The winter season officially began in Štrbské Pleso, High Tatras, on Saturday, 6th December 2025. The launch also marked the start of operations for a brand-new eight-seater detachable chairlift running to Medvedia kopa, an investment of €11 million by TMR. It is the resort’s largest development in the past 15 years.
The construction of the new chairlift was completed at record speed. From the start of works on 16th June 2025 to its commissioning, only 173 days passed. “This chairlift is the first installation of the modern PININFARINA design technology in Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic. It combines cutting-edge engineering with exceptional design and sets a new benchmark for skier comfort. It will also offer a greater choice of ski routes and faster transport across the resort to visitors to Štrbské Pleso, helping reduce queue times,” said Igor Rattaj, Chairman of the Board, TMR, a. s.
foto: Marek Hajkovský
“The new detachable eight-seater CD8C Interski – Medvedia kopa chairlift delivers high comfort, contemporary design and energy efficiency with advanced safety features. It has been engineered for reliable operation even in challenging weather and represents a major technological upgrade for the resort,” added Jaroslav Mačičák from the LEITNER company.
The chairlift incorporates LEITNER’s latest technologies, including the DirectDrive system, which minimises maintenance requirements. The absence of a gearbox removes the need for oil, reduces noise by 15 dB, cuts electricity consumption and ensures excellent energy efficiency.
Each chair features heated seating and swing stabilisers to improve comfort in windy conditions. For enhanced safety when boarding, the lower station includes an LED-guided loading platform to support smooth and efficient skier flow.
Environmental considerations played a significant role during the construction. Existing clearings were used to minimise the impact on the surrounding nature. The new chairlift will reduce noise in the area, and removing the old drag lift will lower water and electricity consumption previously required for snowmaking and maintaining the lift track. The installation is also equipped with certified bird-flight deflectors — currently the most effective measure for preventing bird collisions.
Key technical specifications:
- Type: detachable eight-seater chairlift (CD8C)
- Technology provider: LEITNER
- Maximum speed: 5 m/s
- Transport capacity:
- 1,500 passengers/hour (mode 1)
- 2,400 passengers/hour (mode 2)
- Chairs: 39 heated, eight-seater chairs with swing stabilisers
- Inclined length: 1,004 m
- Lower station altitude:1,378.15 m a.s.l.
- Upper station altitude:1,568.50 m a.s.l.
- Vertical difference: 190 m
- Number of line pylons:9