Bansko
is Bulgaria’s number one ski resort. As well as having
the best snow record and the longest ski season (15 Dec – 15
Apr) of all Bulgarian resorts, the new multi-million Euro investment
in the ski area has provided Bansko with one of the most advanced
ski centres in Europe. The highlight of this being the direct
gondola ride which carries skiers and snowboarders from the town,
right
up to the first stop in the resort.
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Our
apartment is located within 5 minutes walking distance of
the gondola station in Bansko. Staying
so close to the gondola station means that you will arrive
fresh and ready for the slopes. From there, you can rent ski
and snowboarding
gear if you haven’t already arranged it through us,
and check the current wind and temperatures at various points
on
the mountain
via live video feeds displayed on a series of giant screens.
Boarding the gondola is easy with the new chip-cards which
means that you can
pass straight through onto the gondola without having to
fumble around for your ski pass.
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Once
you have boarded the 8-seat gondola, you can sit back and enjoy
the scenic trip which will
take you up through the snow-capped pine forests to Banderishka
(the first stop). From here, you can either chillout with a cappuccino,
or you can save that for later and head on up the mountain to
try out on one of the many runs. If you’re feeling gutsy,
there’s
always the Alberto Tomba black run.
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Continuing up the mountain is made
possible with five 4-seat lifts of the latest Doppelmayer models,
one 3-seat lift by Poma, 7 drags and 10 baby drags. The total length
of the wire equipment in the resort is 26km. |
If you’re
a beginner
First-time,
beginner skiers and snowboarders will find Bansko has plenty
on offer. From the excellent tuition from some of
Bulgaria’s
best English speaking instructors, to the plentiful well-groomed
blue runs linked with a good system of drag lifts. Learning in
Bansko couldn’t be any more fun!
For the kids,
the resorts kindergarten provides an excellent introduction
to skiing with
the 'Wonder carpet', a slow moving travelator replacing the
normal drag lifts up the gentle training slopes. There's
also a ski carousel and plenty of other entertainment to
keep all ages entertained while the grown-ups head off to
enjoy what rest the resort has to offer.
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| For intermediates
There is an excellent choice of blue and red runs, for budding
intermediate skiers and snowboarders, all joined by a network of
mostly chair and some drag lifts. Our instructor is also capable
of offering technical tuition for intermediate skiers wanting to
improve.
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| For the advanced
As
a regular host to extreme off-piste competitions, Bansko is known
for its powder fields, extreme terrain and off-piste action.
In addition to its off-piste reputation, some of the red runs
and the Alberto Tomba black run offer the advanced skier and snowboarder
plenty of less extreme challenges in the main ski area.
If
you’re a snowboarder, then you’ll
love the wide pistes and tree-lined runs which provide plenty
of opportunities to go off-piste.
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The
Bansko resort boasts 65km of marked pistes for you to explore,
together with exceptional
off-piste opportunities.
In fact, I think you will find it hard to resist occasionally slipping
off-piste now and again. This is possible, since most of the obvious
off-piste action will lead you back onto the marked slopes. So
if you’ve always wanted to veer
off into the powder and glide between the trees,
then it couldn’t
be any easier. |
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If
you head further into the moutains, you’ll find something
which you won’t see in many resorts. I pretty sure it's
unique to Bansko. They’re
called snow towers, and can only be described as giant snow needles
coming out of the
ground.
I have yet to try them, but they offer an unusual alternative to
the half-pipe, which can also be found in the
fun park, together with an area where you can build jumps to
suit your
own
taste
and
ability.
If you
have
a bit
of a competitive streak in you, then there are also regular competitions
for both skiers and snowboarders.
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The resort benefits from 40 snow cannons which cover 80% of the
slopes, guaranteeing excellent snow conditions whatever the weather
and making the ski season last longer. |
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As
you carve your way down the mountainside, you will come across
numerous mountain restaurants, giving you
a chance to rest your legs,
while enjoying lunch or a hot drink with your fellow skiers and
snowboarders. Of course, all restaurants come with stunning mountain
backdrops,
so it’s always worth pausing for a few minutes, even if it
is just to take a few snaps. In total, I counted 4 mountain restaurants,
all providing hot food and drinks for the hungry and thirsty skiers
and snowboarders.
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The
longest ski run in the resort is 16km which will let you ski
or snowboard from the very top of the Todorka mountain,
right into the town. What
better way to end the day, but to ski right into Bansko, where
you can either walk over to the apartment to chill out or call
into the ‘Happy
end’ bar directly opposite the gondola station for a drink. |
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And
just when you think the fun is over, they turn on the lights
and let you ski the last 7km from Banderishka
down into the town by moonlight. The slopes are available to everyone
and open from 18:30 right up to 21:30, so this is something not
to miss! |
During the summer of 2006, building will begin on a
new black run, which should be ready for the 2006/2007 season. The
new black run will take you down the east side of Todorka and once
finished, will be among the top ten most extreme black runs in Europe. |
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