Scottish ski centres celebrate bumper snowfall

Scotland's ski centres are celebrating a bumper start to the winter season after a week of heavy snow in the north of the country.

While the weather has brought major disruption in the north east, snow sports venues say they have been "blessed" with perfect conditions.

It is a welcome turnaround for sites including Cairngorm Mountain and Lecht Ski Centre, which have struggled with little snowfall over the last two years.

Snowsport Scotland said the conditions were "as good as we can expect in Scotland" for those taking to the slopes this weekend.

Snowsport Scotland chief executive Iain Ramsay-Clapham said: "We should see all the mountains commercially have a really good start to their season.

"Last year, for most of the mountains they drew a blank.

"We often see the best of our conditions at the end of the season in Scotland.

"But to be blessed with these sorts of conditions now, in January, is certainly worth capitalising upon."

The number of days with snow falling in Scotland has dropped by between 25% and 30% since the 1970s, according to the Met Office.

Last year, some ski centres were forced to delay the start of the winter season until February.

This year, Cairngorm Mountain, near Aviemore, was able to open for winter sports in November after snowfall in parts of the Highlands.

Ramsay-Clapham said: "With so much snowfall, particularly at the Lecht and on Cairngorm, we've got as good conditions as we can expect in Scotland."

He said it would bring much-needed commercial revenue to Scotland's mountains.

"Revenue at this time of year makes a massive difference, and it means they're well set up for the rest of the season," he said.

"But added to that, it's the lift in motivation for people to actually be inspired to go out and give the sport a go."

The Lecht Ski Centre, between Tomintoul and Cockbridge in the Cairngorms, faced one of its worst seasons last year.

It only opened for one weekend with natural snow, relying on snow-making equipment the rest of the time to provide coverage on its lower slopes.

Manager Annette Cockburn said: "The snow is amazing, this is a real boost to us, it makes a huge difference.

"Natural snow makes it a lot easier. We've really relied a lot on our snow factory for the last couple of years, which has meant we can still operate.

"But it only means we can do the lover levels, and when we've got high demand people want to get up the top of the hill and go on longer runs."

Cockburn said the weather this week was a "welcome sight" for the business, which was founded by her father in the 1970s.

"We still really rely on natural snow to keep going," she said.

"Everyone is so keen to get out, the phone hasn't stopped ringing.

"Everyone is happy because they not had a proper ski season in Scotland for a couple of years now."

Beginner skier Steve Fraser, 34, from Forres, said the conditions at Lecht were "absolutely brilliant" for his family.

"Two months ago we did the dry ski slope at Aviemore, but the fresh snow is totally different, it's the first time we've done it," he said.

"We've booked a ski holiday for March in France - me my wife and the two kids, so we're trying to get in as much practice as we can."

Cat Denholm, from Aberdeen, was at Lecht with her son Harris,

She said: "It's been a nice activity to do when the schools are shut.

"I'm not a skier myself but my son is, he's been flying down the slopes and really enjoying it.

"It's been really challenging in Aberdeen getting anywhere, it's just nice to get out and do something different and a bit of positivity for a change."

North east residents have been disrupted during a week of heavy snow and ice, with schools closed across the region.

John Clark, director of Lecht Snowsports School, said it was "anxiously waiting" for roads to reopen so skiing could begin at the centre.

He said conditions were ideal for teaching snowsports.

"Underfoot, you couldn't ask for better," he said. "The snow is soft enough for when folk fall over, but it's compact enough to have a really good surface.

"And its deep, on the beginner slope we've easily got a metre of snow. Mother nature has given us a really good base that will hopefully tide us over for the next two or three months."

He added: "We can get back to the glory days, like when I was younger, when we used to get great snow all season long."