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The Chairlift Thread

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Daph
Posts: 5978 - Karma: 5,011
Lets face it, chairlifts are awesome. They make our lives as skiers so much easier and without them we'd all be a bunch of "earn your turns" TGR bro brahs (no offense to those who do prefer the backcountry mentality}
I've seen a few threads throughout the years on here about them but I thought it would be nice to have one where we can talk about all things lift related. I know a lot of people on here have been liftys and there are a few other lift mechanics on here as well.

So yea, chairlifts man. What are your favorite lifts you've ridden? Anyone's home resort putting in a new one this summer? Which ones scare the absolute shit out of you? Any random questions about how they work or regarding a specific encounter?

To get this shit started here are some neat lift photos





10 years ago
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-skian-
Posts: 666 - Karma: 4,461
I really enjoy the bit of crest express at Brighton where it goes through the trees, when it's snowing that is beautiful. I don't have a picture. Also I got a tour in Milly, it was pretty neat watching the detatchable grips do their thing. Another good bit is that under Crest is this awesome boulder drop, loads of fun, even if I look like that haha

https://images.newschoolers.com/images/17/00/91/65/16/916516_600w_564h.jpeg

**This post was edited on Dec 4th 2018 at 2:00:42am
7 years ago
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lmmcc
Posts: 292 - Karma: 675
A Basin just opened up the new Beavers lift which should be pretty sick. I'm hoping it's going to open up a lot more terrain and spread the mountain out.
7 years ago
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RCPowell_01
Posts: 1 - Karma: 10
robbinJAHoodthere's a chair at timberline in WV that feels like you're sitting down on a lego lol


Those chairs SUCK
7 years ago
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tsingtaofanatic
Posts: 3350 - Karma: 4,593
we have a heated chairlift in our resort. I have a lot of respect for that chairlift
7 years ago
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michigang
Posts: 521 - Karma: 1,206
LynxNationI remember that it was a big deal in middle school if you got to sit next to your crush on those classic two seater chairs. The whole casual arm around the shoulder gig. It's not the same on those 4 person lifts, where's the privacy?! But for real, those bring back to some good times in the midwest.


ahh this was my entire midwestern middle school life
7 years ago
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ButteredToast.
Posts: 6459 - Karma: 2,571
neonedgeahh this was my entire midwestern middle school life


No joke that is actually how my first kiss went down

Got the chairlift alone with my crush, and we smooshed our chapped ass lips together lmao. It was like 6th grade. Ah man good times
7 years ago
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michigang
Posts: 521 - Karma: 1,206
ButteredToast.No joke that is actually how my first kiss went down

Got the chairlift alone with my crush, and we smooshed our chapped ass lips together lmao. It was like 6th grade. Ah man good times

ahaha I love that, skiing w middle school crushes was so pure
7 years ago
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evaroni
Posts: 3895 - Karma: 3,781
DaphMan I can't wait for our giant new lift to open so I can post some pics of that motor room. Thing is so state of the art it's insane. It's been a privilege to build and I can't wait to be it's mechanic for years to come.


Have you met Hamish yet? Dude is a legend.
7 years ago
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Daph
Posts: 5978 - Karma: 5,011
evaroniHave you met Hamish yet? Dude is a legend.


Lol yea I worked with him a bunch this summer. Kids a riot
7 years ago
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evaroni
Posts: 3895 - Karma: 3,781
DaphLol yea I worked with him a bunch this summer. Kids a riot


Never met anyone with more Heart.
7 years ago
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jonsvibe
Posts: 36 - Karma: 172
Dude honestly tho. Old school doubles are the best if you want to have a deep convo or make some lifelong friends

a_burgermy favorite type of lift are the old school riblet doubles, unfortunately we only have like 2 here on the east coast

7 years ago
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Daph
Posts: 5978 - Karma: 5,011
bread_birdHoo boy am I excited for those photos


https://liftblog.com/2018/12/15/big-sky-doppelmayr-christen-ramcharger-8/

My new responsibility, the ocho grande. This thing is so cool. I worked part time with doppelmayr this summer and helped build it, and now I'm one of the mechanics on it.
6 years ago
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Stuuuuuuuuuu
Posts: 380 - Karma: 2,080
Mr.BishopBadlands double chair from Blue Mountain in Ontario.

