When does the season open at Rosa Khutor? Explosive growth of Krasnaya Polyana

The page is constantly updated as reliable information becomes available.

From the moment the first snow falls in the mountains of Krasnaya Polyana, our editorial office receives a daily flurry of questions about the opening date winter season. And when about a meter of snow piles up at an altitude above 2000m, the question transforms from “when will the slopes open?” in “why don’t they let you go up with your equipment?” Now we will try to answer these two most current issues ahead of the ski season.

Every year, in the off-season - spring and autumn, the resorts' cable cars are closed for maintenance, at which time specialists carefully check their condition and prepare them for uninterrupted operation during the season. Therefore, even if snow falls very early, until prevention is carried out, ski slopes will not be opened.

To open trails for skiing, it is usually necessary for at least 1 meter of snow to fall, while maintaining sub-zero temperatures. After this, it is already possible to release snow groomers onto the tracks to prepare a substrate that will hide drainage ditches, uneven areas and stones on the track. Once the base is formed, 1-2 more good snowfalls are required before the trails are safe for skiing and can be opened. All this greatly depends on the weather.

Rosa Khutor

The resort opens test skiing on December 16th.
The trails will be open from Rosa Peak (2320m) to the subsurface 1600m. Opening at 9:30 (the Strela cable car will also operate). During test riding there is a special tariff - 1900 rubles. Owners of seasonal tickets and previously purchased ski passes will be able to use them. Test riding will last until December 20, subject to favorable weather conditions. The ski area will gradually increase.
From December 21 (if there are no sudden weather disasters) the resort will open in full mode.

Rosa Khutor, as a rule, officially opens when a significant part of the slopes is available for skiing and the resort can service large number riders. On December 22, the resort welcomes guests to

GTC Gazprom - Alpika

Test opening from December 14.
From December 14 to 16, the red track will be available for skiing from the peak (Shelter of the Winds 2256m) to an altitude of 1918m. On days of test skiing on the Alpika slope there are special rates for day skiing from 9.00 to 16.00:
adult – 1000 rubles,
children (from 7 to 14 years old) – 500 rubles.

Gorki City

On December 1, the resort opened CIRCUS-2 for skating.
There are cable cars - K4 "Aibga" and K5 "Black Pyramid" and corresponding routes (with a total length of about 1400 meters). Depending on weather conditions, the Circus-2 area is always accessible to skiers. As soon as they allow weather conditions, the remaining trails and freeride and tubing areas will open at the resort.

IN recent years the resort opens a little earlier than others, thanks to the ski area in the second circus, located at an altitude of 2000-2200 meters. Although this cannot be called a full-fledged discovery (only two tracks with a total length of about 1.5 km are open), it’s very good to ride a little before the season.

The opening date for the third stage of routes is most likely no earlier than December 20, if there is precipitation.
.

GTZ Gazprom - Laura

Test skating opens on December 22. Routes I, C, E, H and a children's slope will be open.

The exact opening date is not yet known, usually mid to late December. As a rule, it opens a little later than others, since there maximum height 1600m. This season will most likely be towards the end of December.

Test opening

In recent years, resorts have often begun to practice so-called “test skiing” - partial opening of part of the slopes, if the weather permits. Usually on weekends. These days, the price of daily ski passes is reduced (seasonal tickets are not valid, or their owners receive discounts on the purchase of daily “test” tickets). The ski area is limited to slopes where sufficient snow cover has already formed, and those working on at the moment cable cars. For example, last season the Rosa Khutor resort opened test skiing on November 25-26. Details about such promotions can always be found either on the page where we keep a detailed chronicle of the winter season in Krasnaya Polyana, or on.

Or Altai. The proximity of the sea even in winter months makes the air soft and warm, and unique geographical location throughout the winter it does not allow the temperature to drop below -5 degrees.

Average minimum and maximum temperature throughout the year, as well as the amount of precipitation, it is convenient to look at the table below.

Krasnaya Polyana opening of the 2016-2017 season

The start time of the new winter season may vary at different resorts. Everything will depend on the weather and snow cover.

