{"id":58324,"date":"2026-01-07T15:34:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T14:34:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.chatel.com\/?p=58324"},"modified":"2026-01-21T09:44:38","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T08:44:38","slug":"the-linga-history-traditions-and-sporting-spirit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chatel.com\/en\/the-linga-history-traditions-and-sporting-spirit\/","title":{"rendered":"Linga: history, traditions, and sporting spirit!"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n \n \n \n \n \n \"lkhbie'f\"\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n

The Linga: history, traditions, and sporting spirit!<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
Skiing began to develop in Ch\u00e2tel in the mid-20th century. Thanks to its altitude, orientation, and reliable natural snowfall, Linga quickly established itself as a strategic area for the expansion of the ski domain.\r\nThe first facilities made it possible to open long, varied runs, attracting skiers in search of vertical drop and thrills. Linga then became a driving force behind the development of alpine skiing in Ch\u00e2tel, contributing to the resort\u2019s growing reputation. <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n\n \n
\n
\n
\n

1967: first gondola lift<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
\n

In 1967, the municipality of Ch\u00e2tel decided to build the first gondola lift at Linga in order to develop this area of the ski domain.
\nSupported by a team of young municipal councillors, the mayor at the time, Pierre Alix, fully backed this ambitious project.
\nThe four-seater cabins, attached directly to the cable, could carry up to 600 people per hour at a speed of 3 metres per second.
\nThe journey time was then 9 minutes and 30 seconds.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n \n \"TC\n <\/picture>\n \u00a9 J\u00e9r\u00f4me Vuilloud<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n\n \n
\n \n \"CHATEL_linga_20200306_11\"\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n

1987: a world first<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
\n

The 10-seater gondola lift, equipped with peripheral seating, built in Ch\u00e2tel, was a world first, designed by the manufacturer Poma-Galski.
\nIt also represented the first and largest investment of the year for the newly established SAEM Sports et Tourisme, a company bringing together the operations and sectors of Super-Ch\u00e2tel and Le Linga.
\nDriven by Andr\u00e9 Cr\u00e9py and with the support of the municipality, this momentum continued: twenty years after the first Weber gondola, Le Linga was equipped with a modern, fast, and efficient lift.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n\n \n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Ch\u00e2tel\u2019s story continues and modernizes, honoring its visionary pioneers while looking toward future generations.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n\n \n
\n
\n
\n

2025: A new generation<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
\n

The new Linga chairlift represents a major step forward for Ch\u00e2tel\u2019s ski domain. This 6-seater detachable lift, which replaces the old gondola, offers a ride that is faster, more comfortable, and more efficient. Its capacity has been significantly increased, allowing it to carry up to 3,000 skiers per hour, greatly improving flow on the slopes, especially during peak periods. The wider, ergonomic seats ensure greater comfort throughout the ascent, while the reduced journey time\u2014around six minutes\u2014provides quicker access to the Linga pistes. Designed with sustainability in mind, this modern lift blends harmoniously with the landscape thanks to fewer pylons and a quieter, more energy-efficient drive system. Beyond its technical performance, this new chairlift reflects Ch\u00e2tel\u2019s commitment to more sustainable tourism while preserving the authenticity and beauty of its alpine environment. <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n \n \"linga\"\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n

A sector with a strong sporting character<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
\n

Over the decades, Linga has established itself as much more than just a ski area: it has become a true sporting arena, capable of hosting some of the most prestigious events. Its slalom stadium, speed runs, and vertical drop have served as the setting for the French Alpine Ski Championships.
\nIn 2024, Ch\u00e2tel also had the honor of hosting the speed events of the Junior Alpine Ski World Championships.
\nThe area has also made its mark in ski mountaineering history with the famous Mont\u00e9e du Linga, which has hosted the French Vertical Race Championships, an intense event that has become iconic.
\nMore recently, Linga has made its mark on the international stage by hosting the UCI Snow Bike World Championships, confirming its ability to reinvent itself and attract spectacular and innovative disciplines.
\nBuilding on this success, Linga is already set to welcome visitors on February 7 for the 3rd edition of the Snow Bike World Championships, a highly anticipated event that will once again bring excitement to this iconic sector of Ch\u00e2tel, at the crossroads of performance and spectacle.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n\n \n
\n \n \n \"moduhoud\"\n <\/picture>\n <\/a>\n \n \n \"opufhopuhf\"\n <\/picture>\n <\/a>\n \n \n \"ski\n <\/picture>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":57831,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-58324","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-discovery-en"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chatel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58324","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chatel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chatel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chatel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chatel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58324"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.chatel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58324\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":62723,"href":"https:\/\/www.chatel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58324\/revisions\/62723"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chatel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/57831"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chatel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58324"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chatel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58324"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chatel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58324"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}