How to get to the famous Krasnopolyansky puff, how not to get stuck with warm weather And how to guess the dates of the trip? Let's try to answer, but let's immediately understand that the Heavenly Office works according to its own rules. And “unstable” is the main word about the skiing season in Krasnaya Polyana. And now more…

The main marketer of the resort is Sneg, therefore, on the websites of any travel agencies that sell New Year's tours, they like to write that ski season in Krasnaya Polyana lasts from November to May, and even to June. Yes, even in August they sometimes call, although tourists in shorts with might and main instagram rhododendrons on iPhones. In November, the Sochi administration may celebrate the beginning of the winter season, and inattentive journalists carry the news on their tails. And potential guests of Krasnaya Polyana already think that we are skating =) In reality, usually the two most delicious months are February and March, and in the rest - a gurney maybe, but usually not ideal. The famous Krasnopolyansky puff is most realistic to catch in February and March. But you may not get caught. Snowfalls are not guaranteed anywhere, and you can both catch a meter of fresh snow overnight, or ride only on slopes for two weeks. Hence the conflicting reviews about the snow at the resort.

“But 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 work only at sub-zero temperatures. Therefore, if earlier everyone was waiting for a cold snap and snowfalls, now at least temperatures are below zero. So a lot depends on the weather anyway. When to go to Krasnaya Polyana?

Let's talk about everything in order. Skating season chronology according to RiderHelp…

Autumn and first snow

When the first snow falls in the mountains, the most impatient go to the backcountry. Then they post pictures on the Internet and the entire skiing community is actively waiting for the winter. It can be either September or November. Moreover, the snow can still melt five times, and the ski resorts do not even smell of an official opening.

Open season

Around the middle or end of December, the amount of snow becomes sufficient to officially open the season. Rosa Khutor usually starts it thanks to the snowmaking system and heights. However, there are no guarantees either. For example, in the 14/15 season, the opening of the season was postponed twice, because there was no snow, people were returned money for hotels, etc., and as a result opened somehow on December 25(here is 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, it was not yet a full-fledged opening of the resort, but there was snow at the top. But anyway, most of the tracks started working only by the New Year and the opening of the season stretched from mid to late December. That's why best solution was to go under the snow.

And the 16/17 season turned out to be abnormally cool! In December 2016, so much snow fell that everyone went nuts: tourists, utilities, and wild animals In the woods. The old-timers of Krasnaya Polyana say that such snowy winters remember only in childhood, when they could not get to school. December turned out to be so snowy that the gurney already in December was similar to February. In the New Year, for the first time in our memory, all the resorts were open and all the tracks worked! Here is a 10-second demonstration video from December 18th. Perfect velveteen and lovely puff!

And then everyone decided that it would always be like this and gathered together in Krasnaya Polyana in the 17-18 season. But that was not the case: the 17-18 season began at the very end of December, there was little snow, often quite warm, in general, the season turned out to be so-so both at the beginning and at the end.

Therefore, let's write about key dates.

Open season

In previous years, an unrealistic number of people gathered at the opening of the season on Rosa for several years in a row, there was a crush at the box office due to the skiers who issue seasonal ski passes and inexperienced coats who come to watch fireworks and eat salad. The next day, everything is usually fine: many were disappointed in the crush because of the opening, the coats left, and the rest of the people ride for their own pleasure.

However, in the 15/16 season, the slopes were opened gradually, people filmed breaking in the snow starting from November, so there were no wild queues. Again, you see: absolutely different situations V different years depending on the weather. And in the 16/17 season, many did not come because of the high prices for ski passes and hotels. But those who came were fabulously lucky with the snow and the quality of skiing. In the 17/18 season, everything went quietly and blurry due to the late start of the season.

New Year

It usually has little to do with skiing, but everyone has a weekend, so there is nowhere to go. What is skiing on New Year's holidays in Krasnaya Polyana? Early winter, snow is usually not enough. Even if it pours, then there is still no solid snow substrate. Mostly more difficult red and black runs are open on the upper lines. But the New Year's audience, as a rule, knows how to ride only on blue and green slopes, as well as on lifts. Well, they all know how to sit on the slopes, drink and take pictures against the backdrop of the mountains. Therefore, we recommend not relying heavily on skiing, but just drinking mulled wine =)

However, you want to ride, so the only guaranteed option is to buy a ski pass in advance and be the first on the lift in the morning. It will definitely turn out to ride for an hour or two, and by eleven o'clock in the morning we see the following picture: confidently riding riders depict something similar to slalom among the teapots, sometimes 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 slow-skating. And the New Year best time for such a sabbath. Therefore, do not forget that there are many times more climbers on the mountain than usual and the risk get injured Same.

