"What will the snow be like this winter" is a question we get asked in the buildup to winter. This year the question is more general. "What will the season be like this year".
 
After two years of uncertainty, we are all looking for definite answers. 
 
We want to know if we will buy a season pass? Shall I get those new powder skis? How is Brexit affecting English ski instructor numbers? Can I Land a 360? When can I go skiing? 
 
To help out, here are a few of my crystal ball predictions for winter ski season 2021/22.

1. MORE FAMILY SKIING

Last year, a lot of people missed out on their annual ski holiday. Because skiing is one of the rare sports that families can do together, you'll see more family groups skiing about together this winter, enjoying time on the slopes.

2. 2022 IS GOING TO BE A LA NINA WINTER

La Nina is a weather system that causes cooler than average seawater in the Pacific ocean and affects weather worldwide. This winter just gone was also a La Nina winter, so you can expect similar weather patterns. This means good early season conditions and early openings, a really cold January and alternating periods of big dumps of snow and high-pressure bluebird days.

3. TOURISM WILL BE BACK

The last two years have been difficult, that's for sure, but governments around the world are getting better at working out solutions to travel. It might be fiddly and complicated in some places, but it's happening, and it will only get better.

4. FEWER SKI INSTRUCTORS 

Brexit means that you'll hear fewer British accents amongst the resort populations this winter. Work permits for temporary British staff aren't possible this winter, and as a result, our team of ski instructors is slightly smaller and more international. Less English ski instructors will affect our levels of availability, and we expect to see this happening across the alps especially in areas that are more reliant in UK seasonal staff. 

5. THE SKI TOURING BOOM CONTINUES
Ski touring boomed last year as people wanted to get away from crowds and found delight and fitness in the backcountry. Expect to see more interest in this for 2021/22 but in a safe way. Resorts with rando parks like Morgins will do well because it's ski touring without necessarily needing the knowledge of avalanche off-piste awareness. We expect to do more intro to ski touring and avalanche awareness training in our private lessons.