Investments 2008/2009 - New "Senderbahn"

During recent years investments made by Gasteiner Bergbahnen AG have been centred on the development of snow-making facilities. In summer 2008, besides the extension of the snow-making plant and the completion of a new ski run, a new cable-car is also to be built. With the new Senderbahn lift, it will be possible to access the Stubnerkogel summit directly from Skizentrum Angertal.

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Stubnerkogel and Schlossalm grow together:

Gastein’s core skiing area, the ski circuit  Schlossalm – Angertal – Stubnerkogel,, connects the resorts Bad Hofgastein and Bad Gastein. The present link for skiers between Angertal valley and the Stubnerkogel is via chairlifts and drag lifts. That will become far more comfortable in future. The attractive connection is also expected to have a strong repetitive function for the existing – but until now only inconveniently accessible – Sender downhill run. The new lift should – in connection with the preparation of the red and black runs from the Schlossalm down to the Angertal - also improve the distribution of the flow of skiers within the ski circuit. The network of connected slopes can then be used without a drag lift.

The new two-section lift with carriers for 8 persons:

The new valley station is situated at Skizentrum Angertal, immediately between the existing Angertal lift and the Kasereben lift. It will be built as a detached compact facility and will house the hydraulic release and the station’s conveyor systems. The entire technical equipment is protected from the elements by a hood-like roof – in an attractive construction of glass and metal.

The middle station is situated in the region of the Möserangerweg, right next to the Bürgerwald run. The drive system for the first section of the lift is also found here. The parking station for both sections will be built onto the side of the station as a terminal turnaround. The steel construction also houses a relevant platform for maintenance with a workshop area. The roof is flat and the façade will be a construction in metal and glass.

The mountain station is situated immediately on the Stubnerkogel plateau, approx. 40 metres from the ORF transmitter. This means that the highest point on the Stubnerkogel is reached and the skiers can ski downhill in the direction of Bad Gastein as well as in the direction of Angertal without having to use another lift. The station matches the valley station optically and houses the drive system for the second section together with the necessary station equipment.
The difference in altitude between the valley station (1,180 m) and the mountain station (2,250 m) is around 1,070 metres. The capacity of the Senderbahn lift is 2,400 persons per hour. The investment costs for the Senderbahn lift will be around 12.7 million Euro.

A sum of around 1.2 million Euro is intended for extensions to the snow-making facilities.

In future, snow-making facilities will be in operation on the east side of the Stubnerkogel (in the direction of Bad Gastein) as well as on the west side (direction Angertal). To which extent snow-making on the east side can be realized will depend on when final permission is granted.

On the west side (in the direction of Skizentrum Angertal) the Sender downhill run with have an additional snow-making facility and in the region of the Jungeralm run some lances will be replacecd by cannon towers, which will considerably increase output.

With a significantly improved snow guarantee in the region of the Stubnerkogel, the available pistes can be made better use of and the stream of skiers within the ski circuit Schlossalm – Angertal – Stubnerkogel can disperse more easily.

Through the purchase of the more powerful tower cannons and the optimization of the water supply, the output of the snow-making facilities will be increased even more. Initial snow-making must be carried out in the shortest possible time.

For optimum grooming of the ski runs there are over 20 snowcats in operation belonging to our company alone. Every year two or three machines are replaced. For the purchase of 3 grooming devices and one motorized sledge (skidoo), a budget of around 1 million Euro is necessary.

At Skizentrum Angertal work will be completed on the Lafenbach stream and the Wolfstallwiese practice area optimized.

In the core skiing area Schlossalm – Angertal – Stubnerkogel up to 12,000 winter sports enthusiasts are on the slopes every day. The aim is to achieve a better distribution of the stream of skiers within the ski circuit and also a stronger ‘convergence’ of the Stubnerkogel and Schlossalm ski mountains.

For this reason new runs are also being prepared from the Schlossalm and from the Stubnerkogel down to the Angertal valley.

Work has already begun on the preparation for a new ‘black’ run from the Schlossalm into the Angertal valley. A new ‘red’ run is planned from the Stubnerkogel side, parallel to the Bürgerwald run, to the Senderbahn middle station. And if there is sufficient time and official approval, a new ‘blue’ ski run is also planned from the new Senderbahn’s middle station down to Skizentrum Angertal. This means that, for the first time, beginners may perhaps ‘dare’ to leave the large practice area and head for the mountain.

Therefore, in the final phase, a very flexible connection is planned within the core skiing area Schlossalm – Angertal – Stubnerkogel, not only in the area of the ski runs but also near the lifts

Last winter Gastein got the snowpark that some have so eagerly awaited for a long time. It is located on the Stubnerkogel near the Stubnermulde and can be reached Bad Gastein as well as from Angertal valley by a single lift. The entire Stubner hollow, is signposted as a snowpark area and, with the Burgstall lift, the park has a perfect lift connection. Immediately at the lower end of the snowpark is the gentle Stubner alm. The whole park set-up is geared more to beginners and intermediate riders than professionals. The size of the kickers is in line with this concept.

Gastein Snowpark will undergo further development for the coming winter season and will increase in size and provide an even better snow guarantee. During this expansion several pro-obstacles will also be integrated in the list of elements.

For the conversion Gasteiner Bergbahnen AG has commissioned experts who have built and run several excellent snowparks – between Lower Austrian and Graubünden in the east of Switzerland. Established projects, such as Intersport NovaPark in the Silvretta Nova or Burton Superpark on the Dachstein speak for themselves.

The non-intersecting integration of the main road to the Schlossalm car park passed its initial trial in the past winter season with flying colours. The finishing touches will be made and work completed immediately after the end of the winter season.

Realization of this project resulted in a great improvement in traffic conditions for our customers.

It is to be expected that the Senderbahn will bring about an increase in the numbers of visitors at Skizentrum Angertal The ski bus system is to be re-organised to become more attractive in order to increase the guests’ interest in public transport and provide the opportunity for them to spend a holiday without their car. For those travelling with their own car, a new drive-in ramp leading up to the roof of the existing park deck will provide space for further 80 cars.