Kitzbühel will install a new detachable quad chairlift “Ganslern” servicing the original Streif World Cup slope in advance of the coming season. This lift, which replaces a double chairlift on the route, will be; ideal for all races, organization and for the Kitzbüheler Ski Club at any time.
In addition a new eight seater gondola on the Bichlalm is currently in the planning stage with the aim of completing and opening it at some point during the 2008/09 season. Currently there is no lift providing access to the ski area Bichlalm followingt the closure of the single chair which operated on that route in 2005. Currently the Kitzbughel Lift company is negotiating with land owners over the gondola project.
Snowmaking will also be enhanced with new reservoirs Jochberg/Wagstätt and Usterkar ensuring snow-covered trails in the Jochberg-Hahnenkamm-Pengelstein within 60 hrs. Snowmaking facilities on Steinbergkogel/Griesalm will also be completed and there will be trail improvements
Finally there will be enhanced rider comfort on the quad chair Hochsaukaser with a loading conveyor installed to ensure quicker rides.
Australia is receiving more and more fresh snow. The severe, chilly weather at one of the country’s leading resorts, Falls Creek is the outcome of the coldest front of the winter. A classic late winter pattern- a series of cold fronts crossing south eastern Australia. The mercury dipped to -5C (the lowest overnight temperature this month) and it was still well under zero at midday with a wind chill temperature of -12.1C.
About 20cm (eight inches) of fresh powder blanketed the resort at the weekend, taking the snow depth to well over 1.5metres (over five feet) in the resort’s Village Bowl.
This is probably the first time we’ve put out a severe weather warning for this sort of thing,”
said Weather bureau senior forecaster Scott Williams. Very cold air behind the second cold front dropped the snow level to around 600m almost 25km below Falls Creek.
Francis Jackson Falls Creek’s Snowsport School Director said,
This is the longest period of consistently dry, soft snow I’ve seen. We’ve had a month of perfect snow quality normally found overseas. The skiing and boarding is unreal. If there was ever a time to come and experience how much fun it is - its now!”
Falls Creek has now exceeded its 20 year average snowfall and the forecast is for more snow for the remainder of this week.
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