Category: Ski Europe

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News from the Tirol’s ski resorts 2018/19

Ischgl - Copyright: Tirol Werbung- Jarisch Manfred. News from the Tirol’s ski resorts 2018/19.

News from the Tirol’s ski resorts 2018/19

Tirol, the renowned winter sports destination in the Alps, keeps investing in its infrastructure. The Tirolean lift companies are dedicated to ensuring the balance between nature and tourism. Here’s a quick look at the most important news and events this winter.

  • Ischgl invests €25 million in its ski area

The Gampenbahn, built in 1988, will be demolished and replaced by a six-person chairlift. It will start at 1924 m and carry up to 2,800 passengers per hour to 2,848 m above sea level. The 900 m height difference will set a world record for this kind of ski lift. In addition, two new restaurants will open in the area.

Valley Station Gampenbahn with restaurant. Copyright: Silvrettaseilbahn AG. News from the Tirol’s ski resorts 2018/19.
Valley Station Gampenbahn with restaurant. Copyright: Silvrettaseilbahn AG. News from the Tirol’s ski resorts 2018/19.
  • Two new lifts for Kitzbühel

In Kitzbühel, two new lifts within the existing ski resort boundaries will start running on 08.12.2018. These lifts will improve capacity in the increasingly popular Kitzbüheler Horn while maintaining its status as a quiet family ski area. The cost of this along with the expanded snowmaking facilities amounts to around €17 million.

The “6SB Brunelle” chairlift features special wind stabilisers, which will keep wind sensitivity to a minimum. The new lift will also be equipped with heated seats made from real leather, covers and mechanical safety bars.

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The FIS commends preparations for the Soldeu El Tartar World Cup Finals

Grandvalira is the largest resort under one lift ticket in Andorra. Photo courtesy Grandvalira.

The FIS commends preparations for the Soldeu El Tartar World Cup Finals

Experts in charge of the International Ski Federation posted to the Andorran resort praise the competitive stage and the readiness of the organising committee in every aspect

Press Conference FIS at the Nordic Hotel 3rd October. Photo courtesy Grandvalira.
Press Conference FIS at the Nordic Hotel 3rd October. Photo courtesy Grandvalira.

Soldeu El Tarter has been visited by the highest-ranking representatives of the International Ski Federation (FIS) from the men’s and women’s alpine ski World Cup circuit, as well as the Infront Sports and Media operations team, the production company responsible for the worldwide television broadcast. The aim of the meeting has been to thoroughly address all matters relating to the organisation of the 2019 World Cup Finals, ranging from the most operational, technical and purely sports aspect to the more social and promotional aspect.

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Skiworld launch flash sale with big discounts on range of resorts

Darcy Conover skiing fresh corduroy down a steep snow covered groomed slope in the mountains at Aspen Mountain Ski Resort in Colorado - Aspen Mountain Announces Bonus Weekend June 1-2, 2019. Photo Aspen Snowmass.

Skiworld launch flash sale with big discounts on range of resorts

Flash sale on array of properties in wide selection of resorts, starting today and ending 12th October 2018.

Madeleine, Chalet in Val D'Isere, France, Firepace. Photo: Skiworld. Skiworld launch flash sale with big discounts on range of resorts
Madeleine, Chalet in Val D’Isere, France, Firepace. Photo: Skiworld. Skiworld launch flash sale with big discounts on range of resorts

Details of flash sale:

  • Save up to £400per person on selected European chalets. Dates include Christmas, New Year and 12th January. Prices as low as £499pp including flights, chalet board and transfers.

One of the best deals we have is 7 nights in catered Chalet Chanterelle in La Plagne, departing on the 22nd December 2018. This was £899pp and is now £599pp, saving a massive £300pp.

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Richard Branson got ‘seconds from death’ on charity Mont Blanc climb

Sir Richard Branson and his son Sam almost did not make it in a charity climb to the Mont Blanc. Picture PA. Nepal Herald.

Richard Branson got ‘seconds from death’ on charity Mont Blanc climb

“Three seconds earlier we would all certainly have been killed. I have never come so close to losing my son,” Sir Richard said.

From: Nepal Herald and Sky News.

The 68-year-old, along with Sam and his nephew Noah Devereux reached the top of the mountain on Saturday afternoon after completing the 33-day Virgin Strive Challenge – a 2,000km trek across Western Europe.

