Ski Lagorai: replacement of the “Malga Marande – Monte Agaro” chairlift with a 10-passenger gondola planned

The chairlift is the oldest lift in the ski area and, during periods of peak attendance, despite its nominal capacity of 2,188 passengers per hour—which is relatively high for this type of lift—queues form at the entrance gates. The technical and economic feasibility report commissioned by Trentino Sviluppo states that, given the age of the “Malga Marande – Monte Agaro” chairlift, the availability of spare parts, particularly electronic boards for the electric drive and safety components, is currently not guaranteed and, above all, cannot be ensured immediately. Under these operating conditions, a possible breakdown of the lift would block skiers’ access to the entire ski area, apart from the beginners’ area, for several days if the operating company did not have the spare part required to restore the lift to working order, causing considerable disruption for customers.

It is in this context, and as part of the ongoing improvement of the skiing offer, that Funivie Lagorai S.p.A. intends to proceed with the replacement of the four-seater “Malga Marande – Monte Agaro” chairlift with a new, more modern gondola with detachable carriers. The project will complete the renewal of the ski area’s lifts.

The gondola’s alignment will correspond to that of the existing lift, apart from minor changes required by the greater span of the cables along the line and by the need to optimise the loading area at the bottom and the unloading area at the top. The drive-tensioning station will be located at the bottom, along with a garage for storing the cabins when the lift is out of operation and the related technical service rooms. The fixed return station and its control cabin will be located at the top.  The lift will be able to transport 2,440 passengers per hour at a maximum speed of 6.00 m/s.

The cabins will feature large opaque glazed surfaces and anthracite grey / black fairings. Each cabin will be equipped to carry skis inside, with dedicated ski racks created through openings in the floor.

In addition to the ten-passenger gondola, the project also includes the construction of a new connecting piste, of limited dimensions, between the “Paradiso” and “Bosco” pistes, allowing passengers on the “Malga Marande – Monte Agaro” gondola to reach the “Bosco” piste more quickly. This will avoid having to go all the way around the Chalet Paradiso mountain hut, skiing along part of the “Paradiso” piste before joining the “Bosco” piste. The new connection will therefore ease congestion on this section from skiers circulating on the “Bosco” and “Piloni” pistes, reserving it for those heading towards the other pistes in the ski area.