Cableway & Technology, Planning & Construction, Snowmaking & Slope Maintenance
Spanish ski resorts are investing heavily
For the upcoming 2026/2027 ski season, the Spanish ski resort Astún will put its new Balsas chairlift into operation. This is reported by the media outlets Noticias and El Periodico. The fixed-grip quad chairlift is intended to strengthen the planned connection between Astún and Candanchú.
In view of the foreseeable increase in skier numbers due to the gondola connection with Candanchú, the Astún ski resort considers the installation of the new chairlift necessary and has budgeted 5.3 million euros for it.
Technical data at a glance:
- Length: 788 m (inclined length: 820 m)
- Vertical rise: 203 m (between 2,015 m and 2,218 m altitude)
- Average gradient: 25.8%
- Capacity: 1,884 persons per hour
The system named TF4 Balsas will be built in the western part of the ski resort and will run near the La Raca chairlift. The valley station is located below the green Prado Blanco slope, while the mountain station is situated above the Balsas slope.
The mountain station of the future connecting gondola from Candanchú will be located at an altitude of 2,022 m. Since this is in the immediate vicinity of the valley station of the new Balsas cable car, skiers can easily reach the entrance at an altitude of 2,015 m.
The contract was awarded to the company Leitner. The system will feature 96 fixed-grip quad chairs, with no conveyor belt at the boarding area.
Piste map Alto Campoo
A new beginner area is to be created.
Alto Campoo Ski Resort Facing Major Renovation
The Alto Campoo ski and mountain resort is currently pushing forward with extensive investments in cable cars, a beginner zone, and snowblowers. This is reported by the media outlets Démocrata and EuropaPress.
According to these reports, a permit process is currently underway to relocate the “Toboganes de El Chivo” T-bar lift and thus establish a new, specific zone for beginners – a measure budgeted at over 270,000 euros.
In parallel, the project for a 6-person chairlift is in the design phase, intended to replace the old Pidruecos lift. Additionally, there are plans to issue a tender “in the coming weeks” for the purchase of a snowblower (Turbofresa) for an estimated 500,000 euros to strengthen snow removal efforts.
Clearing the investment backlog
The Cantabrian government intends to promote winter sports in Alto Campoo with fresh funding.
Investment Offensive After Decades
Calabria’s Sports Minister Luis Martínez Abad emphasized that in the 60-year history of the ski resort, “hardly any investments had been made except in snow cannons” and that “all significant investments are only being made now.”
He explained that the regional government has already provided half a million euros for ongoing maintenance and the replacement of safety components during the current legislative period.
In the past two years, an additional million euros were invested in two modern snow groomers. Furthermore, a new head of cable car maintenance was hired on December 1, 2025.
For the spring-summer season, a comprehensive renovation of the restrooms in the multipurpose building is planned. This includes reactivating facilities that have been closed for over ten years. “We are working for the present, but also for the future, to make the destination attractive year-round and to extend the season,” said the minister.
