24
The Bulletin, March 2017
TOP FIVE SKI LIFTS
Here are the top five ski lifts in the world,
according to the Ski Club of Great Britain.
The rotating chairlift at Laax
(Switzerland).
This swivels around by 45 degrees to give
the best view. It has solar-heated chairs with
leather sports-car seats.
The longest (and scariest) gap between
pylons: Whistler (Canada).
The Peak2Peak Gondola crosses above
the Fitzsimmons Valley in just 11 minutes
at mid-mountain level. It has a huge single
span across the valley of more than 3km
without any pylons.
The highest capacity lift: Sölden
(Austria).
The new Giggijochbahn at Sölden, a
10-seat gondola that carries 4500 people
every hour.
The most expensive ski lift in history:
Stubai (Austria).
The Stubai Glacier has built the
Eisgratbahn lift, a cable car that has cost a
massive €52 million ($NZ80 million).
The fastest chairlift: Brixen im Thale
(Austria).
The 8-seat express chairlift travels at
22km/h. It has weather protection bubbles
and solar panels to provide most of the
energy needed to run the super-fast lift.
“BIGGEST” SKI
RESORTS
German ski consultant Christoph
Schrahe
has measured every major resort
using maps and satellite data, and has come
up with five lists of “the biggest”.
Total length of pistes:
Trois Vallees
(France) 542km, Paradiski (France) 402km,
Park City (US) 360km, Sella Ronda (Italy)
346km, Big Sky (US) 313km.
Vertical drop:
Elbrus (Russia) 2345m,
Les 2 Alpes (France) 2243m, Zermatt
(Switzerland) and Alpe d’ Huez (France)
both 2200m, Murren (Switerland) 2166m.
Most lifts:
Paradiski (France) 202, Les
Trois Vallees (France) 200, Sella Ronda
(Italy) 178, Les Portes du Soleil (France)
126, Espace Killy (France-Switzerland) 107.
Longest run:
Les 2 Alpes (France)
16.96km, Zermatt (Switzerland) 15.25km,
Aletsch-Arena (Switzerland) 13.86km,
Murren (Switzerland) 13.46km, Flims-Laax
(Switzerland) 13.41km.
Highest lift (top station):
Elbrus snowcat
(Russia) 4700m, Gulmarg (Italy) 3980m,
Breckenridge (US) 3914m, Love Country
Basin (US) 3870m, Zermatt (Switzerland)
3885m.
DIDN’T GO SKIING
New research has found that over a
million Britons book a holiday to a ski resort
each year without intending to hit the slopes.
Nearly £700 million is spent each season
by these holidaymakers who go on a winter
holiday purely to enjoy après entertainment
and alternative activities.
The 10 top non-ski activities:
Walking 28%
Shopping 20%
Eating 19%
Exploring the town 19%
Cultural activities/museums 16%
Ice skating 12%
Had a spa 12%
Husky rides 11%
Stayed in bed 10%
Drinking 10%
St Moritz is the favourite non-ski venue.
There’s golf, polo and cricket on the frozen
lake, and St Moritz’s events calendar is
packed with foodie festivals and sporting
events such as horse racing on the lake.
Men can also try the famous Cresta
Run toboggan course but women aren’t
permitted.