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Aski resort is aresort developed forskiing,snowboarding, and otherwinter sports. In Europe, most ski resorts are towns or villages in or adjacent to aski area–a mountainous area withpistes (ski trails) and aski lift system. InNorth America, it is more common for ski areas to exist well away from towns, so ski resorts usually aredestination resorts, often purpose-built and self-contained, where skiing is the main activity.
Ski resorts are located in both hemispheres, on all continents exceptAntarctica. They typically are located onmountains, as they require a large slope. They also need to receive sufficientsnow (at least in combination with artificialsnowmaking, unless the resort usesdry ski slopes).
High concentrations of ski resorts are located in theAlps,Scandinavia, western and easternNorth America, andJapan. There are also ski resorts in theAndes, scattered across centralAsia, and inAustralia andNew Zealand.
Extreme locations of non-indoor (at least one ski lift outside) ski resorts include:
The ski industry has identified advancing generations of ski resorts:[1][2]
The termski station is also used, particularly in Europe, for a skiing facility which is not located in or near a town or village. A ski resort which is also open for summer activities is often referred to as amountain resort.
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Ski areas have marked paths for skiing known as runs, trails orpistes. Ski areas typically have one or morechairlifts for moving skiers rapidly to the top of hills, and to interconnect the various trails.Rope tows can also be used on short slopes (usually beginner hills or bunny slopes). Larger ski areas may usegondola lifts oraerial tramways for transportation across longer distances within the ski area. Resorts post theirtrail map illustrating the location of lifts, trails, services and the ski area boundary, and during theski season issue a daily snow conditions report listing open trails, operating lifts and weather status.
Ski areas usually have at least a basicfirst aid facility, and some kind ofski patrol service to ensure that injured skiers are rescued. The ski patrol is usually responsible for rule enforcement, markinghazards, closing individual runs or areas as conditions require, and removing (dismissing) dangerous participants from the area.
The typical ski area base includes a ticket office,ski lodge,ski school, equipment rental/repair shop, restaurant/bar, shopping, shuttle bus stop and parking.[3]
Some ski resorts offerlodging options on the slopes themselves, with ski-in and ski-out access allowing guests to ski right up to the door. Ski resorts often have other activities, such assnowmobiling,sledding,horse-drawn sleds,dog-sledding,ice skating, indoor or outdoorswimming andhot tubbing, game rooms, and local forms of entertainment, such as clubs, cinema, theaters andcabarets.
Après-ski (French forafter skiing) is a term for entertainment,nightlife or social events that occur specifically at ski resorts.[4][5] These add to the enjoyment of resort-goers and provide something to do besidesskiing andsnowboarding. The culture originated in the Alps, where it is most popular and where skiers often stop at bars on their last run of the day while still wearing all their ski gear.[6] Though the word "ski" is a derivation of theOld Norseskíð viaNorwegian, the choice ofFrench is likely attributed to the early popularity of such activities in theFrench Alps, with which it was then linked.[7]
As rising temperatures, receding glaciers and declining snowfall affect the environment, resort development and operations also have anenvironmental impact on land, lakes, streams, and wildlife.[8] Amenities and infrastructure such as concrete buildings, ski lifts, access roads, parking lots, andrailways have contributed to theurbanization of mountainous zones.
In recent years, the use ofsnow cannons by many ski resorts has increased to compensate for reduced levels of snowfall.[9] In order to sustain good quality snow coverage, snowmaking requires large amounts of water and sometimes the creation ofartificial lakes. Snow cannons also introduce a noise element.
The required infrastructure can affecterosion through the increased area ofimpervious surfaces, redirecting the flow ofwater runoff.
Many resorts are taking steps to reduce their energy and water consumption and waste production, increase recycling, and restore habitats. Initiatives aimed at addressing environmental concerns include:
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