Category: Resorts’ investment

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Is Vail Ruining the Skiing Experience? A new short documentary thinks so.

Is Vail Ruining the Skiing Experience? A new short documentary thinks so. Photo: Jack Affleck/Vail Resorts.

I have just seen a short documentary talking about Vail ruining the skiing experience. It is something I have asked myself many times. Now the industry in the US is divided in a duopoly- carried by Vail Resorts with its Epic Pass and Alterra with its IKON pass.

On one hand, if you are an avid skier, these passes are great, as it will result in cheaper rates, and you can ski a lot in lot of different areas. Compared to purchasing a season pass in one resort, this gives you variety.

The View from Aspen Highlands. Soft Pastels on La Carte Pastel. 100 cm x 35 cm (40" x 14") for sale in my shop here.
The View from Aspen Highlands. Soft Pastels on La Carte Pastel. 100 cm x 35 cm (40″ x 14″) for sale in my shop here.

On the other hand, if you are an occasional skier, the daily ski pass lift rates prices you out, unless you are wealthy. More if you take for first time your family to start skiing, where you need to rent equipment and take ski lessons for all. That is über expensive. I want to imagine that resorts have in place programmes to initiate to ski with some free lifts and an “entry rate” so you can try it and not mortgage your house for doing so!

At least in our local resort in Italy, (Pila), you have a couple of lifts that are free, and you just book a lesson and rent skis or snowboard and can have your first steps pretty cheap. And this is the norm in many other resorts in Europe I’ve been at.

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What’s new in Cortina for the 2019-2020 Winter Season

Cortina in winter. Photo: Dino Colli. Cortina Marketing. What’s new in Cortina for the 2019-2020 Winter Season.

What’s new in Cortina for the 2019-2020 Winter Season

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Cortina is one of the most renown and grand ski resorts in the world and certainly one of the tops in Italy. Cortina has always been the place where the elite got together to ski and practice winter sports, with amazing landscapes of the Dolomite mountains wherever you look at. As it has recently won the co-joint title to host the 2026 Winter Olympics with Milan, and is also hosting on 2021 the FIS World Ski Championships, Cortina is bustling with activity getting ready.

Last year there was already some enlargement and modification in some of their pistes, where the FIS Ladies’ World Cup are held each year- these were the runs of the Tofana and Col Druscié areas. Snowmaking facilities were improved as well, and a new black piste was created in the Faloria ski area, called Scoiattolo (squirrel in Italian).

Cortina d'Ampezzo, beautiful from all angles. Photo: Cortina 2021.com- What’s new in Cortina for the 2019-2020 Winter Season.
Cortina d’Ampezzo, beautiful from all angles. Photo: Cortina 2021.com- What’s new in Cortina for the 2019-2020 Winter Season.

For the 2019-20 ski season there will be a new gondola from Cortina to Col Druscié. The current cable car will be replaced with a smaller- 10-seat gondola. The base station will be replaced. The new Freccia del Cielo will have a middle stop, to substitute the Colfiere-Col Druscié chairlift that is taken away. As the gondola will transport three times as many skiers and boarders from its renewed base station close to the Olympic Ice Stadium, waiting times are going to be reduced substantially. The slopes and roads of the Col Druscié will also be modified due to hosting some of the competitions of 2021.

A new slope will be opening on the 19-20 ski season in the Cinque Torri area, dedicated to Cortina’s most famous climber, Lindo Lacedelli, taking his name. It will be a piste dedicated to race training, where athletes competing in the 2021 World Ski Championships will train.

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Vail Resorts to Acquire Peak Resorts, Owner Of 17 U.S. Ski Areas

A great powder day at Mount Snow, part of Peak Resorts.Vail Resorts to Acquire Peak Resorts, Owner Of 17 U.S. Ski Areas

Vail Resorts to Acquire Peak Resorts, Owner Of 17 U.S. Ski Areas

Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) today announced it has entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire 100 percent of the outstanding stock of Peak Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ: SKIS) at a purchase price of $11.00 per share, subject to certain conditions, including regulatory review and Peak Resorts’ shareholder approval.

Liberty Mountain. Photo: Peak Resorts. Vail Resorts to Acquire Peak Resorts, Owner Of 17 U.S. Ski Areas
Liberty Mountain. Photo: Peak Resorts. Vail Resorts to Acquire Peak Resorts, Owner Of 17 U.S. Ski Areas

Through the acquisition, Vail Resorts will add 17 U.S. ski areas to its network of world-class resorts. Located near major metropolitan areas, including New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Columbus, St. Louis, Kansas City and Louisville, the resorts include:

  • Mount Snow in Vermont
  • Hunter Mountain in New York
  • Attitash Mountain Resort, Wildcat Mountain and Crotched Mountain in New Hampshire
  • Liberty Mountain Resort, Roundtop Mountain Resort, Whitetail Resort, Jack Frost and Big Boulder in Pennsylvania
  • Alpine Valley, Boston Mills, Brandywine and Mad River Mountain in Ohio
  • Hidden Valley and Snow Creek in Missouri
  • Paoli Peaks in Indiana

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Green light in Formigal for installation of a new chairlift

Formigal Panticosa ski map. Green light in Formigal for installation on a new chairlift.