If the winter is early and snowy, as in the season 15-16 and 16-17, then the situation changes. Gazprom, as well as the lower gentle slopes of the Roza and Gorki Gorod, are fully operational, so everything is evenly distributed among the resorts. But this is an ideal option, and early winter does not happen every year.
If you are going to ride, you will have to wake up very early, while the mountain-beachers have a late breakfast after yesterday's après. Also, evening skiing at Gazprom is 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 rollers, and the snow under New Year fell for a week just like a wall. As a result, it was not always good with trail skating because of the many closed trails, but our Puhodava party rejoiced with might and main. Here is a video from the New Year holidays in January 2015:

But in fact, New Year's snowfalls simply saved the resort from the invasion of tourists. Due to the appreciation of the euro, Krasnaya Polyana was in such demand that in order to reduce the flow of tourists, the government introduced, and suddenly, 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 slopes. In general, because of all these anti-tourist measures, many have canceled their trips. Here our material about restrictions for the New Year 2015-2016. Although in the 16-17 season they scared everyone away and as a result there were few people =)

Conclusion: New Year in Krasnaya Polyana is crowded, expensive and unstable. The last three years have been relatively lucky with the weather, and five more before that - on the contrary.

After the New Year

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

January 20 - February 20. Student holidays

This is the time when large and small groups of young people visit. They ride well, know how to behave on lifts and are very different from the New Year's vinaigrette in the level of activity and the number of parties.
From the end of January, the best skiing time usually begins, when enough snow falls to open most of the slopes, which will be skiable until early April.

February 23 - March 8

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

And in general, March in Krasnaya Polyana is considered the best and snowiest month. The most delicious winter holidays most often happen in March. Therefore, every weekend (with good snow) we land troops from Moscow, St. Petersburg, as well as nearby Krasnodar and Rostov. The best downers of the region closely monitor the condition of the slopes to the site and immediately take off if snowfalls begin. But the first lines in the snow are usually drawn locals, sorry =)

But! Again, "but". In the 2014-2015 season, March turned out to be the most snowless month in Krasnaya Polyana. There were no snowfalls for more than three weeks. Here is the guaranteed March puff. But everything was fine on the tracks, by this time there was already enough snow. And then on March 31 it snowed!

In general, March 31 is already traditional - this is such a turning point in the season. The number of people on the slopes is noticeably reduced, 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 tracks are quite pleasant. The end of the season is a great time for those who know how to enjoy all the joys ski resort. Don't forget to bring your sunscreen!

However, man proposes, but Snow disposes. In March 2015, everyone was expecting traditional snowfalls, but there were no snowfalls for almost a month, and March passed under the sign of trail skiing on wide skis. And, when everyone had already gathered to pack their equipment, on the night of March 31 to April 1, an evil snowfall began! It fell the way it usually happens only 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. End of March-beginning of April

It's time for the annual snowboard camp in Krasnaya Polyana. Bright sun, great party, the right music, a good 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 just shot in Gorki Gorod. Since 2016, the camp has moved to Rosa Khutor and will be held there for the next few years.

Beginning of May - end of the season

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

After May holidays everyone is waiting for the snow to melt and the resorts to switch to summer 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 is better to come to Krasnaya Polyana for a ride. In short, it is better to plan a train from the end of January to the beginning of April, but do not forget about all kinds of whims of Mother Nature. And to make it easier to decide on the date of the trip, keep an eye on the condition of the slopes on home page website

P.S. How to get into the Glade under the snow?

We are often asked by freeriders how to do this. How to arrive in the snow and have time to roll everything out first? Let's try to answer, but without witchcraft and sacrifices it's impossible to figure it out.

1. The first path, analytical. You can try to monitor long term forecast and even buy a paid account on SnowForecast. How to use the weather forecast in the mountains, we wrote . The most realistic option is to watch the forecast and take 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 equipment in the evening, and then come to the mountain, and during the night everything was blown away or, on the contrary, it poured so much that the tops were closed and we had to come tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.

