New 6-seater chairlift in Hafjell

HAFJELL, Alpinco continues to invest and has decided on the development of a new 6-seater chairlift, as well as the expansion of slopes and snow facilities, in the south of the resort. The project has a cost framework of NOK 150 million and will be ready for the winter season 2023-24.

Hafjell South, is a new 6-seater express lift, which will thus replace two of the oldest lifts in Hafjell, Kringelåsheisen and Hafjellheis 3. With this, the capacity will increase considerably in the area with a new express lift of 1874 meters. 

In addition to the lift itself, snow facilities will also be built in two of the slopes to ensure full capacity throughout the winter season. These are areas that have previously been dependent on natural snow to be able to open, and a snow facility on these trails will thus ensure an even wider offer for guests.

This is the largest investment in the ski resort since the gondola was built," says general manager of Alpinco, Odd Stensrud.

- It is an extensive project that makes available a part of the facility that we know our guests have not otherwise used to the same extent. A big investment for us in terms of cost, but an investment in the skiing experience for all our guests who will now get better benefit from skiing, says general manager of Alpinco, Odd Stensrud.

Full comfort

The lift is a full comfort chairlift, similar Hafjell the 360 lift that was completed in 2018. That is, it has heating in the seats and glass bubbles over the seats that protect against wind and weather.

- We see that our capacity is certainly greatest around Hafjell 360 and Mosetertoppen, much of the reason we believe is, among other things, the comfort of this lift that takes you to the mountains, which we also believe will apply to this new one and which is why we are going for an upgraded full comfort lift from Leitner also now, says Stensrud.

The new lift will cover several of the main trails from the top and all the way down to the new boarding point at the same level as today's start on the Kringelås lift. From the top of the lift, there will be easy access to the trail network towards Vidsyn, Gaia, Favn and Mosetertoppen.

NEW BOTTOM STATION: This is what the new bottom station will look like. Boarding will be a few hundred meters higher than where boarding is today to Hafjellheis 2. Photo: Structor.

Opening up for more areas

In addition to the new chairlift, trail 24 (Kringelåsløypa) and trail 40 (Hafjellhoppene) will have new snow facilities to ensure that the areas will be snowy from the start of the season. The easy descent around Marsteinschussen will also be expanded in connection with the construction of the new chairlift.

The lift also opens up for future new trails in Hafjell. In the long term, a new main trail is planned, among other things, between the current trail 21 (Snarvegen) and trail 41 (Hafjellthe trail).

- A new elevator will significantly increase the capacity of the facility. This is an elevator that will be able to carry 2200 people per hour and has a driving time at full speed of 5 minutes and 12 seconds," says Stensrud.

Work starts this spring

The old chairlift, Hafjellheis 3, which is now being removed, is one of the longest-lived and nostalgic lifts found in Hafjell today. The elevator was set up in -91 at the bottom of Hafjell, and was used, among other things , during the Olympics to transport athletes and officials. In the autumn of '94, it was moved to the top of the facility where it stands today.

Work on a new chairlift is already well underway. During the coming autumn, deforestation and levelling work will be carried out, which will mean that the Kringelås lift will be dismantled and taken out of service.

The first part of the project has a cost framework of NOK 150 million, and the installation of the new chairlift will start in the summer of 23 August.

The new 6-seater chairlift will be ready for the 23/24 ski season.

Technical data Hafjell South:

• Length: 1874 metres
• Elevation gain: 369 meters
• Boarding level: 661 m
• Deboarding level: 1030 m
• Number of chairs: 70 (expandable to 82)
• Capacity / people per hour: 2200 (can be expanded to 2600)
• Max speed: 6 meters per second
• Run time at full speed: 5 min 12 sec
• Number of masters: 19
• Garage for chairs when boarding
• Supplier: Leitner