New lifts and piste regrade in Méribel

6th August 2017, by Abi Butcher

The French ski resort of Méribel in the heart of the 3 Valleys is getting some new lifts

The ski resort of Méribel in France’s Three Valleys is installing a new lift above the satellite village of Mottaret that will whisk skiers to the summer in a fraction of the previous times.

The steep, twin — and elderly — Roc de Tougne draglifts are being replaced by a new, fast-loading, high-speed detachable six-seat chairlift that will whisk skiers to the summit in just over three minutes, making it far easier for skiers to reach Méribel’s north-facing slopes of Lagopède and Bartavelle and transfer to the neighbouring slopes of Les Menuires. The lift is designed to operate in high winds to the link between Méribel and Les Menuires can be kept open in bad weather.

An upgraded, covered magic carpet lift is being installed at le Rond-Point with a new “Easy Rider” beginner zone being created next to it, and the main route back from Val Thorens to the Méribel valley has been re-routed to make it easier to ski, downgrading it from a red to a blue. The changes will mean the ski area will be open to novice skiers for the first time, and make returning from Val Thorens a great deal easier.

The Three Valleys is also changing how its lift pass works, introducing a new four-hour pass this winter instead of the previous morning or afternoon pass to give skiers and snowboarders increased flexibility to get on the slopes at a time to suit them.

Read Where to Ski and Snowboard’s independent review of Méribel here.