My old home. :)



They took out the badlands chair and moved the park to the south end last year. It used to be so good for getting laps even when the rest of the hill was super busy
6 years ago
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michigang
Posts: 521 - Karma: 1,206
Andrew_M"so yea, chairlifts man." Gotta love newschoolers

the best part is you know that's how we all feel lol
6 years ago
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cyphers
Posts: 1847 - Karma: 21,215
Daphhttps://liftblog.com/2018/12/15/big-sky-doppelmayr-christen-ramcharger-8/

My new responsibility, the ocho grande. This thing is so cool. I worked part time with doppelmayr this summer and helped build it, and now I'm one of the mechanics on it.


Wow. Peter does a great job with the documentation, also very nice of you guys to let him inside the terminal. The amount of automation is insane! Thinking about visiting just to ride it...
6 years ago
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Daph
Posts: 5978 - Karma: 5,011
bread_birdWow. Peter does a great job with the documentation, also very nice of you guys to let him inside the terminal. The amount of automation is insane! Thinking about visiting just to ride it...


He's a bigger nerd about lifts than I am and that's saying something. And I love showing people around terminals! Come visit and hmu if you do, I'd be glad to give ya a tour
6 years ago
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cyphers
Posts: 1847 - Karma: 21,215
DaphHe's a bigger nerd about lifts than I am and that's saying something. And I love showing people around terminals! Come visit and hmu if you do, I'd be glad to give ya a tour


Thanks for the offer! Might not be this year but I'm definitely planning on going to MT at some point. If I ever end up near Big Sky I'll let you know.
6 years ago
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Segsxi
Posts: 457 - Karma: 1,675
I feel like lift technology should be more widespread in major cities as a transportation alternative. Of course there are obvious downsides (I.E. Lifts for the most part depend on electricity and one EMP or power shortage would be a huge disruption) but it would definitely relieve congestion and would be a cheap transportation alternative. Innovation would also occur as cities find new ways to adapt lift technology to suit their needs. There would also be more jobs available and career opportunities. Imagine being a bottom of the barrel lift mechanic bringing in $60k a year or a lift operator bringing in $30k a year.
Tram in RIO
Portland Arial Tram


**This post was edited on Dec 16th 2018 at 9:09:49pm
6 years ago
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weastcoat
Posts: 6505 - Karma: 75,422
How to they connect the two cable ends together once it makes a big loop around the top bullwheel all the way to the bottom one
6 years ago
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bergobeanz
Posts: 264 - Karma: 962
neonedgeahaha I love that, skiing w middle school crushes was so pure


*Hyland hills rope tow hot laps with crush*
6 years ago
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cyphers
Posts: 1847 - Karma: 21,215
weastcoastHow to they connect the two cable ends together once it makes a big loop around the top bullwheel all the way to the bottom one


https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/918015/Steamboat-Gondola-Cable-Splice
6 years ago
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skiguy04
Posts: 1640 - Karma: 1,275
Jersey milk at whistler
6 years ago
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-skian-
Posts: 666 - Karma: 4,461
weastcoastHow to they connect the two cable ends together once it makes a big loop around the top bullwheel all the way to the bottom one


I did it twice this summer it's actually really neat how it works. Lots of winding, un winding and yelling. Mine were actually a shortening, slightly different, still very cool.
6 years ago
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Daph
Posts: 5978 - Karma: 5,011
-skian-I did it twice this summer it's actually really neat how it works. Lots of winding, un winding and yelling. Mine were actually a shortening, slightly different, still very cool.


