It is the first lift built for mountain bikes in Lower Austria. With the expansion, the development from the ski establishment to a all -year destination is consistently promoted. “The new lift gives us the chance to offer a sporting offer, even if winter becomes weaker in a transitional period, or even sometimes failed,” explains Managing Director Karl Morgenbesser.
The vision is “that we could have opened the children’s skilland in the upper part in parallel to the bikelift,” explains the managing director. It may sound strange that both sports exist in parallel, but with the new infrastructure it is possible in the change area and creates a completely new flexibility on the mountain.
The market around cycling is growing, as well as the need for infrastructure. The “Wexl Arena” recently had an increase in visitors of around ten to 15 percent per year. There are about 60,000 bikers a year, 25,000 use the lift. This number should move towards 50,000 lift users.
Technology brings new bike fans
“We realize that children come into contact with the bike earlier. With us in the mini bike park, under two-year-olds are on the road with the wheels. Likewise, the e-bike has brought people into contact with the sport who had nothing to do with it beforehand. Then there are simple trails to serve these groups,” says Morgen better.
How well the offer is accepted could be guessed at at the opening on Friday. Despite the pouring rain, many bikers came to test the lift and the four new routes that were built in parallel. In the “Wexl Arena”, people have been working consistently on expanding all -year tourism for years and thus creating an economic impulse for the region.
Vision brought 200 jobs
In the previous year, sales of 20 million euros were recorded here. “200 jobs have been created through this project in the entire region in recent years,” emphasizes Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP).
In addition to the lifter opening, the team of the “Wexl Arena” celebrated their tenth anniversary together with their partners and the landowners. “We look proud of what we have achieved and continue to work on our ideas,” said Morgen Besser. The next milestone should be a hotel project that enables guests to stay longer in the region. Plans could already be condensed in the next few months.
