Crans-Montana Prepares For Spring Skiing

Crans-Montana, contender for the 2027 FIS Alpine Skiing World Championships, has recently hosted a successful weekend of Women’s downhill racing in perfect conditions.

This marks the change in seasons and a view to the spring – but the skiing doesn’t stop, with the area open until Easter Monday, April 18.

Alongside the opening of the skiing area, a number of events and festivals are taking place and now that all Covid restrictions have been lifted in Switzerland and travel from the UK is fully open again, the resort is expecting a high number of visitors as the weather warms up and the days become longer.

Key events in Crans-Montana, March and April 2022:

• Defi des Faverges – March 19, 2022. Ski mountaineering race in Crans-Montana with three ability levels, including the Grand Defi, a 26 kilometre route for the most experienced ski athletes. Registration costs from CHF 100 to CHF 300. defidesfaverges.ch
• Nuits de la Neige – March 19, 2022. Special charity event that takes place annually in Crans-Montana. This year’s theme will help to raise money for children and families affected by the financial crisis in The Lebanon. Cost CHF 500 per individual ticket. www.nuitdesneiges.ch
• Ski Food Safari – March 26, 2022. Guided skiing around the slopes of Crans-Montana, visiting some of the mountain restaurants in the area where for CHF 10, skiers can sample one of the establishments specialities accompanied by a glass of wine. www.crans-montana.ch
• The Nines by Falken – April 4 to 9, 2022 (public day is April 9). The epic freestyle competition returns once again to Crans-Montana in the spring, with the world’s best freestyle skiers and snowboarders hitting some of the biggest air at Plaine Morte, high above the Rhone Valley at 3,000 metres. www.thenines.cc
• Caprices Music Festival – April 8 to 10 and April 15-17. This double weekend electronic music festival takes place in Crans-Montana during the day and through the night, both in venues on the mountain and in the town. It’s a must attend event for any fans of electronic and dance music. Cost CHF375 for full weekend pass. capricesfestival.com
  
  

Other activities available in Crans-Montana:

• Biathlon discovery – cross country skiing and shooting session for one hour. Cost CHF 15.
  Night tobogganing - one hour toboggan session descending the mountain at night. Meeting at 6pm at the Violettes lift car park. Cost CHF 15 (CHF10 for ages 7-12) not including toboggan (rental CHF 10).
• Fat Biking on snow – mountain bike with ‘fat’ snow tyres. A 1.5 hour guided session including one uplift. Cost CHF 15 not including bike (rental CHF 25).  
• Scooter, trampoline and skateboard lessons for kids and teenagers – a one hour session in the indoor action sports centre, Alaïa Chalet. Cost CHF 10 (age 8-12) and CHF 15 (9-15).