CairnGorm Mountain is very much open for snow fun

It's very much business as usual at Scotland’s five mountain ski areas including CairnGorm Mountain with fresh snowfall over the weekend and more forecast this week.

They are all reporting great conditions and have no plans to close in the immediate future, with many enjoying drifts of fresh, powdery snow.

Over the weekend, CairnGorm Mountain scored a first for Scotland with the first-ever new Big Air competition to be held in the UK as part of the Vans Hi Standard Series, attracting around 50 competitors.

The CairnGorm competition was the third in the series and followed competitions in Les Arcs in France and Mayerhofen in Austria last month.

Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland, said: "Our ski centres are a huge draw to local people, as well as those from further afield, and with the recent blue sky days and excellent snow conditions - unprecedented for this time of year - the Easter holidays are a great opportunity to get out there and enjoy it.

"But it’s not just about the money spent on ski passes, people come for the snow but stay for the restaurants and accommodation, which all provides a boost to Scotland’s visitor economy."

Pisting teams have been busy at all the centres, to ensure they make the most of conditions, described by one centre as the best Easter snowsports for a decade.

Snowsports have already injected almost £20.5 million into the Scottish economy this season with around £16.4 million of this spent "off the hill" in local accommodation, places to eat, shops and filling stations and the remainder spent at the ski areas.

At the weekend Ski-Scotland issued a statement to correct claims that this was to be the last weekend of snowsports.

They stated: "Ski-Scotland is aware that rumours are currently circulating that the Scottish snowsports season is about to finish for the year. These rumours are incorrect.

"All five mountain ski areas have excellent snow conditions, unprecedented for the time of year, which are expected to continue for the foreseeable future.

"The five ski areas - CairnGorm Mountain, Glencoe Mountain Resort, Glenshee, Nevis Range and The Lecht are all currently open and have no plans to close in the immediate future.

"The snowsports season is expected to continue into May with ski areas remaining open as long as this is viable, ie as long as there are skiers in sufficient numbers.