Where To Go For Winter Sports In Our Warmer Months

While some people are cracking open the sun cream, ditching their trainers for flip-flops and packing away woolly clothing at the first hint of sun breaking through the clouds, some of us are not willing to part with our base layers and goggles as we head into spring.

Ski, snowboard and winter sports lovers will probably be already looking for where to go to keep up the shredding, carving and freestyling – or maybe just snowploughing – even as better weather returns in the UK. The good news is that you don’t have to travel far as it’s still possible to ski year round even in Europe.

If you’re looking for ideas, here’s some inspo for where to go for winter sports in the coming months – just don’t forget the SPF.

Tyrol, Austria

Austria is known for its fantastic skiing and snow-covered mountain villages, but skiing here is not just for winter. Look to Hintertux Glacier in the Tyrolean Zillertal Valley for year-round skiing and winter sports at altitudes of between 1,500m and 3,250m above sea level. There are up to 20km of slopes open all year, suitable for all levels. Head out early as the slopes are usually hard in the morning and get soft by afternoon.

After your ski day, you can take a boat tour into the ice cave at Nature’s Ice Palace, 30m below the ski slopes, or visit the marble cave at Spannagel Cave for more geological wonders.

Zermatt, Switzerland

Zermatt in Switzerland is known for its super winter skiing, and the Theodul Glacier stays open year-round, with great ski and snowboard conditions in the mornings, leaving afternoons free for activities like hiking. This is Europe’s highest and largest summer ski resort, with 21km of slopes open.

Competitive skiers come here in summer to train for winter alpine competitions so you never know who you might spot on the slopes. Freestylers can head to the high-altitude Zermatt Summer Snow Park, with amazing views of the Matterhorn.

Folgefonna, Norway

Norwegians love winter sports and there’s plenty of choice on the high mountains and glaciers during late spring and summer, and the advantage of skiing here is that you can explore the fjords and amazing hikes during non-skiing hours.

Fonna Glacier Ski Resort, at 1,200m, is one of Norway’s most southerly glaciers, located in Western Norway just east of Bergen. It opens in early May, with slopes for all levels, plus cross-country trails and a freestyle park. There are also amazing views of the glacier, Hardangerfjord, and the North Sea from the ski lift at 1,470m.

Alternatively, further north, the Tystigbreen glacier at Stryn Sommerski summer ski centre has just 4km of slopes and one ski lift, but the views of the surrounding mountain peaks and fjords make it worth the trip. It’s open May to July.

Valle Nevado, Chile

Chile’s Southern Hemisphere location means that it’s winter there during the UK’s spring and summer months, from May to August (July is the coldest month), so the South American country is a great option for winter sports. The spectacular Andes mountains also make it worth the longer trip.

For great skiing, check out Valle Nevado in the Andes, around 90 minutes east of Santiago, which is open year-round and has some of Chile’s highest trails. Its elevation at 3,048m brings some of Chile’s best snow, with wide open ski terrain to enjoy. Valle Nevado is part of the Tres Valles of the Andes, which links with the lifts and trails of two other resorts, El Colorado and La Parva, to give 7,000 acres of snow area.

Cardrona, New Zealand

Another Southern Hemisphere location, New Zealand is the home of adventure sports so of course you can expect great winter sports options. Check out Cardrona in the South Island, a good all-round resort with a mix of terrain. It’s around an hour’s drive from Queenstown and the ski season runs in New Zealand’s winter from mid-June to mid-October, with amazing mountain views from the slopes.

Nearby, Coronet Peak is also worth checking out. It is just 20 minutes from Queenstown and also has panoramic mountain views. It’s open from mid-June to mid-September, and has some good options for all levels of ability – there are 27 runs and the longest run is a stamina-testing 1.5 miles long. Some of the resort hotels are on the mountain itself, and there’s also night skiing a few nights a week.

Make sure to protect your ski or snowboard holiday with Switched On’s Winter Sports Insurance. Our feature packed policies cover on and off piste action (within resort boundaries), protects kit from damage, theft and loss, there’s a 24/7 emergency medical helpline, as well as Air Doctor in-resort medical assistance*. Find out more by visiting our winter sports page.

*To find out how our medical support works, and the terms and conditions that apply, please visit our medical support page.