Bansko - World Snowboard Guide

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Forget your ideas of the Communist blocks and Russian gangsters, Bansko is shaping up to be the next "undiscovered" resort and with over ¬30,000,000 invested in the ski lifts & facilities, around ¬50,000,000 invested in the surrounding area, its easy to see why theres numerous articles in the UKs national press saying its the next big thing.

Bansko, Bulgarias newest and most modern resort is situated at the foothills of the Pirin mountains and is listed as a UNESCO world Heritage site. You fly into Sofia which is the nearest airport and then a 2 hour taxi ride will get you to the hill. In the coming months a road is being finished that will cut this down to under and hour and a half.

The mountain itself, all though not the biggest in the world, is growing and there
is talk of linking it with some smaller local resort as well as adding new lifts onto the surrounding mountains. Two lifts have already been added for the 2006/07 season and more are planned. Natural snow conditions can last into the middle of April. Though Bansko does have 59 fixed and portable snow cannons in place guaranteeing conditions until the end of April. Bankso is even going for the 2014 Olympics. You heard it here first.

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New for season

2006/7: 2 new lifts

Resort Statistics

Lifts

Total Lifts: 12
Gondolas: 1
Chair lifts: 6
Drag lifts: 5
Other lifts: 10 magic carpets
Board Leashes required: No

Mountain

Total pistes/trails: 17
Total ride area: 25km
Longest run: 16km

Top lift: 2600m
Vertical drop: 1610
First lift: 990

Piste suitability

Green runs: 35%
Red runs: 40%
Black runs: 25%

Lift Passes

Lift Passes:
1 day 50L
6 days 280L
Season 1340lv
Lift times:[No information]

Snowfall

Artificial snowmaking coverage: 50%

Facilities

Snowboard Schools: 4hr group snowboard lesson 63lv. Private 4hr lesson 135lv
Snowboard Hire: Board & boots 40/200lv per day/6-days
Night Riding: : 1 run lit