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New lifts North America, see below... |
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New lifts,Europe; Austria, France, Italy, Switzerland see below |
| Whistler Blackcomb Twenty-eight sky cabins will travel 4.4 kms between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, offering unprecedented access to both mountains see below... |
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FIS, USSA Schedules & More news,...
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| People, Speed Skiing and more events, page 3 |
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Winter Sports Trade shows page 4
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OLYMPIC NEWS SUMMARIES This summary provides you with background information and news on the IOC's activities. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today launched the bid process for the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in 2016. The 203 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) have been invited to submit the name of a city within their jurisdiction as an Applicant to host the Games in nine years� time. The key dates of the procedure are as follows: Phase I - known as the candidature acceptance procedure, involves a thorough review by the IOC of each city�s potential to organise the 2016 Olympic Games. Cities will be asked to reply to a questionnaire. Their answers will be studied by the IOC in order to help the IOC Executive Board to select the cities that will become Candidate Cities and therefore move on to Phase II. 13 September 2007 NOCs to inform the IOC of the name of an Applicant City 14 January 2008 Submission of Application File and guarantee letters to the IOC Jan-June 2008 Examination of replies by the IOC June 2008 IOC Executive Board acceptance of Candidate Cities Phase II -known as the candidature procedure, Candidate Cities will be requested to submit their Candidature File, that is to say an in-depth description of their Olympic project, and prepare for the visit of the IOC Evaluation Commission. The Evaluation Commission will make a detailed technical assessment of each candidature and publish a report one month before the election of the Host City for IOC members to review. 8 � 24 August 2008 Olympic Games Observer Programme � Beijing 2008 12 February 2008 Submission of Candidature File to the IOC One month before the election of the Host Report of the 2016 IOC Evaluation Commission City 2 October 2009 Election of the Host City of the 2016 Olympic Games during the 121st IOC Session in Copenhagen XXII Olympic Winter Games in 2014 The International Olympic Committee (IOC) have announced that Sochi (RUS) was the final selection IOC -International Olympic Comittee |
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New Lifts 2008-09 Season Whiteface New York Whiteface will enter a new frontier in 2008-09. Known as Lookout Mountain, Whiteface will open an expert run and triple chair to the east of the Slides. In addition, snowmaking will be brought to this new area. When completed beyond 2008-09, Lookout Mountain will have three expert runs, one long intermediate trail, snowmaking, triple chair, and more glades. It will drop 2,200 vertical feet, more than some resorts in the east. The intermediate trail will enable skiers and riders to connect to Kids Kampus and the main lodge. Guests will be able to access the chair lift from the beginning of the flats on Easy Street. Batawa Ski Hill, Ontario Batawa Ski Hill is quickly moving from a small unknown Ontario ski hill whose racers tear up the slopes in competition across Ontario, to a ski area that can now rival most in Ontario for quality ski terrain and skier satisfaction. Over the past two seasons Batawa Ski Hill has invested heavily in the facility�s aging infrastructure and it�s been paying off. �We�ve doubled previous average skier visits, �days open� and seen great increases in ski and snowboard lessons in the past two seasons,� said Steve Spiessman, ski area general manager. �We anticipate an even larger increase in volume this year as a result of the chairlift installation.� The new quad Chairlift, with padded seating for 4, will take guests up the hill with ease and comfort. �Two luxuries we never had before,� Spiessman explains. �The new chairlift will make skiing and snowboarding easier for people of all ability levels. It will make us much more inviting to schools and give people in the Quinte region one less reason to drive an hour or more to take their family skiing. Everything they need is right here in their own back yard.� The Chairlift will initially transport 1800 people per hour up hill, and can easily be upgraded to 2400 people per hour with the addition of 6 more chairs. With an uphill travel time of 1.5 minutes, skiers and snowboarders will get more runs in less time than ever before. The T-Bars will remain in place for special events or high volume holidays and weekends, giving Batawa Ski Hill a total uphill capacity of over 3800 people per hour. Summit at Snoqualmie - Washington The Summit at Snoqualmie has received the green light from the United States Forest Service to begin the installation of a new high-speed quad chairlift, named Silver Fir Express. Located just East of The Summit�s Central Base Area, the new Silver Fir Express will replace the current Silver Fir triple chair, originally installed in 1988. Construction is expected to be completed in November, 2008, meaning the chair will be open to the public in time for the