Tatry Mountain Resorts: The Most Modern Chairlift In Slovakia Has Been Opened In Štrbské Pleso

The new ski season has opened at Štrbské Pleso in the High Tatras. At the same time, a new 8-seater chairlift to Medvedia Kopa was put into operation, representing an 11 million euro investment by the company TMR. This is the largest investment in the ski resort in the last 15 years.

Key technical parameters:

• Type: Detachable 8-seater chairlift (CD8C)
• Manufacturer: LEITNER
• Maximum speed: 5 m/s
• Transport capacity: 1,500 persons/hour (Mode 1) / 2,400 persons/hour (Mode 2)
• Armchairs: heated, 8-seater, with vibration stabilizers, 39 pieces
• Inclined track length: 1,004 m
• Valley station: 1,378.15 m above sea level
• Mountain station: 1,568.50 m above sea level d. M.
• Elevation difference: 190 m
• Number of supports: 9

The new chairlift was erected by the contractors in record time. From the start of construction on June 16, 2025, to its commissioning, an incredible 173 days passed. “This chairlift is the first installation of this technology with the modern PININFARINA design in Slovakia, Poland, and the Czech Republic. The lift combines first-class design with state-of-the-art technology and sets a new standard for skier comfort. At the same time, it offers visitors to Štrbské Pleso greater flexibility in choosing their runs and faster transport, which should reduce waiting times in the ski area,” said Igor Rattaj, CEO of TMR.

“The new detachable 8-chairlift CD8C Interski – Medvedia Kopa combines high comfort, modern design and energy efficiency with safety features. It is designed for stable operation even in demanding weather conditions and represents a significant technological improvement for the ski resort,” explained Jaroslav Mačičák from the company LEITNER.

The cable car is equipped with the latest technical components from LEITNER, including the DirectDrive drive system, which minimizes maintenance requirements. Due to the absence of a gearbox, no oil refills are needed, noise levels are reduced (-15 dB), power consumption is lowered, and high energy efficiency is achieved.

The chairs are heated and equipped with vibration stabilizers to improve ride comfort in windy conditions. For increased safety when boarding, an LED boarding platform is used at the valley station, gently guiding skiers to the boarding area.

During the construction of the new cable car, great emphasis was placed on respecting the surrounding natural environment. Existing clearings were utilized, the operation of the new lift reduces noise pollution in the area, and the dismantling of the old ski lift reduces water and electricity consumption, which was previously required for artificial snowmaking on the lift track, as it no longer needs to be snowed or maintained. The system also includes certified bird deflectors, which provide particularly effective protection against collisions between birds and the cable car equipment.