Rosa Khutor will start working with December 16, 2016, the resort will operate until May 2017.
Gazprom will open the season December 23, 2016 and will operate until April 2017.
Mountain Carousel has already November 21, 2016 periodically opens test skating, which means that the 2016/2017 winter season will be open on a permanent basis from mid-December.

10 differences between Krasnaya Polyana and the European Alps

This comparison doesn't even occur to true Russian fans. ski resorts, but for those who are still choosing where to go skiing or snowboarding in the 16/17 season, we have prepared 10 distinctive features Krasnaya Polyana.

The Krasnaya Polyana ski cluster is located just 39 km from Black Sea coast, which makes it possible to admire the silence of the snowy peaks and breathe the healing air of the Black Sea in one trip.
A place where both older people and fearless youth will find something to do.
The range of possible excursions in Krasnaya Polyana is impressive: from walking routes through relict forests to trips to mineral springs. From visiting caves and gorges to routes to mysterious dolmens.
Krasnaya Polyana is sometimes called “Russian Switzerland”, but nowhere in the world unique combination four natural areas(from subtropical to alpine) with proximity to the sea. From here the air is rich in iodine, making this place a real natural health resort.
Many tourists bring from Krasnaya Polyana honey, it is high mountain here and very fragrant.
Prices in rubles allow you not to overpay for accommodation, food and skiing. In the Alps, for 8-10 thousand rubles you will rent the most simple hotel far from the slopes, and in Krasnaya Polyana for the same money you can afford a premium hotel with a view of the slopes.
Boundless open spaces and impressive thickness of snow cover allow you to practice heli-skiing for less money than in Europe.

Caucasian hospitality is impressive. The high mountain air contributes to the appearance of amazing beef and lamb in these places. And the proximity of the sea provides the resort with an inexhaustible stream of freshly caught seafood.
There is nothing more desirable than Russian bath after a hard ride. For those who are used to a Finnish sauna or spa, there are a huge number of them here.
And the most valuable thing in Krasnaya Polyana is its people, who are ready to help in any situation. It is important that they speak your native language.

Prices in Krasnaya Polyana

First, let’s decide whether it’s better to buy a ready-made tour to Krasnaya Polyana or plan the trip yourself?

Cost of ski passes at Krasnaya Polyana:

This means that for a ride for two you can spend about 20 thousand rubles.

According to the most famous search engine, the cost of tours to Krasnaya Polyana for 7 nights for two starts. Add here another about 20 thousand rubles, which you will spend on dinner and lunch in a restaurant.

As a result, if you buy a tour, a vacation in the mountains will cost you 75 thousand rubles.

Where else can you look for tours to Krasnaya Polyana?

Now we’ll organize a trip to Krasnaya Polyana on our own.

The cost of skating remains the same - 15 thousand rubles.
Round-trip air tickets to Sochi for two will cost you about 10-15 thousand rubles.
A decent hotel in Krasnaya Polyana can be found for 2,000 rubles. per night.
Depending on whether you want to eat in a restaurant or cook yourself, it depends whether you spend 10 thousand rubles at the resort or 20.

As a result, it turns out that if you organize tickets and hotel yourself, then the cost of the entire trip will be about 50-60 thousand rubles.

It's cheaper than buying a tour. But more responsibility and work on your part.

For comparison, the same 7-night vacation for two in other ski resorts in Russia and Europe will cost:

ski resort in Dombay	about 70 thousand (a ski pass costs 14 thousand for two, air tickets - more than 30 thousand, accommodation - about 15 thousand rubles)
winter resort Arkhyz	about 75 thousand (a ski pass is much cheaper, only 5 thousand rubles, but for a hotel you will pay ~30 thousand, and for tickets - about 17 thousand)
Beaver log in Krasnoyarsk region	You will have to spend about 50 thousand rubles for air tickets alone. , so the entire trip will cost at least 80 thousand rubles.
Altai (Belokurikha)	about 95 thousand rubles, as you already guessed, most of the amount is consumed by the air ticket (almost 52 thousand rubles)
	the entire trip will cost at least 100 thousand rubles. (air ticket for two - 53 thousand rubles, hotel - 23 thousand)
ski resorts in Europe (Andorra, Germany, Austria, Italy)	not less than 150 thousand rubles. for two. Because of the euro exchange rate, it is completely unprofitable for Russians to travel to Europe

