I've been in Sofia for a few days but will certainly update as often as possible.

we arrived home last night & conditions were improving daily. Yesterday (sat) the chair lift that goes from the Rila Hotel which had been closed all week, opened. There is lots more snow at the top than in the resort centre & as the temp up there is lower they seem to have the snow canons on all the time. Some of the runs are still icy both on higher & lower slopes but everyone we met managed to ski every day

It is true that Bulgaria has been experiencing freak weather conditions which have meant a poor start to the season but it has all changed for the better now. The snow has arrived this week. Sorry to hear your ski hire was bad but you would use the cheapest, you gets what you pay for. However God knows where you paid so much for your inedible burger, maybe you should have tried a steak from Katy's or some of the Bulgarian dishes instead of eating 'brits abroad' style burger and chips which is generally poor everywhere you go including the alps. :-)

hi mate, im goin over on the 27th feb and lookin for similer info, im goin with my bro we r are beginner/inter boarders lookin for some off piste fun, please let me know if you find out anything and ill do same for you.
cheers
Adrian

of course we will,although its not looking hopeful as the use of this site seems to have dropped off substantially in the past couple of weeks,mainly due to people being massively negative! i have noticed that someone on the wether section of the sight managed to get off piste SKIING but whether they offer the same for boarders is unclear. if you're there during our stay 1st-5th of march you should defibantely hook up with us (in a totally none homo-erotic way) we're out there for the first time and we just wanna enjoy it (also in a none homo erotic way) we're taking a foldable shovel (fingers crossed) and our happy spirits so come join us in a progression session and lets make bulgarian fun yesh? (also not gay) ha!

p.s. nice name!

peace adrian

The temperatures are dropping and we've had a small amount of snow so we're all hopeful for much more snow. Fingers crossed, you should be fine.

Don, sorry to hear things were not good in Borovets,we were there from 27th December 2009, no snow, so the skiing was more or less non existent, but we stayed at a private chalet with superb home cooking. I am not surprised about the Samakov the place is obviously still an absolute joke when it comes down to food and serviceable skis etc, putting it bluntly anyone staying at the Samakov will be well and truly ripped off...it is crap, food is cold slop...forget all this stuff of the food being 'alright' NO it is bloody awful. We went back because the snow in 2008 was very good but the hotel was crap, so we booked our own place which was first class, we are going to try Borovets again and keep the fingers crossed for a good covering of snow later this year. Someone do Borovets a favour and knock down the Samakov hotel!

Sounds good mate, were there til the 6th march so we`ll be there same time. its our 1st time there too, sounds like titanic bars the place where everyone meets up so head down there. ive been on the forums on bulgariaski website, much more positive and everyones out for a good time, unlike on here.
hopefully see u there
adrian

Bulgarian TV has reported big dumps of snow over the east of the country with some areas around the Black sea coast having 40cm dump overnight hopefully its coming our way.

Well.... i was there from 2nd to 9th of Jan this year for my second year.

With regards to Samokov hotle, i never stopped or ate there so cant really comment. Its just as cheap and much nicer to eat in one of the many bars in the resort though like Blue or titanic to name only 2.

Im slightly confused by the comment of poor ski gear though, ive used them both years and had no problems, and was taught by a an amazing guy Julian. No complaints here??

Well the snow was poor, the slopes near Rila etc were green hilss the day we arrived!!! But fortunatley it snowed that night and then on and off for the week, and managed to get 2 really good days on Yasrebets runs.

Apparently never been like this before, and i know now they have plenty!!

So all in all i think you have just had a bad experiance and made a poor choice on your accommodation.

I for sure will be back next year :o)