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In pictures: 1,200 Santa Claus ski in Verbier

The Local
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In pictures: 1,200 Santa Claus ski in Verbier
Photo: The Local

It wasn’t an everyday sight: 1,200 skiers dressed as Father Christmas, or St Nicholas, took to the slopes of Verbier on Saturday.

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Skiers in appropriate costume were invited to ski for free in the Swiss ski resort for one day only as part of a special event to celebrate Verbier’s official opening weekend.

Held for the third year in a row, it proved more popular than ever this year as around 1,200 Santas arrived to claim their free day’s ski pass – double the number at last year’s event.

The resort also offered those who booked in advance free travel on a special ‘St Nicholas’ train from Geneva.

Free wine, croissants and raclette were offered throughout the day, as well as the chance to win a season pass in a prize draw.


Photo: Matt Radmore

The festive skiers gathered together at 3pm for a group photo and a mass dance to the Village People’s YMCA, which the resort filmed by drone.

The weather played ball, with clear skies and decent snow on offer to those who made the trip.

Although this was the official opening weekend of the season, Verbier was one of the first resorts to open limited slopes early this year as snow blanketed Switzerland in mid-November.

However there has been little snow since, and resorts will be hoping to avoid a repeat of last year, when fresh snow didn't fall again until after Christmas.

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