A small ski area in Quebec is getting a major upgrade for the 2022-23 season. Belle Neige in Val-Morin, Quebec announced Tuesday that a new Doppelmayr quad chairlift will replace their old double chairlift. The new chairlift’s name, “Le Fenster”, is in honor of the recently deceased Sal Fenster, who was one of the two founders of Belle Neige. The ski area also announced upgrades for their snowmaking systems, with two new pumps and a new snowmaking line on tap for next season. Belle Neige features twenty runs, terrain parks, four lifts, and summer activities like mountain biking and a drive-in-theater. The official statement from the ski area is below:
“BELLE NEIGE INVESTS MORE THAN 4 MILLION IN THE MOUNTAINS
Val-Morin, February 18, 2021 — The next sliding season promises to be exceptional in the mountains. The Belle Neige team is pleased to unveil its new projects which will certainly mark the history of the resort’s sixtieth anniversary.
Indeed, development Ski Belle Neige is proud to announce that a new fixed quadruple ski lift will be installed on the mountain: ‘La Fenster’. Named in honor of the founding brothers of the station, it will replace the current double lift and will be operational during the 2022-2023 season.
‘Henry and Saul Fenster were both pioneers in the alpine ski industry. On February 5, Saul, [the] survivor of the two brothers, sadly left us at the age of 94. In order to perpetuate their memories in the mountains and honor their memories, this new ski lift will be named in their name.’ Says Nicolas Vallières, general manager of the Belle Neige resort.
INCREASED EFFICIENCY
Indeed, by replacing our current double lift with a quadruple, the boarding capacity for this new chairlift will increase by 800%. The new lift will also be much faster than the old one and will allow more than 2,400 people to reach the summit, every hour. In total, 4,800 people will therefore reach the summit of Belle Neige every hour.
AN EXTENDED SEASON
“These major improvements will certainly mark the sixtieth anniversary of the resort and enhance the experience of skiers and snowboarders at the resort: less waiting at the bottom of the slopes and an extended sliding season! continues Nicolas Vallières.
ABOUT BELLE NEIGE RESORT:
Belle Neige was created in 1963 thanks to the initiative of brothers Henry and Saul Fenster. At that time, only 3 crossbows served the 8 trails on the mountain. Belle Neige was also one of the first ski resorts in Quebec to acquire a snowmaking system.Â
Today, in winter, the mountain now has 4 ski lifts, 20 trails, a snow park, a “ridercross” and a learning park. This is the ideal resort for learning to ski or snowboard, in a safe and fun environment.
In summer, the mountain becomes a network of enduro-type mountain bike trails. Still in development, MTB Belle Neige currently offers more than 18 km of landscaped routes with challenges and obstacles, making perfect use of the terrain. During this same period, the station operated a drive-in. Every evening, 2 different films are shown on each of the two giant outdoor screens, including box office new releases.”
Image Credits: Belle Neige
