Phil Smith Snoworks Ski Course Director reports on skiing in April and May.

Come the end of March and many skiers’ minds turn to summer. But are you missing out? Up here in Tignes and the Espace Killy the winter has by no means come to an end. We’ll be skiing into the middle of May with our last course up in Hintertux in the first week of May.

THE SNOW
Ask any Tignes local and you’ll hear the same. April can produce some of the best skiing of the season. Yes you heard that right. April is notorious for bringing some late snow falls. But don’t just take our word for it. Check out the snow record for Tignes. These are the official figures for monthly snowfall provided by the Ski Club of Great Britain for the upper slopes in Tignes in cm for the 4 seasons from 2008 to 2012 and the past 2 seasons have been no different.

TOTAL AMOUNTS OVER THE LAST 4 YEARS
December 483cm
January 650cm
February 688cm
March 724cm
April 663cm

Suprised by these figures? I certainly was. I always knew the skiing in April was good but never realized that more snow fell on the upper slopes in Tignes in April over the four seasons shown than both December and January and only slightly less then February and March.

So why are skiers not flocking to the slopes to get their final skiing in for the season? Because most ski areas would be closing by this time? But not Tignes and the Espace Killy. The official closing date for the Espace Killy is the first week of May and the second week for Tignes. That’s a longer season then any other ski resort in Europe other than resorts with glaciers such as Hintertux.

One word of advice if you’re thinking of skiing in April or May. Head high and you won’t be disappointed. Tignes village is situated at 2,100m. Head high and going by the figures over the past 4 seasons you won’t be disappointed.

THE PRICES
….and the best thing of all. The prices. Most tour operators are happy to reduce prices to fill the remaining beds of the season offering great skiing at great prices.