Take the following articles on the go:

The Krasnaya Polyana ski resort is located on a vast territory in the valley of the Mzymta River and is framed by the Main Caucasus Range. Here it became possible for the emergence of several ski resorts at once, different in their sports focus and their natural landscape.

Rosa Khutor in Krasnaya Polyana

Many tourists, when talking about Krasnaya Polyana, mean the Rosa Khutor ski resort. This is the largest and most versatile holiday destination in the ski village.

November 21, 2015 Rosa Khutor received an international award for the third time best resort Russia, organized by the World Ski Awards.

More information about the cost of the ski pass, pistes, unusual facts, ski lifts and ski schools can be read in our article about Rosa Khutor.

Professional athletes compete on the resort's slopes, so the snow is always maintained in excellent condition. All tourists note high quality sports equipment for rent.

In addition to safe, high-quality and interesting skiing, Rosa Khutor offers a rich evening and nightlife. This is not to say that the resort's restaurants are worth “kopecks”, but when compared with prices at European resorts, vacationing in Rosa Khutor is cheaper.

Gazprom

Skiing at the Gazprom ski resort is not suitable for extreme sports enthusiasts or tourists with children. There are no trails for these categories of citizens here. But you are guaranteed endless descents, stunning views of the mountains, and skiing more for contemplation than for producing adrenaline.

Mountain Carousel

The Gornaya Karusel ski resort, firmly entrenched in the minds of tourists all over the world after the 2014 Olympics, does not have the scale of Rosa Khutor, but it definitely has unique features.

Small area limited quantity lifts did not prevent the resort from becoming the No. 1 place in Krasnaya Polyana for snowboarders.

Hotels in Krasnaya Polyana

Krasnaya Polyana is ready to offer its guests a wide variety of guest houses. They combine home comfort apartments and affordable hostel prices. Most places have cooking and laundry facilities, so riding in the new season may not cost you much at all.

Guest house prices start from 1000 rub. for two.

You can rent housing anywhere in Krasnaya Polyana. Any ski slope can be reached either on foot, or by taxi, or by free ski buses.

The cost of a 2-3 star hotel is already somewhere 1500 rub.. Some hotels offer a small built-in kitchen, as well as a clothes dryer and a sauna.

For 2000 rub. per day for two you can rent a comfortable apartment, which will have not only a kitchen, a full bath and more personal space, but also a neat modern renovation.

If you are willing to pay for your stay 3000-4000 rub.. and more, choose a hotel or apartment closer to the desired slope or ski resort. This way, you won't waste your precious rest time getting to the slope. The following hotel options are located near Rosa Khutor, Gornaya Karusel and Gazprom.

Hotels near Rosa Khutor

HELIOPARK Freestyle Rosa Khutor, 3 stars, rating 8.4 out of 10, price starts from 2 thousand rubles. per room

Well, when can you shake off the dust from your gear, stretch your cracking joints and, after charging your GoPro, head to the mountain?

Which resort should I start skiing from?

What new things have the smart marketers come up with for us this season to lure us to Krasnaya Polyana?

In general, read and comment.

Ski season in Krasnaya Polyana: when someone on the mountain whistles

On some sites and printed publications, you can find valuable information about what " ski season in Krasnaya Polyana lasts from November to May.” Yes, snow in the Krasnaya Polyana mountains can already be observed now, in October.

