Lots of resorts have been busy over the summer making improvements. Many have been building new lifts including:

• Les Deux Alpes has opened 3 new chairlifts
• Les Portes du Soleil is opening a 10 person gondola and new high-speed chairlift
• The 4 Valleys is opening a new Pasay high-speed chairlift that will reduce the journey time from Moay to Pasay from 11 to 5 minutes
• Tignes has announced that the high-speed Aiguille Rouge chairlift is ready
• Saalbach Hinterglemm in Austria is opening a new high-speed chairlift with a bubble
• St Moritz is bringing in a new fixed-grip 2 person chairlift at Suvretta-Randolins

These resort developments open the discussion around the sustainability of skiing. Much has been done to improve the efficiency and make these lifts more eco-friendly. French resorts have a clear roadmap for achieving carbon neutrality by 2037. Examples of resorts include Chamonix where they have introduced new eco-buses, hydroelectric plants and free public transport in the valley. Serre Chevalier plans to run ski lifts slower when there are no queues (1 extra minute on the lift equates to a 20% saving on energy used).

Other resorts, such as Zermatt, have enforced car-free policies, solar powered gondolas, electric buses and piste groomers that run on eco-speed diesel. Additionally, Meribel has joined many other ski resorts in installing solar panels on their ski lifts. The Saulire Express will now boast 182 solar panels covering an area of 400m2. These panels will supply a significant part of the lift’s energy demands and will also feed the electricity back to the resort’s network when the lift is not in use.

In other exciting winter news:

• Val Thorens will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. They have planned many activities and events for this special occasion. They have redesigned family fun zones, added a new picnic zone and themed jump areas. https://www.valthorens.com/en/
• St Anton has been working on a new “Run of Fame” which is an 85 km circuit that runs through the whole Ski Arlberg area and will be included in the Hunt of Fame race.
• Verbier has been building a new scenic panoramic platform at the top of Mont Fort at 3300m.
• Zermatt and Cervinia are going to be holding the opening Alpine Skiing World Cup downhill event of the season on a new track designed by ex-Olympic downhill champion Didier Défago. It will be the first cross-border event in the history of the World Cup.
• Courmayeur will be hosting a culinary month with their “Peak of Taste” event. This will include a selection of culinary events across the resort where guests will have the opportunity to sample Michelin-starred tasting menus and meet world renowned chefs.

It’s time to book early and avoid the stress of missing out on your preferred ski instructors, accommodation and transport options. With Maison Sport remember you can always book an independent instructor in advance with just a 20% refundable deposit. We hope you are as excited as we are for the 22/23 ski season!

The Independent Instructors on Maison Sport are Waiting for You!