ARCTIC CENTER
A YEAR-ROUND, ACTIVITY-BASED TOURISM DESTINATION OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARD
Arctic Center has collaborated with global leader Ecosign from Whistler and the recognized Oslo-based architectural firm Nordic Office of Architecture to create a feasibility study about the creation of a year-round, integrated destination. The study includes the ski resort, cabin field, hotel, infrastructure and activity areas. The concept takes into account the logistics into the area and a seamless flow of traffic within the various elements. The decisions made in the first phase will lay the groundwork for development of the commercial area and the design of new ski trails with associated ski lifts.
Ecosign concludes that the site satisfies the requirements related to degree of difficulty in the slopes, opportunities for ski-in, ski-out accommodation and accessibility via road network – not to forget the beautiful scenery.
The ski trails satisfy the requirements of the International Ski Federation (FIS) for World Cup events in all four disciplines: slalom, giant slalom, Super G and downhill. However, the main objective will remain creating a resort that attracts target groups from children through to youth and adults, whether they live in the region or are visiting as tourists.
Nordic’s feasibility study for the zone area comprises an area of 800 hectares in the area Håkøybotn, Finnheia and Lille Blåmann. The investment will consist of a road network, car parking, ski café, garage facility, ski lifts, lighting and snowmaking.
The area between the base station and intermediate station will be the centre of the ski resort. During events and major recreation days, this will be a pulsating base for competitions, events and after-ski. Early in the season the other parts of the alpine slopes will be given lower priority so that traffic is gathered in a core area where snowmaking and lighting will be developed in phase 1.
Click on the map and read about the various phases.
MOUNT “LILLE BLÅMANN”
At Lille Blåmann (844 m above sea level) in Håkøybotn on the island of Kvaløya, Arctic Center will establish a ski resort with broad provisions for skiers within several categories. This will be associated with the building of a hotel and cabin field in order to ensure good accommodation capacity in the area. The driving force to make the destination attractive is summer and winter activities based on the infrastructure that will be developed, as well as the natural conditions found in Håkøybotn as well as in the city of Tromsø and the wider region.
In April 2010 Canadian Ecosign conducted a site inspection of Lille Blåmann and Håkøybotn. The report also highlights the climatic conditions extremely favourable, in terms of the abundance of snow, wind directions, temperatures and that area faces south. The terrain is also suitable for all four alpine disciplines in accordance with the requirements of the International Ski Federation, FIS. The Director of Ecosign, Paul Matthews, concludes his report with the following:
– “I have very little doubt in my mind that this mountain could be designed as a world-class ski center as it certainly seems to have almost perfect terrain and great snow conditions. Lille-Blåmann has an almost ideal orientation and configuration with ski slopes up to 6 km in length such that one lift can go from the very bottom to the top covering about 800 m vertical distance, the slopes in the outer perimeter are relatively easy and as one works towards the center they become more difficult to the point where the slopes right in the center actually appear to be black slopes for good and expert skiers. This unique geographical configuration provides the absolutely most efficient situation to service the most terrain with minimum costs for lifts.”
Paul Matthews, President, Ecosign, Whistler, B.C., Canada
THE PERFECT MOUNTAIN FOR A WINTER SPORTS DESTINATION
Meteorological conditions are a major contributing factor for Håkøybotn being selected. The area is sunny, faces south and is sheltered from the wind. There are good snow conditions from November to May, favourable temperatures and the snow melts late. The mountain’s concave topography, combined with favourable meteorological conditions, provide very good conditions for snow production. The combination of all meteorological conditions contributes to the snow remaining much longer into the spring in this area than elsewhere in the region.
A report in Dagens Næringsliv in November 2014 named Tromsø as the best winter destination in Norway based on three criteria: Opportunities for cross-country skiing, backcountry ski touring and downhill skiing.
A COMPLETE WINTER DESTINATION
Given its location at latitude 69 ˚N, Tromsø will be able to offer an abundance of natural snow at least six months per year. This will give Arctic Center a competitive advantage.
In addition, Tromsø and the surrounding area has first-class conditions for cross-country skiing on groomed trails and summits offering virtually endless opportunities for backcountry ski touring.
In addition, Tromsø and the surrounding area has first-class conditions for cross-country skiing on groomed trails and summits offering virtually endless opportunities for backcountry ski touring.
FACTS ABOUT THE ALPINE SKI RESORT
- Vertical drop: 787 meter
- Number of ski lifts: 6
- Number of ski trails: 13
- Combined length of prepared ski trails: approx 20 km
- Longest continuous ski run: 6 km
| GRADE | COLOUR | NUMBER OF TRAILS | TOTAL LENGTH OF TRAILS | TOTAL VERTICAL DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expert | Black | 1 | 3 200 m | 780 m |
| Difficult | Red | 5 | 12 430 m | 2 850 m |
| Medium | Blue | 4 | 12 360 m | 2 260 m |
| Easy | Green | 3 | 2 700 m | 330 m |
