[Skier carving a turn off piste - Grande Motte, Tignes, France: photograph by Charles J. Sharp, reproduced under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version]

Where climate and weather are concerned, prediction is a slippery slope of slalom-like curves. Still, this never seems to stop our media from indulging in dramatic short-termism in their increasingly desperate attempts to create drifts of slushy gloom and doom about ‘global warming’.

But just see what two years can do! Here is a snowball in their eye.

2006: Ski Resorts Doomed

First, we must turn to The Guardian, December 14, 2006, ever eager to tell us that every snow slope has a rocky lining -  ‘Ski resorts face uncertain future’:

“The tourism trade of Alpine Europe, worth tens of billions of euros a year, hangs in the balance as resorts face warmer winters which could spell disaster for some, especially those at lower altitudes...

... A report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development yesterday heaped more bad news on Alpine ski resorts, which are already struggling against the warmest weather in 1,300 years, according to Austrian climatologists, with flowers still blooming on some slopes and world ski tournaments being cancelled through lack of snow.”

Oh dear! How very sad! But never mind, chaps, just think of all the air miles saved and the lack of eco-damage from ski runs and ski lifts.

2007 and 2008: Bumper Season For Ski Resorts

Except, here is The Independent yesterday (November 17, 2008), not normally a paper for spotting a lining of silver snow - ‘Ski industry predicts boom as cold sets in’ :

“Early snowfall on Europe’s slopes points to bumper season for Alpine resorts...

... Because snow is already falling, Europe, the US and Canada are experiencing colder weather than the seasonal norm. That means two things for Britain’s 1.3 million ski enthusiasts: the prospect of early trips to the slopes, and the promise of a longer season.

Several resorts, particularly those at higher altitudes, are already open for business. Obergurgl [great name] in Austria, for example, is reporting ‘excellent snow and piste condition’ with 45 km (28 miles) of skiable slopes. And in the north-eastern US, the relatively low-lying Okemo Mountain in Vermont is planning to open next weekend....”

Well, I never! And:

“Michael Bennett of the tour operator Ski Independence said there was a ‘fairly positive picture’, judging by early bookings. ‘There are a lot of resorts that are skiing early and skiing well,’ he said. ‘We’re looking forward to this season being a fairly big one for us.’”

Great! And, what about last year, 2007?

“Mr Bennett said skiers appeared to be largely ignoring any concerns about the financial crisis, with bookings so far behind last year’s ‘stellar’ season but ahead of the previous one.”

A ‘stellar’ season. My! Oh my!

Boy, doesn’t our press make you piste off, always ready, as they are, to jump onto any ‘global warming’ snow board?

Still, it could be all downhill for them from here on in!

I’m off for an Après-ski! Obergurgls for everyone!