Also, people practice buying cheap tickets in advance several times a season, which are not a pity to pass or simply lose. Well, it is necessary to monitor the general situation at the resort during the season. Those. see when the snow fell, when the season was fully opened, how many tracks are constantly working at the resort, etc.

Another 100% option is just to come for a season or for a long time. If living conditions allow, then this is the most stable option. But there is a risk that you will not want to return. There are risks everywhere

2. The second path, metaphysical-karmic. There are people who are constantly lucky and they fall under the snow, and there are those who, no matter how they study the forecasts, still can’t roll out a fresh one. Here we advise you to resort to all possible ways: to make sacrifices to the snow gods, not to regret equipment lost in the mountains, and in general to 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 such 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!

Text: Eugene Matalyga
Photo: Arina Melekhova and Evgeny Matalyga

10.11.2014
RiderHelp decided to answer many questions at once on the topic “When should I go skiing in Krasnaya Polyana?” Therefore, read, remember, follow the advice and share with friends who like to ask you the same questions.

Ski season in Krasnaya Polyana 2016-2017. When to go?

On the websites of any 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. Yes, even in August they sometimes call, although tourists in shorts with might and main instagram rhododendrons on iPhones. In November, the Sochi administration may celebrate the beginning of the winter season, and joyful journalists carry the news on their tails. And potential guests of Krasnaya Polyana already think that we are skiing =) In reality, the two most delicious months are February and March, and the rest is usually not ideal. The famous Krasnopolyansky puff is the most realistic to catch in these two months. Well, about everything in order. Skating season chronology according to RiderHelp…

Autumn and first snow

When the first snow falls in the mountains, the most impatient go to the backcountry. Then they post pictures on the Internet and the entire skiing community is actively waiting for the winter. But the snow can still melt five times, and ski resorts don’t even smell like skiing.

Open season

At the opening of the season, an unrealistic number of people gather, at the box office there is a crush due to the skiers who issue seasonal ski passes and inexperienced coats who come to watch fireworks and eat salad. The next day, everything is usually fine: many were disappointed in the crush because of the opening, the coats left, and the rest of the people ride for their own pleasure.

New Year

It usually has little to do with skiing, but everyone has a weekend, so there is nowhere to go. What is skiing on New Year's holidays in Krasnaya Polyana? Early winter, little snow. Mostly more difficult red and black runs are open on the upper lines. But the New Year's audience, as a rule, knows how to ride only on blue and green slopes, as well as on lifts. Well, they all know how to hang out, drink and take pictures against the backdrop of the mountains. Therefore, we recommend not relying heavily on skiing, but just drinking mulled wine =)

However, you want to ride, so the only option is to buy a ski pass in advance and be the first on the lift in the morning. It will be possible to ride for an hour or two, and by eleven o'clock in the morning we see the following picture: confidently riding riders depict something similar to slalom among the teapots, sometimes 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 slow-skating. And the New Year is the best time for such a Sabbath. Therefore, do not forget that there are many times more climbers on the mountain than usual.

If the winter is early and snowy, then the situation changes. Gazprom, as well as the lower gentle slopes of Rosa and Karusel, are fully operational, so everything is evenly distributed among the resorts. But this is an ideal option, and early winter does not happen every year.
If you are going to ride, you will have to wake up very early, while the mountain-beachers have a late breakfast after yesterday's après. Also, evening skiing at Gazprom is traditionally in great demand. And since the season 2014-2015 also on the Gornaya Karusel.

After the New Year

After January 7-8, the entire New Year's party disperses, and also quite often, right after the holidays, snow falls, which was so expected for the New Year. A small number of riders arrive and calmly roll out the resort.

January 20 - February 20. Student holidays

February 23 - March 8

February 23 is a working day, but the men do not agree with this, so for some reason quite a lot of people come on February 23. Many stay until March 8 and do the right thing. Almost every year, Mother Nature gives women a gift in the form of a meter of snowfall per night. Well, men take advantage of it.