start of the 2008-2009 winter season. Work is beginning this week on disassembly of the current Silver Fir triple chairlift. The project, costing an estimated $4.5 million, will continue throughout the summer and fall and involve the use of a helicopter to install the new chairlift towers. The process will be documented through photos and video on The Summit�s website. While this new lift will serve the same terrain as the existing chair, ride times and lift capacities will be dramatically improved. The length of ride time will shorten from its current 10-plus minute ride to just over four minutes. Lift capacity will increase to 2400 skiers per hour. �We are very excited to break ground on this highly-anticipated improvement project. Silver Fir serves as a means of access to many of our gladed trails and allows for easy connectivity between two of our base areas � Summits Central and East,� said Dan Brewster, general manager for The Summit. �This improvement marks the start of an exciting new phase at The Summit.� Several other summer improvement projects are currently underway at The Summit. For a full list, visit: www.summitatsnoqualmie.com/ Sun Valley , Idaho Construction for Bald Mountain�s Gondola will begin in September. Originating at the base of River Run and climbing to the Top Terminal Plaza at the Roundhouse, the gondola project will encompass the two terminals, new restrooms and new access to The Roundhouse Restaurant. Au�erfern - Austria In the Tyrolean resort of Au�erfern, Doppelmayr built the Almkopfbahn, a combined lift consisting of 6-seater chairs and 8-seater gondolas. The parking facility is equipped with an automatic carrier sorting system. On the edge of Tyrol�s Zugspitz Arena lies the Berwangertal ski network1 with 13 lifts and 40 kilometers of ski trails, including 12 kilometers equipped with snow-making equipment. The ski area starts right on the B179 �Fernpass� federal road and is also easily reached by rail. � Bichlbach rail station is immediately next to the bottom station of the combined lift (altitude 1,075 m). The lift proved to be a great success in the last winter season. Older skiers who attach particular importance to comfort, as well as ski instructors with groups of children, preferred the gondolas, while the more athletic skiers chose the chairs. Chairs with bubbles and gondolas are employed in a ratio of 2:1. Mt Buller -Australia Buller Ski Lifts has built Australia�s first high-speed, six-seat chairlift for the 2008 season. The new $6 million Holden Express Chairlift has replaced the Abom Chairlift and runs from Helicopter Flat, near the Ski School, to the top of Baldy. The Doppelmayr lift will be able to move 3200 skiers per hour and will make the 1100m trip in less than four minutes. It is the first lift at Mt Buller to be run on 100 per cent GreenPower, helping the resort to minimise the effects of global warming and sustain the precious alpine environment. www.mtbueller.com Cardrona - New Zealand Cardrona has purchased a high speed detachable quad chairlift for the Captain's Basin. The new Poma chairlift will be ready to ride at the start of the 2008 season. Captain�s Express chairlift The Captains Express chairlift�s speed will be two and a half times quicker than the existing quad with a journey only taking 3 � minutes versus the existing 9 minutes. Assuming no queue, a person who skied 11 runs at Captains Basin would ski them one hour faster due to faster chairlifts. www.cardrona.com Solden Austria Three new single-rope mountain gondolas and a new restaurant on top of the Hohe Mut peak, plus a new ski run down from Hohe Mut. The small village of Obergurgl-Hochgurgl is a trendsetter in showing what "Top Quality Skiing" means. The ultimate ski area at the very end of the �tztal Valley offers 110 km of immaculate slopes (90 km of them are equipped with artificial snow-making systems), and 22 ski lifts or mountain gondolas boasting an hourly capacity of up to 39,400 persons. Pure skiing fun without lift lines guaranteed! HOHE MUT BAHN - SECTION I AND II IN OBERGURGL 8-person mountain gondola Hourly capacity: 2,400 persons Middle station in the Nederh�tte area Difference in altitude: approx. 736 m Base terminal: 1,906 m Top station: 2,643 m Riding time: approx. 4 minutes The mountain gondola will be in operation in winter and summer TOP SCHERMERBAHN 3000 IN HOCHGURGL 8-person mountain gondola Hourly capacity: 2,400 persons Difference in altitude: approx. 500 m Base terminal: 2,422 m Top station: 2,922 m New Lifts 2007-08 Season International Developments Arc 2000 "l�Arcabulle" a 6-seater chair lift : departure point situated above the current departure point of the Plagnettes chair lift and arrival point at the top of the Bosses drag lift. demolishing of the Bosses drag lift a reduction in the length of the bottom part of the Plagnettes chair lift, with the departure station being located higher than the current departure point of the Plagnettes.