At the end of August 2016, the ski area on Schmittenhöhe above Zell am See received delivery of the first gondola for its new 10-person lift “zellamseeXpress”. Six of the 69 gondolas due to operate on the lift offer a truly unique highlight: Jukeboxes!
Play your favourite tunes via WiFi
Yes, you read it right! These gondolas have an integrated multimedia sound system in which guests can log in via WiFi free-of-charge and play their favourite songs. This original feature not only helps the ascent pass in no time but also allows you to have a boogie between runs!
Just a little over 9 minutes to the mountain top
Quite apart from this nice gimmick, the zellamseeXpress has much more to offer – measuring in at 2,884 metres, the 10-person lift needs just over nine minutes to make the trip from the Winkelstation (1,120 m) up to the mountain station (1,920 m).
Up to 2,200 people per hour
Clock a speed of 6.0 m/s, the zellamseeXpress can transport up to 2,200 people per hour. Schmitten ski area is well known for putting the comfort of guests first. It should therefore come as little surprise that the new gondolas are also fitted with comfortable heated seats.
New 3.3 km trail
The new 10-person lift runs from the Winkelstation (1,120 m) above Viehhofen to the mountain station on Salersbachköpfl (1,920 m). Winter 2016/2017 sees the opening of a new 3.3 km red run from the mountain station down to the Winkelstation, a trail completely covered by snow making. By the way, it’s worth noting that all of the runs are technically covered by snowmaking here – virtually guaranteeing excellent conditions every time.
Second section to enter service in winter 2018/2019
A second section of the zellamseeXpress is also planned, extending all the way down into the valley, i.e. from the Winkelstation down to Viehhofen. The entire project (run and lift) is earmarked to cost around 25 million euros. This direct connection from and into the Glemm Valley is planned for winter 2018/2019.
Link to the Skicircus Saalbach-Hinterglemm-Leogang-Fieberbrunn
The link into Glemm Valley also offers guests the option of enjoying another outstanding nearby ski area. Thanks to the well-networked ski bus shuttle system, it will be very straightforward for skiers to make the short trip over to Saalbach-Hinterglemm-Leogang-Fieberbrunn. With 270 km of runs in total and 70 lifts, it is one of the largest ski areas in all of Austria.
Facts and figures for the “zellamseeXpress”
| Capacity: | 2.200 people per hour |
| Duration (one-way trip): | 9,22 minutes |
| Speed: | 6.0 m/s |
| Number of gondolas: | 69 |
| Capacity per gondola: | 10 people |
| Gondola features: | Heated seats, intercom |
| Interval: | 12,86 seconds |
| Total distance: | 2.884,16 m |
| Altitude valley station: | 1.120 m |
| Altitude mountain station: | 1.920 m |
| Vertical difference: | 800 m |
Other new features for winter 2017/2018
Long waiting times for Areitbahn I will soon be a thing of the past thanks to the arrival of the areitXpress in summer 2017. The new 10-person cable car is due to replace the Areitbahn I lift from winter 2017/18. “The rebuilding of the Areitbahn is important for us in ensuring service quality for our guests. With the areitXpress we can increase the capacity of the lift by 50% and carry skiers up the hill quickly, comfortably and without any waiting times,” explains Dr Erich Egger, Managing Director at Schmittenhöhebahn AG. With 850,000 trips up the mountain in winter 2015/2016, the Areitbahn handles half of all first ascents and is therefore the most important feeder lift for the ski area.
An outstanding ski area, particularly for families
The ski area spread across Schmittenhöhe Mountain may not be particularly vast, but it still has plenty to offer, as the official test from Skigebiete-Test.de shows: Schmittenhöhe even picked up sought-after Skigebiete-Test.de awards in the categories “Beginners”, “Service”, “On-mountain dining” and, most prominently, “Families”.
