Scenes of worrying proportions were in The Alps this weekend when the Italian resort of Cervinia opened its slopes for autumn skiing on Saturday 24th October 2020. However due to huge crowds and apparently flouting of Covid-19 restrictions, it was forced to close after an Emergency Decree from the Italian Government on Sunday. It seems the resort are awaiting further instruction from the “powers that be” and everyone is waiting in anticipation for what happens next.
Whilst it looks like the ski lifts and slopes will be open for professional ski racers and snowboard competitions, it is feared that a longer-term closure for recreational skiers and boarders might be on the cards – current speculation is that this could run to the end of November, meaning that the official resort winter opening date of 28th November 2020 will go ahead as planned as long as specific guidelines are adopted and validated by the Technical-Scientific Committee. Good news for the ski season!
It seems that the problem started when an unprecedented number of weekend visitors descended on the resort on Saturday and photos of the crowds soon went viral. Statements from resort state that people were queuing outside to avoid being inside the lift pass building. The resort is understandably upset by the media coverage, maintain that the photos misrepresent the situation and they say that police were on hand and monitoring the apparent situation. They have given every reassurance that they did, and are continuing to, undertake extensive safety measures as a result of the resurgence of Covid-19 cases.
Saturday 24th October was the most beautiful day in The Alps and photos show that The Matterhorn was looking absolutely resplendent. Can you blame those 2000+ skiers for descending on this wonderful village to partake in the sport we all love so much after the abrupt closure of all resorts in March this year? Photos certainly seem to suggest that the slopes themselves were fantastic, well managed and skiing beautifully. Had we been there, I have no doubt that we would have done the same!
