Strobl at the Wolfgangsee/Postalm Previsioni Neve

The southern hemisphere's 2023 ski season may kick off on Friday in New Zealand and then in Australia on Saturday (10th) with some ski areas in the South American Andes also potentially opening. However the southern African ski area of Afriski in Lesotho, which would normally be one of the first, if not the first, to open, usually in late May or the start of June, has said it won't operate snowmaking this year and won't offer lift-accessed skiing, believed to be due to issues securing adequate power supplies. There has been natural snowfall there though and "snow play" is being offered. Mt Hutt in New Zealand may therefore be the first to open. It has targeted this Friday 9th