Austria's top ski resorts opening early

by Denise Clarke

A number of Austria's top ski resorts are opening early this season, the country's national tourist office has confirmed.

The organisation said that 'plentiful' snowfalls and low temperatures have led to winter sports hotspots all over Austria brining their openings forward by more than two weeks.

In some areas of the county there is already more than a metre of snow cover right down to the valley stations.

A number of popular resorts will be welcoming visitors from the end of this week, including Mayrhofen, Wilder Kaiser and Zillertal in the Tirol region of Austria.

Major locations in Salzburg will also be opening within the next seven days, including Zell am See and Saalbach-Hinterglemm.

In some areas skiers have been enjoying time on the slopes for weeks, including Schladming-Dachstein, which opened on October 26th, and Kitzbuehel, which has been operating since November 2nd.