The new arrival area in Lienz is ready to for start of the Women's World Cup

When the women’s world cup pulls in to Lienz next month, they’ll be doing on it on a brand new run at Hochstein-mountain, that arrives right in the middle of the city of Lienz, the capital of East-Tirol that so closely is surrounded by the Lienzer Dolomites.

A renewal program in the area has seen the resort expand with a brand new lift ‘Schlossbergbahn’ that whisks skiers in less than five minutes from the centre of the city to the top of Moosalm (1514 m). The lift is a combination of twenty six-seated chairlifts and ten small gondola’s for eight people and it replaces the old fashioned two-seater chairlift.

The 8.4 million Euro ($12.6-US) project includes the widening of the race slope, a completely new snowmaking system and a winter and summer toboggan run. The city is forecasting that 100,000 visitors per year will use the toboggan run.

The FIS Ladies’ World Cup will be held in Lienz (a bit below 700 m) at December 28 and 29 with a Giant Slalom and a Slalom race.

The city Council decided not to replace the upper part of the old lift, that goes up to Hochstein at 2507 meter, because 80% of the winter tourists are skiing at the other side of the city in the Zettersfeld area, a friendlier place for family skiing.

Peter Daalder (chief editor Hoogtelijn, magazine of the Royal Dutch Climbing and Mountaineering Association)