Joining efforts to create best winter season - New ski runs, concerts and numerous surprises for skiers at Kopaonik

The first snow at Mount Kopaonik fell in late October, but although the snow cover did not last long, there is no fear that winter sports lovers may be deprived of the joy in the snow they have been waiting for the whole year.

Everything is ready for the new winter season at the silver mountain, which officially starts December 6th. Hotels have had a facelift for new guests, whereas a series of infrastructure projects, implemented during this year, guarantee a successful ski season.

This was also confirmed by the hosts of the event Kopaonik Evening, which was held Thursday (22 November 2012) at Tulip Inn Hotel in Belgrade. It was an occasion for the public company Skijalista Srbije, MK Mountain Resort and ATD Putnik to present the novelties they prepared for visitors this winter.

Improved infrastructure

In the largest ski resort in Serbia, whose capacity is 32,000 skiers per hour, there are more than 50 kilometers of ski runs, whereas an artificial snow system consisting of 330 artificial snow machines covers 97 percent of the ski resort Kopaonik.

- On the Gobelja site, which is comprised of eight runs and ski paths, an artificial snow system has been completed recently. There are also new ski runs 1.5 kilometers long in this part of the ski resort, with one of them designated for freeriding. What is also new is the artificial lake Crvene Bare, with the capacity of 9,500 cubic meters, the water from which will be used to make artificial snow - said Dejan Ljevnaic, acting director general of the public company Skijalista Srbije.

Skiers also have 24 ski lifts and a lit run for night skiing at their disposal, while those less experienced can take classes at one of the four ski schools with 150 licensed instructors.

For this season, there are also two new connecting ski roads: Duboka 2 - Knezevske Bare and Gvozdac – Ledenice, speedometers at ski runs Duboka and Suncana Dolina, as well as a time measuring system at the Marine Vode ski run, which will make it possible for skiers and boarders to measure their lap time.

As Ljevanic said, Skijalista Srbije will this year organize various promotions providing skiers with a discount on accommodation, ski school and ski tickets.

- Skiers and boarders will be able to choose between a family week (January 20-27), couples week (February 3-10) and women's week (March 3–10), when the fairer sex will enjoy numerous surprises and activities.

Improved service

Every year, over 100,000 ski tickets are sold at Kopaonik. The start of every ski season at this mountain is traditionally marked with the Ski Opening event, which will this year be held between December 6 and 9, for the third year in a row. In 2011, more than 5,000 guests visited the silver mountain during this event, and that number is expected to be doubled this year. Announced concerts, sports competitions and numerous valuable prizes will attract a large number of our fellow citizens and people from the countries in the region, especially those from Russia.

A claim that Kopaonik represents a real attraction for visitors from the Russian Federation this season was confirmed in Moscow, where the company ATD Putnik presented the offer of the largest ski resort in Serbia at Ski Salon in early November.

(Grand Hotel)

- Considering that the offer of Kopaonik has been presented at this specialized ski show for the third time, we expect more Russian tourists at Kopaonik this year, as their number grows larger every season - said Aleksandar Denisov, CEO of ATD Putnik.

Hotels Putnik and Club A are already selling package holidays for this winter season, while 90 percent of New Year packages at these hotels are booked by guests from Russia.

There is also a big interest in hotels Grand, Konaci and Angella.

- Accommodation prices are the same as last year, which is why our sales have already grown 10 percent from the last winter season - said Nikola Avram, CEO of MK Mountain Resort, which operates aforementioned hotels.

This group invested EUR 4 million in the modernization of the hotel complex at Kopaonik this year, whereas as much as EUR 20 million have been invested over the last three years.

All accommodation units in Grand Hotel and the suite complex Konaci have been completely renovated and furnished, and there is also a new outdoor swimming pool with a hot tub. This new pool, which is connected with Grand Hotel's indoor swimming pool, will be the greatest attraction this season, Avram pointed out.

New investments

Kopaonik now only lacks snow, which is expected to cover this mountain as early as in late November. A program and packages for the New Year are prepared, and investors already consider future investments in the "Serbian beauty."

As people at Skijalista Srbije announced, the plan is to install two six-seat ski lifts with windshields on sites Krcmar and Mali Karaman for the season 2013/14 and the same type of ski lift in the location of Marine Vode for the season 2014/15.

Krcmar will also get three new ski runs, which are envisaged by the Master Plan, as well as a ski restaurant at the ski lift terminal. The plan for 2014 is to either build ski bridges and a tunnel or relocate the Jaram-Konaci road.

Price

According to Skijalista Srbije's ski ticket price list for the winter season 2012/13, a six-day ski pass in the peak of the season at Kopaonik costs RSD 10,710.