Where to Ski And Snowboard - Paradiski villages to get better connected

Paradiski villages to get better connected

18th June 2009, by Chris Gill

The Paradiski resorts of La Plagne and Les Arcs are planning to rid their ski areas of a few more unsightly old lifts for next season, and gain a new six-pack each.

But the key feature will be the direct link between Plagne 1800 and Plagne Centre, which until now has always been rather a backwater below the main area. The link won’t be a new lift, but the relocation of the old Mélèzes chair, which currently serves Plagne Soleil, to 1800. The intention is to install a new longer six-pack between Plagne Soleil and Plagne Villages, so that skiers and boarders coming up from 1800 can avoid Plagne Centre’s busy ‘front de neige’, and continue across the mountain to the rest of the ski area. As part of the plan to better integrate 1800 into the system, the main home run down from Plagne Centre is expected to receive its first snowmaking.

La Plagne’s lift reshuffle is part of a ‘restoration’ project for the Centre, which will also see the removal of the antiquated Vega chairlift. This chair currently serves slopes above the Centre and towards Plagne Villages. Plagne Village’s Sainte Esprit draglift will also be removed. It does mean that the lovely slopes around this area will be less cluttered with old lifts - but we await the verdict on crowds and queues.

Across the valley in Les Arcs, getting down to Arcs 1950 and 2000 from above Arc 1600 should be an easier process with the addition of a six-pack up to Arpette - replacing the two very slow chairs that currently deposit you at two points along the ridge (Arpette and Col des Frettes).