Snowsure: 2.8
- Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing
- Is often closed due to a lack of snow
- Occasionally suffers from a lack of snow
- Rarely suffers from a lack of snow
- Mt Olympus is snowsure even in the poorest seasons
Visitor reviews for Mt Olympus Ski Resort
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(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
Latest
January 09, 2012
Nikos from
Cyprus
Nikos from
Cyprus
To the poster below who had a perfect day, that is because you went on a week day when everybody works. Most people don't have this luxury.
Go the following weekend and describe us what you see. Half our lines on the lifts, crowded slopes, 1 hour stuck on the road to go there and an hour stuck on the way back. So it is not just an hour from home, but two hours at least if you consider weekend traffic...
And you found everyone helpful because you went with an instructor. Go alone, on a weekend, after the 2 sets of barely usable skis have been rented out, and see if you get good attitude and good equipment.
January 09, 2012
Mark from
Cyprus
Mark from
Cyprus
I want to say to the person who posted below, that I completely agree 100% with him, except for one thing.
The unprofessional and poor attitude displayed by the staff in Troodos is not an indication of the service in Cyprus.
You have to realize that the guys in Troodos are government employees, with NO training whatsoever in running a ski resort.
So if you want to blame someone, blame our incompetent government.
Another thing, there is some money to be spent for Troodos. Just no one who really cares and has the skills to plan and execute effectively. The spent money buying snow cannons that they don't use. They spent money building a water dam that they don't use. They spent money buying a new bull and are too lazy to properly groom the slopes (and lacking the skill to do so in any case).
Now I have been to resorts in Greece that are just a bit larger than Troodos (6 lifts, 1km the longest run) and not with much better weather conditions and with less money.
But they understand snow sports. They understand that you need features, kickers, jumps, rails, trails just off the slopes. You need variety. You need to make it interesting. And they did. Troodos slopes have to be the most featureless slopes in the world.
How much does it cost to make a kicker? To place a piece of wood in the summer? To make a table (i.e. rail)? To make some runs through the trees?
It costs nothing. just a few minutes of your time, good intentions, love for snow sports and a bit of common sense, things that the Troodos staff completely lack.
January 09, 2012
Tim Lane from
Cyprus
Tim Lane from
Cyprus
Had a great day at Mount Olympus yesterday. I am a beginner and went with a friend who is an instructor.
I found the staff helpful and the equipment we hired was of good quality,
The snow conditions were perfect, it snowed most of the day. And the snow on the ground was great for skiing.
The queue for the lift was never more than five people and the lift only broke down once during the day.
The only bad points were that the food is expensive in the cafe and that we had a lot of trouble getting to and from the resort as many people were trying to drive up in cars that were unsuitable and ended up blocking the road.
It was great fun anyway and very cool to have a skiing resort within an hour's drive from home.
January 08, 2012
carson from
Cyprus
carson from
Cyprus
I understand the points about the short season in cyprus and therefore the lack of funds for improving the resort. The reason I have trouble being sympathetic with the people running the show is the terrible attitude they have towards the customer!
Last year I arrived at the rental shack at 9:30 to find there was only one snowboard left with a base that might as well have been made of tree bark. I decided to give it a go anyway and took the stuff outside. When I put the board on I realised it was far too narrow for the boots I was given. There was no way I was going to be able to use this board with these boots. I took it back inside and asked if it could be changed - they said no, there was nothing else. I said well thanks, I'm going to have to return this because it is useless. They said ok and took the board and boots, but as I stood there waiting for a refund I realised the lady behind the till had no intention of refunding me! When I asked she said they don't do refunds. I said it's only been 5 minutes since I rented this plank of wood. She huffed and grumbled and finally got her boss who agreed, no way was I getting a refund. They had ripped me off!
Fine, you can't afford new snowboards and skis. You can afford to wax them once in a while (another year the board i rented would only make it two thirds of the way down sun valley 1 it was so rough!) and when you fail completely to provide any sort of functioning equipment, you can definitely afford to show some common courtesy and refund the considerable sum of money you have charged!
This is quite typical customer service in this country so I shouldn't be surprised.
March 14, 2011
RedDevil from
Cyprus
RedDevil from
Cyprus
I definitely love going to Mt Troodos for snowboarding.
The amazing ready-to-fall structure of the ski rentals place really gives the mountain a unique atmosphere (yes, if you haven't realized I'm being ironic).
