The Štrbské Pleso resort in the High Tatras. (source: TASR)
Štrbské Pleso, a ski resort in Slovakia’s High Tatras mountain range, is preparing for its most significant infrastructure upgrade in over a decade. Tatry Mountain Resorts (TMR), the country’s largest operator of alpine resorts, has begun construction on a new €11 million detachable chairlift to replace an ageing lift on the Medvedia Kopa slope.
The eight-seater lift, expected to be operational before the next ski season, will serve two key areas of the resort and carry skiers further up the slope than the 1970s-era lift it replaces. From the top, visitors will be able to ski towards the Furkota area or down the popular Solisko and Turistická runs.
“This is the most important technical investment in 15 years,” said Marián Galajda, a spokesperson for TMR. “It will significantly improve skier movement and comfort across the resort.”
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Unlike the existing lift, which posed challenges for less experienced users, the new chairlift will make several hundred metres of beginner-friendly blue runs more accessible, thanks to snowmaking technology and easier boarding. “It opens up new slope connections without the need to construct additional pistes,” said TMR board chairman Igor Rattaj.
The picture shows where the new chairlift will be located. (source: TMR)
The lift will cover just over one kilometre with a vertical rise of 189 metres and a capacity of 2,400 skiers per hour. Crucially, it is designed to operate in adverse weather conditions, when the resort’s main Solisko Express lift often has to be shut down.
Environmental considerations have been taken into account, Galajda said. The new lift will follow existing clearings, avoiding any need for deforestation. Its minimalist base station will generate less noise, and no additional buildings are planned. Bird flight diverters will be installed to help protect local wildlife.
(source: TMR)
The old Poma lift will be dismantled, reducing the resort’s electricity and water consumption. With the removal of its surface track, less artificial snow will be needed – part of what TMR describes as a broader shift towards more sustainable operations in the heart of Europe.
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