Massive ski resort project breaks ground in the mountains of Kazakhstan.
Massive ski resort project breaks ground in the mountains of Kazakhstan.

Construction has officially begun on Almaty Superski, a major new mountain resort taking shape in the peaks above Kazakhstan’s largest city of Almaty. The project is targeting a December 2028 opening and is shaping up to be one of the most significant ski developments in Central Asia.

French manufacturer POMA, a world leader in the cable transport industry, has been tapped to build 11 cableways at the resort. The lineup will include 3S gondolas, 10-seater gondola lifts, and chairlifts.

The resort’s design comes from Foster + Partners, an architectural firm behind some of the world’s most iconic structures. Their concept leans on modern mass timber construction, giving the resort a natural aesthetic meant to complement its mountain setting. Canadian firm StructureCraft, a specialist in large-scale timber engineering, has been brought in to bring those structures to life.

Almaty Superski is being developed as part of the wider Almaty Mountain Cluster project, a push to open up recreational opportunities in the range that towers above. Kazakhstan’s largest city. The resort is intended to serve both local residents looking for a world-class mountain destination close to home and international visitors drawn to the region.

With a globally credentialed design team and construction now moving, Almaty Superski is positioned to become a destination resort when it opens in December 2028.

Nolan Deck is a writer for Unofficial Networks, covering skiing and outdoor adventure. After growing up and skiing in Maine, he moved to the Denver area for college where he continues to live and work...