Bulgaria Ski Resort, Once Buzzing, Creaks Under Crumbling Infrastructure

Praised for its proximity to the capital, Vitosha once featured more than a dozen cable cars and chair lifts (Credit: AFP)

Bulgarian slalom star Albert Popov, who recently claimed his first World Cup win, learned how to ski at Vitosha, the mountain towering over his native capital Sofia.

But the once-modern resort is now a far cry from its former glory -- and with its crumbling infrastructure is unlikely to again produce talented ski champions like Popov, said local ski club founder Ivaylo Rangelov.