Montenius Consult Reports 'OK' Start To Season For German Ski Areas. Business Strongest In South

Finally snow again and beautiful winter weather at the right time. That was the relieved conclusion of many German cable car and ski lift operators at the end of the month after the difficult last two winters. December 2024 did bring less snow and snow hours overall than the previous year. But while in 2023 only the first half of the month was wintry, this year the cold came just in time for the holidays and the Christmas thaw was cancelled. This led to record visitor numbers in numerous ski areas, although there were significant regional differences.

"When there's snow, the people come" - this industry truism was impressively confirmed in December 2024. When snow is combined with blue skies and free time thanks to holidays, the mountain railways' offerings attract people to the mountains in droves as ever. The recent, in some cases significantly increased, ticket prices have apparently not dampened the desire for snow.

"We have been fighting for survival since our first day of opening - because of the crowds," sums up a Bavarian mountain railway manager. Last year, it was the lack of snow during the Christmas holidays that posed an extreme challenge for lift operators across the country. This year, some Bavarian towns even had a white Christmas. In the German ski areas1, up to 445 kilometers of slopes were open in December. That was 6.8% more than in December of the previous year and 12.3% more than the 4-year average.

In the week from December 25th to 31st, which is particularly important for business, an average of 410 km of slopes were available in German ski areas, almost twice as many as in the previous year (211 km). This represents an increase of 19% compared to the 4-year average of 344 km. In total, an average of 151 km of slopes were available on each day in December. Last year it was 234 km - just not quite at the right time. The 4-year average for December is 184 km.

In total, up to 48% of ski resorts were open in December 2024, most of them on December 29th, after widespread snowfall on Christmas Eve and subsequent cold nights. In December last year, up to 58% of ski resorts were open and the 4-year average for December was 45% - so this was slightly exceeded. In the first week of December, only 4 to 5 ski resorts were open, and snowfall in the middle of the month led to the first notable expansion of offerings.

The season started in November: On November 15th, the first lift, the 8-seater chairlift on Poppenberg in Winterberg, went into operation, thanks to the temperature-independent snowmaking system used there. The first two ski areas to open slopes without snow were Kandel and Kalte Herberge in the Black Forest on November 22nd. One day later, another 12 ski areas in the Allgäu and Black Forest went into operation, with mostly snow-covered slopes.

This weekend, around 30% of Germany was covered in snow. At the beginning of December, Germany was largely free of snow again. The average snow cover of the last 20 years was not reached on a single day in December. Instead of the usual monthly average of around 20%, it was consistently below 5% until Christmas, and even after the holidays, the snow was limited to the mountainous areas and the Alpine foothills, covering less than 10% of the country's surface area.

Regional results

In the nine most important German ski regions, the December balance was very different. It ranged from sunshine in the Allgäu to total blackout in the Harz.

Upper Bavaria

In the 35 ski resorts in Upper Bavaria included in the sample, up to 144 km of slopes were open in December 2024, which corresponded to 54% of the total length of slopes in these ski resorts. In the previous year, up to 122 km were open, and the 4-year average was a maximum of 133 km.

You could ski in Upper Bavaria on all 31 days of December 2024, just like last year. On average, 49.1 km of slopes were open, compared to 74.1 km in December 2023. A maximum of 65% of the ski areas in the sample were open, compared to 49% in 2023. On average, 24% of the ski areas were open, compared to 26% last year.

The first ski area to open was the Zugspitze with 4.7 kilometers of slopes on November 29th.

On average, temperatures were well below those of December 2023, but above the long-term average, the number of snowy days fell slightly, and the maximum snow depth was well below average.

Allgäu

In the 24 ski resorts in the Allgäu included in the sample, up to 187 km of slopes were open in December 2024, which corresponded to 66% of the total length of slopes in these ski resorts. In the previous year, up to 163 km were open, with a maximum of 157 km on average over 4 years.

