Ski & Snowboard News
Chile investing heavily in ski resorts for winter 2012
Ski resorts across Chile are investing heavily in new infrastructure as the country plans for a huge 2012 winter season.
Image source: ESPN
The Valle Navado ski resort, which holds largest skiing terrain in South America will see the installation of a new gondola, adding to existing lifts including the quad chair Andes Express, the fastest lift in the region. In anticipation of increased visitor numbers, Valle Nevado has also built a new 500 car parking area and a completely new service point for ticket sales, equipment rentals and a restaurant. And in line with its 10 year, $150million property development, it has a new sports and entertainment center which includes a climbing wall and skate ramp.
El Colorado, just over the hill from Valle Navado is also developing its accommodation offerings with the first waste water treatment plant in the range, paving the way for four new apartment buildings that will be online this year. A new draglift, with a capacity of 1400 people an hour, will open up the Valle Olimpico with 12 new runs and extensive off-piste.
El Colorado is also ramping up its services, with 1500 new car parking spaces at the entrance to the village, new ticket sales offices and software, and an investment of $200,000 in 5km of safety fencing. Its partner Farellones has boosted its non-skier offering, doubling the capacity of tubing available and adding a third access lift.
La Parva, which will be celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, has announced a project to develop the first half-pipe Olympic training center in South America. This will be accessible by its new triple chairlift which has opened up five new pistes.
It’s not just in Chile where preparations and improvement are under way for the 2012 winter season. Just across the border, Las Leñas resort in the Argentinean Andes is building a new Doppelmayr quad chairlift to move 2100 people an hour, and making a substantial investment in their mountain infrastructure.
With South American skiing starting to make a real name for itself, perhaps it’s time we start considering travelling further afield for our ski trips!
Source: PR Web
Featured image source: Excelsior Travel
Tagged Argentina, Chile, ski news, South American Skiing
