Jasná Nízke Tatry

Before describing the resort and what it offers in more detail, it is worth noting that its greatest asset, the one that made it a success as a ski resort, is its rather unusual location and terrain. The Chopok area is probably the only place in the whole of the Low Tatras where a wide, rock-free ridge (or side spur) drops northwards from a high peak of over 2,000 metres, rather than glacial cirques or sharp arêtes. This leaves plenty of room for a large number of north-facing pistes, where good skiing conditions usually last until mid-May. The southern slopes also have a favourable gradient, allowing difficult pistes and extensive freeride terrain. Chopok's qualities as a ski mountain were recognised before the Second World War, but the first ski lift was only built here in 1949. It was a two-seater chairlift on which you sat sideways to the direction of travel, made by the Czechoslovak company Transporta Chrudim under licence from the famous Swiss firm Von Roll. The section to the summit of Chopok was completed in 1954, and three years later a chairlift was brought up to the summit from the south. Further lifts, mostly T-bars, were gradually added, and between 1979 and 1983 the only gondola came into service, with distinctive red 4-seater cabins nicknamed “eggs” because of their shape. Right up to the end of the 20th century the resort was considered one of the best in Slovakia, although its reputation lagged behind Tatranská Lomnica, Štrbské Pleso and even the Roháče in the Western Tatras. Problems began especially after 1998, when the chairlift to the summit was closed and dismantled for technical reasons (on both the north and south sides). Until 2007 the only way up Chopok was by a T-bar from the south, and later also by a T-bar from the north. New four-seater chairlifts did start to go up, but restoring the area to its former glory was still a long way off. The situation only changed after the resort was taken over by TMR at the beginning of this century. A period of investment began on a scale never seen before in Slovakia, nor in this part of Europe. Modern chairlifts were built, and in 2012 came the flagship investment: the wind-resistant Funitel running right to the summit of Chopok. In the same year a modern gondola was built from the south, from the area of the Kosodrevina hotel, fully restoring the summit of Chopok to skiers. Today the resort is very modern, not only in its ski infrastructure but also in its wide range of accommodation and attractive, beautifully designed restaurants, led by the panoramic Rotunda on the summit of Chopok and the Von Roll restaurant in the station of the old chairlift. Free car parks, a nightclub, rental shops and the GoPass system, which combines an electronic ski pass with a discount card giving big reductions in restaurants, ski schools and rental shops, round off what the resort offers. The ski area itself is very extensive and varied, with skiing for every ability level. The main approach to the resort is from Liptovský Mikuláš through the beautiful Demänovská dolina valley, famous for its caves and karst features. It is also home to many hotels. The lowest car park is at the valley station of the new chairlift at the Lučky clearing, from where you can get to the Vyhliadka area and then ski down to Záhradky, one of the main areas in Jasná. From here two 6-seater chairlifts go up, one to the Rovná hoľa area and the other to Priehyba, the heart of the whole resort. You can also get up to Priehyba from the centre of Jasná, first by the Biela Puť 4-seater chairlift and then by the Twinliner rail-mounted lift. From here the modern, fast Funitel goes to the summit of Chopok. From the summit you can ski down the north side to Luková, where the most difficult pistes begin and many races are held. You can also ski back to Priehyba and from there to the Hotel Grand area, home to the valley station of a modern gondola up to Brhliská. On the south side, two black pistes and extensive freeride terrain descend from the summit of Chopok, ending near the Kosodrevina hotel; from here a red piste continues down to Srdiečko (valley station of the chairlift to Kosodrevina, large car park on the south side) and on to the lowest point of the resort on the south side, Krupová (1,080 m). In total the resort has more than 45 km of downhill pistes, 3 gondolas, 7 chairlifts and 13 T-bars. The vast majority of the pistes have snowmaking; only two slopes are floodlit (at Záhradky and Biela Puť). In terms of location, organisation and variety of terrain, Chopok can compete with smaller Alpine resorts, and in terms of modern infrastructure it outdoes many of them. So it has to be said in all fairness that the advertising slogan about “the Alpine side of the Tatras” is in some respects no empty boast. Skiing conditions unmatched by any other resort in Poland, Slovakia or the Czech Republic come at a price: relatively expensive ski passes. Then again, it is no secret that quality has to be paid for. And in Jasná the quality is undoubtedly very high.