4 good reasons to go skiing in March and April

Mise à jour le 14.02
2024 Advice and tips

Skiing doesn't stop at the end of the February holidays... March and April are just as good for winter sports, especially as most resorts are still open! They still offer a wide range of snow sports and other activities to make the most of the ideal conditions at the start of the summer. So why choose to go skiing in March and April this year? Here are 4 good reasons to give in to temptation!

Conditions on the slopes still favourable for snow sports

Photo credit : Alpe d'Huez - ©L.Royet

Skiing in March and April means that you'll enjoy conditions that are particularly good for beginners, but not just beginners! The milder temperatures make the snow softer, giving you the best possible cushioning for bends and falls. If you're a more experienced skier, you'll also be able to enjoy optimum comfort for skiing with your family or friends right through April, and even early May.

Why not take advantage of the softer snow to try out a new winter sport? This is your chance to try it out! Many resorts offer a different way to hit the slopes than skiing or snowboarding.

Try the Snooc, for example. Halfway between sledging and skiing, it is accepted on the slopes in many resorts and can be hired in Serre-Chevalier, La Plagne and Peyragudes.

For a change from skiing, you can also try a fat-bike. This mountain bike with XXL tyres allows you to go anywhere in the snow, and enjoy the downhill in a different way, especially as the resorts often offer it when the slopes are closed, when there's no-one left. Thrills guaranteed! You'll find it at Alpe d'Huez in Isère, Val d'Isère in Savoie and Super Besse in the Massif Central.

Booking a mountain holiday in March or April also means you can enjoy skiing and other board sports for longer, as the sun doesn't set until 5pm! The ski areas and ski school instructors are still fully mobilised during these two months of spring, and there is no shortage of offers linked to this season.

And don't forget that some resorts, such as Val Thorens, Val d'Isère and Tignes, will remain open until May!

More peace, more pleasure

Photo credit : Cauterêts Pyrénées ©D.Courriades

Another good reason to go skiing in March and April is to enjoy the slopes outside the busy periods! The peak of the winter school holidays, when the resorts are at their busiest, has now passed. As a result, you'll have less time to wait at the lifts, and more space and fluidity on the slopes, so you can ski with greater peace of mind.

Perfect for making one run after another and getting the most out of your skiing holiday!

Be careful, though, to always observe the safety rules on the slopes - fewer people doesn't mean there's no danger. So make sure you don't stop in the middle of the piste and stay visible so as not to surprise an oncoming skier. On the descent, it's also important to control your speed and anticipate trajectories so as not to impede skiers below you.

In short, taking advantage of the less crowded slopes while keeping safety in mind is the winning combination for skiing in March and April!

Less uncertainty about the weather

Photo credit : Peyragudes - ©Gonzalo Amundi

It can't be said often enough that the climate in the mountains is peculiar and rather changeable, which is why it's so important to rely on professional forecasts. Skiing is therefore sometimes subject to the vagaries of the weather, the most important thing being to take no risks in the mountains.

In March and April, the weather becomes milder and the instabilities of winter are greatly reduced. You'll be able to hit the slopes in sunshine and more pleasant temperatures.

But make sure you have the right equipment for winter sports, as the higher temperatures may encourage you to take off your clothes, but it's easy to catch a cold when you're wet in the snow!

Finally, even if skiing in the sun is great fun, don't forget to protect yourself. The reflection of the sun's rays on the snow will quickly give you sunburn or the mythical mask mark on your face! So even more so in March and April, equip yourself with sun cream and a pair of goggles or a mask with protection adapted to the mountain sun.

Combine the pleasure of skiing with summer events in the resort

In March and April, the weather allows you to combine skiing with other pleasures of a mountain holiday. Less cold, longer days - why not relax on a terrace after a day on the slopes? All the resorts have bars and restaurants right next to the foot of the slopes, and March and April are particularly good months to take advantage of them!

You can also check with your resort's tourist office, as the mild weather during this period means that outdoor events can be held for children and adults alike.

In March and April 2024, you can look forward to a sporting and family event at Le Corbier on 13 March 2024: the ‘Kids Rider Bike SnowCup’, a draisienne race on snow for children aged 3 to 5. For a feast for the eyes, choose Les Saisies and its ‘Odyssée des Lumières’ on 6 March 2024, to enjoy all kinds of light projections for young and old alike! Finally, to watch the ski instructors battle it out, head to Les Angles in the Pyrenees, for the ‘Pyrenean Challenge’ from 3 to 5 April. Competitive spirit and good humour guaranteed!

These are not-to-be-missed opportunities to enjoy some great moments with family and friends, without worrying about the bitter cold of winter, which in March and April is well behind us, even in the resorts!