I hate splices now, but I've done so many that the novelty has really worn off. Our tram splice last fall was hell, but that machine is a rigging nightmare cause it has no towers.
6 years ago
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michigang
Posts: 521 - Karma: 1,206
this is my fav thread on ns
6 years ago
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weastcoat
Posts: 6505 - Karma: 75,422
Anyone know what the fastest lift in the world is in terms of how fast the chair is moving
6 years ago
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GayWolf420
Posts: 38138 - Karma: 130,179
so kinda related I guess. I work at the Canyons base area here in PC and the Waldorf Astoria has their own gondola (Frostwood) that runs three gondys at a time on both lines up and down, and for whatever reason it always breaks down and they have to run it on half-speed. Ive always felt like the weight distribution and stuff or whatever is always fucked up with those kinds of setups. ill try and find a pic.
6 years ago
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-skian-
Posts: 666 - Karma: 4,461
DaphI hate splices now, but I've done so many that the novelty has really worn off. Our tram splice last fall was hell, but that machine is a rigging nightmare cause it has no towers.

What size rope was it? It was the only time I've done it so I still have the first time novelty! Haha. Mine was a 1 1/8.
6 years ago
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Daph
Posts: 5978 - Karma: 5,011
-skian-What size rope was it? It was the only time I've done it so I still have the first time novelty! Haha. Mine was a 1 1/8.


45mm, our new lift is a 54mm it's huuuge
6 years ago
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evaroni
Posts: 3895 - Karma: 3,781
DeebieSkeebiesso kinda related I guess. I work at the Canyons base area here in PC and the Waldorf Astoria has their own gondola (Frostwood) that runs three gondys at a time on both lines up and down, and for whatever reason it always breaks down and they have to run it on half-speed. Ive always felt like the weight distribution and stuff or whatever is always fucked up with those kinds of setups. ill try and find a pic.


It’s a pulse gondola right?
6 years ago
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GayWolf420
Posts: 38138 - Karma: 130,179
evaroniIt’s a pulse gondola right?


yeah I think so. Its either running at half speed or at full so i cant imagine thats the proper way a gondola is supposed to run on paper.
6 years ago
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xxACIDTRIPxx
Posts: 5980 - Karma: 8,185
Cool thread.

I was just thinking how cool it'd be if my home mountain had a rope tow or magic carpet for the park
6 years ago
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Daph
Posts: 5978 - Karma: 5,011
weastcoastAnyone know what the fastest lift in the world is in terms of how fast the chair is moving


Roughly 6 meters/second for the fastest chairlift, there's a few trams that run quicker. Most high speed lifts operate between 4-5 m/s
6 years ago
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ASAPCarter
Posts: 936 - Karma: 10,600
I grew up skiing Telluride and riding that gondola in and out of town all the time so as you can imagine there’s been plenty of shenanigans that have gone down on that ride, especially long after the mountain closes for the day lol. Not going to go into details on that tho hahahhaha.
6 years ago
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beckums
Posts: 342 - Karma: 631
Gotta say man Bromley up in VT has this one chairlift on the far right side of the mountain, the one that only goes to blacks; and that lift makes my anus pucker every damn time. It's super high up and goes slow and is always swaying in the wind, and the seats are at what feels like a 45 degree angle pointing straight down.
6 years ago
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skiguy04
Posts: 1640 - Karma: 1,275
ASAPCarterI grew up skiing Telluride and riding that gondola in and out of town all the time so as you can imagine there’s been plenty of shenanigans that have gone down on that ride, especially long after the mountain closes for the day lol. Not going to go into details on that tho hahahhaha.

First postttttttttttt

wow &&!you didn’t go into details about shenanigans.... details is what we’re all here for so spit it out
6 years ago
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ButteredToast.
Posts: 6459 - Karma: 2,571
ASAPCarterI grew up skiing Telluride and riding that gondola in and out of town all the time so as you can imagine there’s been plenty of shenanigans that have gone down on that ride, especially long after the mountain closes for the day lol. Not going to go into details on that tho hahahhaha.


Ha look everybody this guy had sex!!!!!!!!
6 years ago
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