But let's remember our geography lessons, friends: Krasnaya Polyana is Sochi, and Sochi is the subtropics. And therefore this October snow threatens to wash away from the mountain at the very first warm cloud that arrives from the Black Sea. And normal subzero temperatures, allowing both natural snow to gain a foothold and artificial snow to be thrown with cannons, will not be established earlier than the start December. And somewhere by mid-December, the thickness of the snow cover on the slopes of Krasnaya Polyana allows you to start skiing without the risk of tearing off your equipment on the stones.

Although sometimes natural anomalies, so to speak, happen. The same Olympic year 2014 was remembered by all the organizers of winter competitions for the fact that it was a very warm winter with little snow. So I had to be no less nervous about the snow cover on the Olympic slopes than about the late opening of the fifth ring at the opening ceremony...

The Rosa Khutor resort usually opens the winter season in the second ten days of December. Last year the official opening took place on December 19th. You can read how this happened in my article. Neighboring resorts - and - also usually do not lag behind and open their slopes for skiing on the same dates.

This year, most likely, everything will happen on the same dates. So, given that the opening usually occurs on weekends, you can now look for inexpensive tickets around December 16-17: Flights to Sochi

And, although there is not a word on the websites of all the resorts about the official opening, they are unlikely to delay the opening - this is not in their interests. So, if you want to be in the forefront, focus on these dates.

BUT! There is one “but” here that skiers should take into account. At the opening of the season, an unrealistic number of people always gathers; there is a crush at the box office due to skiers applying for seasonal ski passes and inexperienced coat makers who come just to watch the fireworks and eat salad. But the next day everything is usually fine: many were disappointed in the crush due to the opening, the coat makers left, and the remaining people skated for their own pleasure.

However, such comfortable skiing will not last long: already from December 28-29, the New Year's public will begin to come to the resorts of Krasnaya Polyana. And she, as a rule, knows how to ski only on blue and green slopes, as well as on ski lifts. Well, and they all know how to hang out, drink and take pictures with the mountains in the background. Therefore, during the New Year holidays you should not count heavily on good skating. If you just come to the mountain right when the cable car opens, you will be able to ride for an hour or two, and by about eleven in the morning we will see the following picture: confidently skating riders among the “dummies” depict something similar to slalom, in places turning into bowling. Sometimes there is a strike, which is sad...

Where to get a hotel to be closer to the slopes/cheaper

By this issue I have written a detailed review: . So I won’t repeat myself, follow the link and read.

Instructor services in Krasnaya Polyana

You can improve your skating skills even in a couple of hours of lessons with an instructor. The resort has many services and independent instructors who will help hone your skills, correct your riding technique, or teach you how to ride if someone in your group does not already know how. They will also be able to act as guides for you on the trails of Krasnaya Polyana. If you need contacts of good instructors, then write down the phone number +79282334702.

Equipment rental

It is not at all necessary to carry equipment with you across the country. You can come to Krasnaya Polyana without anything at all, running away from work in a jacket and boots - rentals are well developed here.

Rentals are everywhere here, and they have a full arsenal of equipment: a set of skis or snowboards, clothes, helmet, gloves, goggles, and so on.

A set of ski equipment per day will cost an average of 800 rubles and more. This includes snowboard + boots or alpine skiing+ boots + poles. You must pay separately for glasses, helmet, and protection. They don’t give out equipment by the hour: it’s not the right scale. In official resort rentals, prices are even more expensive.

Depending on the price, the quality of the equipment can vary greatly. The same guys can provide you with good equipment with delivery +79282334702.

It's snowing and raining, and the cable car is closed. What to do?

Nature has no bad weather. But still, what to do if you come to Polyana for a ride, but the weather “doesn’t whisper”? And for this case, everything was invented for you a long time ago, friends. About some ways how to spend time in Krasnaya Polyana without riding , I already wrote in my posts, read:

Well, this winter all the resorts of Krasnaya Polyana will certainly delight us with new opportunities. I will cover this topic in detail in the following articles; It will be convenient for you to monitor their output by leaving your contacts in this form

But I’ll still reveal some “tricks” right now. So, what exactly can you count on when booking a winter tour to Krasnaya Polyana?

