Davos Klosters Mountains
‘We also offer a wide range of skiing even when there is less snow.’
Setting off avalanches, preparing the slopes until late in the night or treating skiers to gastronomic delights in the mountain restaurants: the lift and cable car staff work hard to ensure that guests enjoy carefree days of skiing. We met up with Vidal Schertenleib (30), Facilities Director and member of the Administrative Board of Davos Klosters Mountains, for a chat.
Vidal Schertenleib, what’s new this winter? We will be putting the long-planned Furka chairlift into operation. The Furka Zipper connects Gotschna to the Parsenn region. At the same time, we have also installed snow-making equipment there to ensure that the chairlift runs even when there is less snow. A new restaurant has opened at the valley station of the Jakobshorn cable car, where the emphasis will be on more sophisticated après-ski with a glass of wine and good food. Then there are also a few less major investments: for instance, we have renovated the sports shop up on the Weiss fluhjoch, refurbished the valley station for the Parsenn cable railway and completed the bar and grill station on the Totalp. What has the level of investment been? We have invested CHF 13 million in the chairlift and snow-making system alone
My Davos Klosters 2017/18
and a further CHF 2 million in the new restaurant. Another example: a snow groomer vehicle costs CHF 500,000. By comparison we need two to three new snow groomers every year. How do people have the – clearly wrong – impression that the lift and cable car companies invest too little in Davos? That’s what I ask myself as well. In recent years we have focused on guaranteed snow availability. These investments are not attention-grabbing, yet they are extremely important and expensive for example, snow storage reservoirs, snow canons and snow groomers. To date we have invested a total of over CHF 70 million in snow-making equipment. In addition we have rebuilt the Jakobshorn cable car (1st section) and invested in mountain restaurants. That has paid for itself over the last two winters: we are able to offer a wide range of skiing even when there is less snow. We also
hope to continue expanding our snow-making systems in future. But competition is tough. Why should guests specifically come to Davos Klosters? It’s the mix that sets us apart: in terms of the lifts and cable cars, we offer a wide range of different ski slopes combined with a wealth of varied restaurants. Guests can choose between the Jakobshorn Fun Mountain, the family-friendly Rinerhorn, the traditional Parsenn or the close-to-nature alternative on the Pischa with winter hiking trails, snow-shoe trails and fat bike descents. You can then meet up with friends in the afternoon in the valley for après-ski. Then you can go out, enjoy the thrill of an ice hockey match or go to the cinema. When the weather is poor the facilities in the valley represent another bonus in Davos Klosters. Thank you for talking to us. What are you looking forward to this winter? That Davos comes to life again after the autumn, that the Promenade is buzzing with lots of people and the village pulsates again. And naturally also a white Christmas with lots of snow! (he laughs).
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