News from Pamporovo

PAMPOROVO LAUNCHES SKI SEASON, DEC 19TH

Evening falls at Pamporovo, Bulgaria.

The ski season in Bulgaria’s southernmost resort of Pamporovo in the Rhodope Mountains is due to open on December 19 2009, a media statement said.

The newest attraction at the resort is floodlights installed at the Snejanka 3 slope as well as the Stanata (The Wall), Pamporovo’s most demanding slope. The media statement also says the complex is equipped with a new dental and first aid medical centre, Medicus Alfa, which will operate 24-hours.

The resort currently has more than 19km of slopes, 95 per cent of which can be serviced by snow cannons if needed. A brand new six-seater lift has also been installed as well as a recreational park and an “extreme park” all within the premises.

Finally, the report’s authorities believe that with the inauguration of the new border crossing point between Bulgaria and Greece at Zlatograd, many people in northern Greece will visit the resort, thus boosting the local economy.

Greek tour operators have been invited to attend the official inauguration ceremony.

Snow has arrived

Loads of snow for skiing in Pamps at the moment. 10cm today, 6cm tomorrow and 17cm due on Friday. But it’s going to be bloody cold at the weekend with temperatures averaging -10. So if you’re heading for the slopes, wrap up well!

NEW BORDER CROSSING POINT BETWEEN GREECE AND BULGARIA

A new border crossing point between Bulgaria and Greece, near the Bulgarian town of Zlatograd, should open as early as this winter, contributing to the flow of tourists from both countries.

It is expected that Athens and Sofia will sign the agreement for the border point’s opening in the middle of December on Kostadin Peak, where it will be located, Zlatograd’s mayor, Miroslav Yanchev, told national media today.

Currently, there is no road from Zlatograd to Greece, which is located just a few kilometres from the Greek border. The opening of the road connecting Zlatograd to the towns of Thermes and Xanthi in northern Greece will stimulate economic development, especially of the tourism industry, on both sides of the border, Yanchev explained.

The road from Zlatograd to the border has already been completed, while its construction on the Greek side begins today, Bulgarian media noted.

The border point’s opening will be of great importance to the whole region, the mayor said, adding that this will give a push for the development of tourism. According to him, in the winter it will allow Greek tourists to reach the Pamporovo ski resort, located nearby in the Rodopi Mountains, more easily, and in the summer it will shorten the Bulgarian tourists’ trip to the Greek beaches.

If the bilateral agreement is signed according to schedule, Yanchev claimed, it would be possible for the border control point to open as early as this winter.

Currently, the building which will house the border control point is being constructed on the Kostadin Peak. It will be used by both the Bulgarian and the Greek border officials.

LOW COST FLIGHTS FROM DUBLIN

Quick post for anyone thinking of heading over to Pamporovo this season from Ireland. Panorama Holidays are offering direct flights to Plodiv (Nearest airport to Pamporovo) with return flights from as little as 120 euro.

Really good value in my book! You’ll have to organise your own transfer up to the resort but that’s easily sorted.

Give me a shout if you want the details.

STUDENT DAY DECEMBER 8TH

Over 80% of the accomodation in Pamporovo has been booked out for Students Day on December 8th according to Chaiman of the regional tourist association, Pantalei Memtsov. Traditionally this is when it all kicks off in Pamporovo. It’s a bit early for the real snows to fall, but they’ve been busy with the artifical snow machines. Bound to be a bit of craic that day!

GREAT OUTDOORS SALE!

If you’re livingin Dublin, looks like the Great outdoors are having a sale before Christmas. If you’re looking for skiing gear, this is a great shop. They are on Chatham Street, Dublin 2, near enough to St. Stephens Green. www.greatoutdoors.ie

BULGARIAN FOLK MUSIC

Folk singer Nellie Andreeva

Bulgaria offers a Ski holiday with a difference. The people are different. The scenery, the tourist attractions are different.

The music is different.

I can across this by accident the other day and thought it might be nice to stick a post up on the subject. I had the chance to meet a few of the State Television Female Vocal Choir about 10 years ago. http://themysteryofthebulgarianvoices.com/ They were in Ireland as their music was being used in a Bulmers Commercial. They just looked like ordinary middle aged women until they sang. Since then they’ve worked with Kate Bush, Paul Simon, Linda Ronstadt and George Harrison. If the skiing doesn’t make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up…this video will.

ARTIFICIAL SNOW

Artificial snow facilities in Pamporovo winter resort have started work, coordinator of Pamporovo consultative council Rosen Kefilev told FOCUS News Agency today.

They’re using low night temperatures to start covering the slopes with snow. Kefliev said that as of December 5 all lift facilities will be up and running. The artificial snow production facilities that now cover about 70% of the sky-runs in the resort use water from the dam lake.

LEARNING TO SKI IN IRELAND

I think this is kinda cool for any newbies to the slope or anyone bring the kids away for the first time.

Previoulsy the option in Ireland was the outdoor dry artificial slope in Kilternan but now there is an indoor option. It works on a slighly different principle, this time the floor / carpet moves from underneath you, and you use gravity to move or fall down the slope.This “endless ski slope” covers an area of 50sqm and is constantly moving backwards. At the front is a mirror where you can look at yourself and concentrate on your technique. While in Kilternan it is an artifical slope, that has very little resistance.

ski-center-sandyford
The Ski Centre is located in Sandyford, Dublin and they offer lessons and rental of the slope for skiers and snowboarders. As far as we can see, you will be supervised by a qualified instructor at all times.

One of the benefits of such a system is that the is now downtime waiting for a drag lift to bring you back to the top of the piste. Classes which last an hour, have up to 6 pupils in them. The pupils, in two groups of 3 alternate on the slope, so to give people a rest during the hour long session.

There’s some videos of it here http://www.skicentre.ie/media-gallery/default.asp

RESORT PRICES

Good news for tourists this winter.

1. We will see reduced prices for ski passes and ski school.
2. The sloped have been better prepared for the ski season.
3. 118 snow cannons have been installed and commissioned, these snow cannons are York and of a very high standard. The snow canons will work at zero degrees or lower.
4. 5 grooming kits have been purchased, 1 new and 4 fully reconditioned, these machines will distribute the snow throughout the resort.
5. 50 new guns to shoot the snow have been purchased they are located on the mid station red run number 5 and red run number 2.
6. There are two new ski runs from Snejanka to Studenets and they are both intermediate runs.
7. A new kinder garden for children aged 4 plus with new facilities will be opened in the resort.

News from Pamporovo

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