And in general, March in Krasnaya Polyana is considered the best and snowiest month. The most delicious winter holidays most often happen in March. Therefore, every weekend, with good snow, we land troops from Moscow, St. Petersburg, as well as nearby Krasnodar and Rostov. The best downers of the region closely monitor the condition of the slopes to the site and immediately take off if snowfalls begin. But the first lines in the snow are usually drawn by locals, sorry =)

March 31, according to our long-term observations, is such a turning point in the season. The number of people on the slopes is noticeably reduced, 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 tracks 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 bring your sunscreen!

Snowboard camp. End of March-beginning of April

It's time for the annual snowboard camp in Krasnaya Polyana. Bright sun, great party, the right music, a good 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 just shot. Circus-2 on the Gornaya Karusel, an almost ideal place for such events, hosted about 2,000 guests. And what pleases, in the next seasons it is planned to continue the project.

Beginning of May - end of the season

After the May holidays, everyone is waiting for the snow to melt and the resorts to switch to summer operation 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 is better to come to Krasnaya Polyana for a ride. And to make it easier to decide on the date, follow the condition of the slopes on the main page

Text: Eugene Matalyga
Photo: Arina Melekhova and Evgeny Matalyga

I'm sure this is the shortest ski resort guide in the world =)) 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 “Krasnaya Polyana Program in 8 days” with arrival on Tuesday-Wednesday, with days off from skiing during the peak of the influx of people on the weekend, and “ dokatka" at the beginning next week but that's 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 pistes 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 (terminal). Important if you live in Adler or Sochi and want to ride standing up.

Minuses:

On holidays and weekends, the biggest queues for the lift
Off-piste zones "near" from the tracks roll out in a matter of, no, not days, hours !!!
Skating and recreation in general are more expensive than on the Gornaya Karusel

MOUNTAIN CAROUSEL

Pros:

Good red runs
The largest off-piste area
Very beautiful circus area!
The longest skiing season due to circus runs at over 2000 m.
The cheapest ski pass

Minuses:

Few blue lines
The lower station of the cable car is right on the track. The "atmosphere" of the resort is the least festive =)

GAZPROM

Pros:

Great green trails for learning. It was here that I first got on a snowboard!
There are fewer people on weekends and holidays than on Rosa Khutor or Gornaya Karusel
Since the height of the slopes is lower than that of competitors, it is warmer here if the weather is suddenly cold

Minuses:

Due to the fact that the slopes are low, there are often problems with snow. The shortest riding season. Really - January-beginning of March.
The most expensive resort of the three. Very expensive food on the mountain. Hotels are space too!
The smallest ski area.

The best time to travel to Krasnaya Polyana is February. 100% snow guarantee, relatively few people, good snow for freeriding, non-spring snow avalanches are the least dangerous.
The optimal format for a trip to Krasnaya Polyana for a week: two days of skiing at Rosa Khutor, two days at the Gornaya Karusel, one day at Gazprom and a day of rest in the water park in the middle of the week of skiing.
On weekends, do not ride or ride until noon, as there are a lot of people from lunch.
Live on Rosa Khutor in hotels on Rosa Plateau. awesome beautiful views to the mountains directly from the room + you will be the first on the cable car!
If you don’t know how to ride, take an instructor, for example, at the Riders School. It's worth it!! Save a lot of time and start enjoying your ride faster. There is also an excellent excellent ski and board rental.
Cultural program: half a day in the water park at Gazprom, a bungee jump in the Sky Park, a trip to the "Aviary Complex" (a small zoo) behind Gazprom, for children - the amusement park Sochi 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

Or Altai. The proximity of the sea, even in the winter months, makes the air soft and warm, and the unique geographical position throughout the winter does not allow the temperature to fall 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 at different resorts may vary. Everything will depend on the weather and snow cover.

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

10 differences between Krasnaya Polyana and the European Alps

This comparison does not even occur to true fans of Russian 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 ski cluster Krasnaya Polyana is located just 39 km from Black Sea coast, which makes it possible to admire the silence of the snowy peaks and breathe in the healing air of the Black Sea in one trip.
A place where both the elderly and the 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 is there a unique combination of four natural areas(from subtropical to alpine) with the proximity of the sea. Hence the air rich in iodine, making this place a real natural health resort.
Many tourists bring from Krasnaya Polyana honey, it is alpine here and very fragrant.
Prices in rubles allow you not to overpay for accommodation, meals and skiing. In the Alps for 8-10 thousand rubles you can rent the simplest hotel far from the slopes, and in Krasnaya Polyana for the same money you can afford a premium-class hotel with a view of the slopes.
The endless expanses, the impressive thickness of the snow cover allow you to practice heli-ski for less money than in Europe.

