What is new for Val Thorens for 2019/20.

Works are undergoing at Val Thorens this summer for the next winter season 2019-20. What is new for Val Thorens for 2019/20.

What is new for Val Thorens for 2019/20.

Following the closure at the end of January of the cable car Cime Caron, the replacement of the load carrier cables has started in May. This gigantic project will cost €6 million and will be finished in November, right on time for the start of the winter season 2019/2020.

Lac 2 - lake reservoir for snow making at Val Thorens. What is new for Val Thorens for 2019/20.
Lac 2 – lake reservoir for snow making at Val Thorens. What is new for Val Thorens for 2019/20.

Furthermore, two Gazex will be installed under the line of the cable car in order to secure even more the area and allow a faster opening to customers in the mornings.

The water reservoir Lac 2, used for snow making, will be expanded with a capacity going from 88 000m3 to 306 000m3.

Snow guns are added at the top of the blue piste Plateaux in order to improve customer satisfaction on this highly frequented area between the snowpark and the Family Park. In addition, it will facilitate the access to Funitel Grand Fond at the beginning of the season.

Col, the last fixed-grip chairlift of Val Thorens, will have its 25 years “Grande Inspection”. The top of the lift offers stunning views over Glacier de Chavière and Parc de la Vanoise.

Val Thorens- Lorries are carrying the loading cables. Photo: Val Thorens TO. What is new for Val Thorens for 2019/20.
Val Thorens- Lorries are carrying the loading cables. Photo: Val Thorens TO. What is new for Val Thorens for 2019/20.

Funitel Peclet, situated at the spine of the ski area, will undergo a major check-up, starting this summer with a three-year implementation timeframe.

The descent speed of Cairn and Caron gondolas will be increased. For our non-skiing customers, those two lifts link the summit of Cime Caron from the resort centre.

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Pal Arinsal will invest 3 million euros in improvements for the 2019-20 season

Pal Arinsal will invest 3 million euros in improvements for the 2019-20 season. Photo: Vallnord Pal Arinsal.

Pal Arinsal will invest 3 million euros in improvements for the 2019-20 season

The Comú de la Massana will make a contribution of 1.4 million euros to EMAP (Pal-Arinsal). This amount, added to the 1.6 contributed by the same resort, will be used for snowmaking and the improvement of the pistes.

Pal Arinsal's one of its covered magic carpets. Photo: Pal Arinsal. Pal Arinsal will invest 3 million euros in improvements for the 2019-20 season.
Pal Arinsal’s one of its covered magic carpets. Photo: Pal Arinsal. Pal Arinsal will invest 3 million euros in improvements for the 2019-20 season.

Of the 3 million that will be invested this summer, 1.6 are contributed by the EMAP company and 1.4 are contributed by Comú de La Massana.

The Andorran domain has been ending the ski season with profit for seven years, so it can carry out an investment plan, in conjunction with the contribution made by the parish of La Massana, the sole owner of the company.

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$2 Million in Upgrades for Castle Mountain Resort

Castle Mountain Resort. $2 Million in Upgrades for Castle Mountain Resort.

$2 Million in Upgrades for Castle Mountain Resort

From CTV News

Castle Mountain Resort will be investing $2 million in investment. This is coming from a 2017 development plan. The investment will be done to improve the facilities for the upcoming season.

Snowmaking will be added in three areas: on the Huckleberry terrain pod, on the Whiskey Jack run and on the base area.

For the very first time there will be a natural gas pipeline installed to bring service to the resort.

Castle Mountain Resort. $2 Million in Upgrades for Castle Mountain Resort.
Castle Mountain Resort. $2 Million in Upgrades for Castle Mountain Resort.

These upgrades will bring more consistent snow conditions throughout the resort and will allow them to open some pre-season training for different user groups.

Also, the resort will be able to open one week earlier due to this snowmaking and to stay opened into April.

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What is new at Ski Portillo – expanded snowmaking, room renovations and special weeks

What is new at Ski Portillo – expanded snowmaking, room renovations and special weeks. Photo: Adam Clark. Ski Portillo.

What is new at Ski Portillo – expanded snowmaking, room renovations and special weeks

Ski Portillo is starting its 70th ski season in June. They are expecting to open, if snow arrives and snowmaking starts soon, on June 22 and close on October 5.

