Two New Quads And More Snowmaking For Flaine (18-May-09)

Flaine, France, May 18, 2009 - Two new fixed grip quad chairlifts are due to begin service in Flaine

Two new fixed grip quad chairlifts are due to begin service in Flaine this December, in accordance with to its five year improvement plan, and the resort’s famous bucket lift which links two of its sectors, is due to be renovated.

The new fixed grip La Foret quad will be a six minute ride accessing the seater chairlift accessing the beginners’ zone. It will rise 300 vertical metres over its 1,770m length and open a direct link to the ski runs from the western part of the Intrawest Village, the Hameau Scandinave and the Refuge du Golf.

A second new fixed-grip quad will improve the links to the Auron sector and replace the Bois draglift scheduled for removal this summer, although the neighbouring Aujon and Grand Grenier draglifts will remain. Customer advantages will include faster and direct access to this zone instead of the current route via Aup de Véran.  The two kilometre long lift will rise 400 vertical metres.

The resort’s upgrading of its bucket lift will optimise user convenience on the link between the upper and lower beginners’ zones. The restored lift will reduce waiting times and mean less congestion for Tête des Verds.

Flaine will also introduce new snowmaking to its pioneering system (One of Europe’s longest established and most extensive networks, first started more than 35 years ago and currently operating more than 200 snow cannons. The new system will take water from a bore hole drilled 300 metres below the resort which has been tested to not interfere with the water table.