(see photo below) the construction of an information-safety chalet at the top of the Transarc gondola, with toilets inside. Aiguille Rouge : improvement of the panoramique ciruit on the summit and at the start of the Arandeli�res red run. Austria, Kaprun New Kristallbahn on the Kitzsteinhorn Detachable 6-person chairlift with bubbles and heated seats The Gletscherbahnen Kaprun AG takes a further step forward, in the continuous, qualitative development of its skiing region, through the construction of the new Kristallbahn. The new 6-seater chair lift replaces the Krefelder Hut lift, increases the capacity for conveying guests from the Alpine Centre to the glacier, opens up new ski slopes and ensures the highest level of comfort with heated chairs and weather proof hoods. The Kristallbahn will increase the capacity for conveying guests to the glacier. It replaces the Krefelder Hut lift and enables new slopes to be opened up due to altered and extended runs. These slopes offer a weather favourable and sunny mid-alpine region for all guests. The new Kristallbahn will open in November. � Faster transportation � Optimal feeder lift to the glacier lift area � Comfortable due to bubbles and heated seats � Development of additional pistes in the middle alpine area Basestation: 2260 m Summitstation: 2671 mv total vert 412 m Kitzb�hel New 8-passenger chairlift "Steinbergkogel Detachable 8-passenger chairlift "Steinbergkogel" (C6) featuring bubble chairs and heated seats plus snowmaking system at the Steinbergkogel. State-of-the-art ski rental/ski tuning/ski service/ approx. 1,000 m2 sports shop located directly in the Hahnenkamm Gondola Base Terminal. Expansion of the snowmaking system in the Jochberg-Resterh�he area, finally bridging the gap in the Jochberg area � 100% snow coverage for the Ski Safari! For the next two to three years, significant investments will be made to further expand the snowmaking systems including, for instance, additional new water reservoirs with a total capacity of approx. 230,000 m3 Italy More comfort and safety, better slopes and connections For years the ski resorts belonging to Dolomiti Superski have been constantly working towards modernisation and quality improvement for the joy of everybody. Rather than the creation of new ski resorts, more attention has been put towards the constant improvement of the already existing lift facilities, more safety and comfort, better and safer slopes and smoother connections that do not require you to take off your skis. During the summer seven new lifts have been built (substituting the already existing lift facilities), various slopes widened to increase safety and the artificial snow making facilities upgraded. 90% of the slopes can now be reached by the artificial snow making facilities making Dolomiti Superski one of the top ski regions in the world. Cortina d�Ampezzo * 4-seater chairlift with automatic coupling �Taiarezze-Malon� (p/h 1,200) replaces double chairlift �Taiarezze-Fedo� Alta Badia * 4-seater chairlift with automatic coupling �Sponata� (p/h 1.200) replaces double chairlift Val Gardena/Alpe di Siusi * 4-seater chairlift with automatic coupling �Sole� (p/h 1.800) replaces fixed 3-seater chairlift * Various slopes upgraded and widened Val di Fassa * 8-person cabin lift with automatic coupling �To� � Col dei Rossi� (p/h 2,400) replaces 4-seater chairlift with automatic couplin Alta Pusteria * New 8-person cabin lift with automatic coupling �Signaue� with slope in the Croda Rossa area Widening of slopes towards Versciaco on Monte Elmo Val di Fiemme/Obereggen * New 4-seater chairlift with automatic coupling (p/h 1,800) replaces skilift �Pr� Fior�� (Cermis) * Lengthening of �Pr� Fior�� slope by about 400 metres - with snow making facilities * Opening of new slope �Salera� (Pr� Fior� area) - with snow making facilities Switzerland Crans Montana / CH: Winter - Construction of a new Nationale Chairlift This time it's underway! Work started on the new Nationale chairlift at the beginning of May. The new lift, which will be up and running by next winter, will be a definite improvement to the ski area. Judge for yourselves�a longer route with its departure point level at the Marolires station to facilitate liaisons between the different sectors, a middle station at an altitude of 1'900m to reduce the consequences of light snow cover and finally an increase in capacity, from 1�800 people/hour to 3'000 people/hour, in order to reduce queues. The length of the entire journey will also be reduced by half, and will now take less than 7 minutes. Mammoth Mountain Ski Area has begun construction on a new high-speed six-pack chairlift that will be ready to load skiers when the 2007/08 ski season kicks off in November. The "new Chair 9" is replacing Mammoth's legendary double-chair - a project that is costing $6.5 million. The new Doppelmayr lift will whisk skiers from the Eagle Lodge side of the mountain to 10,371 feet near Dragon's Back in just over six minutes, providing access to hundreds of acres of intermediate and advanced terrain and cutting the ride time in half. Originally installed in 1969, the fixed-grip two-seat chair is famed for deep powder and runs like Dragon's Back and Ricochet. Chair 9 services the secluded and often uncrowded eastern slopes of Mammoth Mountain. The new lift will provide quick and efficient service, enable the lift to operate under more acute weather conditions and give more skiers the opportunity to enjoy some of the best terrain Mammoth has to offer. "While we anticipate increased usage of the terrain around Chair 9, the chair upgrade will also provide more convenient access to the other side of the mountain," said Mammoth Mountain Chairman and CEO Rusty Gregory. "On busy days twenty-five percent of our skiers start their day at Eagle Lodge. We believe many intermediate and advanced skiers will use the new Chair 9 to move across the mountain quickly." Winds can be strong as weather blows in over Mammoth's east side. The heavier six-passenger lift is being installed instead of a quad lift to allow it to operate in higher winds. The six-pack chair is heavier and more stable in the wind, so the Lift Operations team anticipates more full days of operation. North America Whistler Blackcomb B.C. Twenty-eight sky cabins will travel 4.4 kms between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, offering unprecedented access to both mountains' expansive and unique high alpine terrain and spectacular views.  