Długa Polana

Nowy Targ, the main (and for centuries the only) town of Podhale, has a picturesque setting at the confluence of the Czarny and Biały Dunajec, at the foot of the highest parts of the Gorce. So although nobody disputes that the town and its ski areas belong to Podhale, for practical purposes its lifts can safely be called part of the Gorce. The town is far from being a tourist destination, let alone a ski resort, yet it is home to one of the best-regarded ski resorts in the whole region, which, despite having fallen behind the competition in and around Białka, perhaps even by two steps, is still popular, and not only with locals. We are talking, of course, about Długa Polana: the name will surely ring a bell, especially with anyone who has been skiing for a long time. Tucked away in the valley of the Kowaniec stream, it has its own microclimate, which keeps the snow here longer than on the surrounding ridges. In the days when snowmaking was only a dream, this mattered a great deal and helped to cement the resort's good name among skiers. The resort itself is aimed at families and training: the slope is not long but varied, good both for learning and polishing your form and for training the youngest racers, which in fact takes place here regularly. A 450-metre T-bar with a vertical rise of 90 metres runs up from the valley, and next to it there is a shorter training lift. From the top you can ski down the steeper way along the lift, or take the reshaped run, which is new this year. Naturally there is a ski service, a ski hire shop and a ski school on site. A very interesting option is the specially prepared cross-country trail, which is free to use. The resort recently changed hands, and the new owners promise changes for the better at Długa Polana soon. The first results are already visible: the new run from the ridge mentioned above and a brand-new, efficient snowmaking system. So we look forward to further changes that will make Długa Polana not only a well-liked but also a modern family resort at the foot of the Tatras.