Zermatt celebrates the start of winter

The ski resort in Zermatt is open all year round; in summer, skiing fans can enjoy more than 21 kilometres of pistes on the glacier. How can you open a ski season if you can ski all year round? The destination on the Matterhorn can solve this tricky little conundrum by opening not the start of the ski season, but the start of the winter season. During the Winter Opening Weeks from 24 November to 8 December 2018, visitors can expect an exciting programme of events, from the morning warm-up on the piste to the evening cool-down at après-ski.

There's always something happening

"Throughout these two weeks, there’s always something happening at different locations in the village and on the mountain," says Daniel Luggen, President of Zermatt Tourismus. This includes ski races for everyone, salsa evenings, combined evening shopping sales and street parties and a talk by former Zermatt Head of Rescue Bruno Jelk on avalanche and mountain rescue. In the bakery, you can see how the famous Matterhörnli chocolates are made, and the band Wintershome will be launching the Winter Opening Weeks.

167 kilometres of pistes

As the highest ski resort in the Alps, stretching across Zermatt and into Cervinia and Valtournenche in Italy, 67 kilometres of pistes have been open in the Matterhorn ski paradise since 3 November 2018. From Saturday 24 November 2018, skiers will be able to access 167 kilometres, equivalent to the distance from Zurich to Lausanne.

"Zermatt has Europe’s highest ski resort, so we are lucky that we can guarantee plenty of snow, even after a warm autumn like this year. Eighty per cent of our pistes are on the glacier or can be covered with snow," says Daniel Luggen. More pistes will be opened on 1 December 2018. The ski resort comprises a total of 350 kilometres of pistes.

More information on the Winter Opening Weeks: www.zermatt.ch/wow

More information on piste openings: https://www.zermatt.ch/en/Lifts-pistes

Contact
Simona Altwegg, Media Manager Zermatt Tourism
Telefon +41 (0)27 966 81 40, Mobile +41 (0)79 197 11 69
E-Mail: simona.altwegg@zermatt.ch