You could ski in the Allgäu on all 31 days of December 2024, just like last year. On average, 66.7 km of slopes were open, compared to 79.9 km in December 2023. A maximum of 75% of the ski areas in the sample were open, compared to 70% in 2023. On average, 37% of the ski areas were open, compared to 37% last year.

The first ski areas to open on November 23rd were the Buronlifte in Wertach, the Schwärzenlifte in Es-chach, Iberg and Sinswang with a total of 9.5 km of slopes.

On average, temperatures were significantly lower than those of December 2023, but slightly above the long-term average; the number of snowy days was slightly lower and the maximum snow depth was significantly below average.

Black Forest

In the 32 ski resorts in the Black Forest included in the sample, up to 73 km of slopes were open in December 2024, which corresponded to 62.5% of the total length of slopes in these ski resorts. In the previous year, up to 74 km were open, with a maximum of 58 km on average over four years.

You could ski in the Black Forest on 19 days in December 2024, compared to 31 days last year. On average, 18.5 km of slopes were open, compared to 23.9 km in December 2023. Of the ski areas in the sample, a maximum of 72% were open, compared to 91% in 2023. On average, 19% of the ski areas were open, compared to 24% last year.

The first ski areas to open were Kandel and Kalte Herberge on November 22nd with a total of 2.0 km of slopes.

Due to an inversion weather situation at the end of the month, temperatures on the peaks were still slightly higher than those of December 2023 and significantly above the long-term average, while the number of snowy days and the maximum snow depth remained significantly below the long-term averages.

Sauerland

In the 13 ski resorts in the Sauerland included in the sample, up to 7.3 km of slopes were open in December 2024, which corresponded to only 9.1% of the total length of slopes in these ski resorts. In the previous year, up to 44 km were open, and the 4-year average was a maximum of 31 km.

You could ski in the Sauerland on all 31 days of December 2024, just like last year. On average, 3.2 km of slopes were open, compared to 22.1 km in December 2023. A maximum of 31% of the ski areas in the sample were open, compared to 38% in 2023. On average, 11% of the ski areas were open, compared to 21% last year.

The first ski area to open thanks to weather-independent snowmaking was the Skiliftkarussell Winterberg on November 15th. The first ski area to open with conventional snowmaking was the Postwiese ski area in Neuastenberg on December 23rd.

Temperatures were only slightly below those of December 2023 and significantly above the long-term average. Snow days and maximum snow depth were significantly below average.

Bavarian Forest

In the 27 ski areas in the Bavarian Forest included in the sample, up to 17.5 km of slopes were open in December 2024, which corresponded to 27% of the total length of slopes in these ski areas. In the previous year, up to 32 km were open, and the 4-year average was a maximum of 22 km.

You could ski in the Bavarian Forest on 19 days in December 2024, compared to 31 days in December 2023. On average, 7.0 km of slopes were open, compared to 10.3 km in December 2023. Of the ski areas in the sample, a maximum of 33% were open, compared to 69% in 2023. On average, 10% of the ski areas were open, compared to 17% last year.

The first ski area to open was the Arber with 4.6 kilometers of slopes on November 13th.

Temperatures were still slightly higher than those of December 2023 and significantly above the long-term average. The number of snowy days remained slightly below the long-term average, while the maximum snow depth remained significantly below the long-term average.

Erzgebirge

In the 13 ski areas in the Ore Mountains included in the sample, up to 8.2 km of slopes were open in December 2024, which corresponded to 22% of the total length of slopes in these ski areas. In the previous year, up to 27 km were open, and on average over three years (no operations in December 2021 due to Corona requirements) a maximum of 16 km.

You could ski in the Ore Mountains on 18 days in December 2024, compared to 31 days in December last year. On average, 2.8 km of slopes were open, compared to 12.9 km in December 2023. A maximum of 46% of the ski areas in the sample were open, compared to 86% in 2023. On average, 12% of the ski areas were open, compared to 32% last year.