Vital signs Longest unsupported span for a lift of this kind in the world at 3.024 km / 1.88 miles Highest lift of its kind above the valley floor at 415 metres / 1,361 feet (above Fitzsimmons Creek) Longest continuous lift system on the globe � Whistler Village Gondola � Peak to Peak Gondola � Solar Coaster � Wizard Express Most expensive lift ever built in North America to date. The Peak to Peak Gondola will link 8,171 acres of terrain into one continuous lift system allowing skiers and riders to maximize their day by moving quickly and effortlessly across the valley to the best snow and weather in each alpine area. Speed 7.5 meters per second. Ride Time approximately 11 min. Frequency one cabin departs every 49 seconds Total Distance 4.4km (straight line) Length of Unsupported Span 3.024km (straight line between the two towers that are furthest apart) Highest Point above the ground is 415m over Fitzsimmons Creek Number of Cabins 28 Capacity of Cabins 24 seated, 4 standing Capacity 2050 people per hour each way Number of Towers 4 (2 on Blackcomb and 2 on Whistler) Track Ropes two stationary ropes that the cabin rides upon-each rope is 56mm in diameter. Total length of the track rope with the sag is 4600m Haul Rope the single rope that pulls the cars along the track ropes is 46mm in diameter. Total length of the haul rope loop with the sag is 8850m Steamboat Christie Peak Express high-speed six-passenger chairlift. Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation will install a Leitner-Poma of America high-speed, six-passenger chairlift that will replace three lifts (Preview, Headwall and Christie II) in the base area. The new lift�s lower terminal will be approximately where the lower Headwall terminal sits, with an angle station (unload capabilities only) just above the top of Southface, before continuing to the top of Christie Peak where Christie II currently unloads. Christie Peak Express will have a length of roughly 4,700 feet and a capacity to move 3,200 people per hour, which is 400 more per hour than the Gondola. The new express lift will cut the ride time to the summit of Christie Peak by more than two-thirds, from 15 to a swift 4.8 minutes. Heavenly Valley New Olympic Express detachable-quad chairlift provides high-speed access to Olympic Downhill, three new trails and Nevada Woods � home to some of the best tree skiing in North America � letting guests more easily experience a part of the mountain that has been underutilized due to the existing fixed-grip lift. Olympic Express also gives guests accessing the resort from Heavenly�s Stagecoach or Boulder Lodge a quicker route to Dipper Express, Comet Express and East Peak Lodge. When complete for its anticipated December 7, 2007 opening, Olympic Express will be 3,533 feet long with an 866-foot vertical rise. The high-speed lift will move 1,000 feet per minute with a 2,400 person capacity per hour. The former two-person Olympic chair ride took approximately 11 minutes, compared to just three-and-a-half minutes for the new Olympic Express, enabling more ski time and less time spent on a slow-moving chair. Heavenly will also unveil three new trails off of Olympic Express. 49� North: New Sunrise Quad The �Sunrise Quad� was recently purchased from Mt. Ashland Ski Area located outside of Medford in Southern Oregon. It is a 1989 CTEC Fixed-Grip Quad that measures 5,000 linear feet and has a vertical rise of 1,470� from an elevation of 4,280� at the bottom of Sunrise Basin, to an elevation of 5,750� just shy of the summit of Chewelah Peak (5,774�). There will be 21 towers, including the top and bottom terminals, which will support this top-drive lift. Boasting beautiful galvanized tower caps and carriers, as well as glassed-in top and bottom terminals, this is one modern lift. The Sunrise Quad will be the flagship of our resort and will be situated on both United States Forest Service and privately held land (owned by the Eminger family). � 1989 CTEC Fixed-Grip Quad � 5,000 linear feet in length � Vertical rise of 1,470� � Bottom Terminal elevation of 4,280� at the base of Sunrise Basin � Top Terminal elevation of 5,750� just shy of the summit of Chewelah Peak (5,774�). � 21 towers, including the top and bottom terminals, which will support this top-drive lift � Galvanized tower caps and carriers, as well as glassed-in top and bottom terminals Schweitzer Mountain Ten Million Dollars Invested in On-Mountain Improvements Sandpoint, ID �When the chairlifts close for the season in April, Schweitzer Mountain will begin demolition of the historic Chair One to make way for, not one, but two new lifts that will increase total uphill capacity for the mountain, and ease accessibility to more low angle terrain for skiers and snowboarders. The Basin Express, a high-speed detachable quad will begin adjacent to the Mill Building in the base area, below the current Chair One loading station eliminating the hike to that chair. The lift will travel 3700 feet and will top off above and to the north of the current midway station just below the runout of The Face. Lakeview Triple, a fixed grip triple chair will provide access to the mostly expert terrain in the South Bowl. It will load just above the current tower 11 