As promised, we are back with the second instalment of our Winter Sports in the Summer series. This brief, two-part series is intended to give you some ideas on how you can extend your winter sports season when next summer arrives. Whether you head to the Southern Hemisphere or one of the highest mountainous regions in Europe, there is no need to put your equipment away in June and July.
In our previous post, we looked at locations in Chile, Australia, Switzerland, and Argentina. This post brings you four more winter sports destinations to choose from. If you enjoy the snow, there are plenty of places to go throughout the calendar year.
1. Gassan, Japan
Mount Gassan is one of the three highest mountain peaks on Japan's main island of Honshu. The mountain receives so much snow that it is virtually inaccessible during the winter. That means resorts do not even open until April. With a little cooperation from Mother Nature, you can ski or snowboard Gassan through July and, in most cases, well into August.
2. South Island, New Zealand
As a southern hemisphere destination, New Zealand is in the middle of winter at the same time we are enjoying summer. And for winter sports in that country, there is no better place than the South Island. There are no fewer than five ski resorts just on the one island alone. The mountains are high, the snow is powdery, and New Zealand is just plain beautiful at that time of year. You might even take a day to stop over in Australia on your way down.
3. Hintertux, Austria
Hintertux just happens to be the most popular off-season training site for Europe's dominant ski teams. It has much going for it, including the fact that it is the steepest lift-serviced glacier in the Alps. They offer skiing 365 days a year, although conditions can be somewhat brutal during the winter. The summer months offer quite a bit more sunshine and some warmer temperatures to boot.
4. Whistler (Blackcomb Mountain), Canada
The summer season at Whistler wraps up rather early – right around July 26 or so – but the skiing is excellent right through until the middle of July. The best part of Whistler is that it is just a short drive down the mountain where more seasonal summer weather can be found. There is plenty to do when you are not on the slopes, including longs walks out and about in the great outdoors.
And this concludes our list of eight winter sports destinations that you can visit during the UK summer. But be warned, you are not the only one with such a great idea. Any plans to go next summer should be worked on now while you can still get cheap flights and your choice of hotel bookings. And do not forget travel insurance with a winter sports specialist. You never know when that slope will come up to meet you more quickly than you expected.