Green light in Formigal for installation of a new chairlift

The new lift will improve the connections between Izas and Anayet and will increase the transport capacity.

Formigal, the Spanish ski resort has been given the green light for the installation of a new connection chairlift between the Izas and Anayet areas. In addition, the ski lift will improve the transport capacity that currently stands at 50,000 skiers per hour.

Formigal-Panticosa photo. Green light in Formigal for installation on a new chairlift.
Formigal-Panticosa photo. Green light in Formigal for installation of a new chairlift.

The Aragon Institute of Environmental Management (Inaga), has published in the BOA the resolution for the installation of a new lift, once the modification of the project to improve the connection of the valleys of Izas and Anayet in the expansion of Formigal, that ” you do not need to undergo an environmental impact assessment. ”

Formigal has 180 km skiable including Panticosa.

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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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New lifts and piste for Portes du Soleil for the 2019-20 ski season

News lifts and piste for Portes du Soleil for the 2019-20 ski season. Avoriaz photo.

New lifts and piste for Portes du Soleil for the 2019-20 ski season

Portes du Soleil will be improving its ski area and strengthen the lifts connecting the resorts. SERMA – (Avoriaz Ropeway Operating Company), is launching replacement works for the Léchère chairlift, as well as the construction of a new chairlift and a new red run on Les Cases. The chairlift manufacturer will be from the Bartholet company.

Avoriaz will open a third connection between its ski area and the Swiss resort of Champéry – Les Crosets. This will be made possible with the construction of two new lifts to facilitate the skiing opportunities throughout the Portes du Soleil ski area, composed of 12 resorts with 650 km of linked runs in France and Switzerland.

New lifts and piste for Portes du Soleil for the 2019-20 ski season. Avoriaz photo.
New lifts and piste for Portes du Soleil for the 2019-20 ski season. Avoriaz photo.

The first chairlift will replace the current triple chairlift La Léchère with a high-speed detachable sextuple alleviating the uplift of skiers and riders. The new sextuple will carry 2700 skiers per hour in comparison of the 1,800 carried by the actual triple.

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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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$60 Million Expansion for Arizona Snowbowl to upgrade facilities and ease congestion.

Arizona Snowbowl- Pinterest picture. Micayla Pins. $60 Million Expansion for Arizona Snowbowl to upgrade facilities and ease congestion.

$60 Million Expansion for Arizona Snowbowl to upgrade facilities and ease congestion.

From Arizona Republic

The Flagstaff resort development plans include new lifts, runs and amenities such as mountain biking and a mountain coaster.

Arizona Snowbowl has recently announced that it will invest $60 Million in upgrades including new lifts, night skiing and boarding, and new facilities.

Other activities they are envisioning to include which they are not currently offering are mountain biking, a mountain coaster, alpine slide, zip line tours, a climbing wall and outdoor concerts, broadening their offer for a four-seasons resort.

Arizona Snowbowl- photo: Arizona Republic. $60 Million Expansion for Arizona Snowbowl to upgrade facilities and ease congestion.
Arizona Snowbowl- photo: Arizona Republic. $60 Million Expansion for Arizona Snowbowl to upgrade facilities and ease congestion.

General Manager J.R. Murray said: “Obviously there is a growing demand for outdoor recreation, and that is why ski areas are adding year-round activities to utilize the infrastructure on a year-round basis and respond to the demand. And also, the year-round activities diversify the business, so we are not so heavily reliant on winter.”

The improvements will be built over a period of time. If the plans get approval from the U.S. Forest Service, then the work will begin no sooner than 2021 and it will take 10 to 15 years to be completed, Murray said.

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Sierra Nevada: Cetursa approves an investment of 10 million for the next season and addresses the installation of a new ski lift

Archive Cetursa Sierra Nevada.Sierra Nevada: Cetursa approves an investment of 10 million for the next season and addresses the installation of a new ski lift.

Sierra Nevada: Cetursa approves an investment of 10 million for the next season and addresses the installation of a new ski lift

  • The board of directors of the company gives the green light to the purchase 33 last-generation snow ‘cannons’, to the digital renewal of the station, and the introduction of improvements in customer services
  • The company, in the framework of the actions for the reordering of Borreguiles, addresses the replacement of one of the chairlifts in that area by an eight-seater-chairlift.
Administrative Council of CETURSA in meeting. Sierra Nevada: Cetursa approves an investment of 10 million for the next season and addresses the installation of a new ski lift. Photo: CETURSA.
Administrative Council of CETURSA in meeting. Sierra Nevada: Cetursa approves an investment of 10 million for the next season and addresses the installation of a new ski lift. Photo: CETURSA.

The board of directors of Cetursa Sierra Nevada SA today approved an investment of more than 10 million euros for the 2019/20 season, which, among other actions, will finance the purchase of 33 last-generation snow cannons, and has agreed to study the formula to install a new eight-seater chairlift in Borreguiles to replace one of the old ones (Emile Allais).

The investment for this season, with own funds of Cetursa Sierra Nevada, is the largest in the last decade and also includes a new boost to the digital transformation of the company (web, trade centre, external information, mobile application, customer service , among other actions) in order to more effective attention and communication with the user of the station.

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