on Chair One and the top station will be located just north of the current unload station of Chair One. Ride times will decrease allowing skiers and snowboarders more time on the slopes and less time in line. Currently, it takes 7 minutes to reach the midway unload point on Chair One. The Basin Express will deliver skiers and riders above this location in just 3.7 minutes. The Lakeview Triple will provide a 4 1/2 minute ride to the summit. The Basin Express provides vastly improve access to low angle intermediate terrain such as Midway Run and to the freestyle terrain park. �These new lifts carry out our mission to further Schweitzer as an active family resort,� said CEO and president Tom Chasse, �It relieves the traffic pressure on the Great Escape Quad and provides more options for family skiing and those progressing from the beginner terrain on Musical Chairs.� Overall, at full build-out, the two lifts will increase the resort�s total uphill capacity by 28%, from 9,267 people per hour to 12,807 people per hour with a total of 7 chairlifts, 3 surface lifts. The two lifts reflect a $6 million dollar capital expenditure. Additionally, Schweitzer will invest $2 million in its utilities to accommodate the expansion and future growth, and an additional $2 million in grooming and snowmaking equipment, improvements to the Lakeview Lodge, and other chairlift upgrades. This is the largest on-mountain expansion the resort has executed in its history in a single year. Timeline: Demolition of Chair One will begin in April 2007. The targeted completion date is by opening day for the 2007-08 ski season. Fact Sheet: Basin Express and Lakeview Triple Basin Express Type of Lift High Speed Detachable Quad Manufacturer Doppelmayr - CTEC Horizontal Length 3549 feet Slope Length 3703 feet Vertical Rise 1063 feet Initial Capacity 2000 people per hour Design Capacity 2400 people per hour Ride Time 3.7 minutes HP of Primary Drives 500 HP Type and HP of Secondary Drives Cummins 500 HP diesel w/TC or equal Design line speed 1000 feet per minute Location of loading station Village between Mill Building and Great Escape Quad # of Towers 12 # of chairs on each lift 67 Construction start date April 2007 Telluride Ski Resort: New for 2007 � 2008 - Black Iron Bowl Telluride Ski Resort is thrilled to announce the opening of Black Iron Bowl, adding eight runs of backcountry-style terrain adjacent to the breathtaking Prospect Bowl. The area sits against the dramatic backdrop of Palmyra Peak on the western end of the resort. �Black Iron Bowl is both challenging and exceptionally beautiful,� said Jeff Proteau, vice president of operations for the ski resort. �We are excited to offer our guests an unforgettable backcountry experience within the ski area boundary.� Black Iron Bowl is accessible via Lift 12 (Prospect Lift) and a short hike out Prospect Ridge. Skiers and riders will be able to drop in anywhere from 10 minutes to 30 minutes hiking time along the ridge. Dropping 1000 vertical feet on the primary pitches, terrain includes the expansive Mountain Quail couloir, European-style faces, open glades and steep chutes. The Mountain Quail couloir had previously been accessible as guide-only, but now the full expanse of Black Iron will be open for public access as conditions allow. Other new runs include Westlake, Lakeview, Review, Dihedral Chute, Dihedral Face, Jello�s Bowl and Nice Chute. �This exceptional terrain hosted some of the most talented professional skiers on the planet with the Subaru Freeskiing Open,� said Proteau, �and now both our locals and our guests have the opportunity to experience Black Iron Bowl for themselves.� Black Iron Bowl, named for an old mining claim, is an excellent addition to the existing inbounds hike-to areas of Bald Mountain and Prospect Ridge, where advanced skiers and boarders enjoy fresh tracks virtually all season. Squaw Valley Shirley Lake Quad chair is replaced with a Six pack HS detachable. Great for exits from Granite Chief Backside New Lifts 2006-07 Season Val d�Is�re World�s first tangential loading facility for a 6-seater chairlift In order to provide the required high transport capacity of 3,600 PPH, Doppelmayr implemented a particularly ingenious innovation in the form of the world�s first �tangential loading� facility for a 6-seater chairlift. The key feature here is the configuration of the path traced by the chairs as they transit the loading area in conjunction with a loading carpet. The chairs approach the loading area at an angle of roughly 45�. The loading gates open at staggered intervals, allowing the skiers to advance one by one onto the loading carpet. The resulting staggered starting positions now form a line in parallel with the chair. By the time the skiers stop at the end of the loading carpet they are back in a straight line, ready to board the approaching chair. It is this combination of angled chair position and loading carpet which crucially reduces the time interval between carriers and thus increases transport capacity. As the regulations stipulate a maximum capacity of 3,000 PPH for a conventional 6-seater chairlift, special tests were required in the case of Tichots, which led to approval being granted in November. Doppelmayr pioneered the tangential loading system Doppelmayr ranks as the forerunner of this system, the first of which was installed on the 8-CLD Les Tommeuses in Tignes in 2002 (transport capacity 4,500 PPH). The customer, Soci�t� des T�l�pheriques de la Grande Motte (STGM), has beena Doppelmayr customer for 15 years: during the course of the past two years, STGM has purchased a total of three chairlifts from Doppelmayr. In the case of Tichots, Doppelmayr was awarded the contract in May 2005 and the installation went into service at the end of November, following a six-month construction period. 