Resorts around the world have begun announcing their new lift projects for next winter 2010–11, work on which is now getting underway. In Austria the 2013 World Alpine Ski Championships venue Schladming, which installed the first eight-seater chairlift in their province of Styria last season, is building a second.

The new Mitterhaus chairlift will replace two 30 year old drag lifts and will be marketed with the promotional phrase, “a treat for the feet.”

Over in Kitzbuhel the new 2.7km long Maierl gondola will be Austria’s first ten-seat gondola, replacing a double chairlift and a drag lift on the route. A second new lift, the Ocsalm chair will be 1.16km long and can carry up to 3,300 skiers per hour.

In France work has begun on a new gondola which will replace the existing cable car link between Morzine and Avoriaz, although completion probably won’t happen for two years.

In the US, Vail, which already operates more quad chairlifts than any other resort on the planet, will add another one when it replaces the High Noon Lift (Chair 5) with the new high-speed quad chair, the resort’s 17th.

Nearby Arapahoe Basin, one of the world’s 10 highest ski areas and still open for the 2009–10 season, will replace its 32 year old Exhibition triple chairlift with a new high speed quad, costing 4 million dollars and to be named the Black Mountain Express.

Pyhä in Finland will install the country’s second high-speed six-seater chairlift this summer, accessing five runs including the resort’s new FIS classified slope.