The first ski areas to open on December 14 were Holzhau, Eibenstock and Altenberg with 5.6 km of slopes.

The temperature was higher than in December 2023 and significantly above the long-term average. There were more snowy days than in the previous year, but the maximum snow depth was significantly lower.

Swabian Alb

In the 8 ski areas in the Swabian Alb included in the sample, up to 4.0 km of slopes were open in December 2024, which corresponded to 25.1% of the total length of slopes in these ski areas. In the previous year, up to 10.7 km were open, and the 4-year average was a maximum of 5.4 km.

In December 2024, you could ski on the Swabian Alb for 7 days, compared to 10 days in December 2023. On average, 0.6 km of slopes were open, compared to 2.3 km in December 2023. A maximum of 50% of the ski areas in the sample were open, compared to 75% in 2023. On average, 12.5% ​​of the ski areas were open, compared to 18% last year.

The first ski area to open was Donnstetten (Römerstein) with 1.0 km of slopes on 25 December.

Temperatures were on average lower than those of December 2023, but significantly above the long-term average. The number of snowy days was significantly higher than the previous year, but the maximum snow depth was significantly below average.

Resin

In the 9 ski areas in the Harz included in the sample, no skiing was offered in December 2024. In the previous year, up to 6.4 km were open on ten operating days, with a maximum of 5.3 km on average over four years.

Temperatures were on average at the level of December 2023, but significantly above the long-term average. The number of days with snow was significantly lower than the previous year and very significantly below the long-term average. The maximum snow depth was also significantly below average.

Thuringian Forest

In the 11 ski areas in the Thuringian Forest included in the sample, up to 2.0 km of slopes were open in December 2024, which corresponded to 12% of the total length of slopes in these ski areas. In the previous year, up to 7.8 km were open, and the 4-year average was a maximum of 4.9 km.

In December 2024, you could ski in the Thuringian Forest on 16 days, compared to 31 days in 2023. On average, 0.6 km of slopes were open, compared to 2.1 km in December 2023. Of the ski areas in the sample, a maximum of 20% were open, compared to 36% in 2023.

The first ski area to open was the Fallbachhang in Oberhof with 0.8 kilometers of slopes on December 16th.

On average, temperatures were lower than those of December 2023, but significantly above the long-term average. The number of snowy days was higher than the previous year and the long-term average. The maximum snow depth, however, was significantly below average.

Other low mountain ranges

The Wasserkuppe was the only ski resort from the sample of 11 ski resorts in the German low mountain ranges to offer skiing on 0.7 km of slopes from December 24th. In the previous year, up to 13.6 km were open in the ski resorts in question, and the 5-year average was a maximum of 4.2 km.

Temperatures on the Wasserkuppe were slightly lower than in December 2023, but significantly above the long-term average. The number of days with snow was significantly higher than the previous year and slightly above the long-term average. The maximum snow depth, however, was significantly below average.

About Montenius Consult:

The company Montenius Consult specializes in profitability calculations as well as visitor and revenue forecasts and business plans for cable car companies and ski areas. For this purpose, the company carries out extensive market monitoring, which, given the winter sports industry's strong exposure to climate change, also includes data on the range of slopes and weather as well as long-term climate measurement series.
Owner Christoph Schrahe is a lecturer in business planning as part of the university course Fundamentals of the Cable Car Industry at the Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences in Dornbirn/Austria, where he teaches prospective managers of cable car companies how to draw up sustainable business plans.

Christoph Schrahe also works for associations and regional organizations in the cable car industry. In autumn 2022, he prepared a report on the total energy requirements of the winter operations of German cable car and ski lift companies for the Association of German Cable Cars eV, for the Wintersport-Arena Sauerland e. V. and most recently for the Allgäuer Bergbahninitiative e. V. Investigations were carried out into the diverse effects of the cable car industry, from value creation to the CO2 balance.

https://www.montenius.de