The First Run Experience In Bansko
First Run Bansko
The First Run experience is now available to book in Bansko. I joined the resort manager, Ivan Obreykov to try it out. I was a little tired and nervous — yeah I know excuses excuses… but here’s the video that Ivan put together.
The experience is for the passionate skiers and snowboarders who want to have the mountain to themselves. The feeling of skiing down the freshly prepared corduroy pistes, before anyone else is up, is rather special.
Getting ready to the First Run experience
You have to be an early riser as well – it starts at 07:45 at the gondola lift station, you get on the gondola before it’s officially open.
First Run Bansko
I was accompanied by a few ski / snowboard instructors with Ivan filming us. You would be too — it was a nice ego feeling of my tracks being followed.
On Buderitsa 2 chair lift for the First Run
Then you have a few runs down from Todorka and end up at Banderishka Polyana where you have breakfast at Bachvite (The Barrels) restaurant.
First Run on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday only.
Down early, back to work after the First Run
This costs an additional 60 leva Adult; 40 leva Child. i.e. the price is in addition to your lift pass.
Booking
You book the day before at Ulen Ski school at the main station or at Elite Ski school in Kempinski Hotel Granda Arena Bansko.
Call: +359 749 88914; +359 885 917 540; +359 882 111 323
The First Run is a concept well developed in resorts in Austria, France and the US. I was very curious to try it here. You can see the beauty of the deserted mountain in the video.
Some might may say why not open the mountain earlier for everybody, but for the occasional treat this early start is not just a great experience, but a good way to avoid the queues in busy periods. Tip: try and not stay up late the night before — unlike me.
So for Facebook bragging rights, the First Run experience will take some beating.
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And a final plug for the €19.95 per person per direction shuttle. No extras, reliable service, friendly drivers with vehicles with free Wi-Fi.