6-CLD Tichots Transport capacity 3,600 PPH Trip time 4.3 min Travel speed 5.0 m/s Carriers 85 Interval 6.0 s Inclined length 1,169 m Vertical rise 361 m Obereggen - Italy Part of the Latemar Ski Center, have launched for the 2006/2007 winter two brand new chairlifts. The super modern four chairs lift "Obereggen", realized by Doppelmayr, replaces the old quads, allowing to increase the passenger per hour ratio to 2.400/h. And the old ski lift on the "Pala di Santa" Mountain will bee replaced by an automatic four chair lift with babble. The new chairlift "Obereggen": Length: 516 m Transportation: 2.400 passenger per hour Time: 1 min 54 sec Valley station: 1939 m Mountain station: 2032 m Monterosa Punta Indren Lift Opening for the 07-2008 skiing season, even if this is absolutely premature at the moment, only if the weather conditions will be favourable during the working period. It will be a funifor,( dual cable gondola - similar to those at Saas-Fee & Squaw Valley ) close relative of the already tested lift that links Pianalunga to Passo Salati, with a very low impact on the surrounding area. A not so invasive lift with very interesting technical characteristics. It will carry up to 740 people per hour with two cabins transporting 60 people each. People will embark at 2960 meters above sea level in order to reach 3275 meters at the top. It will be a trip a little longer than a kilometre and a half and will last about 5 minutes Saalbach / Austria: 3 new lifts In summer 2006 3 lifts will be replaced with modern cable-cars. 8 person cable car "'Schattberg Sprinter" (replaces the existing chair lift "Westgipfel III") 6 person chairlift "Sch�nleitengipfelbahn" with canopy (bubble) and heated seats (replaces the existing drag lifts "Karlift" & "Wei�bachlift") Jackson Hole New Tram. Built by Doppelmayr/CTEC, the new tram will carry 100 passengers from the base in Teton Village to the summit of Rendezvous Mountain, a vertical rise of 4,139� � the longest continuous vertical rise of any ski lift in North America! In addition to construction of the East Ridge Chair, Jackson Hole Mountian Resort is adding capacity to the Bridger Gondola and Thunder Chair. The Bridger Gondola will have 18 more cabins. From the base, the Gondola will now offer an uphill capacity of 2400 skiers per hour (vs. 1800 previously), which will mean faster access from the base to the upper mountain this year.Thunder Chair will have 16 more chairs added. Catedral Patagonia Amancay Quadruple Cablecar: A comfortable cablecar with capacity for 2,000 pax/h. to reach the inferior level of the ex-Teleski 2000 from a base at 1,770 meters above sea level in only 7 minutes, ascending more than 700 meters. Diente de Caballo Triple Chairlift (2,000 pax/h. capacity), which links Amancay Quadruple Cablecar service to Punta Princesa. Del Bosque Double Chairlift (1,500 pax/h. capacity), located where former Luipe Teleski was, with a conveyor belt automatic linking system; unique in Latin America. Baby �and� II Lift (in Area 2000) for beginners, and Plaza II (in Plaza Oertle) and Jumbo III (at the Base), both of them drag lifts. Ro-Cat: New drag lift for advanced skiers and snowboarders to get to off-piste terrain from La Hoyita. La Plagne Two More Six Seater Chairs For La Plagne in France which alrewady operates ten six-seater chairlifts, the most in the world for one resort, is building another two of the queue-gobbling lifts this summer. Cvosting 5.2m Euros each, the new lift from La Roche to Aime 2000 will carry 2,200 skiers per hour and the other from Les Coches to Lac Noir will carry 2,400 skiers per hour. In addition to the new lifts the resort�s massive snow cannon coverage will be extended extended from Emile Allais to the start of La Roche and on the Levasset run up to the top of Quillis, making a total of 108 hectares covered by snow cannons in 2006/07. Estimated cost of the expansion is 450,000� La Plagne�s ski area is spread across a huge playground of slopes and bowls. Many projects are in place to improve skier safety and enjoyment of the slopes: avalanche barriers; protection of slopes and tree planting; piste widening and access to many black runs made easier. The resort is lift linked to Les Arcs to create the Paradiski area, one of the world�s six-largest. Val-Gardena Paradiso/Goldknopf - Seiser Alm - Detachable chairlift for 6 persons, replacement of double. Sochers - New detachable chairlift for 4 persons, replacement. Sotsaslong - New detachable chairlift for 4 persons, skilift replacement. Treble Cone Treble Cone Ski Area in Wanaka has announced plans for a Gondola to provide access from the valley floor to the alpine playground. A resource consent application has recently been lodged to provide for the link and its associated buildings. The proposal will offer safety and efficiency improvements, as well as providing visitors with a greater level of enjoyment and customer service. The proposed gondola will take 2,000 passengers per hour, up the 945m vertical rise from Cattle Flat to the Ski Area. The 3.3km trip will take 10.5 minutes, a significant saving on existing drive times. The new project marks the first alpine gondola in New Zealand. This project will have a landmark effect on year round tourism in New Zealand. The gondola base buildings have