Caucasian hospitality is impressive. 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.
Nothing is more desirable than Russian bath after a hard ride. Those who are accustomed to the Finnish sauna or spa - there are a huge number of them.
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

To begin with, let's decide whether it is better to buy a ready-made tour to Krasnaya Polyana or plan a trip yourself?

The cost of ski passes in Krasnaya Polyana:

So, for a ride for two, you can spend about 20 thousand rubles.

According to the information of the most famous search engine, the cost of tours to Krasnaya Polyana for 7 nights for two starts. Add to this about another 20 thousand rubles that you will spend on dinner and lunch at 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?

And now we are organizing a trip to Krasnaya Polyana on our own.

The cost of skiing remains the same - 15 thousand rubles.
Round-trip flights to Sochi for two will cost you about 10-15 thousand rubles.
A decent hotel in Krasnaya Polyana can be found for 2000 rubles. per night.
Depending on whether you want to eat in a restaurant or cook yourself, it depends on whether you spend 10 thousand rubles at a resort or 20.

As a result, it turns out that if you organize the tickets and the 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 vacation for 7 nights for two in other ski resorts in Russia and Europe will cost:

ski resort in Dombai	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 you will pay ~ 30 thousand for a hotel, and about 17 thousand for tickets)
Beaver log in the Krasnoyarsk Territory	you will have to spend about 50 thousand rubles for air tickets alone. , so the whole trip will cost at least 80 thousand rubles.
Altai (Belokurikha)	about 95 thousand rubles, as you may have guessed, the air ticket eats up most of the amount (almost 52 thousand rubles)
	the whole trip will be at least 100 thousand rubles. (air ticket for two - 53 thousand rubles, hotel - 23 thousand)
ski resorts in Europe (Andorra, Germany, Austria, Italy)	at least 150 thousand rubles. for two. Due to the euro exchange rate, it is completely unprofitable for Russians to travel to Europe

Take the following articles on the road:

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

Rosa Khutor in Krasnaya Polyana

Many tourists, speaking of Krasnaya Polyana, have in mind 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 the best resort Russia, organized by the World Ski Awards.

More about the cost of a ski pass, slopes, unusual facts, ski lifts and ski schools can be found in our article about Rosa Khutor.

Professional athletes compete on the slopes of the resort, so the snow is always kept 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 restaurants of the resort are worth "penny", but when compared with the prices of European resorts, rest in Rosa Khutor is cheaper.

Gazprom

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

Mountain Carousel

After the 2014 Olympics, the Gornaya Karusel ski resort, which has been firmly planted in the heads of tourists from all over the world, does not have the scale of Rosa Khutor, but it definitely has unique features.

A small area, a limited number of lifts did not prevent the resort from becoming the number 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 the homeliness of apartments and affordable prices of hostels. Most places have facilities for cooking and laundry, so skiing in the new season may not cost you much.

Guest house prices start from 1000 rub. for two.

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

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.

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

If you are willing to pay for accommodation 3000-4000 rub. and more, choose a hotel or apartment closer to your desired slope or ski resort. So, you will not waste 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 number

How to get to the famous Krasnopolyansky puff, how not to get stuck with warm weather and how to guess the dates of the trip? Let's try to answer, but let's immediately understand that the Heavenly Office works according to its own rules. And "unstable" - that's the main word about the skiing season in Krasnaya Polyana. And now more…

On the websites of any 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. Yes, even in August they sometimes call, although tourists in shorts with might and main instagram rhododendrons on iPhones. In November, the Sochi administration may celebrate the beginning of the winter season, and inattentive journalists carry the news on their tails. And potential guests of Krasnaya Polyana already think that we are skating =) In reality, usually the two most delicious months are February and March, and in the rest - a gurney maybe, but usually not ideal. The famous Krasnopolyansky puff is most realistic to catch in February and March. But you may not get caught. Snowfalls are not guaranteed anywhere, and you can both catch a meter of fresh snow overnight, or ride only on slopes for two weeks. Hence the conflicting reviews about the snow at the resort.