Remember, last year the headliner of the extravaganza was Rosa Khutor, which made the façade of its Town Hall a screen for a spectacular laser show.

You can kill time in the GORKI MALL shopping center (4 cinema halls, bowling alley, water park, shops) or in the Galaktika entertainment center (also a bowling alley and a water park, as well as an ice skating rink, a billiards club, and space attractions for children). Well, finally you can just hang out in a nice cozy bar and drink aromatic mulled wine...

Come for the ride as early as possible, preferably right before 9 am, and try to leave the mountain an hour and a half before the cable cars close, so as not to get in line for the ride down the mountain.
View weather forecasts and webcam videos on resort websites. It is unreasonable to pay 2500 re for a ski pass if the resort only has green slopes and a couple of blue ones at the lower levels.
Buy ski passes on the official websites of the resorts - this way you can save money and avoid queues at the ticket office.

A few more useful resources for those who are going on vacation to Krasnaya Polyana:

Car rental in Sochi
Taxi
Ski insurance

About uh excursion opportunities in the region Probably only lazy people didn’t read my blog. If you are the laziest, there is a section for you.

So, not just snow, as they say... Oh, I wrote it and got scared myself. Of course, snow is our everything! And snow for us, snow for you! SNOW everyone!

See you on the slope!

How to get to the famous Krasnopolyansk powder, how not to get stuck with warm weather and how to guess with travel dates? Let's try to answer, but let's immediately understand that Heavenly Office works according to its own rules. And “unstable” is the main word about the ski season in Krasnaya Polyana. And now more details...

On the websites of all travel agencies that sell New Year's tours, they like to write that the ski season in Krasnaya Polyana lasts from November to May, or even June. And sometimes they call in August, although tourists in shorts are busy Instagramming rhododendrons on their iPhones. In November, the Sochi administration can celebrate the beginning of the winter season, and inattentive journalists are spreading the news on their tails. And potential guests of Krasnaya Polyana already think that we are riding =) In reality, usually the two most delicious months are February and March, and in the rest there may be a ride, but usually not ideal. The best time to catch the famous Krasnopolyansky powderfish is in February and March. But you may not catch it. Snowfalls are not guaranteed anywhere, and you can either catch a meter of fresh snow overnight or ride only on the slopes for two weeks. Hence the conflicting reviews about the snow at the resort.

“What about the snow cannons that the resort is so proud of?” - you ask... The fact is that Krasnaya Polyana is quite warm place, and guns only work at sub-zero temperatures. Therefore, if previously everyone was waiting for cold weather and snowfalls, now at least the temperatures are below zero. So a lot still depends on the weather. When to go to Krasnaya Polyana?

Let's talk about everything in order. Chronology of the riding season according to RiderHelp...

Autumn and first snow

When the first snow falls in the mountains, the most impatient ones head out into the backcountry. Then they post photos on the Internet and the entire skiing community is actively waiting for winter. This can be either in September or November. Moreover, the snow may still melt five times, and the ski resorts don’t even smell of official opening.

Season opening

Around mid to late December there is enough snow to officially open the season. Rosa Khutor usually starts it thanks to its snowmaking system and heights. For example, in the 14/15 season, the opening of the season was postponed twice because there was no snow, people were refunded money for hotels, etc., and in the end they opened somehow on December 25 (see the link for our rather dull report). In the 15/16 season, Gorki Gorod opened skiing on the slopes of the Second Circus on November 22, a month earlier. Of course, this was not yet a full opening of the resort, but there was snow at the top. But all the same, most of the tracks began operating only by the New Year and the opening of the season stretched from mid to late December.

And last season 16/17 turned out to be abnormally cool! In December 2016, so much snow fell that everyone went nuts: tourists, public utilities, and wild animals in the forest. Old residents of Krasnaya Polyana say that they remember such snowy winters only in childhood, when they could not get to school. December turned out to be so snowy that the ride already in December was similar to February. On New Year's Day, for the first time in our memory, all resorts were open and all trails were open! Here is a 10-second demonstration video from December 18th. Perfect corduroy and wonderful puffy stuff!

