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The highest altitude Slovenian ski slopes of Kanin and Sella Nevea on the Italian side of the border have merged into one ski resort boasting more than 30 kilometres of ski trails.

The aerial lift linking the two resorts opened before the Christmas holidays but it was inaugurated at Tuesday's ceremony by four former top athletes from Slovenia, Italy and Austria.

Italian skier Gustavo Thoeni, after whom a FIS track on the slopes has been named, said that the two resorts could be looking forward to a bright future.

Former Slovenian alpine skiing champion Jure Kosir was also on hand for the occasion as was Christian Mayer of Austria and Italian cross-country skier Manuela di Centa.

"The slopes on our sunnier side of the Alps will best suit non-professionals, while the runs on the Italian side will also cater to more demanding skiers. A single link got us a single resort for all types of skiers," Kosir said.

"The border has fallen, we have built the link, our dream has come true," Deputy Speaker of the Slovenian National Assembly Vasja Klavora exclaimed.

The 70 hectares of slopes extend from the Sella Nevea valley at an altitude of 1,100 metres to 2,300 metres above the sea level on the Slovenian side. One of the highlights is a 5km run from the saddle to the Sella Nevea valley, boasting 1,200m difference in altitude.

The Kanin slopes feature 12 ski lifts along with the longest gondola lift in Slovenia, which carries skiers from the valley of Bovec at an altitude of 436 metres to the slopes 2,200 metres above the sea level.

The linking lift can carry up to 10 skiers from the Gillberti hostel to Prevala within seven minutes. The project, along with the new trail, snowmaking system and defence against snow slides cost nearly EUR 17m.

The first ideas of cross-border slopes emerged in 1969. Wednesday's edition of daily Dnevnik quotes Bovec Deputy Mayor Robert Trampuz as saying that the construction of the Prevala four-seat lift encouraged Italians to complete construction on their side.

For info on Kanin Ski Resort click here or see the official website.

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