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

Let's talk about everything in order. Skating season chronology according to RiderHelp…

Autumn and first snow

Open season

Around the middle or end of December, the amount of snow becomes sufficient to officially open the season. Rosa Khutor usually starts it thanks to the 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 returned money for hotels, etc., and as a result they opened somehow on December 25 (our rather dull report is at the link). In the 15/16 season, Gorki Gorod opened skiing on the slopes of the Second Circus on November 22, a month earlier. Of course, it was not yet a full-fledged opening of the resort, but there was snow at the top. But anyway, most of the tracks started working 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, utilities, and wild animals in the forest. Old-timers of Krasnaya Polyana say that such snowy winters are remembered only in childhood, when they could not get to school. December turned out to be so snowy that the gurney already in December was similar to February. In the New Year, for the first time in our memory, all the resorts were open and all the tracks worked! Here is a 10-second demonstration video from December 18th. Perfect velveteen and lovely puff!

However, in the 15/16 season, the slopes were opened gradually, people filmed breaking in the snow starting from 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 because of the high prices for ski passes and hotels. But those who came were fabulously lucky with the snow and the quality of skiing.

New Year

However, you want to ride, so the only guaranteed option is to buy a ski pass in advance and be the first on the lift in the morning. It will definitely turn out to ride for an hour or two, and by eleven o'clock in the morning we see the following picture: confidently riding riders depict something similar to slalom among the teapots, sometimes 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 slow-skating. And the New Year is the best time for such a coven. Therefore, do not forget that there are many times more climbers on the mountain than usual and the risk of injury too.

However, in the past three seasons, the Snow Gods heeded the pleas of the wheelers, and the snow on New Year's Eve fell like a wall for a week. As a result, it was not always good with trail skating because of the many closed trails, but our Puhodava party rejoiced with might and main. Here is a video from the New Year holidays in January 2015:

But in fact, New Year's snowfalls simply saved the resort from the invasion of tourists. Due to the appreciation of the euro, Krasnaya Polyana was in such demand that in order to reduce the flow of tourists, the government introduced, and suddenly, 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 slopes. In general, because of all these anti-tourist measures, many have canceled their trips. Here is our material about restrictions for the New Year 2015-2016. Although in the 16-17 season they scared everyone away and as a result there were few people =)

Conclusion: New Year in Krasnaya Polyana is crowded, expensive and unstable. The last three years have been lucky with the weather, and five more before that - on the contrary.

After the New Year

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

January 20 - February 20

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

February 23 - March 8

And in general, March in Krasnaya Polyana is considered the best and snowiest month. The most delicious winter holidays most often happen in March. Therefore, every weekend (with good snow) we land troops from Moscow, St. Petersburg, as well as nearby Krasnodar and Rostov. The best fluffy dogs of the region 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 locals, sorry =)

Snowboard camp. End of March-beginning of April

It's time for the annual snowboard camp in Krasnaya Polyana. Bright sun, great party, the right music, a good 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 just shot in Gorki Gorod. Starting this year, the camp has 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 in the afternoon walk along the promenade and sunbathe. 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 picture with you, or rather, with your skis or snowboard. Well, yes, you will not look organic everywhere with skis =)

After the May holidays, everyone is waiting for the snow to melt and the resorts to switch to summer operation 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 is better to come to Krasnaya Polyana for a ride. In short, it is better to plan a train from the end of January to the beginning of April, but do not forget about all kinds of whims of Mother Nature. And to make it easier to decide on the date of the trip, follow the condition of the slopes on the main page of RiderHelp.ru

P.S. How to get into the Glade under the snow?

1. The first path, analytical. You can try to monitor the long-term forecast and even buy a paid account on SnowForecast. How to use the weather forecast in the mountains, we wrote. The most realistic option is to watch the forecast and take 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 equipment in the evening, and then come to the mountain, and during the night everything was blown away or, on the contrary, it poured so much that the tops were closed and we had to come tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.

2. The second path, metaphysical-karmic. There are people who are constantly lucky and they fall under the snow, and there are those who, no matter how they study the forecasts, still can’t roll out a fresh one. Here we advise you to resort to all possible methods: to make sacrifices to the snow gods, not to regret the equipment lost in the mountains and, in general, to 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 such 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!