The fact that on a busy day you would be lucky to get a snowboard to rent and if you do it will be worst kind! The boards are all scratched up and probably not been waxed for years. The boots? Ha! I rented a pair yesterday and the laces were replaced by some kind of rope... disgusting! Not even to mention the hygiene part...do they even realize that kids go there too? And what's up with the drunk dude that makes the decision for you when you ask for equipment? Terrible attitude. I think calling it a 'ski resort' is a magnificent overstatement :)
March 11, 2011
CostisSnow from
Cyprus
CostisSnow from
Cyprus
Snow update for Troodos:
Fresh snow. All slopes open
PS: Just my comments on everything said in the posts below:
1. It has been snowing since Tuesday. Today is the first day all the slopes open this week.
2. The webcam has been broken since Tuesday. The ski federation site says it is the fault of the Cyprus Telecomunication Authority. I called Cyprus Telecomunication Authority and they say it is NOT their problem. So who is lying? Why does the webcam breaks almost every week? Why do you have just one webcam?
3. What the reviewer below said about Troodos being a circus is true. Don't believe us. Go there this Sunday. And take your cameras. And then come here and post your comments please.
4. Also check out the lifts and report how many T-bars are missing.
5. Also tell us how many times the Sun Valley 1 lift will break down during just one day.
Instead of spending millions on a new bully, snow canons and water dams that you have obviously not enough knowledge to operate, there are a million things that could have done to improve the resort and that would cost a fraction of what you spent.
If you don't know what these are, quit and let other people with more knowledge to take over.
As for the recommendation from the ski federation below to join, I would say don't even bother. We know very well what is going on. Are you going to go against your own political parties? Need I say more? Will you strike and close roads so that you can get things done? Or will that dissatisfy your friends in higher government places?
Give us a break
March 11, 2011
PK from
Cyprus
PK from
Cyprus
I could not agree more with a recent reviewer. Excellent post describing, very unfortunately, the true and miserable situation at Troodos...
I could further comment that the personnel handling the lifts not only are clueless of handling ski-lifts and skiers but also they do not speak a word of Greek or English!
Also frustrating is the fact that you may call the federation and ask if the lifts operate. They assure you that they definitely operate, reconfirming the information that is available on-line claiming that the lifts operate. After securing these assurances you drive all the way up there, buy ticket and the lifts may be closed for no reason and without letting anyone know! This has happened several times and the excuse was always that there were not many people and thus we had to cut the cost down!
They have been let to destroy every opportunity for developing a decent ski resort.
By the way driving from any town to Troodos is about 1 hour, while flying to Lebanon and enjoying 80 km of slopes, instead of a fraction of a km, takes about 20 minutes....
Thanks,
PK
March 10, 2011
Sandra D from
Switzerland
Sandra D from
Switzerland
I have been coming to Cyprus one or two times a year for the last decade (have family here) and me and my children love skiing (and snowboarding for the kids).
I read in the posts below the disagreements people have on whether enough has been done in Troodos and people should enjoy it or if there is still room for improvement. So I will give you my opinion as an outsider who has been to more than a dozen countries around the world for skiing.
It is true that there are limited resources in Cyprus and the weather is not helping either.
However, in recent years (decades) man has dominated over nature.
The situation in Troodos is really pitiful. No matter what the ski federations say or the resort people, even if they really did try, then it just means that they failed completely and miserably.
Nowhere in the world exist such substandard infrastructure as in Troodos. In any other civilized country in the world, Troodos would be closed and would not get a license to operate as a ski resort. The people who run it are obviously ignorant and fully incompetent.
The reason people don't come to Troodos is because of the undescribable situation that exists there. You really have to live it to believe it. You have to drive up there and get stuck for up to an hour in traffic in Troodos square (which has been renovated recently!!!). Then if you make it through, you will need chains, even if it snowed 2 days ago because they are not capable of properly preparing for snow and then properly clean it.
If you do make it to the ski resorts (you and you car fine... you should thank god) then you have to go into the ski rental place and pray for god for it not to fall on your head. How is it possible that this "building" has a license to operate? How can they let people in there?
It will take you about half an hour to get a ticket and another half hour to rent your skis. If you have many family members, it will take more time. Lift and rental will set you back about 45 Euro. It may not sound much but consider that there are just 4 slopes varying between 150 - 500 meters...