been designed to reflect a homestead and farm buildings of a form traditionally associated with high country stations of the Southern Alps. The buildings will provide for gondola machinery and cabin storage, as well as the ticketing and commercial functions associated with the ski area. The Gondola at Treble Cone will provide Wanaka with a year round facility which can provide visitors with a world class alpine experience� St Anton Austria St Anton Builds New "FerrisWheel" Gondola St Anton in Austria's famous Arlerg region will boast a world first next season when it opens its new Galzigbahn gondola lift. The new lift, which has three times the uplift capaity of the one it replaces, has a world first design based on a ferris wheel. The 28 gondola cabins are each brought down to ground level by the ferris wheel for passenger entry and are then lifted back on to the main cable. The lift is housed within a new state of the art building that is another major achivement, this time architctually. The transparent building has been designed by renowned Tyrolean architect Georg Driendl. Sun Peaks In addition to a fast new quad chairlift on Tod Mountain at Sun Peaks in Canada giving faster access to the resort's deepest and driest powder, glade skiing and advanced/expert terrain on the mountain. The new Orient Ridge runs will be designed in the same way as many of the runs on Mt. Morrisey with numerous tree islands left to enhance the beauty of the ski experience and improve snow conditions The new East Village Surface Lift will link a new the Ski-in/ski-out Umbrella caf� with indoor and outdoor seating for up to 100 guests to the base of the Mt. Morrisey Express Lift and ease access between Sundance Mountain and Mt. Morrisey Bansko - Bulgaria Bansko in Bulgaria will add two new quads for next winter. The first chair connects "Banderishka polyana" place with the base of the "Todorka" piste and will improve easy ski- and snowboard terrain access for beginners. The second new lift ascends from the "Zhelezen" sector and reaches the "Platoto" area. Big White -Kelowna, BC Big White Ski Resort Ltd. announced the installation of the new Snow Ghost Express - a state-of-the-art $7M six-passenger chairlift, that will be constructed at the base of the popular Ridge area. The Snow Ghost Express is named after the legendary snow covered trees that Big White is famous for in its alpine region. The Leinter-Poma lift will be built using a local Kelowna contractor. "This is the best equipment in the world at this time," commented Resort President, Peter Schumann. The Snow Ghost Express will be the longest six-passenger chair in Canada - 6190 feet, (1862 metres) long, and will whisk skiers and riders to the top in just under six minutes. Situated parallel to the current Ridge Rocket Express, the Snow Ghost will service Big White's most popular runs and terrain. The two lifts combined will generate an uphill capacity of 5,400 skiers per hour (ten passengers every seven seconds) and increases the hourly lift capacity to an impressive 28,000 riders per hour. Bear Valley Ca. a new high-speed lift to the mountain. The addition of the quad lift, scheduled for operation in the 2006-07 ski season, comes as part of Bear Valley�s first phase facilities upgrade plans to enhance and expand the resort�s facilities and nearby lodging. The new high-speed lift, manufactured by Leitner Poma of America, will replace Bear Valley�s Hibernation Chair and represents one of the most advanced, environmentally-friendly high speed quad lifts in production Whistler Blackcomb B.C. Whistler Blackcomb has unveiled plans to build a new high speed detachable quad in the high alpine for the 2006-2007 winter season. The new Piccolo Express Lift on Whistler Mountain will run to the Piccolo peak from the bottom of Flute Bowl and will provide access to more than 1,000 acres of the most spectacular high alpine terrain available in North America. With 8,171 skiable acres, Whistler Blackcomb is the largest ski resort in North America. Squaw Valley - Ca In the annual letter to the Squaw Valley faithfull, Alex Cushing announced plans to upgrade Shirley Lake from a Quad High Speed to a H.S. Six pack, summer 2007 Also, the current "Pulse" gondola connecting High Camp with Gold coast will be replaced. New Lifts 2005-06 Season Breckenridge, Colorado Breckenridge Ski Resort starts construction on the much anticipated Peak 8 summit lift, the Imperial Express SuperChair. Breckenridge�s newest high-speed quad will be the highest chairlift in North America, reaching an elevation of 12,840 feet and transporting skiers and riders to the top of Breckenridge�s renowned Peak 8. As construction get underway today, resort officials are optimistic the new lift will be ready to ride this winter. As the highest chairlift in North America, accessing some of Breckenridge�s most amazing intermediate and expert terrain, this lift is the crowning touch on an already fabulous resort,� said Roger McCarthy, chief operating officer for Breckenridge Ski Resort. With a vertical rise of 939 feet and a ride time of a little more than two-and-a-half minutes, the Imperial Express SuperChair will serve 400 acres of Breckenridge's famed existing in-bounds double-black diamond and extreme terrain previously only accessible by hiking approximately 45 minutes to the summit of Peak 8. Val d�Is�re, France A new detachable 6 seater chair lift will be inaugurated Its cost : 4.3 million �.