New fast lifts for top Swiss resorts

10th September 2016, by Dave Watts

Villars is replacing the old double chair that links it with Les Diablerets. Pic: Iwan Schuwey

We’ve already reported on ancient gondolas being replaced in the Swiss ski resorts of Zermatt and Saas Fee and a hi-tech new chairlift in Klosters. Here is news of three more much-needed new chairlifts in top Swiss ski resorts.

In Villars, the slow old double chairlift that links the local ski slopes with those of neighbouring Les Diablerets (and needs to be ridden both ways as there are no linking pistes) is at long last being replaced by a high-speed quad.  And the long t-bar that comes immediately after on the Les Diablerets side is being replaced by a fast six-seater chair. So moving from one area to the other will be much quicker and less queue-prone.

Also in Villars, the 40-year-old swimming centre is being completely rebuilt and is due to open in December 2016. It will have two indoor pools, an outdoor pool with exceptional views, two steam rooms and two saunas – one with a panoramic view of the mountains.

In Verbier, the slow La Chaux 2 chairlift serving one of the few easy blue runs for intermediates in Verbier’s main ski area is being replaced by a fast six-seater. This cuts the journey time from almost 10 minutes to just four.

In St Moritz, the hugely long and tedious Curtinella T-bar that links the Corvatsch sector to the Furtschellas slopes (and which Editor Watts rode and hated last season) is at last being replaced by a high-speed six-seater chairlift that will start a bit lower down the mountain.

• ski
• snowboard
• verbier
• st moritz
• swiss
• chairlift
• villars

Back to news