Skilifts.org / SORT Forum

Hello everyone, I was wondering if we could put together a list ranking the fastest chairlifts and gondolas in North America (Canada & USA).

I used to hear the Flyer at Jay Peak was marketed as the fastest in the east but what else is there that compares or goes faster now?

I remember being impressed with the speed of the Gondola at Tremblant. I was taken there years ago while attending a Doppelmayr hydrulic seminar. It was only running 4 or 5 ms but was told it could do more. but can't remember what more was.

Doppelmayr 8-MGD built in 2007 did 6 m/s with CWA Omega IV gondolas.
Happy emergency braking!

I thought the HSQ at Wildcat, N.H. was the fastest in the East.

The problem about putting lists together like this is that while some lifts were designed to go 1200 f/m plus, most ski areas run them at 800-1000 f/m to save $$$.

For example, the Eagle Peak Accelerator (HSS) at Willamette Pass is designed for 1200 fpm, but only runs at 800 fpm today. It's hard to find resorts that still run them at their designed speed.

Yes that's what I meant to ask, which ones are the fastest in actual regular ski operations.

Running at a slower speed for us is more about finding the right speed to cut down on slows and stops. Weekdays 5 m/s no problem. Holiday weeks big problem.

I believe Breckenridge runs the Mercury and Rocky Mountain SuperChairs at 1,100 fpm. Crested Butte doesn't have crowds as an issue, and all of theirs run around 1,050 fpm (except Red Lady).

We ran The Chondola at 5 m/s today for passengers for the first time since I've been at SR. Usually does 4.5, contingent on wind. Was up in the terminal when before I realized it too! Sounded great!

I've been interested in the fastest detachable lifts as well.

Does anyone know if there are any chairlifts that are actually run at 1,200 fpm? I know the Chile Express at Angel Fire, NM was designed for that, but maybe they don't run it that fast.

Also, the Bridger Gondola at JH must run 1,200, since the trail map says the ride is 7 min., and the lift is 8,700 feet long.

Most Poma gondolas constructed in recent years are designed for 1,200 fpm.

Wildcat Express at Wildcat, N.H. runs its HSQ at a 1,100 all the time to my knowledge. It's a marketing tactic for having the fastest lift in New Hampshire.

http://www.skiwildca...ic-gondola.html

However, its quote of having the only lift where the lift goes from a HSQ in the winter into a scenic gondola in the summer is not true. Big Mtn/Whitefish, MT has the same setup.

missouriskier, on 16 February 2013 - 05:47 PM, said:

It usually runs at 800 fpm. 1000 on busy days.

Peter, on 17 February 2013 - 10:12 AM, said:

I'm not surprised by this. I wish they would just advertise an 11 minute ride, though.

I was especially curious about Bridger since I will ski at JH a couple of days next week.

The tram runs quite a bit faster though, right? Maybe around 2,000 fpm?

missouriskier, on 17 February 2013 - 10:19 AM, said:

The tram does run faster, but I'm not sure if they actually run it at 2000.
Jimmi (lastchair_44) and I both work at the gondi. Feel free to stop by and say hello.

Peter, on 17 February 2013 - 11:51 AM, said:

Bridger Gondola can run at a top speed of around 1260fpm, but today's skiing public can't handle loading at that speed. We have been running at 800fpm more this season due to the increase in downloading from sight seeing and restaurant traffic. We have to slow to 800fpm when people download so in the event of a grip attach fault, the cabins stop before the break over on tower 28. On powder/busy days we run at 1000 or even 1100. The tram can run up to 2000fpm or 10 m/s but because the cabins automatically slow to 1600fpm or 8 m/s over tower 2 I believe, it usually runs at 8.

lastchair_44, on 17 February 2013 - 04:25 PM, said:

Thanks for the information. Bridger must be one of the fastest monocable detachable lifts built then, at 1,260 fpm. Running it at 800 makes sense now with the downloading issue.

One other quick question: How fast would the cabins move in the stations if the lift was running 1,260? Too fast to load, I would think.

I have ridden both the old tram and the new tram, but only in the summer. Needless to say, I'm excited to finally come back in the winter.

I can't give you a solid number,but Poma did speed up the contours when we added 18 cabins in 2006. It is definitely too fast for public. What days are you skiing at Jackson Hole?

lastchair_44, on 18 February 2013 - 06:13 PM, said:

We (My dad, mom, sister, and self) are driving to Big Sky and Jackson, with five days of skiing, plus snowmobiling in Yellowstone, and the drive across the plains each way. The plan is to ski Jackson Hole on Thursday, February 28th and Friday, March 1st.

Don't know if the Peak to Peak counts but top speed is 7.5m/s (1500fpm) and we do run at this if it is busy. Usually we run at 5.5 m/s. (1100fpm)

SkiBachelor, on 16 February 2013 - 06:04 PM, said:

I do believe this is the case. Usually with Wildcat, they'll run it at top speed, or just plain shut it down due to wind. Since it's also a bit low to the ground you also get the feeling of more speed too. Another lift that does run at it's design speed much if not all of the time is the Slide Brook Express at Sugarbush (designed for 1150 fpm/5.8 m/s) due to it's length. With Slide Brook running at full speed it's a 15 minute ride. Gotta love those 3 or 4, 32 banger compression towers mid line that rattle your teeth out of your head!

According to the install stats, the TGV quad at Tremblant runs at 1100fpm. Is this true or just the design spec? It does seem to go quite fast. Anyone have more info?