5 new pistes for the skiers in Pamporovo

5 new pistes for the skiers in Pamporovo

Valentin Hadgiev, 18.10.05, 24 Hours Daily

It is not necessary to show lift cart to a reading device or an inspector to tear tickets for the equipment. The lift carts are equipped with a chip, which gives opportunity to read the information form distance and the hands of the skier remain free. The system hands free is a hit in the European winter resorts. It allows in every single moment from the day to report the number of tourists on a monitor via optical cable and software. The newest lift which is close to the bus station near the ski ground “Studenets” offers a speeding track for the skiers during lifting, which carries it with the needed speed to the seat and the skier can just relax. The four seat lift is a last model of the Austrian company Doppelmayer. If there is any problem the producers can manage the maintenance process. Before that “Pamporovo” Joint Stock Company, who owns all the lift equipment in the resort, constructed a new fast lift from Studenets to Snajanka. It takes the distance of 1100 meters to the TV tower on Snejanka peak for just 5 minutes and 18 seconds. The total capacity of the 5 lifts is 9000 people per hour. In the hectic days the resort can accommodate 15 000 people, so some of the tourists will have to wait for a short time to get to the equipment. Four ski drugs and 6 portable drugs for children will also transport tourists. This year the prices for foreign tourists and for Bulgarians will be the same. Pamporovo was the only winter resort, which didn’t stop its lifts for the summer. The monitor that supervises the number of tourists has recorded that 11555 tourists used just one of the lifts. The skiers in Pamporovo will have the chance to use the five new pistes- two in the Yiazovira site and 3 left of the “Black Wall”. Their total length is 5 kilometers and together with the old pistes their length is 31 kilometers. The floods during the summer season in the municipal eroded part of the pistes. “The pistes are drained and grassed”, explained Shopov. Parts of them in the region of the ski ground “Studenets” are lighted and this will make it possible for the tourists to ski during the evening. 2100 meters from the pistes are equipped with 5 cannons and total 28 hydrants for artificial snow. 1, 20 meters underground tubes for water supply are hidden, to protect them from freezing. The water is supplied from a dam under Snejanka peak. The system for artificial snow is from the Austrian company “Sufag”. It can start working with the pressing of just one button or from distance with a SMS. The problem with the snow on the steep pistes in the resort is decided with two new Kesborer ratrcks. They are equipped with 1.5 km long ropes, which help the positioning of the snow cannons on the highest cliffs. The maintenance of difficult sites will be done by the brand new “AEBI”. The machine can do many things at one and the same time- it is rotor, it can clear snow, stamp the pistes, and during the summer it can mow the grass. The Swedish T- ratrack will clear the infrastructure of sites in the resorts. It will help for the maintenance of the snowboard groove. The only half pipe for snowboard with Olympic sizes will function in the resort. Those who enjoy the attractive snow sport will can use the 250 new devices for rent. The ski cloakroom of Pamporovo Joint Stock Companywill offers 1800 Rossignol carving. 100 Atomic will be offered to the experts. The equipment is the latest model; they are very fast and are not recommended for beginners. We plan to invest in more lifts and pistes, said the executive director of Pamporovo Joint Stock Company Nikolai Iliev. A lot of hotels and villa site are being constructed in the resort and the visitors need more space for skiing. The problem with the small capacity of the pistes will be felt next year when the 10 new hotels will open in the resort. This season the only new hotel is the 5 star “Orlovets”. It is actually the most luxurious hotel in the resort and it offers 210 beds. 40% more skiers are expected in the resort compared to last year According to the managers of the hotels the prices will went 10- 15 % higher during the winter season, because of the extra expenses for heating and fuel.