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Over the last couple of days, a number of videos surfaced of wild winds battering a chairlift at Matterhorn Ski Paradise, Cervinia, Italy, causing at least one person to be thrown to the ground. Many commented how that must have been terrifying to experience.
“The Guru says: Chairlift in the windstorm part 2😳🥶😱 After yesterday’s video from below, many of you will have identified yourself with those who were actually on top of those chairlifts tossed by the wind…. Here’s what those who truly lived those moments felt.”
– Instagram comment (translated)
Thanks to the ubiquity of cell phones with video cameras, we can now live that experience through footage shot by somebody living that nightmare. Check out the video above, which includes shouts and cries for help.
New fear unlocked.
The original post and videos are below:
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Check out these videos to see if you’ve ever complained about a chairlift stopping due to wind hold.
The lift is the Cretaz chair at Matterhorn Ski Paradise, Cervinia, Italy. Videos were taken by lucky people who didn’t make it onto the lift as the resort stopped loading.
“This lift in Cervinia (Cretaz) closed just before we got on! Scary! Few people are stuck on lifts and some clearly damaged by huge gusts!”
– @MrCrabtreePE social media post
This lift in Cervinia (Cretaz) closed just before we got on! Scary! Few people are stuck on lifts and some clearly damaged by huge gusts! #Cervinia @CerviniaValt @Cervinia_ski @BBCNewsPR @BBCNews pic.twitter.com/lKBy1tOsTV
— Mr C Geo and PE (@MrCrabtreePE) March 28, 2024
According to local media, winds at the resort went from 12 mph to 62 mph in minutes.
10 chairs were damaged and removed from the lift, but the lift reopened the next day. The person filmed falling/jumping from the chair was airlifted to the hospital but was seen walking with ski patrol.
Matterhorn Ski Paradise is a world-renowned ski resort in the Swiss Alps. With an altitude reaching up to 12,739 feet (3,883 meters), it boasts some of the highest skiable terrain in the Alps. The resort offers 225 miles (360 kilometers) of pistes and 52 lifts, including cable cars, gondolas, chairlifts, and T-bars, catering to all skill levels, from beginners to advanced skiers. Its location ensures reliable snow, and the panoramic views of the iconic Matterhorn mountain make it a truly exceptional destination.
Matterhorn Ski Paradise is uniquely situated across the borders of Switzerland and Italy, encompassing the resorts of Zermatt and Cervinia. On the Swiss side, Zermatt is a charming, car-free village known for its scenic beauty and high-quality, diverse ski slopes. It offers views of the north face of the Matterhorn, one of the most famous mountains in the world. Cervinia offers sunny, wide, and gentle slopes on the Italian side, making it ideal for beginner and intermediate skiers. The ability to ski across two countries in one day, experiencing different cultures and landscapes, makes Matterhorn Ski Paradise a unique and international ski destination.
Just rewatched the video I made… pic.twitter.com/qkItCXGcWx
— Peter Achten (@pr3) March 28, 2024
I was stuck on the Plan Maison bubble for an hour and got this view of the chair pic.twitter.com/nFiRnCUJCx
— FLX (@FLXluthor) March 29, 2024