Also note that if you go to Troodos within 2 days of snowing probably only 1 or 2 of the four slopes will be open because it takes them a really, really, really long time to groom 4 of the smallest slopes in the world.
So after about 2 hours of delay, disappointment and frustration, you are read to ski. Or are you? You go to the lift and you get a good look at the equipment you rented and you are fearful of your life. So after waiting for about half hour at the lift, it takes you 1 minute to get to the top of the slope and 30 seconds to get back down. And then you just keep doing that. If you are luck that is... because it is very likely that the lift will break... and you have to wait another half hour for someone to come and... walk up the slope to fix it. So you wait for half hour in line, ski for 30 seconds, repeat that a few times, then about every couple of hours the lift breaks, you wait until it is fixed and then continue.
But it does not end here. The slopes are like a circus. Not because of how awful they are groomed but because they allow anyone on the slopes. And I mean anyone. People without skis, pregnant mothers, amatuer photographers, little kids playing in the snow. It is a playground for all.
And then you think about taking a break to eat. If you are a family of four and you just eat sandwiches and refreshments, that will set you back another 40 Euro!
And trust me, the way back down Troodos with your car, is even worse than coming up. And where is the police in all this, nowhere.
A reviewer in another post below, says that they have done many things and people are ignorant. Not so my friend. People say what they see. And in the last 40 years, the only visible improvement is one chair lift. Nothing else.
If they bought snow canons but do not use them (and the don't!) then it is a waste of money and bad planning. If they built a dam to hold 300 tons of water but do not use it for snow making then, it is no improvement. It is just bad planning and bad management of money. If they bought a new bully but they are too lazy to groom four tiny slopes, then this is a bad purchase too, a waste of money and you should have kept the old one...
The ski lift improvements they talk about, we have no idea what they are. Maybe you should have brought the inspectors during operation of the slopes, when they break down every half hour and when half of the t bars are missing and not during the summer...
And then they tell us about a computerized system for printing tickets. Wow. Are you serious? I will not even comment on this one. Computers came out in the 60s.
Then the tell us about what they will do. Please don'. Do it and then talk about it. Building a new restaurant has been talked for at least 10 years and nothing happens. Don't tell us what you will do. Because if we judge from what happened in the last 40 years then we are not very hopeful about the future... to say the least.
February 22, 2011
MichaliZ from
Cyprus
MichaliZ from
Cyprus
Conclusions resulting from ignorance can be very harmful, and it is obvious that other reviewers are not informed of the efforts been made the past 8 years by new young people who took over the Federation in order to improve it. Others can say what they wish and I don’t wish to comment or solve any sociological problems of the Cyprus society. Snow and skiing in Cyprus can only be seen through the realities and facts of Cyprus though. Anything else is utopic.
The facts are:
-We have, at very best, a two month ski season (8 weekends) (Mid January till Mid March). The past few seasons were in the region of one month. Last year we only had one week! Snow level usually is on the level of 50 cm and never exceeds the 1 meter. Few decades back we had 2 and 3 meters of snow! Not nowadays. We are not the Alps and our mountain is 1930 meters on an island low in the Mediterranean.
-Running costs related to maintenance of lifts, buildings and slopes, staff salaries, and consumables (electricity and petrol) are almost fixed regardless if the station operates for a week or a month. A ski station on the Alps, in Bulgaria or Lebanon has the same costs if not less, operating for 4 full months serving more people. Therefore, in our case enough income should be generated in less time in order to stay operational.
-The Government and other officials (Forestry Dept, KOA, KOT, EMS) have other agendas, other priorities, many mouths to feed, other issues to handle. The ski station which operates for two months at very best, serving a minority of the population is insignificant.
The main projects and improvements made recently were:
-A strategic plan was submitted to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry with ALL improvements required at the ski station (lifts, buildings, roads, machinery). The strategic plan was included in the Ministry’s plan for Athletic Tourism, which was altogether stopped soon after, due to lack of funds. Regardless of that the individual projects in the strategic plan continued on a case by case basis with KOA.
-The replacement of the old 60’s ski lift which had major EU safety issues, with a used chairlift. The initial request to the government was for a lift which was to start from NF building, go to the top and continue to the SV area, thus connecting the two skiing areas. It was going to be placed closer to the radars and thus allowing the expansion of the NF slope. The Forestry department did not agree with the new plans provided because some trees had to be cut. KOA did not have sufficient funds to provide for a bigger and better lift. The current lift in terms of capacity, compared to the old lift, is a definite improvement. Currently it is operated in slower mode due to the fact that its operating with a generator (less electricity) and not a direct electric supply. Also it should be slowed down when non skiers are embarking.
