Between melancholy and anticipation: the last journey from Flims to Naraus is imminent

Full of anticipation, kids run past the LAAX School office in Flims. They carry skis on their shoulders, which they will soon strap on. They take the chairlift from Flims towards Foppa to Naraus. Meanwhile, Conrad Lerchi and Daniel Conrad sit down at Caffè Flims. Conrad Lerchi, better known as Conni, has been with the Weisse Arena Group for 16 years. He works as a personnel dispatcher for the mountain railways. Daniel Conrad, known as "Coruba," has been with the local ski school for over 40 years. The two know the chairlifts from Flims to Foppa and Naraus like the back of their hands. They have spent countless trips on them.

A long era comes to an end

Now, the nearly 80-year history of the chairlifts is coming to an end. This also evokes a sense of melancholy. "I learned to ski on this slope as a child and was a member of the Flims Ski Club – I have many childhood memories associated with it," says Coruba. At that time, there were three slopes, "we practically lived there in winter," he explains. In the past, the people of Flims only went skiing at higher altitudes towards Nagens and La Siala in the spring, when the snow was no longer so good.

The chairlifts of Flims-Foppa-Naraus are not only close to the hearts of these two gentlemen, but also to the entire population of Flims. "This chairlift used to be the lifeblood of Flims," says Conni. "It's also a summer lift, so you can go biking and hiking," he explains. Thanks to Lake Cauma and the Flims forest, summer remained the peak season in Flims until the early 1970s. There was the Foppa Chilbi and the Naraus Chilbi – attractions and memories that many people share. "Events like these were very popular with visitors and locals alike," says Conni.

Innovative FlemXpress replaces the chairlifts

The chairlift from Flims Dorf to Foppa was built in 1945 by the former Flims mountain railway company. It was the world's first detachable chairlift. In 1947, the lift was extended with a second section to Naraus. The lifts were replaced in 1986 and 1989. The new FlemXpress is another pioneering project, continuing the history of innovation in chairlifts and replacing nostalgia with anticipation. The FlemXpress connects the UNESCO World Heritage Site Tectonic Arena Sardona from Flims via Foppa, Startgels to the Segneshütte and from there either to Nagens or Cassons. The FlemXpress is the world's first gondola lift to operate according to the so-called ropeway taxi system. The gondolas run according to individual passenger requests: before boarding, the destination can be selected at the touch of a button. Selecting the destination before boarding allows for an uninterrupted journey directly to the destination without changing lifts. "The FlemXpress is a cool new addition and we're really looking forward to it," says Conni. The snow sports instructors are also excited about the new lift, says Coruba: "We're happy with the new solution. All ski school classes can board the gondola without any problems. What's more, the new lift opens up a whole host of new possibilities."

Farewell party for the chairlifts on March 26, 2023

On Sunday, March 26, 2023, the lifts will run for the last time. They will be bid farewell at a party with locals, second home owners, guests, and employees. Tickets for the chairlifts are free at the "Last Ride" event. The party will be held at the "Ustria Naraus." An auction of the inventory will take place at the Legna Bar, where chairs, pictures, and other memorabilia will be auctioned off. Conni already has an old chair in her garden. Coruba, on the other hand, still has room: "I would also take a nice Foppa chair as a souvenir of the good times," he says with a smile on his face.