The warmer than normal start to the season in the Alps exacerbated growing problems for low-altitude ski areas that have been growing over time anyway due to climate change.

Germany’s ski areas were particularly hard hit with only about 10% of the hundreds of small areas there having enough snow to open for Christmas and New Year, even now after some cold and snow many remain closed.

Now the Hocheck lift company in Oberaudorf has installed an alpine dry slope with Slopetrax mats from Skitrax World for the resort’s children’s area to ensure they can keep skiing and snowboarding. It also plans to add a bigger slope ahead of next winter.

“This fixed installation will continue to be used throughout the summer. Further, longer installations are planned at the Hocheck adventure mountain for next winter. The aim is to be able to offer a “ski and board safe” ski slope in Oberaudorf from October,” said Wolfgang Schmidt of Skitrax World, who added, “Should such a winter with little snow occur again for the next season, the Hocheck skiing area is prepared for it and does not have to stop lift and skiing operations because of too little snow.”