113 replies to this topic

[skierdude9450]

True, it would be pretty hard to run a double loader or something with a mid load like the SuperConnect without loading gates.

[Lift Kid]

skierdude9450, on May 3 2009, 07:07 PM, said:

True, it would be pretty hard to run a double loader or something with a mid load like the SuperConnect without loading gates.

That one in particular would be difficult without the gates, because it can get pretty busy, where every fourth chair or so is left open for the mid-station. It would be difficult for people to know when to go and when not to go. However, lifts like Snowflake, not being a very crowded lift, do just fine. That may be partially due to the fact that it is fixed grip though...

[skisox34]

I guess a normal lift a person should be able to load without loading gates and at some points they are more of a carnival ride feature. In my expirience at Stratton people still screw up loading even with the gates.

[Ontariodude]

3 of the 4 Detachable Six Chairs at Blue Mountain, Ontario have the Poma gates that swing open mechanically. On the busy days I've been there, they seem to help with keeping order although people do get caught up in them and some people don't seem to see them closing either so I'd say they help a little but with the problems they cause there at times its questionable.

At my local Hidden Valley Highlands, there are no gates at all and it seems to run very smoothly, except for weekends when the people that never ski come from Toronto and such, but thats obviously normal with any other mountain.

Mont-Ste. Anne, Quebec has the overhead Dopp ones on their old detachable quads and I found them to cause more trouble than anything. Although maintaining the ramp under them might be easier?

[liftmech]

I'd say it is. In my limited experience the load gates on the ground SUCK for maintaining the ramp.

[DonaldMReif]

Best thing about a gate at Breckenridge is how they read STOP on them, as in STOP HERE.

[brad82]

Load gates dont go well with the dopps that have magic carpets...

Heres a little story for y'all;

I was getting on a 6pack dopp, that was equiped with magic carpet and load gates. I was on the very far side (away from operator hut. If you are familiar with the dopplemayr design that is used with carpets, well this one anyway, it doesnt have the usual _) sort of shape, but the contour carrys on untill it gets to the load ramp. This is all well if the load gates do their job and get you on the lift in time.

BUT...

There was some really fat french teen on the back of my skis, and I couldnt move one ski...

One ski was already on the carpet, and I couldnt get it off the carpet, so my legs were getting farther apart. As the first leg went through the sensor, it closed the gate. I managed to get my leg through the closed gate, but at this time, the chair had finished too much of the contour. Because of the contour shape, the chair was in the wrong position, and the middle seat hit me, so I was in the wrong place. I guess you can work out the rest...

All the time, the french liftie was having a smoke round the back of the lifty hut. Great.

[DonaldMReif]

brad82, on May 10 2009, 10:12 AM, said:

Load gates dont go well with the dopps that have magic carpets...

Heres a little story for y'all;

I was getting on a 6pack dopp, that was equiped with magic carpet and load gates. I was on the very far side (away from operator hut. If you are familiar with the dopplemayr design that is used with carpets, well this one anyway, it doesnt have the usual _) sort of shape, but the contour carrys on untill it gets to the load ramp. This is all well if the load gates do their job and get you on the lift in time.

BUT...

There was some really fat french teen on the back of my skis, and I couldnt move one ski...

One ski was already on the carpet, and I couldnt get it off the carpet, so my legs were getting farther apart. As the first leg went through the sensor, it closed the gate. I managed to get my leg through the closed gate, but at this time, the chair had finished too much of the contour. Because of the contour shape, the chair was in the wrong position, and the middle seat hit me, so I was in the wrong place. I guess you can work out the rest...

All the time, the french liftie was having a smoke round the back of the lifty hut. Great.

That's the reason why to keep your spacing from other people when in line at a chairlift.

[DonaldMReif]

My update opinion on the loading gates:

Again, recalling experience from Breckenridge. I've noticed that the gates are very effective at lifts where gravity allows you to slide from the gate into the loading area without needing to wedge your skis. I see that at the Rocky Mountain SuperChair. At others, like the Mercury SuperChair, you feel like you have to pole or shuffle forward very quickly to move up to the load line because the approach to the line is very flat.

The timing also seems to matter. The Falcon SuperChair's gates don't open until the chair has completed its turnaround. It's an older lift, so the gates are slightly farther back, so you have to move forward pretty quickly to get in front of the chair.

[2milehi]

Thanks - I'll look closer at the timing of those gates on Falcon.

This post has been edited by 2milehi: 26 February 2012 - 08:09 AM

[2milehi]

DonaldMReif - you are right about the timing of the gates on Falcon. I will do something about it in the next few days.

This post has been edited by 2milehi: 02 March 2012 - 06:02 AM

[boardski]

I'm not sure if they are still there but the HSS lifts at Park City had loading gates with large red pads in the shape of a stop sign that said STOP on them. There was no way to go around them when they were closed. I recall very few issues with misloads on their six-packs.

This post has been edited by boardski: 02 March 2012 - 08:59 PM

[Skiing#1]

At Alta, Collins Express has mid-station and there is gate to let skiers in when each 5th chair or 10th chair is opening. The gate is helpful. Also all Alta lifts have the gates because the gate scan and read the customers' cards and the gate opens.

Park City Ski Resorts. some lifts have the gates because of six passengers on each seat are organize and smooth . I guess so.

I don't care there are the gates or no gates as well as I prefer no gates because of much easier, comfort and no stuck. If there are no customers, I can go like 10 feet away without stop and check the chairs (Some customers have skills they know how)

If there are the gates...sometimes the gate would not open...stuck. I hate that and ask the operator for help or change other.

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This post has been edited by Skiing#1: 03 March 2012 - 01:25 PM

[timberlaker]

simple answer. sixpacks need them and quads,triples and doubles do not.

[Kicking Horse]

I know of one 6 pack that had fewer stops when the gates were removed... So not all 6 packs need the gates!!! It depends on the clientele and how well the load ops are working as a team!

[Emax]

123

[SkiLiftsRock]

Here is some pics of the 3 Kings fixed Triple at Park City Mountain Resort, UT. Its a Doppelmayr.

The gates only open if someone is in line.

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[jSkier]

None of the lifts at Whistler have gates, if I recall correctly. However, none of numerous their lifts are 6 packs either! A 6 pack replacement for Harmony Express (which is replacing Crystal triple) is going in soon though, so we will have to wait and see what the story holds there. I don't think many lifts really need gates, with the possible exception of busy quads or 6 packs that service novice terrain with inexperienced skiers/boarders.

[2milehi]

2milehi, on 02 March 2012 - 06:01 AM, said:

DonaldMReif - you are right about the timing of the gates on Falcon. I will do something about it in the next few days.

Took a couple of months but we did something about those gates.

[liftmech]

Ah, you did the sensible thing. I removed mine after a year. They sucked.