This year Ski Portillo has invested in new snowmaking. Portillo has invested US$ 3.5 Million dollars in an expanded snowmaking system. They are adding 25 automated snow machines – both fixed and mobile – so they can now cover more than 25 acres of terrain including nine runs (David’s run, Princesa, Conejo, Corralito, Plateau, Cumbre, Escuela I, II and III).

Ski Portillo with a TechnoAlpin fan gun. What is new at Ski Portillo – expanded snowmaking, room renovations and special weeks.
Ski Portillo with a TechnoAlpin fan gun. What is new at Ski Portillo – expanded snowmaking, room renovations and special weeks.

“Portillo is upgrading its snowmaking system to ensure good conditions at the beginning and end of the season even in low snow years. There is so much that is new in snowmaking, and we want to have the best and most environmentally friendly system available.” – Henry & Miguel Purcell

Ski Portillo has chosen TechnoAlpin for this project. In the future it will be possible to cover the entire surface of the slopes with snow within 70 hours – a fivefold increase in output. The entire water management system has been extended and automated to this end.

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Final Record of Decision Published for Teocalli Drainage Expansion Project

Crested Butte in-bounds Extreme terrain is famous. Photo: Fenlon/CBMR. Final Record of Decision Published for Teocalli Drainage Expansion Project.

Final Record of Decision Published for Teocalli Drainage Expansion Project

The U.S. Forest Service has posted a final record of decision regarding Crested Butte Mountain Resort’s (CBMR) proposal in accordance with the resort’s Teocalli Drainage Expansion Project. The Expansion Project was submitted in July 2015 and has undergone a comprehensive environmental review.

The butte in the background. Photo: Tom Stillo/CBMR. Final Record of Decision Published for Teocalli Drainage Expansion Project.
The butte in the background. Photo: Tom Stillo/CBMR. Final Record of Decision Published for Teocalli Drainage Expansion Project.

The proposed Teocalli Drainage Expansion Project outlines a 500-acre permit boundary expansion, intended to provide additional intermediate and advanced terrain within the existing geography of the mountain. The proposed expansion area is located in the Teocalli drainage on the east face of the mountain. Additionally, the plan features three new chairlifts, including a replacement of the resort’s existing North Face Lift; 32 acres of additional new snowmaking on existing mountain trails; a new Ski Patrol outpost; and approximately 15 miles of new hiking and biking trails added to the existing on-mountain summer trail network.

“Crested Butte Mountain Resort appreciates having received the U.S. Forest Service’s record of decision regarding the proposed Teocalli 2 Expansion,” said Tim Baker, general manager of CBMR. “The Mueller family did a great job of casting a vision for this plan, and we look forward to identifying how we will proceed with it.”

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Upcoming Projects at Nendaz Veysonnaz: new gondola, snowmaking and on-mountain restaurant

Nendaz. Photo: Yasmin Gaudin.Upcoming Projects at Nendaz Veysonnaz: new gondola, snowmaking and on-mountain restaurant.

Upcoming Projects at Nendaz Veysonnaz: new gondola, snowmaking and on-mountain restaurant

NV Remontées mécaniques has definitely obtained all the necessary authorizations for the construction of the Gondola connecting Prarion to Plan du Fou as well as artificial snow making of the Greppon-Blanc sector (Combatseline-Thyon).

Upcoming Projects at Nendaz Veysonnaz: new gondola, snowmaking and on-mountain restaurant. Poster: NV Remontées mécaniques
Upcoming Projects at Nendaz Veysonnaz: new gondola, snowmaking and on-mountain restaurant. Poster: NV Remontées mécaniques

These two projects will be carried out during summer 2019 and the installations commissioned for the winter 2019-2020. In parallel, the artificial snow of the Plan du Fou’s free track will also be finalized.

The total investment represents around CHF 25 million. NV Remontées mécaniques will therefore have invested a total of CHF 60 millions in 4 years (2016 to 2019) in order to improve its offer and best meet the expectations of customers.

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Copper Mountain News and recap of the season by GM and President Dustin Lyman

Copper Mountain ski map. Copper Mountain News and recap of the season by GM and President Dustin Lyman.

Copper Mountain News and recap of the season by GM and President Dustin Lyman

In a letter from Copper GM and President Dustin Lyman, he expressed that overall, they had a successful ski season, with 313 inches of snow, receiving 98 inches in March alone, breaking the record of the resort’s snowfall for the month since the opening date, 47 years ago.