In past years, at the opening of the season on Rosa for several years in a row, an unrealistic number of people gathered; there was a crush at the ticket office due to skiers applying for seasonal ski passes and inexperienced coat makers who come to watch the fireworks and eat salad. The next day everything is usually fine: many were disappointed in the crush due to the opening, the coat makers left, and the remaining people skated for their own pleasure.

However, in the 15/16 season, the slopes opened gradually, people started struggling in the snow starting in November, so there were no wild queues. Again, you see: completely different situations in different years depending on the weather. And in the 16/17 season, many did not come due to high prices for ski passes and hotels. But those who came were fabulously lucky with the snow and quality of skiing.

New Year

It usually has little to do with skiing, but everyone has the weekend, so there’s nowhere to go. What is skiing like during the New Year holidays in Krasnaya Polyana? The beginning of winter, there is usually not enough snow. Even if it falls, there is still no solid snow base. Mostly the more difficult red and black routes in the upper stages are open. But the New Year's crowd, as a rule, knows how to ski only on blue and green slopes, as well as on ski lifts. Well, they all know how to sit on the slopes, drink and take pictures with the mountains in the background. Therefore, we recommend not to count too much on skating, but just drink mulled wine =)

However, you want to ski, so the only guaranteed option is to buy a ski pass in advance and be the first on the lift in the morning. You'll definitely be able to ride for an hour or two, and by about eleven o'clock in the morning we see the following picture: confidently skating riders are depicting among the dummies something similar to slalom, in places turning into bowling. Sometimes there is a strike, which is sad. Considering that Krasnaya Polyana is actively increasing the level of comfort and après-ski services, there are more and more people who are weak skiers. And New Year - best time for such a coven. Therefore, do not forget that there are many times more alcohol riders on the mountain than usual and there is also a risk of injury.

If winter is early and snowy, as in the 15-16 and 16-17 seasons, then the situation changes. Gazprom is fully operational, as well as the lower gentle slopes of Rose and Gorki Gorod, so everything is evenly distributed among the resorts. But this is an ideal option, and early winter doesn't happen every year.
If you are going specifically to ski, you will have to wake up very early, while the mountain beachgoers are having a late breakfast after yesterday's apres. Evening skating at Gazprom is also traditionally in great demand. And since the 2014-2015 season also in Gorki Gorod and Rosa Khutor.

However, in the past three seasons, the Snow Gods heeded the pleas of the skiers, and the snow New Year I just had a blast for a week. As a result, piste skating was not always good due to many closed slopes, but our Pukhodava crowd enjoyed it with all its might. Here's a video from New Year's holidays in January 2015:

But in fact, New Year's snowfalls simply saved the resort from the invasion of tourists. Due to the rise in the euro exchange rate, Krasnaya Polyana was in such demand that, in order to reduce the flow of tourists, the government suddenly introduced new, higher prices for ski passes, as well as restrictions on the daily number of tourists. Moreover, this was very actively broadcast on television. If there were no snow and restrictions, it’s scary to think what would happen on a small part of the open trails. In general, due to all these anti-tourism measures, many canceled their trips. Here is our material about restrictions for the New Year 2015-2016. Although in the 16-17 season everyone was scared away and in the end there were few people =)

Conclusion: New Year in Krasnaya Polyana is crowded, expensive and unstable. The last three years we have been lucky with the weather, and the other five years before that it was the opposite.

After New Year

The peak days with queues are January 3 and 4, and after January 7-8, the entire New Year's party leaves, and quite often, right after the holidays, the snow that was so awaited for the New Year falls. A small number of riders arrive and calmly roll out the resort. This situation usually lasts until almost the end of January.

January 20 - February 20

This is the time when large and small groups of young people arrive. They ski well, know how to behave on the ski lifts and are very different from the New Year's vinaigrette in the level of activity and number of parties.

The best skiing time usually begins at the end of January, when enough snow falls to open most of the slopes, which will be skiable until the beginning of April.

