What’s new for 2009-10?

Summer can be a very busy time at ski resorts as they get things ready for the new season. Here’s a quick round up of some of the developments that have been taking place around Europe this Summer, we’ll be adding more as we hear about them…

Meribel: The Golf chairlift will be transformed for 2009/10 into a fast detachable chair linking Meribel-Village to the Altiport in half the previous time. Other ski area improvements include a major re-shaping of the Lievre run. The previously tricky lower part of this blue run leading to la Chaudanne is now wider with an easier gradient, offering less-confident skiers an easier ski back into the resort.

Courchevel: Courchevel will install a new six seater chairlift for the coming season, equipped with the Magnestick system, to modernize the link between Courchevel 1850 and Courchevel 1650. The Magnestick is a back protection system that quite literally sticks children to the chairlift’s magnets! Further construction sees a new tourism office, built next to the lifts in Courchevel  1850, complete with free wireless internet access.

In all of the three valleys in 2009/10 you’ll be able to buy a three hour lift pass, valid for any three hours of the day.

Vallnord: Vallnord Ski Resort in Andorra, formerly Pal-Arinsal and Arcalis, has invested 10 million Euro in the resort this year. Among the most important upgrades are a new declutchable sextuple chair lift in Arinsal and improved snowmaking net in the 3 ski areas: Arcalís, Arinsal and Pal.

Avoriaz: After the thundering opening of the first gigantic environmental snowpark in Europe last winter, Avoriaz is redoubling its efforts and expanding The Stash. The ski resort is in the forest of Lindarêts with pure untrodden snow all around. It has completely natural wood features and you can stumble across hidden runs just by chance. 30 new features have been added to the current park, making a total of 80. They consist of latticed walls, stumps and tree trunks to navigate, tables and wooden benches for snow sliders, rainbow-arch trees, ramps, snow slides and other natural obstacles. Avoriaz has the only Stash in Europe.

Another interesting addition to the slopes at Avoriaz is the introduction of “Target-bins”. They’re being placed underneath chairlifts to catch rubbish dropped by skiers!

If you know of any resort developments do let us know!