-The purchase of a new 'bully' for the grooming of the slopes. The old 'bully' was there since the 80s and was full of problems. The new 'bully' brought after KOA approval and tender procedures has improved the slope grooming.
-Water supply for the NF building was finally connected, since there was no running water supply at the building since it was built! The water supply was coming from a 300 tons water reserve collecting water from snow when melting. Piping had to be placed starting from Troodos Square with supervision by all government bodies. Expenses were covered by the Federation.
-Snow machine operation was and still is limited due to the luck of water supply. The water reserve (300 tons) was enough only to operate the snow machines for one night! In order to see significant snow production the snow machines need to work for several days and nights. After use it was necessary to wait for the snow to melt (high temperatures), collect water and work for another night. Initially, an open lake request was done to the Forestry department which was turned down and therefore the limited underground water reserve was made, without any steady water supply. The snow machines were and still are underutilized and a very expensive solution (electricity and water). A couple of years ago a study was made for the relocation of the snow machines at SV with the main difficulty being water supply. Drilling for water is next to impossible according to geologists, the pumping of water from sources lower areas (below Troodos square) is very expensive. The creation of a lake at SVII, is a more approachable solution with many approvals procedures since the water irrigates villages below Troodos.
-The new plans for the new restaurant and ski shop at SV were made. The project dates back when president of the Republic was Mr Vassiliou! and the plan was to build a building similar to the NF building. The land was acquired from Forestry Department and it was going to cost many millions of pounds then, therefore it never materialized. The new plans are for a new plain and simple building with a budget of 1mil euro. Initially, the project was approved after a lot of effort and convincing (Ministries, Parliament, KOA, KOT). By the time the plans were ready its cost increased marginally (1.2 mil), and it was put on hold. Now there is approval to continue with the involvement of both KOA and KOT. Hopefully it will start soon!
-Lighting of the NF slope was another project in the pipeline, in order to increase the utilization time of the main slope. After approvals from the Ministry of defence and the environmentalist who were claiming disturbance of the lights to birds, the project was put on hold by KOA because of limited funds, even though the budget was not high, but if added to the new chair lift, skiing was going to get significant funds compared to other sports.
-All ski lifts had to undergo inspection and improvements in order to comply with EU safety regulations. The inspections were done by foreign organisations required by the EMS, since EMS had no idea what a ski lift was. Significant costs were involved for the improvements required as well as for the inspections, all undertaken by the Federation. Safety measures imposed are mostly the reasons why the lifts stop, since users are usually abusing them.
-Implementation of a computerized ski rental system which gives control and safeguards rentals, though the old ski shop construction and space does not help as it is. Benefits will be more visible once the new modern ski shop is in place.
The above are only some of the visible issues (the tip of the iceberg) tackled by the Federation the past 8 years and there are many other issues and efforts made towards several directions. If other reviewers wish to join forces with the Board members, they are most welcome to show their faces at the Federation office anytime and volunteer, since everybody in the Board are volunteers, and spend their own time and money towards the improvement of the station.
February 16, 2011
Another true Cypriot from
Cyprus
Another true Cypriot from
Cyprus
I completely agree with the two posts below of Hancock and A True Cypriot.
It is unbelievable that some people want to settle and make us believe that it is "ok" to have a substandard "ski resort" just because "this is Cyprus." Unbelievable!
Some other reviewers are the voices of negativity, the voices of idleness, the voices of do nothing. We should not listen to them. They have selfish motives for not wanting any development or progression on Troodos.
These people who want no change, nothing to become better and to be happy with the status quo must be people working for the resort or people in the ski federations.
We will NOT stand for that.
Troodos can be a better ski resort.
There is money to make it a better ski resort, it just takes people with common sense and a vision.
And we must remove negative people and the others further below from any power because they just want to take Cyprus back to to the middle ages.
And a note for Hancock, don't bother with the ski federations. They are negative, with no will to change anything. They will tell you that they want to change things but it is very difficult, blah, blah, blah. A bunch of 60 and 70 year olds that do not understand how big business skiing and snowboarding have grown to be.
Nearest