Sir Richard Branson climbs Mont Blanc in the Alps in the final stage of the Virgin Strive Challenge (Picture: PA) Nepal Herald.
Sir Richard Branson climbs Mont Blanc in the Alps in the final stage of the Virgin Strive Challenge (Picture: PA) Nepal Herald.

A core team of 13 hiked, climbed, cycled and even used sea kayaks to complete their journey from Sardinia to the top of Mont Blanc – raising money for the charity Big Change which helps disadvantaged young people in the UK.

After completing the climb, Sir Richard said: ‘God forbid, a few seconds earlier it would not have been as pretty – so I’m very thankful we got through it.

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Dolomiti Superski spends 90 Million Euro investement for the upcoming ski season.

Dolomiti Superski- 3 Zinnen Dolomiten- New Chairlift Mittelstation-Helm. Photo credit: Dolomiti Superski. 90 million Euro investment for the 2018-19 ski season.

Dolomiti Superski is the largest ski carousel in the world, composed of 12 well-known ski resorts and 1,200 km of pistes. Now at the start of its 45th winter season on 30 November 2018, Dolomiti Superski, the world’s largest ski-pass network, will offer many new cable cars and other lifts, new slopes, more snow-making and mountain attractions, with a total investment of 90 million Euros.

130 different member companies that compose Dolomiti Superski have invested 90 million euros. 70% of these investments are in lifts, and 30% on snowmaking.

Dolomiti Superski- Val di Fiemme new rifugio Busabella in Alpe Cermis- Rendering credit: Dolomiti Superski.
Dolomiti Superski- Val di Fiemme new rifugio Busabella in Alpe Cermis- Rendering credit: Dolomiti Superski.

New lifts:

Coming 2018-19 winter season, Alta Badia will replace the “Roby” 2-seater chairlift with a new modern 6-seater- chairlift. Meanwhile at Seiser Alm and at the Three Peaks Dolomites ski resort the same will happen with the “Mezdi” 2-seater chairlif and the “Mittelstation” 2-seater chairlift. In San Martino di Castrozza, the new 10-passenger cirulating ropeway “Colbricon Express” will replace a 3-seater and a 4-seater chairlift.

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Launch of the new SCHILTHORN 20XX cableway project

The planned aerial shuttle cableway consists of 3 sections with 2 cabins each (Stechelberg – Mürren – Birg – Schilthorn). Its distinguishing feature is the replacement of the existing transport cableway from Stechelberg to Mürren by a new shuttle cableway as the 1st section, thus eliminating the need for a changeover.

Around 50 years after access to the Schilthorn – Piz Gloria was opened up by cable car, Schilthorn Cableway Ltd has presented the new project SCHILTHORN 20XX. The idea behind it is to replace the current cable car with a new aerial cableway. Based on the existing buildings and lines, the new infrastructure and cableway will ensure public transport connections to and from Gimmelwald and Mürren and optimize access to the Schilthorn – Piz Gloria excursion peak.

A model image of how the Schilthorn 20XX project will look like. Schilthorn 20XX.
A model image of how the Schilthorn 20XX project will look like. Schilthorn 20XX.

The current aerial cableway dates from 1965 (linking Stechelberg – Gimmelwald – Mürren – Birg) and 1967 (Birg – Schilthorn). While many electromechanical components have been continuously replaced, the structural infrastructure remains largely in its original state. The 2016 – 2026 financial plan includes age-related measures on the aerial cableway, which are due to be implemented in the next few years to comply with existing regulations. The cableway has also comprehensively exhausted its capacity reserves. Today, the 100-passenger cabins can only carry a maximum of 80 passengers, due to increasing space requirements (passengers now weigh more on average; rising transport volumes of equipment for leisure activities etc.) At the same time, passenger numbers have risen both in summer and winter in recent years.

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QC Terme, the Italian spa experience arrives in Chamonix

A new QC Terme opened in Chamonix - a sauna surrounded by skis.

QC Terme, the Italian brand of deluxe spas has just opened in Chamonix, by the Mont Blanc. There has been for years another QC Terme on the other side of the Mont Blanc, at Pré de St-Didier.

In this new QC Terme spa, nature is the protagonist, offering an indulging experience of swimming amidst the snow and grassy meadows.

