This Sunday, January 5, 2025, last day of the school holidays, and for some, last slides on the ski slopes of Saint-Lary Soulan. The Hautes-Pyrénées resort is smiling with a fairly exceptional attendance rate at the end of the year.
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Sun, big blue skies and rather mild temperatures. Ideal conditions for a few ski descents, this Sunday January 5, 2025, in the Saint-Lary Soulan resort. Having arrived from Nantes the day before, Axel has only one word on his program for the day: skiing. And he's not the only one. It’s quite simple, these Christmas holidays have launched the season wonderfully well in the Hautes-Pyrénées. The first assessment is described as exceptional.
Since December 11, opening day, the Saint-Lary Soulan ski resort has been on cloud nine. “It's been two years since we've had such decent snow conditions.” for these end-of-year holidays, says Akim Boufaid, the director. And the visitors were not mistaken. Some came from Bordeaux, with family, for the weekend. On vacation in the region while While they live in Reunion Island, others introduce their children to the joys of skiing and snow.
“It’s been two years since we’ve had such decent snow conditions,” says the director of the Saint-Lary resort.
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© Justine Salles / FTV
“We are off to a good start to the seasonrecognizes Akim Boufaid, the director of the ski area. With an end-of-year vacation report that is even exceptional. We had very good attendance over the entire period with an average of more than 8,500 skiers per day, and peaks of 12,000.“A great performance for Saint-Lary, one of the three ski areas in the Pyrenees managed by Altiservice.
At an altitude of 1700 meters, more than 95% of the area and 52 slopes in total were open to the public this Sunday, January 5, 2025. A very good opening rate.
“It's the snow that is magical and makes you happy“, according to Akim Boufaid. With global warming, snowpack management has been an integral part of skiing for several years. And when there is fresh snow, things obviously get better immediately. Saint-Lary should keep smile, the weather forecast is rather favorable.We are expecting further snowfall and cold weather at the start of the week which will allow us to improve the condition of the slopes and plan the rest of the season more confidently.“
Also read: 10,500 people in one day: how this famous ski resort almost beat its 2017 attendance record
The director of the Saint-Lary tourist office, Philippe Jugie, confirms this good start to the season with overnight stays up 20% between Christmas and New Year. The basis for a record season. And the month of February also looks good, according to this tourism professional. And the traders are delighted.
The end-of-year celebrations will have been an opportunity to rub hands in many resorts in France. The occupancy rate reached 85%, according to the National Association of Mountain Resort Mayors. A figure up 3% compared to last year. “Figures that reassure everyone a little“, according to the president of the association, Jean-Luc Boch.
(Comments collected in Saint-Lary Soulan by Justine Salles and Olivier Denoun)
