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The Chairlift Thread

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Daph
Posts: 5978 - Karma: 5,006
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





Jul 24 2015 8:05PM
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-skian-
Posts: 329 - Karma: 1,405
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
Dec 4 2018 1:59AM
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lmmcc
Posts: 292 - Karma: 680
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.
Dec 4 2018 2:56AM
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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
Dec 6 2018 12:05PM
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tsingtaofanatic
Posts: 3344 - Karma: 4,585
we have a heated chairlift in our resort. I have a lot of respect for that chairlift
Dec 6 2018 1:16PM
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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
Dec 6 2018 5:33PM
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ButteredToast.
Posts: 6459 - Karma: 2,570
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
Dec 6 2018 5:43PM
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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
Dec 6 2018 5:50PM
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evaroni
Posts: 3895 - Karma: 3,776
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.
Dec 6 2018 6:23PM
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Daph
Posts: 5978 - Karma: 5,006
evaroniHave you met Hamish yet? Dude is a legend.


Lol yea I worked with him a bunch this summer. Kids a riot
Dec 6 2018 6:24PM
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evaroni
Posts: 3895 - Karma: 3,776
DaphLol yea I worked with him a bunch this summer. Kids a riot


Never met anyone with more Heart.
Dec 6 2018 6:26PM
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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

Dec 6 2018 10:00PM
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Daph
Posts: 5978 - Karma: 5,006
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.
Dec 16 2018 11:25AM
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Stuuuuuuuuuu
Posts: 379 - Karma: 2,077
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
Dec 16 2018 12:15PM
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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
Dec 16 2018 7:29PM
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cyphers
Posts: 1657 - Karma: 18,285
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...
Dec 16 2018 8:18PM
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Daph
Posts: 5978 - Karma: 5,006
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
Dec 16 2018 8:20PM
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cyphers
Posts: 1657 - Karma: 18,285
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.
Dec 16 2018 8:52PM
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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
Dec 16 2018 9:06PM
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weastcoat
Posts: 6419 - Karma: 74,051
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
Dec 16 2018 11:05PM
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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*
Dec 16 2018 11:40PM
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cyphers
Posts: 1657 - Karma: 18,285
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
Dec 16 2018 11:48PM
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skiguy04
Posts: 1597 - Karma: 1,121
Jersey milk at whistler
Dec 24 2018 1:20PM
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-skian-
Posts: 329 - Karma: 1,405
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.
Dec 24 2018 6:59PM
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Daph
Posts: 5978 - Karma: 5,006
-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.
Dec 25 2018 3:57PM
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michigang
Posts: 521 - Karma: 1,206
this is my fav thread on ns
Dec 25 2018 4:26PM
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weastcoat
Posts: 6419 - Karma: 74,051
Anyone know what the fastest lift in the world is in terms of how fast the chair is moving
Dec 25 2018 4:48PM
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GayWolf420
Posts: 37386 - Karma: 120,057
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.
Dec 25 2018 4:51PM
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-skian-
Posts: 329 - Karma: 1,405
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.
Dec 25 2018 8:07PM
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Daph
Posts: 5978 - Karma: 5,006
-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
Dec 25 2018 8:08PM
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evaroni
Posts: 3895 - Karma: 3,776
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?
Dec 25 2018 8:27PM
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GayWolf420
Posts: 37386 - Karma: 120,057
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.
Dec 25 2018 8:29PM
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xxACIDTRIPxx
Posts: 5980 - Karma: 8,175
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
Dec 25 2018 8:54PM
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Daph
Posts: 5978 - Karma: 5,006
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
Dec 26 2018 11:22AM
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ASAPCarter
Posts: 918 - Karma: 10,356
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.
Dec 28 2018 2:45PM
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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.
Dec 28 2018 10:03PM
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skiguy04
Posts: 1597 - Karma: 1,121
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
Dec 29 2018 6:06PM
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ButteredToast.
Posts: 6459 - Karma: 2,570
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!!!!!!!!
Dec 29 2018 7:43PM
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