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Corona winter has begun. Several ski areas have kicked off the season. At Andermatt UR, Saas-Fee VS or at Davos GR, skis can already be buckled up. The mountain calls.
The problem: no one knows how the situation will play out. It may continue to deteriorate and the gondolas will have to stop. But the people’s need remains: they want some fresh air. They want to go out into nature, to the snow. This is also shown in the summer numbers. Arosa, for example, posted record results.
In this situation, apparently many are rediscovering winter sports. Intersport Switzerland sees the snowshoes emerge. “We have to prepare for the fact that ski areas cannot be opened,” Intersport manager Roger Riegendinger tells “CH Media” newspapers. “Snowshoes are already in short supply from suppliers. We have therefore informed our specialist dealers to take care of it. “
Ski companies grind production
Meanwhile, ski manufacturers shut down their processes. The Swiss company Stöckli, which actually had high growth ambitions, is reducing its production by 15 percent. At Austrian competitor Fischer Sports, Managing Director Franz Föttinger expects a drop in sales of around 20 percent.
Competitor Atomic recently gave similar figures to the Austrian daily ‘Kurier’. After all, French ski manufacturer Rossignol is known to have cut the salaries of its ski athletes by 25 percent.
Hope remains. This is also proved by the season opener at the 3000 meter high Gemsstock in Uri. The season started on the weekend at the local Andermatt mountain. A maximum of 1,000 winter sports enthusiasts could hit the slopes. The limit is already completely exhausted on Saturday and Sunday. The gondola ride had to be booked in advance. People without a mask were not allowed. (ise)
