Ineedsnow ski holidays blog » Rendlbahn

Rendl – mourning the loss of a locals secret?

mat — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:40:35 +0000

One of the closely guarded secrets of Arlberg skiing, the Rendl area above St Anton is set to begin welcoming very many more guests in the coming weeks. A completely redeveloped and relocated lift system is set to tie the skiing in St Anton together and offer better comfort and capacity for those wanting to access the Rendl side of the St Anton ski area. All good news, except for the locals who have had it their own way for years. Few guests ever ventured beyond the Galzig and Kapall ski areas leaving the locals to lap up all the fresh Rendl powder. That is very likely to change this coming winter with the convenience and volume offered by the new Rendlbahn ski lift likely to lead to encroaching on what was once a locals secret area. Great for the resort and the lift company who are able to enhance the visitor experience but I am sure that there will be many locals fondly looking back to the yellow cabins.

To swipe or to skin?

mat — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:37:22 +0000

One man’s spam is another man’s ham maybe, but how does this pan out when one of the best off-piste ski areas in the Alps gets an improved lift? What happens when an existing ski lift is replaced with a higher capacity lift or terrain previously only accessible on touring skis receives a new lift? A couple of seasons ago my local ski hill in Innsbruck had 2 new gondolas installed. The Mutters and Gotzens ski areas had for several years existed as the preserve for ski tourers, the old lifts had been de-commissioned and the only way up was either on skins or via some routes out of Axamer Lizum. For several years I effectively skied a private ski piste, you would rarely see any other skier on a descent and just a couple making their way up on skins. The arrival of the new lifts brought mixed emotions. Snow cannons, piste markers and numerous piste users replaced the serenity of the area but whilst the negative aspects of this development were clear, the boost to the local area and the joy (yes genuine) at seeing others on the slopes to appreciate the superb terrain and views outweighed all other aspects for me. What must the locals of St Anton be currently thinking? For years the Rendl side of the St Anton ski region was underused and remained a locals’ hangout. For obvious reasons the lift company has invested heavily to increase the convenience and capacity of the lift accessing the Rendl ski region. Mixed emotions for sure with more competition for the famed Rendl powder routes. But St Anton locals, whatever they do are reliant on visitors and to make the visitor experience better can only benefit them and their standard of livings. And remember, at one point in time a lift didn’t exist, what would the previous users of the Rendl have thought when the lift pylons went up for the first time?

Iconic yellow Rendlbahn gondola in St Anton am Arlberg to be replaced

mat — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:14:50 +0000

Built in 1974 the Rendlbahn, St Anton am Arlberg has come to the end of its life and is being replaced by a new system that connects from the heart of St Anton. For 35 years the Rendlbahn has carried skiers and snowboarders to some of the best powder fields in the St Anton ski area. And whilst the iconic yellow cabins have formed a part of St Anton scenery over the decades the time has come to replace the lift.

Valley station 1312m
Top station     2030m
Vertical rise     718m
Route distance     2440m
Max capacity     1300 Persons/hour
Time        12 minutes

Vitally the capacity, speed and age have not kept up with the rest of the St Anton ski region, whilst the most impressive aspect of the new development is the location of the valley lift station of the Rendlbahn that will occupy what is currently the bus terminal in the centre of St Anton. Just as with the relocation of the St Anton train station from the centre of the resort to a location across the river, so the centre of St Anton is going to be shaken up with bus terminal being buried underground and the main lifts hubs of the Galzigbahn and Rendlbahn leaving from the centre of the resort. Work is due to start in June 2009 and should be completed for the start of the 2009/2010 winter.