The winter season will start soon. Bohemian and Moravian mountains usually get snow during the second half of November and the winter season mostly ends in February or March. And what will this year’s winter be like? No-one knows that yet but we hope that there will be a lot of snow! However, we know one thing for sure. This winter will be a bit different from previous winters due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The mountain resorts have had to adapt to the new reality to ensure safety and to protect the health of their visitors. Even though they had to change their plans a bit during spring and summer due to the coronavirus crisis, winter visitors can look forward to some new features that will improve the comfort of all athletes in the mountains.
New Chairlifts, Downhill Slopes and More Efficient Snow-Making
Skiers can look forward to three brand new chairlifts this year. The Kraličák Ski Resort in the Kralický Sněžník Mountains will enjoy a chairlift with heated seats, Wi-Fi and a capacity of 2,500 people. This is in relation to the expanded slopes – this winter, skiers can use 10.5 kilometres of slopes without having to transfer in between. And moreover, the boarding and exit stations will be annexed to the facility buildings below the chairlift. In Říčky in the Orlické Mountains, there will be a detachable covered six-seater cable car. In Mladé Buky in the Krkonoše Mountains, visitors can expect a new chairlift with fixed four-seater cable cars and a start-up belt.
Furthermore, ski resorts have invested into the construction of new downhill tracks, their interconnection and modifications. For example, the long planned new major slope Nová Skalka is being built at Ještěd. In the Dolní Morava resort, they have interconnected and expanded the local slopes and invested into evening skiing and safety modernisation. Those who enjoy sledding will also find something for themselves because the toboggan run will now also be illuminated. Thanks to connecting the resorts in Dolní Morava there are now four slopes, each about 2.5 to 3 km long and each with different properties. The blue Tourist Slope at Tanvaldský Špičák in the Jizerské Mountains has been expanded. You will also find expanded slopes at Klínovec, in Malá Úpa and in Bílá in the Beskids.
The important investments in the mountains have also included purchasing new machines and technologies used for grooming slopes and for more efficient snow-making. This year, such technology was acquired by the Černá Hora-Pec Ski Resort, Deštné in the Orlické Mountains, Tanvaldský Špičák and Ramzová in the Jeseníky Mountains. The Monínec ski resort, which you can find less than an hour away from Prague also uses state-of-the-art snow-making technology. The ski slopes there get snow in the middle of October, making it possible to start skiing in mid-November when many resorts are just waiting for some frost and snow. The evening skiing after work is very popular with Prague residents!
A Ski Bus to the Mountains
Want to go downhill or cross-country skiing but don’t have a chance to rent a car during your visit to the Czech Republic? You can still enjoy skiing – many towns have special bus services during the winter season that will take you comfortably right to the slope or the starting point of a cross-country trail. You can take a bus to the Jizerské Mountains from Jablonec nad Nisou, Liberec or Frýdlant, from Ostrava to the Beskids, or a ski-bus will get you closer to a downhill slope in Pec pod Sněžkou, Jánské Lázně and Špindlerův Mlýn in Krkonoše. Do not hesitate to contact the local tourist information about specific transportation options.
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