You are hereOn the Slopes
On the Slopes
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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.
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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!
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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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