107 replies to this topic

[WBSKI]

Ya, but Ski Bachelor the bike park on Blackcomb is only Magic Chair, not Wiz. I cant wait 2 see it under construction. It would be good if aussierob got hold of a map of the liftline and the towers and stuff.

[big air]

nathanvg, on Sep 20 2005, 11:13 AM, said:

Although it is a cool lift, am I the only one that doesn't think it adds much to the skiing of BC/Whistler?

The new lift doesn't add any new runs. It allows get from one peak to the other more quickly, but you could travel back and forth via the base and enjoy an additional long run.

I agree with Nathanvg here. I would have preferred that they use the money to open up more terrian, like the area west of peak to creek or replace and extend Crystal chair.

[WBSKI]

I just curious, have u guys skiied at Whistler alot? Cause in my opinion the 3S is a great idea. And it will be huge for the popularity, its a one of a kind thing. Sure it would be nice to have some new runs but they arent needed most of the time. On holidays the mtn is packed sometimes but theyre not building a resort to hold a holiday amount of people without any stress on the system. It would just cost too much. I do admit, lifts on Peak to Creek would be good but maybe soon, not right now.

[Peter]

This is a much bigger project than peak to creek or crystal. 5-10 million max compared to 40-50 million for the 3S

[WBSKI]

Peak to Creek could be more expensive cause it would either be a gondola or a series of lifts.

[SkiBachelor]

All the peak to creek trails are already accesible from the Peak Express and there is still A LOT of work that needs to be done to that area before any lift is installed there. All the tree stumps are still in place and they need to be ripped out just because they are so huge. Also, many people take the Big Red Express cut off since just a few hundred feet lower, the snow quailty drops and is very sticky.

Another reason why W-B is probably planning on installing a 3S rope gondola is because there are plans to expand the Creekside Village and this will make it easier for people to access Blackcomb.

[Whistler]

No, alot of people will ride it who are skiing/snowboaring. I understand that many of you who have never been to Whistler don't think it's a good idea, because on the map it looks like the mountains are much more easier to access from eachother than they truly are, but if you have skied Whistler/Blackcomb you'll know that this new lift is a welcome addition.

[Aussierob]

I guess I should have pointed out earlier that the driving force for this lift is sightseers rather than skiers. It's meant to draw a lot of people to come and have the experience of the ride across, particularly during the spring/summer/fall. In the future you would ride up the Village express, across the new gondola then down Wizard/Solar or whatever eventually replaces them. It will add convenience for skiers to switch hills, but the intent isn't that you would need to ride it during a ski day. (but you would cause it's such a cool lift.)
As for creekside, there are long term plans for more lifts and terrain. I don't know what the schedule might be though. The new lift will improve access to Blackcomb from the South end of town. (Creekside)

[liftmech]

I think that the new lift will be more utilised by skiers once they figure out the convenience of not having to go all the way down to switch hills. I used to make just one run down to the village a day- at the end. Generally early- and late- season conditions make the trip miserable.

Rob- I envy your crew for some reason. That lift will certainly be unique.

[WBSKI]

When is it going to be officially announced? I thought that would have happened by now or are they going to hold off until people start skiing?

[Duck]

This is awesome news! I can't wait to get out there someday. :)

-Iain

[Jonni]

nathanvg, on Sep 20 2005, 04:24 PM, said:

I know what you mean by the rain (I've seen that first hand at Whistler) but it still seems like a ton of money for a transfer lift.

I don't know how much it costed ASC to put in the Slide Brook Express at Sugarbush, but I know it must have cost a pretty penny to build an 11,000 foot long HSQ that goes over three ridges. If this list will be anything like that, the ride will be spectacular!

[Aussierob]

The lift crosses one valley, it just thats its about 1500ft below you. I don't know what they have in mind for an official announcement. We'll just thave to wait and see.

[Powdr]

I'm sorry, but:

What an incredible F*@king waste of money. How could anyone ever justify spending that kind of money on a link lift? Think of what could be done on the mountains instead with $40-50 mil. Thats 4-5 gondis, 15-20 HSQs. Good god, get a grip of yourselves and rethink this decision.

Out,

Powdr

EDIT: Add in the shear fear of height factor and you will have considerably lower usage than expected.

This post has been edited by Powdr: 22 September 2005 - 09:52 AM

[SkiBachelor]

Powdr, on Sep 22 2005, 10:50 AM, said:

I'm sorry, but:

What an incredible F*@king waste of money. How could anyone ever justify spending that kind of money on a link lift? Think of what could be done on the mountains instead with $40-50 mil. Thats 4-5 gondis, 15-20 HSQs. Good god, get a grip of yourselves and rethink this decision.

Out,

Powdr

EDIT: Add in the shear fear of height factor and you will have considerably lower usage than expected.

You have to relize that this $40,000,000 price tag is in Canadian dollars which is $34,178,284.09 in U.S. You would be lucky if you could install 7 high-speed quads or 2 gondolas for that price at Whistler. The vertical there is crazy and I wouldn't expect W-B to replace any of their old high-speed quads (Wizard, Solar Coaster and 7th Heaven) with new lifts when they still run great. Of course Intrawest could have invested the money for this new lift at some of its other resorts, but with the Olympics coming up, you would be amazed at how fast a lift like this could pay for itself in just tourism.

The only other lift that Whistler-Blackcomb needs to replace is Crystal and I think the mountain will be set for a while.

BTW, the Village gondola at Whistler was built at a cost of $20 million back in 1988. Think how much that lift would cost today with inflation.

Cameron

[Solaris]

I guess that's what olympic cash can do for a ski area.

[Powdr]

Whether it is $CN or $US, it's still a big waste of $$$ in my mind.

[Aussierob]

If you're only planning to run the lift for a few months in the winter for skiers then its a waste of money. This is a year-round sight seeing lift that will drive significant business to town. Once you satrt factoring in hotel room nights, restaurant meals, T-shirt sales etc for 12 months, the numbers make much more sense. If they didn't, you would never build it.

[KZ]

Sounds like a very fun project. It may not be the most prectical for skiers but I'd take some time for a trip. It is going to be amazing. I can't wait to see some photos of this monster.

[WBSKI]

Well its still not on the Whistler website but there was a short paragraph about this at the top of the Buisiness Section in the Vancouver Sun today