Lifts that should be replaced, Installed or REMOVED?!
What lifts do you think need to be replaced, Installed or Removed. There are always places that could use a new lift, an upgrade or perhaps a lift that hasn't been thought of yet. On the flip side, what is a lift install that has you scratching your head?
~Rich~
Comments
"Should be replaced, Installed or REMOVED" due to what? Age? safety? Terrain served? Speed? Traffic requirements?
IMO, in the modern era of skiing, any fixed grip chair running at a rope speed of less than 600 feet per minute is a candidate for replacement. I can't imagine the pain of being on M1 at Smugglers' on a zero degree day (and other similar lifts at other areas) .
Also, any beginner slope still using a rope tow should be replacing it with a carpet.
Rope tows definitely still have their place in novice and beginner areas, especially with modern rope tows that are easier to ride. They provide far more flexibility in length of runs, sometimes have higher capacities, and often are a quicker ride.
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I don’t agree. Fixed grip lifts have many advantages such as spreading people out, keeping operating costs down, and giving more rest time between runs.
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Fixed grip lifts are fine. I specifically suggested the longer ones, nominally, greater than 5000'.
Keeping operating costs down is not my problem as a skier. If you are an owner or manager, it is!
Rest time between runs? Come on. The individual can regulate that.
Spreading people out? Uh-uh: A fixed grip quad puts the same number of people on the hill as a detachable: 1 chair every 6 to 10 seconds.
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Rope tows definitely still have their place in novice and beginner areas, especially with modern rope tows that are easier to ride. They provide far more flexibility in length of runs, sometimes have higher capacities, and often are a quicker ride.
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Last year was my 40th season teaching. I can't tell you how much of a beginner class was taken up (wasted) by teaching people how to hold on to a rope tow. Riding a rope tow is not natural.
By contrast, almost everyone has ridden a people mover at an airport, so riding a carpet is something with which the student is already familiar.
If it's the owner's problem, it becomes YOUR problem when the cost is passed on to you.
Back on topic, I would nominate the Duckling Double at Sunapee. It's been in the cross hairs for removal forever but continues to survive...
I only have the old ANSI B77.1 code (not the new 2017 version) and max rope speeds are the following WITH OR WITHOUT carpets:
600 FPM max for single chairs
550 FPM max for doubles
500 FPM max for triples
450 FPM max for quads
They do not run the MRG single at it's design and allowable max, but it does run very fast.
With the new 2017 standard now that carpet loaders are more widestream and get into relative rope speeds to the riders. IE depending on the carpet, some quads can now load at 500 fpm, some at 485 fpm etc. I do not know of any carpet loaders on Doubles or Singles so above 600 is irrelevant.
a) Mt. Snow/Hunter don't fit the Peak model
b) that Hunter and Mt. Snow aren't mega resorts
c) both a and b
d)Something else
??
> I can’t call Hunter or Mt. Snow mega resorts. That doesn’t exactly fit the Peak Resorts model.
>
> I don't understand your comment. Are you saying
> a) Mt. Snow/Hunter don't fit the Peak model
> b) that Hunter and Mt. Snow aren't mega resorts
> c) both a and b
> d)Something else
> ??
B
That’s my take.
I personally would love to see Sugarbush become a Peak Resort as they would turn it into their marquee property and would invest in it accordingly. They would not Vail-ify it to resemble the other properties.
As for lifts that should be replaced, nothing ranks higher on my list than that stupid Cabriolet at Mountain Creek. That should be swapped with the detachable quad at South peak as it is more snowboarder friendly.
> I think Alterra would be more a likely suitor for Sugarbush as it would provide a counter option to Stowe.
>
> As for lifts that should be replaced, nothing ranks higher on my list than that stupid Cabriolet at Mountain Creek. That should be swapped with the detachable quad at South peak as it is more snowboarder friendly.
You may be right that Alterra could be a better fit than Peaks for Sugarbush. They control some pretty elegant resorts, like Deer Valley, Stratton, and Mont Tremblant. They undoubtedly would ply some of that elegance and luxury cache onto Sugarbush.
Honestly, Sugarbush’s Lincoln Peak has to be one of the most beautiful-looking eastern resorts in my mind with true summit to base skiing. Just looking at it from the base area is really impressive.
It was precisely that view that hooked me on Sugarbush (and the whole MRV) many years ago.