Infinity pool at the QC Terme in Chamonix.
Infinity pool at the QC Terme in Chamonix.

The spa has an unexpected combination of warmth and freshness, water and earth. Within the spa’s 3,000 square meters there are more than 30 wellness practices, offering a multi-sensory journey. An infinity pool with a reflection that merges with the water of the adjacent Alpine lake and the Bossons Glacier.

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The “Engadin airport”-Samedan Regional Airport and Europe’s highest-to be revamped.

The Samedan Regional Airport, "Engadin Airport" is Europe's highest airport. Photo: Samedan Regional Airport.

The Samedan Regional Airport, known as the “Engadin airport” is preparing for its future as a modern non- Schengen regional airport. The existing buildings will be replaced in several stages and the further infrastructure will be expanded. The winning project came from Hosoya Schaefer Architects / Blarer & Reber Architects, and it is now being developed into a construction project that will be executed in phases, to revamp Europe’s highest airport.

Interior of the hangar at the Engadin airport, Samedan Regional Airport, Europe highest's airport. Photo: Samedan Regional Airport.
Interior of the hangar at the Engadin airport, Samedan Regional Airport, Europe highest’s airport. Photo: Samedan Regional Airport.

A first phase of development includes measures to guarantee the operation in the long term by replacing essential business related infrastructure. The “Landside” operating building with terminal, control tower, office space, food services as well as the entire customs and immigration processes is the focus of this phase. To the southwest, new helicopter hangars are being built for Rega and other regional helicopter companies. The execution of the first phase is planned to start from the year 2021.

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A fire destroys Chamonix cable car months before the resort opens for winter- Grands Montets ski area opening informations

A fire destroys Chamonix cable car in the Grands Montets ski area, but the area will open for the winter.

Compagnie du Mont Blanc press release- In the early afternoon of Tuesday 11th September, a fire broke out during work to repair the roofing of the upper station of the 1st cable-car between Argentière & Lognan (Les Grands Montets ski area). This work was entrusted to a specialist sub-contractor.
The fire spread almost instantaneously throughout all the buildings of the arrival station, creating severe damage to the infrastructures of the two cable-cars.

Les Grands Montets funicular on the ground, luckily there were no victims.
Les Grands Montets funicular on the ground, luckily there were no victims.

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Leitner presents the “Matterhorn Glacier Ride” the world’s highest cablecar, located in Zermatt designed by Pininfarina and showcasing Swarovski crystals.

The Matterhorn Glacier Ride. German innovation award for Zermatt 3s cabins.

Zermatt’s latest attraction, the “Matterhorn glacier ride”, is set to open at the end of September. The world’s highest 3S cableway, combining the ultimate in design sophistication with maximum comfort, will serve Europe’s highest cableway station. The new 3S cable car ride built by LEITNER ropeways will enable visitors to reach the Klein Matterhorn, a popular destination for excursions, 365 days a year. The making of the “Matterhorn glacier ride” is a story as extraordinary as the ride itself. A total of 38 companies from Switzerland and Italy have been involved in Zermatt Bergbahnen AG’s largest-ever construction project. With the project due to be completed in an incredible 600 working days, they are turning the vision of the “Matterhorn glacier ride” into reality.  Zermatt Bergbahnen AG and LEITNER ropeways worked together with Swarovski to produce a very special premium product: a state-of-the-art ropeway technology in Pininfarina design meets premium crystal finishing, and provides an as-yet unrivalled level of finishing and design.

The station for the 3s Bahn that will ride to the Klein Matterhorn. Zermatt Bergbahnen. Zermatt Tourism Office.
The station for the 3s Bahn that will ride to the Klein Matterhorn. Zermatt Bergbahnen. Zermatt Tourism Office.

Europe’s highest construction site

145 people from 38 different companies have been involved in the biggest construction project in the history of Zermatt Bergbahnen AG. From September 2018, the 3S (three-cable system) cableway will transport up to 2000 passengers an hour to Matterhorn glacier paradise (Klein Matterhorn) – 365 days a year.

The Klein Matterhorn usually has daytime temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees, wind speeds reaching 240 km/h, heavy snow and dense fog.

Continue reading “Leitner presents the “Matterhorn Glacier Ride” the world’s highest cablecar, located in Zermatt designed by Pininfarina and showcasing Swarovski crystals.”