320: Méribel Elections, Les 2 Alpes summer skiing and the Travelski Night Train

So let's hear from Australia and New Zealand expert Rachel Oakes Ash on the latest situation down there.

Thanks, Ian.

Wish I had better news [laughs], but it does feel like winter is in a holding pattern down under.

There is hope, snow, then there's despair, warm spring temperatures, and they're all playing havoc for snowmakers and groomers across the Aussie resorts.

But they're handling it with grace and good humor, as is the Aussie way.

The predicted snowfall last week did come in on the weekend, but it delivered, unfortunately, about half of what we had hoped.

But obviously enough for resorts to push and farm snow, to get the snow guns pumping, and start to get more terrain open in the always busy school holidays.

Resorts are opening new chairlifts and terrain on the daily.

But our tip is ski in the morning on the fresh groomers for the next week or so, and enjoy the blue skies before afternoon skiing gets too heavy.

In other words, head in early for apres.

We've got about two weeks of, of high pressure hanging above us.

Um, next snowfall is unlikely to happen until August, sadly.

Now, New Zealand has finally got all resorts open as well.

McKenzie area scored that 80 centimeter snowstorm last week at the, we were talking about.

Mount Lyford, north of south of, of the South Island, they did well with over a meter.

And Mount Hutt had a record 10,000 [laughs] visitors over the three-day long weekend because of their mega snowfall as well.

The Otago resorts further south of Queenstown and Wanaka, well, they're chugging along.

They all still need more snow, but don't we all? And snowmaking is keeping everything pristine and more terrain over there is opening on the daily.

Cardrona's actually been able to open the Soho Basin, which is fantastic news.

The high pressure system that I mentioned before, it's just moved in, like our housemate's cousin that doesn't pay rent, and it means there could be some rain, which will fall snow high up.

Meanwhile, in Chile, let's not mention the four meter snowstorm heading to Portillo that has forced road and resort closures.

Oh, booking flights now.

Thanks to Rachel for that update.

So let's hear from Australia and New Zealand expert Rachel Oakes Ash on the latest situation down there.

Thanks, Ian.

Wish I had better news [laughs], but it does feel like winter is in a holding pattern down under.

There is hope, snow, then there's despair, warm spring temperatures, and they're all playing havoc for snowmakers and groomers across the Aussie resorts.

But they're handling it with grace and good humor, as is the Aussie way.

The predicted snowfall last week did come in on the weekend, but it delivered, unfortunately, about half of what we had hoped.

But obviously enough for resorts to push and farm snow, to get the snow guns pumping, and start to get more terrain open in the always busy school holidays.

Resorts are opening new chairlifts and terrain on the daily.

But our tip is ski in the morning on the fresh groomers for the next week or so, and enjoy the blue skies before afternoon skiing gets too heavy.

In other words, head in early for apres.

We've got about two weeks of, of high pressure hanging above us.

Um, next snowfall is unlikely to happen until August, sadly.

Now, New Zealand has finally got all resorts open as well.

McKenzie area scored that 80 centimeter snowstorm last week at the, we were talking about.

Mount Lyford, north of south of, of the South Island, they did well with over a meter.

And Mount Hutt had a record 10,000 [laughs] visitors over the three-day long weekend because of their mega snowfall as well.

The Otago resorts further south of Queenstown and Wanaka, well, they're chugging along.

They all still need more snow, but don't we all? And snowmaking is keeping everything pristine and more terrain over there is opening on the daily.

Cardrona's actually been able to open the Soho Basin, which is fantastic news.

The high pressure system that I mentioned before, it's just moved in, like our housemate's cousin that doesn't pay rent, and it means there could be some rain, which will fall snow high up.

Meanwhile, in Chile, let's not mention the four meter snowstorm heading to Portillo that has forced road and resort closures.

Oh, booking flights now.

Thanks to Rachel for that update.