The ski’s the limit

[80 Number of tourists in millions that head to the Alps each year]

Skiing destinations can offer fun, relaxation and a great investment. But how much red tape is involved, and how will global warming affect your decision on where to buy? Shane McGinley reports

Last February I learnt to ski for the first time. Taking the first step was hell – I slipped and fell more often than I would admit, sailed straight into numerous trees, small children and fences and, while later on I could ski straight down with speed, I was unable to get the right/left turn thing! But, after a liquid lunch, it soon clicked into place and I was away down the slopes. It was an amazing adrenaline rush and now I’ll admit that my name is Shane and I’m addicted to the white stuff – snow that is!

I’m not the only one as in Britain alone, 1.2 million people went skiing last year, a rise of 3% and the sixth year in a row that figures have increased. The Crystal Ski Industry Report further found that France continues to be the most popular destination, attracting 37% of ski-holidaymakers. Austria and Switzerland were also popular, while Bulgaria, Italy and Andorra saw a fall in the number of visitors. Overall, the Alpine ski industry, which accounts for 85% of Europe’s ski resorts, attracts 60–80 million tourists and is worth €64 billion a year.

To determine if a ski property makes sense for your particular situation, it’s worth considering the amount of money you spend a year on ski holidays. “When you do the math, you may see that it makes much more sense to simply purchase a ski property in the getaway destination of your choice,” says Joanna Yellowlees-Bound, CEO of Erna Low Property, which has been selling ski holidays and property since 1932.

It’s also worth remembering the issue of global warming when it comes to your potential winter hideaway’s location. The 2006 season was one of the poorest in recent history and many slopes in the Alps shut early because of a lack of snow. The French resort of Abondance has since announced plans to close its lifts and the 1994, 2000, 2002, and 2003 seasons were each, in turn, the warmest for 500 years.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development recently produced a report on how rising temperatures will affect the ski industry. With up to 80 million people visiting the Alps each year and most resorts depending on the industry for up to 75% of their income it’s a key economic concern. The report found that climate change poses “serious risks” to snow levels and, of the areas studied, Germany was most at risk because a one-degree rise in temperature would lead to a 60% decrease in the number of its snow-reliable ski areas.

While the report said not all Alpine areas would be affected as severely as Germany, last year the lack of snow forced many popular resorts, like St Moritz in Switzerland, Val d’Isère in France and Sölden in Austria, to cancel highprofile events. Snow machines are sometimes used to combat such conditions, but only offer a short-term solution, as they can create adverse ecological consequences of their own.