In spite of the lack of snow, the constant drenching rain and the annoying fog on December 18, hundreds gathered in the town of Bansko to celebrate the opening of ski season 2004-2005.
Special guests included ski legends Marc Girardelli and Hannes Trinkl and Bulgarian football star and coach of the national football team, Hristo Stoichkov.
Organisers used snow cannons to cover the lower part of the Alberto Tomba ski run with artificial snow for the demonstration downhill run by Girardelli and Stoichkov.
The football legend demonstrated sporting spirit, and in spite of his seven falls, managed to cross the finish line to loud applause from the spectators.
While Stoichkov was negotiating the steep slope, the commentator was trying to persuade the crowd that it was Girardelli who was barely standing on his skis, until someone pointed out that it was Stoichkov.
Girardelli, five-time world cup winner, showed his world class and demonstrated that even though retired, he still possesses skills and style.
Trinkl, who was still sporting a crutch after his latest injury, watched the performance of his one-time rival from the finish line.
Both Girardelli and Trinkl said that they were impressed with Bansko, its modern equipment and well-developed infrastructure.
According to Girardelli, the Alberto Tomba ski run is very attractive and suitable to use for big competitions.
According to Bansko mayor Alexander Kravarov, the winter resort can compete with the best in Europe.
"Building it took more than 20 years and more than 30 million euro," he said.
Bansko is good both for expert skiers and for learners.
Currently the total length of the ski runs plus the ski paths is 65 km. The highest altitude of the ski centre is 2600 m above sea level, and the lowest one is 990 m.
Ski and snowboard fans can cover a distance of 16 km without stopping, going down from the highest to the lowest point of the centre.
The total length of the ski lifts is 26 km. The capacity of the eight-seat gondola alone is 2400 people an hour. The gondola connects the outskirts of the town with Bunderishka Polyana and from there with the remaining ski runs through chair lifts and drag lifts.
There are 38 hotels in Bansko, five recreation homes, other accommodation facilities and lodgings. There are a total of 4500 beds.
Next winter, a further six hotels, with a total of about 950 beds, will be open to visitors. One of them, belonging to the Kempinski chain, will be a five-star hotel.
By 2010, the number of beds is expected to double.
Bansko-based tour operators are very optimistic about the 2004/2005 winter season. They expect that the number of foreign tourists will be 30 per cent higher than the previous season, and will exceed
20 000.
Special guests included ski legends Marc Girardelli and Hannes Trinkl and Bulgarian football star and coach of the national football team, Hristo Stoichkov.
Organisers used snow cannons to cover the lower part of the Alberto Tomba ski run with artificial snow for the demonstration downhill run by Girardelli and Stoichkov.
The football legend demonstrated sporting spirit, and in spite of his seven falls, managed to cross the finish line to loud applause from the spectators.
While Stoichkov was negotiating the steep slope, the commentator was trying to persuade the crowd that it was Girardelli who was barely standing on his skis, until someone pointed out that it was Stoichkov.
Girardelli, five-time world cup winner, showed his world class and demonstrated that even though retired, he still possesses skills and style.
Trinkl, who was still sporting a crutch after his latest injury, watched the performance of his one-time rival from the finish line.
Both Girardelli and Trinkl said that they were impressed with Bansko, its modern equipment and well-developed infrastructure.
According to Girardelli, the Alberto Tomba ski run is very attractive and suitable to use for big competitions.
According to Bansko mayor Alexander Kravarov, the winter resort can compete with the best in Europe.
"Building it took more than 20 years and more than 30 million euro," he said.
Bansko is good both for expert skiers and for learners.
Currently the total length of the ski runs plus the ski paths is 65 km. The highest altitude of the ski centre is 2600 m above sea level, and the lowest one is 990 m.
Ski and snowboard fans can cover a distance of 16 km without stopping, going down from the highest to the lowest point of the centre.
The total length of the ski lifts is 26 km. The capacity of the eight-seat gondola alone is 2400 people an hour. The gondola connects the outskirts of the town with Bunderishka Polyana and from there with the remaining ski runs through chair lifts and drag lifts.
There are 38 hotels in Bansko, five recreation homes, other accommodation facilities and lodgings. There are a total of 4500 beds.
Next winter, a further six hotels, with a total of about 950 beds, will be open to visitors. One of them, belonging to the Kempinski chain, will be a five-star hotel.
By 2010, the number of beds is expected to double.
Bansko-based tour operators are very optimistic about the 2004/2005 winter season. They expect that the number of foreign tourists will be 30 per cent higher than the previous season, and will exceed
20 000.
