The thin snow cover in the summer ski area of Zermatt due to the low-snow winter of 2021/2022, in combination with the high temperatures and the associated precipitation in the form of rain at over 4,000 m above sea level, make it temporarily impossible to continue summer skiing. The area will close from July 29.
The large glacier movements have an impact on crevasse activity. Therefore, the challenges already caused by the lack of snow for the technical maintenance of the transport facilities as well as for the maintenance of the slopes are becoming bigger and bigger and can no longer be fully mastered. Furthermore, this decision takes into account the high demands made by Zermatt Bergbahnen with regard to the safety of its guests and ski teams.
This is expressly a “time-out” of summer skiing operations. Maintenance work on the slopes and transport facilities will continue. Work will also continue on providing the downhill training slope.
The World Cup race slope “Gran Becca”, on which two men’s World Cup downhill races will be held on 29 and 30 October 2022 and two women’s World Cup downhill races on 5 and 6 November 2022, is already half prepared on the Swiss side. This work will also be continued first on the Swiss part and then on the Italian part, so that the “Gran Becca” should be ready for racing by the beginning of October 2022.
“With these measures, Zermatt Bergbahnen can guarantee that, in the event of a drop in temperature and sufficient snowfall, training operations for ski teams and general summer skiing operations can be resumed to the usual extent at any time. Under these meteorological conditions, nothing should stand in the way of the Matterhorn Cervino Speed Opening being held for the first time at the end of October 2022/beginning of November 2022,” said Markus Hasler, CEO of Zermatt Bergbahnen. “Year-round skiing is one of the unique selling points of the Zermatt-Matterhorn destination. This temporary interruption of summer ski operations will not change this strategic orientation.”