February 23 - March 8

February 23rd is a special day, so quite a lot of people arrive just in time for February 23rd. Many stay until March 8th and do the right thing. Almost every year, Mother Nature gives women a gift in the form of snowfalls of a meter per night. Well, men take full advantage of this.

And in general, March in Krasnaya Polyana is considered the best and snowiest month. The most delicious snacks most often happen in March. Therefore, every weekend (if there is good snow) we have troops landing from Moscow, St. Petersburg, as well as nearby Krasnodar and Rostov. The region's best downhill skiers closely monitor the condition of the slopes on RiderHelp.ru and immediately take off if snowfalls begin. But the first lines in the snow are usually drawn by local residents, sorry =)

But! Again, “but”. In the 2014-2015 season, March turned out to be the snowless month in Krasnaya Polyana. There was no snowfall for more than three weeks. Here's to a guaranteed March powder. But everything was fine on the slopes; by this time there was already enough snow. And then on March 31st it started snowing!

In general, March 31 is traditionally a turning point in the season. The number of people on the slopes noticeably decreases, mostly local riders come, hotels become cheaper... and the mountain beach season begins. However, in April there are also frosts and good snowfalls. And in the mornings until the end of the season, the pistes are quite pleasant. The end of the season is a great time for those who know how to enjoy all the joys of a ski resort. Don't forget to take sunscreen with you!

However, a person assumes, but Snow disposes. In March 2015, everyone was expecting traditional snowfalls, but there were no snowfalls for almost a month, and March was marked by piste skiing on wide skis. And, when everyone was already getting ready to pack their gear, on the night of March 31 to April 1, an angry snowfall began! It was pouring like it usually only happens in March. There were jokes on the Internet about February 58th and so on. Looking ahead, let's say that we closed the 14-15 season at the very end of May!

Snowboard camp. Late March-early April

It's time for the annual snowboard camp in Krasnaya Polyana. Bright sun, great party, right music, nice park with the best Russian shapers and quality relaxation in the mountains. Recently this has become a reality in Krasnaya Polyana. Since 2012, various freestyle events have been held at different resorts, and in 2014, Quiksilver New Star Camp simply exploded in Gorki Gorod. Starting this year, the camp moved to Rosa Khutor and will be held there for the next few years.

Beginning of May - end of season

This is the time when you can ski in shorts in the morning, and walk along the embankment and sunbathe in the afternoon. There are fewer and fewer people with skis on the mountain, and summer tourists are replacing winter tourists. On May 3-4, a lot of people will want to take a photo with you, or rather, with your skis or snowboard. Well, yes, you won’t look organic everywhere with skis =)

After May holidays Everyone is waiting for the snow to melt and the resorts to switch to summer operating mode from the beginning of June. Well, we regularly report from the slopes in any weather.

We hope you now have a rough idea of when it’s best to come to Krasnaya Polyana for a ride. In short, it is better to plan the train from the end of January to the beginning of April, but do not forget about all sorts of vagaries of Mother Nature. And to make it easier to decide on the date of your trip, monitor the condition of the slopes on the main page of RiderHelp.ru

P.S. How to get into the snow in Polyana?

Freeriders often ask us how to do this. How to arrive in the snow and be the first to roll everything out? We’ll try to answer, but without witchcraft and sacrifices we can’t figure it out.

1. The first way, analytical. You can try to monitor long term forecast and even buy a paid account on SnowForecast. We wrote how to use the weather forecast in the mountains. Most real option- is to look at the forecast and buy tickets a few days in advance. Although even such a forecast can be blown away, and this has happened more than once. Even we sometimes watch webcams and the forecast, collect our equipment in the evening, and then we arrive at the mountain, and during the night everything has blown away or, on the contrary, it has piled up so much that the tops are closed and we have to come tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.

People also practice buying cheap tickets in advance several times a season, which they don’t mind returning or simply losing. Well, you need to monitor the general situation at the resort during the season. Those. see when the snow fell, when the season fully opened, how many trails are constantly operating at the resort, etc.

