Winter is coming and we’re here for it!
Before you head out to the mountains this season, make sure you check out our round-up of what’s new on the slopes.
Austria
Kitzbühel
Kitzbühel ski resort is working on improving its infrastructure to make skiing more sustainable, like other resorts. This year, two brand new, modern 6-seater chairlifts, the 6SB Guaxjoch and 6SB Trattenbach, will replace older lifts in the KitzSki area.
The resort will open both lifts in December. They spent 6 months and 23 million Euros building them.
The 6SB Gauxjoch will reduce skiers' travel time by half. It will only take 3 minutes and 35 seconds to go from the valley to the mountain stations. The hourly capacity will increase from 1,440 to 2,400 people. The slower speed of the station will make it easier for kids and beginners to use.
The 6SB Trattenbach shortens travel time between the Trattenbach Valley and Mountain stations. It now takes less than 3 minutes instead of over 6 minutes. It too can transport more people than the old lift – 2,400 per hour compared to 1,970. And, like the 6SB Gauxjoch, the slower station speeds will also make this lift easier to use for children and less experienced skiers.
Ziller Valley
Ziller Valley will also be unveiling two new chairlifts. The new Wilde Krimml gondola will make the connection between Zell and Gerlos much quicker and more comfortable. The 10-seater gondola, designed by Snøhetta Architects, has heated seats and will run non-stop between the two stations.
The old Mitterleger chairlift in Königsleiten will be replaced by a new six-seater chairlift with heated seats and weather hoods.
France
Les 2 Alpes
A lot of investment and development is happening in Les 2 Alpes.
One of the most transformative this year will be the opening of the Vallée Blanche Green Run, which opens this winter.
The Super Venosc gondola and the Blanche Télémix opened last year. These additions will make the Vallée Blanche sector accessible to everyone. Additionally, they will help distribute visitors evenly across the entire ski area. This will help spread visitors evenly across the entire ski area.
The whole area will benefit from snowmaking equipment between 1650m and 2100m.
The redevelopment of the three learning zones on the lower slopes is also set to be completed in time for this season.
In the Coolidge area, a new magic carpet will replace two button lifts, and the Orée des Pistes button lift is being replaced with a newer one.
In the Champamé area, a new button lift and magic carpet are being installed.
The Vikings area had a new magic carpet and button lift installed last year. All this development should help to make these three areas more accessible and user-friendly.
Les 2 Alpes is also investing heavily in its lift infrastructure, to improve the flow of skiers from the resort centre to the high-altitude ski area and back again.
The Diable Télémix was completed last year, the Belle Étoile Télémix will open this December and the Jandri 3S cable car is set to be completed in 2024/25.
Italy
Dolomiti Superski
Dolomiti Superski, which includes the resorts of San Martino di Castrozza and San Pellegrino/Falcade, has invested around €110 million this year in improving infrastructure.
This includes the construction of four new lifts, including the 10-seater gondola linking Sant’Andrea with the Plose ski area.
In Civetta, the new 4-seater ‘Casera dei Zorzi – Cornia’ chairlift replaces the old 2-seater one, streamlining the link between the Zoldo and Palafavera areas.
And in Val Gardena and 3 Cime Dolomiti, new button lifts have replaced older ones.
Snowmaking capabilities have been improved in San Martino di Castrozza and in Passo San Pellegrino, where there have also been improvements made to the Larasei – Le Buse 1 (Plateau) piste and the Funivia col Margherita lift.
Campiglio Dolomiti di Brenta
Campiglio Dolomiti di Brenta is another ski area that is benefiting from substantial investment. This ski area includes the resorts of Madonna di Campiglio, Pinzolo and Folgarida Marilleva.
This December will see the opening of the redesigned Prà Rodont - Doss del Sabion lift, base station and top station.
With sustainability at the heart of the design and construction, the base and top stations have been completely renovated to be much more sympathetic to their surroundings, with both being built underground.
Insulation has been improved and the heating system, kitchen and kiosk will all use low-energy, highly efficient equipment and solar panels will be installed on the roof.
At the top station, there will be a ski storage room (which will be used for bikes in the summer) protected by CCTV, as well as a panoramic viewpoint.
And if the views make you hungry, then a lift or escalator will take you up to the newly-built mountain refuge, which boasts a café with panoramic views, a bistro and a terrace with a kiosk for those who wish to enjoy their lunch in the open air while taking in the truly spectacular views.
The new 10-person gondola will replace the former 4-seater chairlift. It will use the same amount of energy as the old lift but at a higher capacity, making it much more energy efficient.
There will also be fewer towers and vehicles, so it will make less of an impact on the visual environment. And the speed will be slower at the entry and exit points, making the lift more accessible to all visitors.
Via Lattea
The Milky Way resorts, including Sansicario, Sestriere and Montgenevre (across the border in France) have been investing in safeguarding future seasons against climate change. They have renewed around 7650m of their snowmaking network for this season, with another 16,000m set to be renewed in later phases.
The upgrades will not only ensure that snowmaking is maximised during cold periods, but will also save power and water, making the operation more sustainable.
The brand new Via Lattea app is set to be released in late November with some really useful features for visitors, including real-time updates on the condition of slopes and facilities, push notifications for weather reports, facility closing times and safety alerts, and the opportunity to track outings on the snow. And, best of all, it’s going to be completely free to download!
Are the mountains calling you?
If you haven’t started planning your next school ski trip, now is the time. Please don’t hesitate to contact us for further information or to request your tailor-made quote.