauptsaison

Snow-covered slopes ensure winter tourism into the second main season

After a particularly busy third weekend in January, the last weekend was well attended but much more relaxed. 55 lifts in the entire Wintersport-Arena Sauerland ran in sunshine and good to very good conditions on the snow-covered slopes.

The past few days were not quite as cold, but almost as beautiful. Even without natural snow, the beautiful weather and good winter sports facilities attracted many guests to the region. However, things were much more relaxed than the week before, with no major traffic jams and only short waiting times.

Testival, races, ski jumping

There was plenty to experience in the region. A large snowboard test event with equipment from twelve leading manufacturers took place in the Neuastenberg ski village. The fully constructed fun park and the very good response showed once again that Neuastenberg is Germany's northernmost snowboard hotspot.

The ActiveOnco Kids also met in Neuastenberg. The project enables children, teenagers and young adults with cancer and their families to enjoy a great day of winter sports. The participants were happy and enthusiastic about the snow and the beautiful weather. The meeting took place once again in Neuastenberg. The Postwiesen lift company supports the Ruhr University Bochum project with reduced ticket prices.

The youngsters were also very busy. In Neuastenberg, the Bochum Ski Club trained on the western slope. In the Altastenberg ski carousel, the young members of the West German Ski Association practised on the racing piste on the Westfalenhang.

In Willingen, the men's ski jumping Continental Cup on the Mühlenkopf ski jump set the mood for the upcoming World Cup weekend. 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.

Commuting from one ski resort to the next

The Winterberg ski bus is particularly successful on weekends like the last one. The ski lift 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. Holders of this ticket or the Wintersport Arena Card use the ski bus free of charge. The bus not only contributes to sustainability and reduces road traffic. It also encourages people to get to know the medium-sized and smaller ski areas.

Channelling demand and securing the season

The experience of the last few days shows once again: even without natural snow, guests are happy to take up the winter sports offers and return home satisfied. Of course, a landscape covered in snow attracts even more guests. However, this then becomes a challenge. Technical snowmaking creates reliable winter sports facilities and thus channels demand. Without a continuous season, such high-quality offers would not be possible. Not in the ski resorts, but also not in hotels and huts.

The snow reserves that the lift operators created in the very cold middle of January will last well into the second main season. This begins next weekend with the Lower Saxony school holidays and the subsequent German carnival. This will be followed by the holidays in the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark. The quiet off-season then begins at the end of February.

Event calendar 

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

23 February Warsteiner company floodlit skiing, Willingen ski resort

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