TL;DR
Gitschberg Jochtal in South Tyrol is replacing its ageing 4-seater Gitsch chairlift with a new automatic 6-seater from Leitner, cutting the ride to the resort's highest point to 2 minutes 41 seconds - about half the current travel time. The new lift climbs from 2,203 to 2,500 metres with heated seats, weather hoods, and individual footrests, plus an AI boarding system that checks riders are seated safely before the bar comes down. It's due to open for the 2026/27 season.
The Gitsch chairlift at Gitschberg Jochtal is about to get twice as fast
The South Tyrol resort is swapping its old 4-seater Gitsch chairlift for a new automatic 6-seater built by Leitner, in place for the 2026/27 winter season. The resort says the change halves the travel time to the top - down to 2 minutes and 41 seconds - on a lift that climbs from 2,203 metres to 2,500 metres at a speed of 5 metres a second.
More seats, more comfort
Each seat on the new lift is heated and fitted with a weather protection hood and its own footrest - a setup the resort says makes the ride noticeably easier for families with children, since riders don't need to hold their skis or manage loose gear on the way up. At the top, a panoramic platform looks out over the resort's slopes and the valley below, with the jagged peaks of the Dolomites visible in the distance on a clear day.
AI keeps an eye on boarding
The new Gitsch lift also gets an automatic stopping system, with AI recognition software at the boarding station checking that riders are seated properly and that no one is at risk of falling before the safety bar closes. It's the second lift at Gitschberg Jochtal to run this kind of system, following the resort's earlier rollout elsewhere on the mountain.
About the author
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