( Euro) This chairlift will take on some of the central Solaise Express traffic. Skiers staying in the Laisinant area can use this lift to get to the Fornet and Solaise sectors. After having skied the fabulous L or Mattis runs, no need to take the free shuttle to get back to the slopes. The agreement signed between the STVI and the Vanoise National Park makes provision for the counting of the royal eagles and black grouse nesting within proximity of the lift over the next 7 years. Kirkwood, Ca Kirkwood Mountain Resort has signed a contract with Doppelmayr CTEC to construct the new Timber Creek Express that will replace Chair 7. Removal of the current lift has already begun.The Chair 7 pod is already the best learn to ski and ride terrain in the Sierra and a new high speed, slow loading lift makes this a world-class beginner environment. Expert skiers who enjoy the fabulous terrain north of Sentinel Bowl will have an easy commute back to the Cornice Express.� The high-speed lift will double the uphill capacity out of the Timber Creek base area. It will eliminate lift lines and reduce the ride time from 8 -10 minutes on a good day to just over 3 minutes. The new lift line will connect to the same top terminal location but the loading terminal will be moved due west of the Timber Creek Lodge building. Kirchberg, Austria A new gondola currently under construction between the Austrian ski resorts of Westendorf and Kirchberg will join together two of the country's largest ski areas to create one of the world's giant ski regions. The Kirchberg lift had been in planning for many years, aurdles. Gondola constructiojn began in July and should be operational by December. Last year Kitzb�hel linked the Hahnenkamm/Pengelstein and Jochberg/Resterhohe sectors with a single span gondola. Saas -Fee / Saas-Grund, Switzerland The modern 8-person gondola-lift takes you from Saas-Grund to Kreuzboden. A 4-person gondola-lift continues up to Hohsaas. The Hohsaas mountain transport system gives access to a spectacular mountain area in both winter and summer. In summer the high-altitude Hohsaas und Kreuzboden area has viewpoints where you can see the 18 four-thousand-metre peaks of the Mischabel chain and the Monte-Rosa massif. For the start of the winter season 2005/2006 a new gondola lift, with cabins for 8 people, will transport you from Kreuzboden to Hohsaas. The new system is very similar to the first section. Gondolas for 8 people, with 2 rows of seats have been chosen. This will allow easy entrance and exit and the usual seating. Top and bottom terminals have been developed as modern, standard satellite stations. The gondolas will be assembled at Kreuzboden. In winter more than 100 hectares of groomed, varied pistes and more than 35km of long runs await you. The ski area stretches from 1560m above sea-level in Saas-Grund to 3100m at Hohsaas. Verbier, Switzerland Starting next winter, Verbier will have a revolutionary transport system linking Les Ruinettes and La Chaux: a "T�l�mix" (or "chandola"), in other words cabins seating eight passengers alternating with six-seater chairs all on the same cable. The system will have an hourly passenger capacity of 2400. The new ski lift system will be known as the La Chaux Express. Italy Cortina d'Ampezzo - 4-seater chairlift with automatic coupling "Padeon" (2.160 p/h) replaces double chairlift - 6-seater chairlift with automatic coupling "Roncato Festis (Tofana Express) (2.200 p/h replaces chairlifts "Col Taron" and "Pi� Merlo" Kronplatz - 8-person cabin lift with automatic coupling "Pedag�-Piz de Plaies (p/h 2.200) replaces 3-seater chairlift Pedag� and double chairlift Piz de Plaies (S. Vigil) - 8-person cabin lift with automatic coupling "Cianross" (p/h 1.200) replaces skilift Cianross (S. Vigil) - 8-person cabin lift with automatic coupling "Korer" (p/h 2.200) replaces skilift (Brunico) - New cabin lift with automatic coupling "Lorenzi" (p/h 2.200) (Valdaora) - New slopes Korer, Cianross and Lorenzi Alta Badia - 4-seater chairlift with automatic coupling "Pralongi� II" (p/h 1.800) replaces skilift - 4-seater covered chairlift with automatic coupling "Prad�c" (p/h 1.200) replaces double chairlift - double chairlift "Pre dai Corf" (p/h 1200) replaces old chairlift Val Gardena/Alpe di Siusi - new double chair lift "Val" (p/h 1200) in Selva Val Gardena connects Vallunga with the Danterceppies skiarea - 4-seater covered chairlift with automatic coupling "Mont Seura" (p/h 2.200) replaces double chairlift - 4-seater chairlift with automatic coupling "Sochers" (p/h 2.200) replaces old skilift Val di Fassa/Carezza Increasing of the capacity of the cabin car "Campitello-Col Rodella" to 1.200 p/h Arabba/Marmolada - Funifor "Arabba-Portavescovo" (p/h 700) replaces cable car - Third part of the cable car "Serauta-Punta Rocca" (p/h 960) replaces old cable car (Marmolada) Fiemme/Obereggen - 8-person cabin lift with automatic coupling "Dosso Larici - Cermis" (p/h 2.400) replaces cable car - 6-seater covered chairlift with automatic coupling "Absam Meierl" (p/h 2.800) replaces 4-seater chair lift (Obereggen) - new slope "Meierl", medium-difficult-length 1.850 with snow making facilities (Obereggen) S. Martino di Castrozza/Passo Rolle - 4-seater chairlift with automatic coupling "Rododendro" (Tognola) (p/h 1.800) replaces double chairlift - skilift "Baby" (Tognola) (p/h 720) replaces old skilift Tre Valli - 4-seater covered chairlift with automatic coupling "Costabella" (p/h 2.400) replaces 3-seater chairlift - 4-seater covered chairlift with automatic coupling "Saline-Laresi" (p/h 2.400) in Falcade replaces skilift Laresi |
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