59 replies to this topic

[sseguin613]

Can any one post some information on how these work, as well as post some pictures or video if possible

[hyak.net]

sseguin613, on Mar 30 2008, 01:03 PM, said:

Can any one post some information on how these work, as well as post some pictures or video if possible

These things are horrible. They had one for a season at Crystal Mtn maybe 8-10 years ago and for a snowboarder it was tough. It is suppose to get you moving on the ground so the fixed chair (zipping along at normal speed) would snag you and there would not be as much of a jolt. I believe that is how it worked in theory but it would cause so many people to fall trying to get on the moving carpet the lift was always stopping..

[shoemaniii]

saw just the opposite at bromont 3 weeks ago. fully loaded fixed quad at 460fpm, zero problems other than the occasional dropped pole/hat. every chair had 4 a**es in it, no missed chairs, op didn't touch the chair. lift at design capacity w/no slows or stops. three critical components for the system to work: a sloped load ramp with load gates, hanger guidage, low friction carpet.

technology changes quickly these days, an 8-10 year old system may considered prehistoric by some.

vidoes are available from both manufacturers.

bobp

[liftmech]

hyak.net, on Mar 31 2008, 07:28 AM, said:

These things are horrible. They had one for a season at Crystal Mtn maybe 8-10 years ago and for a snowboarder it was tough. It is suppose to get you moving on the ground so the fixed chair (zipping along at normal speed) would snag you and there would not be as much of a jolt. I believe that is how it worked in theory but it would cause so many people to fall trying to get on the moving carpet the lift was always stopping..

I fully agree. We had load gates on both, as shoeman mentions, but those caused their own sets of problems. Both carpets were on return tension terminals; this didn't matter so much on Midway but on chair 9 both the carriage and the chairs would roll back on a stop (very dynamic lift profile) and that also caused problems. The carpet stopped as soon as a stop was hit, but the moving carriage combined with the chairs going back and forth caused many people to be knocked over. We covered that carpet with snow and returned it to a traditional ramp. Midway had trouble keeping the carpet synched with the lift speed; at first it would not slow down on a slow which caused all sorts of issues. Once that was fixed, the speed began to vary at random even if the lift was running steady. Once that was fixed, we began to have problems keeping the ice off the carpet. By the time we figured that out (poor heater and drain design in the vault) management got frustrated with the whole thing and removed both carpets.

[Lift Kid]

I know that the carpets on Chair 7 at Breck give you a little jolt when you get on it, from being still, to a little downhill, to rubber stopping you. It makes it easier to lose your balance. Its just plain easier, in my opinion to ride without loading carpets.

[skierdude9450]

I don't know... I think that loading carpets are a pretty nifty thing. It seems to help reduce misloads and accidents at the bottom station. Also, it allows you to run a beginner lift such as 7 at full speed (aka 500 fpm). True, it does not eliminate any problems at the top station, but an extra 150 fpm doesn't seem to cause much trouble to most skiers. I can see the problems with the rollbacks, but 7 is a fairly short lift and doesn't really have to deal with those problems. Anyway, here's a photo of Chair 7's carpet:

[liftmech]

Chair 7 is a bottom drive, thus it does not experience the stop-related rollback that I described earlier. If it does, there'd be issues.

[shoemaniii]

was told one of the manufacturers currently peddling these things will give refund and take it out if not satisfied w/capacity increase. the carpets i saw were dialed in for sure. both lifts at bromont were top tension, so no movement on a stop. these forums are great! ask a question and the answers range from "they suck" to "they're great". a big investment tho, really need to see 'em first hand. i think breck might have a couple, but not sure.
bobp

[skierdude9450]

shoemaniii, on Apr 1 2008, 05:59 PM, said:

I think breck might have a couple, but not sure.
bobp

^^Cast your eyes skyward^^

[zeedotcom]

Diamond Peak, Nevada has a couple. I was there just a few weeks ago and they served their purpose. What I found to be an issue, though, was that as the conditions changed throughout the day (temperature, precipitation, etc) the carpets changed A LOT. The first time I slid on to the carpet and glided smoothly to a stop. A bit later, sliding on to the same carpet, it felt like I had just ridden onto pavement and I stopped instantly. I thought I was going to fall over.

[Lift Kid]

zeedotcom, on Apr 3 2008, 08:22 PM, said:

Diamond Peak, Nevada has a couple. I was there just a few weeks ago and they served their purpose. What I found to be an issue, though, was that as the conditions changed throughout the day (temperature, precipitation, etc) the carpets changed A LOT. The first time I slid on to the carpet and glided smoothly to a stop. A bit later, sliding on to the same carpet, it felt like I had just ridden onto pavement and I stopped instantly. I thought I was going to fall over.

this is something that I have experienced with loading carpets. I don't totally mind it, but it can get annoying.

Btw, Breckinridge has only one carpet. It's on chair 7 which skierdude posted a picture of!

[sseguin613]

I've tried finding video showing the carpets in action but haven't found anything. Can anyone post a link to a page with videos? mostly carpets on fixed grips.

[zeedotcom]

I actually have a video of one of the lifts at Diamond Peak that has a carpet. I'll post it when I get back on my regular computer/broadband.

[sseguin613]

great thanks
i appreciate it.

[skierdude9450]

Lift Kid, on Apr 4 2008, 06:56 AM, said:

this is something that I have experienced with loading carpets. I don't totally mind it, but it can get annoying.

Btw, Breckinridge has only one carpet. It's on chair 7 which skierdude posted a picture of!

I think I remember you saying that Beaver Run used to have a loading carpet too....

[Lift Kid]

skierdude9450, on Apr 6 2008, 12:01 PM, said:

I think I remember you saying that Beaver Run used to have a loading carpet too....

Indeed it did. But it was only for a little while, I believe.

[poloxskier]

Lift Kid, on Apr 6 2008, 01:39 PM, said:

Indeed it did. But it was only for a little while, I believe.

If my memory serves me correctly it was only in use for two season.

[sseguin613]

zeedotcom, on Apr 4 2008, 06:20 PM, said:

I actually have a video of one of the lifts at Diamond Peak that has a carpet. I'll post it when I get back on my regular computer/broadband.

Hey sorry to revive this topic, but does anyone have any videos of lifts with carpets in operation? I'm curious to see how it all comes together when it's running.

Thanks

[zeedotcom]

sseguin613, on May 6 2008, 06:56 PM, said:

Hey sorry to revive this topic, but does anyone have any videos of lifts with carpets in operation? I'm curious to see how it all comes together when it's running.

Thanks

Sorry, I totally spaced it. I have a file, but Youtube isn't working for me tonight and it is 3.5 meg, too big to upload here. I'll try again tomorrow.

[sseguin613]

cool i apreciate it.

Mont Saint-Sauveur is getting a fixed quad with carpet this fall , and i just want to see it in motion to see how it flows.