Some of Europe’s major ski resorts may have had snow cover difficulties at times this season, but one of the continent’s most southerly ski centres on the island of Cyprus is fully open and reporting healthy snow depths of 50cm (nearly two feet) on some runs.

Accommodation in the Troodos mountain region near the ski centre is reported to be fully booked. A spokeswoman for the Forest Park Hotel told local media, “People have made reservations in order to enjoy some skiing and the snow, which is more than we had at this time last year.”

The four runs and the cross country loop operated by the Cyprus Ski Club are all open with the Dias slope having the best of the snow. Four wheel drive vehicles are required to negotiate the roads up to the ski slopes however. Although a private ski club, guest membership is available by the day at a very affordable rate.

The Club celebrates 50 years of skiing this year as it was formed 50 years in 1947 by a group of Ski Enthusiasts consisting of Cypriot and British Nationals as at the time Cyprus was part of the British Empire. At the time, the Troodos resort was used only in the summer when the Government moved there for cooler conditions. The ski pioneers used to walk to the ski runs on Troodos, as the roads were not cleared from the snow.

In the late 1950s the British Military in Cyprus bought two small portable lifts, replacing an early primitive lift. Following Cypriot independence from British rule in 1960, the Cyprus Ski Club spent six years for the new lift to the installed as agreements had to be made with the Forest Department to rent the land and format the piste, bring electricity to the site and construct a small shelter.

The first International Ski Competition was held at the North Face Piste, in 1969 with participation of teams from nine countries. In 1973, the FIS Congress was organised in Nicosia and Famagusta, with over 500 participants. In 1978, Cyprus participated for the first time in the Alpine World Championships in Garmish Partenkirchen and the Cyprus flag was raised at the Olympic games for the first time in 1980 at Lake Placid.

In 2003 the Cyprus Ski Club made another first in skiing. With the help of the International Ski Federation and others, the Club installed what are believed to be the most southerly snow guns in the northern hemisphere.