The latest information appears to predict a “La Nina” and positive “North Atlantic Oscillation” (NAO+) which would forecast a colder than normal start to the season (which is great for freezing the ground so the first snowfall sticks) followed by a mild, wet winter which normally brings abundant snow to the higher ski resorts, such as Chamonix, Val d’Isere, Tignes.

Last season was an El Nino and NAO- which resulted in the coldest UK winter in 30 years with 7 consecutive days where the temperature did not exceed zero degrees celsius.

Post-1950 years with La Nina and NAO+ are in green. Source: pistehors.com Red line shows 5th order polynomial trend line

Alpe d’Huez has a packed events schedule for the season…

Andros Trophy – 18^th – 19^th December 2009 – This annual party of sports cars on the ice reunites some of the greatest champions of the track: Alain Prost, Jean-Pierre Dayraut and Olivier Panis. There’s also a treacherous Pilot Motorbike race to get the pulses racing!

Energiapura Atomic Cup – 9^th – 10^th January 2010 – This is a huge slalom event with almost 600 children taking part in this 2 day event.

Skicross World Cup – 11^th-13^th January 2010 – Alpe d’Huez hosts a stage of the Skicross Wolrd Cup just one month before Skicross makes its debut in the Vancouver Olympic Games.

Festival of Alpe d’Huez – 19^th-24^th January 2010 – For one week, the Film Industry sets up in Alpe d’Huez, in a warm and joyful atmosphere and presents the newest comedy films in France.

Crystals of the Oisans  - 21^st March 2010 – This event brings together children from 5 to 12 years from all the Oisans region for one day of alpine competition on the slalom course.

COQ D’OR Skiopen – 24^th-27^th March 2010 – 1,200 young skiers take part in the Coq d?r Skiopen every year. This four-day event consists of the Skiopen pre-qualifiers (giant slalom), the Skiopen qualifiers (giant slalom) and the National Skiercross (technical courses), the final (parallel slalom) and an ESF Cup.

Mundialito – 3^rd-5^th April 2010 - Organized by Olympique Huez at the Sports and Congress Centre, an indoor football tournament between 12 teams (resort teams and national teams).

Comic Book Festival – 9^th-11^th April 2010 – For three days, the kingdom of comic strips will be presented by talented writers and cartoonists. The event will include Exhibitions, workshops, book signings, in collaboration with Éditions Glénat.

If you’ve only got time for a flying visit to the resort then why not make use of the bargain offer on 1 day ski passes and get a Saturday pass for just 29 euros. If only we lived closer!

The UK ski market is expected to book much later this year but peak availability could still be scarce due to demand from other countries. The claim came from independent bed bank Holiday Brokers which estimates the UK ski market is running 30% down year on year. Sales director Brian Young said that while UK bookings were down sales from other euro-zone areas are much stronger, “which is going to cause a lack of availability for peak booking periods”. He added: “The UK has been much slower than usual to book new year and half term periods, whereas European skiers have been much quicker off the mark, meaning that capacity over peaks is already limited, so travel agents should start promoting offers now, as it really is a case of now or never.”

Easter holidays in 2010 for the French start two weeks later meaning that capacity during the first two weeks of April for the UK skiers is not so restricted, resulting in lower prices and plenty of availability, according to the company. Young added that ski is the same size as the cruise market “but nowhere near as discount led, so agents can make good margins, they just need to spend some time researching the product”.

Thanks to www.travelmole.com for this story.