Another 100% option is to just come for a season or long time. If allowed living conditions, then this is the most stable option. But there is a risk that you won’t want to go back. There are risks everywhere =)

2. The second path, metaphysical-karmic. There are people who are constantly lucky and get caught in the snow, and there are those who, no matter how much they study the forecasts, still cannot roll out a fresh piece of snow. Here we advise you to resort to everything possible ways: make sacrifices to the snow gods, do not regret equipment lost in the mountains, and generally be philosophical about the weather. We must drink to the snow and make wishes for a good gurney. You can also join the army of those who beat the snow tambourine on our website. We ourselves honestly believe that this is a point of concentration of efforts and desires of people who all together want snow.

Ideally, of course, you need to combine both paths, move to live in Krasnaya Polyana, and then everything will be fine!

I’m sure this is the world’s shortest guide to a ski resort =)) Here I tried to collect the most important things about skiing in Krasnaya Polyana. Someday I will definitely write “Tips on how to come correctly” and something in the form of “The “Krasnaya Polyana in 8 days” program with arrival on Tuesday-Wednesday, with days off from skiing during the peak influx of people on weekends, and “ dokatkoy" at the beginning of next week, but that will happen later..

In the meantime, just photo stories and impressions of skiing at each of the resorts:

What is the difference between these places? What are the pros and cons? Where is the best place to ride?

ROSA KHUTOR

Pros:

The coolest blue runs in the entire resort
The most large area skiing from three Krasnopolyansk "resorts"
You can live right on the mountain, at an altitude of 1200 meters in Ski-Inn / Ski-Out hotels. For example, at the Rider's Lodge hotel.
Fun party and night dance club right on the slope!
Cool STASH park for those who like to jump
Boarding an empty bus (final). Important if you live in Adler or Sochi and want to ride while standing.

Cons:

On holidays and weekends the queues for the lift are the longest
The off-piste zones “close” to the pistes roll out in a matter of, no, not days, hours!!!
Riding and relaxation in general are more expensive than on the Mountain Carousel

MOUNTAIN CARUSEL

Pros:

Good red pistes
The largest off-piste area
Very beautiful circus skating area!
The longest skiing season is due to the slopes in the circuses at an altitude of over 2000 m.
The cheapest ski pass

Cons:

Not enough blue trails
The lower station of the cable car is right on the highway. The "atmosphere" of the resort is the least festive =)

GAZPROM

Pros:

Excellent green trails for training. This is where I first got on a snowboard!
On weekends and holidays there are fewer people than at Rosa Khutor or Mountain Carousel
Since the height of the slopes is lower than that of competitors, it is warmer here if the weather suddenly gets cold

Cons:

Due to the fact that the tracks are low, there are often problems with snow. The shortest skating season. In reality - January-early March.
The most expensive resort of the three. Very expensive food on the mountain. Hotels are also space!
The smallest ski area.

The best time to travel to Krasnaya Polyana is February. 100% guarantee of snow, relatively few people, good snow for freeride, avalanches from NOT spring snow least dangerous.
The optimal format for a trip to Krasnaya Polyana for a week: two days of skiing at Rosa Khutor, two days on the Mountain Carousel, one day at Gazprom and a day of rest in the water park in the middle of the skiing week.
On weekends, do not ride or ride until lunch at the latest, as there are a lot of people from lunch.
Live in Rosa Khutor in hotels on Rosa Plateau. Awesome beautiful views to the mountains directly from your room + you will be the first on the cable car!
If you don’t know how to ride, take an instructor, for example at Riders School. It's worth it!! You'll save a lot of time and start enjoying your ride faster. There is also excellent excellent ski and board rental.
Cultural program: half a day at the water park at Gazprom, bungee jumping at Sky Park, a trip to the Aviary Complex (small zoo) behind Gazprom, for children - the Sochi Park amusement park in Adler. You can take a taxi and go to Abkhazia for one day, for example to Gagra, or just drive to the Imereti beach in Adler and throw pebbles into the sea. Well