New happenings in the ski resorts across the region

The wait is almost over as the new ski season approaches. Sölden will open tomorrow for 2010–11, one month earlier than planned, with a few lifts in operation on the Rettenbach glacier. The Austrian Tirol welcomes the 2010–11 season with new happenings in the resorts across the region from additions and improvements to lift networks, new hotels to local events and festivals.

Vaujany ski resort begins two year process to improve the leisure facilities

Vaujany, the small French village beneath the giant Grande Rousses ski area dominated by Alpe d’Huez, is working to expand its already good in-resort leisure facilities for next winter. The small village has benefitted from revenue generated by a nearby hydro-electric plant which has allowed it to spend on tourism infrastructure, including a fast giant cable car right to the centre of the ski slopes.

Meribel in the French 3 Valleys, the world’s largest ski area, has announced a number of improvements to its giant ski area for the coming winter. The slow, fixed Golf chairlift will be transformed into a fast, detachable chairlift which will halve journey times. This will allow Meribel Village residents much quicker access to the Altiport area.

Once they reach the summit they will benefit from a newly laid out area offering much more space. The departure point for the Altiport draglift will be relocated uphill to the position of the current first pylon and the poles will be replaced with retractable ones for improved safety. The current building will also be relocated to the higher point.

In addition, as usual, a great deal of work has been carried out on the ski slopes during the summer. On the Tougnète side, the bottom of the Faon piste has been reshaped, thus completing last summer’s work. The last bend at the bottom of the Lièvre will also be reworked so as to widen this piste at a point often found difficult by beginners.