Copper Mountain. Copper Mountain News and recap of the season by GM and President Dustin Lyman.
Copper Mountain. Copper Mountain News and recap of the season by GM and President Dustin Lyman.

Copper has welcome IKON passholders for the first time and will keep on partnering with Alterra on the IKON pass next season, in addition to offering Copper Season Passes and Four Packs. With Copper’s new Premier and Premier Pass Plus options, guests will receive special access to select lifts just at the former Secret Pass offered, but a host of other benefits including the Athletic Club and close-in parking to maximise the guests’ time at the resort.

Copper Mountain is having a USD 100 million multi-year transformation and will continue this summer with several projects on and off the mountain. The new Tucker Mountain lift will provide access to expert terrain that was previously accessible only via snowcat or by hiking. It will run from the base of the Blackjack lift to the top of The Taco. Solitude Station will be no more as of the 2020/21 season as they are constructing a brand new 25,000 square foot mid-mountain lodge that will include a full – service casual restaurant, full-service bar and lounge, private dining area, cafeteria and incredible views of the Ten Mile Range.

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Tamarack Resort Begins Mountain Face Lift Spring 2019

Tamarack Resort Begins Mountain Face Lift Spring 2019. Photo: Tamarack Resort.

Tamarack Resort Begins Mountain Face Lift Spring 2019

Construction resumes at the Village and a new ski lift will be installed as 2019/20 passes sales begin

Tamarack Resort embarks on a new round of resort improvements beginning Spring 2019. Along with the first phase completion of the Village Plaza, Tamarack is improving mountain terrain and opening up lift-served access to more than 200 acres.

Tamarack Resort Begins Mountain Face Lift Spring 2019. Photo: Tamarack Resort.
Tamarack Resort Begins Mountain Face Lift Spring 2019. Photo: Tamarack Resort.

“It will certainly be busy around the mountain this spring,” Tamarack Resort President Jon Reveal said. “Not only is the first phase of the Village Plaza, with retail, lodging and restaurants being completed, but the mountain is getting a generous addition of accessible terrain thanks to new mountain equipment, including a high-speed quad. We’re focused on improving the guest experience from the moment they arrive at the Village through their last run of the day.”

Construction crews will focus on completing the exteriors of the three Phase 1 Village buildings. The construction process has been on hold since 2009. They will simultaneously finish the first phase of retail, dining and guest service spaces in time for the 2019/2020 winter season.

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What is New at Les 2 Alpes this season.

Winter at Les 2 Alpes. Photo Nils Louna - Les 2 Alpes. Skiing amongst friends. What is New at Les 2 Alpes this season.

What is New at Les 2 Alpes this season – Les 2 Alpes season is well underway and the resort will be opened until 27th April 2019. This young, dynamic and international resort has guaranteed snow with ski-in/ski-out accommodation. Located at 1650 m with slopes from 1300 m to 3600, it offers a great vertical drop of 3000 m. Les Deux Alpes is home to 2,100 inhabitants, 3,000 seasonal workers and 29,265 tourist beds. The French make more than half its clientele, with 55.9% total visits while Britain is the leading non-French source of guests with 18.8% visits. This is followed up by Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Poland, Switzerland, Russia, Czech Republic and Canada.

These tourist beds include 29 hotels, with two 4-star, eight 3-star, eight 2-star hotels amongst others.

Winter in Les 2 Alpes. Photo b Yoann Peisin. Les 2 Alpes. What is New at Les 2 Alpes this season.
Winter in Les 2 Alpes. Photo b Yoann Peisin. Les 2 Alpes. What is New at Les 2 Alpes this season.

To get to Les 2 Alpes you can go by plane to Grenoble Alpes Isère airport (1h30m away), Lyon Saint Exupėry (2 hours) or Geneva airport (2h30m away). If you come by train, from Grenoble train station, it is one hour by car or 1h30 m by bus.

What is new in terms of investment and future projects:

A number of these long-term development projects have started in May 2018. Les 2 Alpes is positioning as benchmark and market leader amongst French ski resorts. Over the next five years, Les 2 Alpes’ large-scale projects represent an investment of almost 500 million Euros (ski lifts, ski run equipment, expanding the artificial snow cover, leisure properties and public infrastructure).

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