Mt Olympus 6 Day Snow Forecast

Petros H. from Cyprus writes:

I also want to agree with a recent post below that emphasizes the importance of having features in a resort, and thus making it interesting, for more than 15 minutes.

Troodos has NO features. Troodos is the most featureless resort on the face of the planet. Troodos is the least interesting resort in the history of ski resorts.

Now, if you listen to the ski association people, the government people or the people who work at the resort they will tell you that a) there is not enough money, b) the forest department does not let them cut down trees c) there is not enough people and d) there is not enough snow.

Excuses, excuses, excuses.

How much money does it take to shape the slopes in the summer, open new paths on the side of existing slopes or between the trees, smooth out the areas between the trees, remove some rocks, make some kickers? place a wooden structure, a tree log, in the summer so that when it snows, the snow naturally creates a natural kicker? or some table rails (and not iron rails)? or shape the sides of Hera and Dias slopes, in some areas, to resemble a quarter pipe? shape a few paths on the side Hera where there is already enough incline, so that it naturally becomes a jump when it snows?

Nothing. No money required. And you don't even have to cut down one tree.

What about the area between the Hera ski lift and the Hera slope? What about the area between the Hera slope and the Dias slope? What about the area between the sun valley 1 slope and the sun valley 1 family path? These are just a few examples. There are so many things that can be done.

What about the run between the top of Dias that goes towards the road in front of the ski rental shop, on the side of the road, then behind the mountain and ends up at the Hera ski lift? it is over a km long. Why is this not properly shaped out and groomed? Widened? the parts that are flat fixed?

It just takes a bit of work in the summer. No money. No cutting trees. You need someone with a bit of common sense, who has been in resorts outside Cyprus (and I don't mean Lebanon), loves the sport and is below 40 years of age.

And if you do this, more people will come and more money made off of them. Did you notice that despite having the best snow season in years, the traffic on the slopes is the same or less?

But if you are an old-school skier above the age of 50, like all the people who run the show in Troodos and the ski associations, then you do not understand what features in a resort mean. They are just satisfied skiing down a slope. Hurray!

So enough with the excuses. Enough with blaming the forest department. Enough with telling us that you managed to install a chair lift (slowest in Europe) on Dias. Enough. Enough is enough.

Everyone associated with running the resort, are all simply, completely and utterly incompetent and indifferent. They are completely to blame for the poor state of the slopes.

And on top of that, why would I risk my life driving to uncleaned dangerous roads to pay 23 euros for the lift, (more if you rent equipment), food and gas to go down a featureless 300 meter slope?

No, thank you. Already did once this year and it is not happening again.

2012-01-18