Jasná officially opens the 2025/26 season: 17 km of pistes, great weather and a resort fully ready
In Jasná the winter season got under way on the last weekend of November, and from the very first hours it was clear that the resort had started the winter strongly. A total of 17 kilometres of pistes opened, clearly more than was expected just a few days earlier. The weather was good for skiing, temperatures are staying below zero, the pistes are superbly prepared and, as usual, skiers turned out in force.
On Saturday morning not only Biela Púť and the Priehyba area were open, but also the piste by the chalets at Brhliská, which is also prepared for night skiing. Besides the north side, part of the south side of Chopok was opened too, along with the terrain around Záhradky, so skiers have several different options on both sides of the mountain.
As every year, the opening had a great atmosphere. Food outlets were open lower down, the first partner zones were set up from the morning at Biela Púť and Záhradky, and in the background preparations were under way for the evening part of the Winter Opening at the Happy End club. Judging by the number of open pistes and the way the resort has been running since the morning, Jasná looks today as if it were mid-December, even though the calendar says it is only the end of November.
What's new for 2025/26
In the coming season Jasná is introducing several changes meant to make skiing more comfortable and the day easier to organise, both for beginners and for people looking for new things to try on the slopes. The most visible change will be a new skicross course about a kilometre long. It is designed for skiers who want to vary their skiing and try something more dynamic than a regular piste. Skicross combines fast sections, jumps, moguls and banked turns, so you can ski at a sportier pace, testing your balance, reactions and technique. The course is due to be open all season, snow conditions permitting.
There will also be changes in the area for the youngest. Maxiland Krupová, the ski school area, has been extended this year. An additional magic carpet has been built and the existing one lengthened, which makes learning much more comfortable. Beginners now have a larger, clearer area where they can practise the basics of technique in safe conditions. This matters especially for families with children and for people taking their first steps on skis who need a calm space to build up confidence.
Another new product in the Gopass range is the SKI season pass, which will also be valid in summer. This means that skiers who buy a pass for the winter can also use it outside the season, for example for summer lift rides or selected attractions at TMR resorts. It is aimed at people who visit the resort not only in winter but also in summer, especially as Chopok, like the High Tatras, is a popular destination for trekking and cycling.
There are changes to the accommodation too. Hotel SKI has been renovated and in the new season will welcome guests to a refreshed standard. Renovated interiors and improved facilities should make it one of the more comfortable places to stay right by the slopes. Guests who like to walk out of the hotel in their ski boots therefore have another upgraded place to stay, with no need to take the ski bus.
SKI season pass vs smart season pass: what's what?
In the resort's communications for the new season there are two products that are easy to confuse, so it is worth telling them apart clearly. Gopass SKI Sezonówka is a classic season pass. You pay for it once and can ski all winter without buying any more ski passes. On top of that, it includes selected benefits outside the season too, such as summer lift rides or attractions at TMR resorts, which makes it a good choice for people who visit the mountains all year round.
The smart season pass, or Gopass Season Pass Smart, works differently. It is aimed at skiers who don't need a standard season pass but return to TMR resorts several times a year. In this case you don't get unlimited skiing, only access to lower prices. First you buy the product itself, and after that every day on the slopes costs less than a regular ski pass. Everything happens through your Gopass account, so you can plan further trips and see straight away how much a given day of skiing costs with the discount.
In practice, the Gopass SKI Sezonówka is for those who spend a great deal of time on skis in one season, while the smart season pass is an option for skiers who will come to Jasná and other TMR resorts a few times during the winter and want to pay less for each additional day on the snow.
In the evening, the Winter Opening continues
The opening does not end with the skiing. In the evening the main part of the Winter Opening gets under way at the Happy End club. The stage is ready, the sound and lights are set up, and the resort promises a full programme of concerts and DJ sets. The star of the evening was Dieter Bohlen with the Modern Talking repertoire, and his performance was followed by further musical parts of the programme with artists familiar from winter events in Jasná. This evening part of the Winter Opening traditionally rounds off the whole day and is one of the most eagerly awaited moments of the first winter weekend at Chopok.
Agnieszka Kaszuba / skionline.pl