The mood music in the ski industry is pleasingly more upbeat than in recent years.
Tour operators offering ski holidays across the budget spectrum say that they are feeling more chipper after last winter, when many lapsed skiers returned to the sport they love.
Improved confidence in the economy and a bumper season for snow – especially in the Alps – are the key reasons behind the sudden halt in the four-year-long decline in ski numbers.
A study conducted annually by leading winter sports tour operator Crystal Ski goes one step further by reporting a 'return to growth'.
Top runs: Last year was one of the best on the slopes
Managing director Simon Cross claims that the number of Britons taking ski holidays increased by 5,000 last winter – a one per cent rise year on year, making up a total of 899,700 skiers and snowboarders.
Another good snow season – on top of the global focus on all snow and ice sports that the Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia (February 7-23) next year will bring – should encourage even more of us to hit the slopes.
I cannot remember hitting one patch of ice last winter, it really was an epic snow season – long may the low temperatures and regular snow storms continue. If they do, here's a few treasures you might wish to consider:
Grimentz, Switzerland
This quaint village, with many of its darkened-wood granaries built on stilts up a steep slope, needs to be seen to be believed for it is a real-life museum, beautifully exhibiting rural mountain life as far back as 900 years ago.
Modern accommodation has since been added on the village's flanks and a new cable car, opening this season, linking Grimentz directly to the top of the neighbouring Zinal ski area, has boosted the region's appeal.
Now locals are worried that Grimentz and the other sleepy villages in the Val d'Anniviers region, above Sierre, are about to attract the mainstream crowd.
Austrian classic: Publicity still of the group in Austria shooting the film HELP in 1965
With its enviable expanse of lifts served, on and off-piste terrain, its snow record and top elevation of nearly 10,000ft, I'm afraid it's just too good to be kept secret.
Rental Prestige (rentalprestige.com) services a range of upscale, self-catering properties, including Chalet CBC, which sleeps eight for a total of £3,040 (£380pp) for seven nights.
There are flights to Geneva from Heathrow or London City Airport from swiss.com. Mountain guides charge £380 per day and heliskiing costs from £210.
Obertauern, Austria
The comfortable Marietta Hotel, a four-star, spa property, is conveniently located at the foot of the ski slopes and harbours a little-known secret – it was the venue of the only live 'concert' performed by The Beatles in Austia.
It started as an impromptu gig for a crew member's birthday while the Fab Four stayed in this Salzburgerland resort, filming the snow scenes for their 1965 film Help!
Head to the Seekarhaus Hotel for cocktails to see all the film memorabilia on the lounge walls and maybe you'll meet owner, Gerhard Krings, who regaled us with stories of when he was a skiing body double for George Harrison.
Celebrity link: The Seekarhaus Hotel has plenty of Fab Four memorabilia
Most of the ski terrain at Obertauern is tame and dotted around a large natural bowl making it reassuring for families as children cannot easily get lost.
The Marietta offers seven nights from £603pp. Both easyJet and Ryanair fly to Salzburg. Crystal Ski (crystalski.co.uk 0871 231 2256) offers three-star, half-board hotel packages for a week, including flights from London Gatwick, from £649pp.
Ischgl, Austria
I saw Deep Purple perform the Top Of Mountain concert here on April 30 – then skied the last day of the season on May 1. The snow was a bit slushy but there was still plenty of it.
Even in a bad snow year this Austrian area, named the Silvretta Arena after the surrounding mountains and boasting 150 miles of pistes, is a safe bet due to its top station of 9,420ft and snow-making system.
Music in the mountains: Ischgl hosts an annual Top of Mountain cencert
The village is made up of bold, classic Tyrolean architecture, with some avant-garde buildings intertwined. It feels affluent, though it can get raucous due to its apres-ski scene. Canadian rock band Nickelback are opening the Top Of Mountain concert season on November 30.
Whether skiing here early, mid or late season, snow and fun are guaranteed. Inghams (inghams.co.uk 01483 791114) offers seven nights' half-board at the four-star Hotel Brigitte for as little as £1,124pp. This includes flights from Gatwick and resort transfers.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2424509/A-bumper-season-snow-Where-skier-slope-.html#ixzz3c5Qkbh4m
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