Superstar chair

[DrJeff]

Its kind of scary how many lifts at Killington + Pico need to be replaced, not to mention the snow making system. I hope Mike is buying lottery tickets!

Many ski areas are in similar situations with aging lifts nearing the end of their functional lifespans.

If one is old enough, they can recall the ski area expansion boom of the 80's. Those lifts are now +/- 40 years old , and then add in the high speed lift revolution which basically began the the mid/late 80's and had a bunch of machines installed by the mid 90's. Not only are those machines now 30-40+ years old, but since at the time they were "new technology" the industry was hoping that their lifespan would be similar to a fixed grip (call that say 50 years as a benchmark number), but now its seeming like those machines have a functional, dependable lifespan more in the 30-35yr range.

Put those 2 things together, and there are LOTS of lifts at ski resorts across the country, that are either in, or will be in, that window where the cost to replace may very well be more reasonable that the likely costs of significant repairs/maintence and questions of reliability as well of the older machines going foreward

[snoloco]

Its kind of scary how many lifts at Killington + Pico need to be replaced, not to mention the snow making system. I hope Mike is buying lottery tickets!

That's what happens when you don't upgrade anything for 20 years. The bills come due all at once.

[Captain Hafski]

Still processing the notion that a major ski resort would base the timing of overdue infrastructure investment on whether or not they had a bad Christmas week.

If the decision was based on money, I think it was more the July flood damage, vs an "off" Christmas week.

[jimmywilson69]

probably a combo

but still you would think a capital improvement would be planned and not hinge on whether there was emergency/unforeseen cost in addition to a Christmas washout where business was likely off significantly.

[newpylong1]

Sunday River is not doing anything meaningful this off-season due to flood related expenses.

Does not excuse other years for K obviously.

[Southside_Bobby]

When Hunter replaced the original Sunlite Express they refurbished it, updated the terminals, and moved it to the west side. I think that was done in 1 summer and included replacing the HSQ with the current 6 pack.

They removed the quad and installed the six-pack the first summer. The quad parts sat in the woods over at west, until they started the refurb/installation the following year.

Mountains replace lifts between seasons all the time. The problem with Supe is, of course, spring skiing.

Let's say they cut spring short by just a couple of weeks, and close in the middle of May. Is six months really not enough time to have a new lift operational before the WC?

[DrJeff]

When Hunter replaced the original Sunlite Express they refurbished it, updated the terminals, and moved it to the west side. I think that was done in 1 summer and included replacing the HSQ with the current 6 pack.

They removed the quad and installed the six-pack the first summer. The quad parts sat in the woods over at west, until they started the refurb/installation the following year.

Mountains replace lifts between seasons all the time. The problem with Supe is, of course, spring skiing.

Let's say they cut spring short by just a couple of weeks, and close in the middle of May. Is six months really not enough time to have a new lift operational before the WC?

Either that or you turn it into a 2yr project where you do a bunch of the tower footing concrete work, and possibly some grading work if apprlicable during 1 off season and then the lift demo, top/bottom terminal concete work and steel and drive installations the following off season

[snoloco]

They really need to have the lift operational by around November 1st, when snowmaking really gets underway. That gives 5 months. It's still cutting it close even if they aren't required to stop during the May 15th to August 1st window. They got a waiver for North Ridge, but that was still a 6 month project, starting in April and finishing in October. In my opinion, the process is broken. It used to be possible to do major lift replacements in 4-5 months. Now usually at least 6 months are allocated to replace a lift, some are even split into two years, yet so many projects still suffer from severe delays.

[newpylong1]

There is always the back pocket option of accessing the SS pod via Launch Pad, but that's a lot of November snowmaking just to get to those trails. It's also going to be difficult for any last minute base terminal construction when that whole area is overtaken by the World Cup venue setup. Tricky install any way you slice it if it's done in one off-season.

[Big Bob]

Since the aliment is changing why not do everything butt the top terminal starting in the spring while skiing is ongoing assuming the bottom terminal will be located just below the air bag slope. It could be split into 2 seasons or just do the top terminal later in the summer after the closer and the ground dries out. Clearing and tower foundations could be done.
Could snow be made on Upper Skyhawk instead of the upper Superstar head wall?

[newpylong1]

I don't think it's been confirmed one way or another what the alignment will be. Until the 250 app is filed or the resorts confirms we likely won't.

[ozzy]

20 new lifts for UT next season..

Besides heavens gate at sugarbush is VT getting anything else?

[skiadikt]

When Hunter replaced the original Sunlite Express they refurbished it, updated the terminals, and moved it to the west side. I think that was done in 1 summer and included replacing the HSQ with the current 6 pack.

They removed the quad and installed the six-pack the first summer. The quad parts sat in the woods over at west, until they started the refurb/installation the following year.

Mountains replace lifts between seasons all the time. The problem with Supe is, of course, spring skiing.

Let's say they cut spring short by just a couple of weeks, and close in the middle of May. Is six months really not enough time to have a new lift operational before the WC?

Either that or you turn it into a 2yr project where you do a bunch of the tower footing concrete work, and possibly some grading work if apprlicable during 1 off season and then the lift demo, top/bottom terminal concete work and steel and drive installations the following off season

i believe that was the original plan. but even that necessitates an early lift shutdown to put the construction vehicles on the hill etc. they're not gonna have skiers on the hill with heavy machinery working. as for the timing, the lift has to be ready as soon as mid/late october for whenever snowmaking could possibly begin.

[Skid Mark]

Skip the WC the year they replace the lift. Easy peasy.

[Stormchaser]

Change the alignment, offset the top station from the existing station, leave the existing chair operational until the new one is ready, and then tear the old one out later...