92 replies to this topic

[SkiBachelor]

Even though some resorts go with the manufacturer that can offer the better deal, that's not always the case. Some resorts stick with one lift manufacturer probably because of higher reliability and customer satisfaction. That's why resorts like DV and Mt. Bachelor have stick with the same lift manufacturer for certain types of lifts.

The reason why Keystone has a POMA HSS is because Vail bought a lot of lifts all at once and Poma won the bid.

[WBSKI]

A new Black Mountain Detachable Quad is planned for Cypress in time for 2010 (Snowboarding events are planned in the area around it). Here is a link to the planning page for cypress mountain, has quite a bit of info

[highspeedquad]

It also might be more convenient if they currently have many lifts of the same manufacturer, so they don't have to train more technicians.

[iceberg210]

One of the main advantages of buying Dop/CTEC here in Utah is that CTEC has a shop right here in SLC. So in an hour you can have a part comparitively with having to ship it in from Denver. This also translates in an advantage in that the resorts don't have to have near as many parts on hand.

[highspeedquad]

Would that be the same with L-P in Grand Junction?

[poloxskier]

It's still a long drive (or a short high speed drive) from the central mountains to GJ unlike the 45min- 1hr to SLC but it probably makes a difference that L-P is fairly close to many Colorado resorts.

This post has been edited by poloxskier: 08 February 2005 - 02:30 PM

[highspeedquad]

I have found that many Pomas are in Colorado while there are quite a few Dopps in Utah. Of course, that isn't always true, but it is one rule.

[liftmech]

There are many factors in who to buy from. As formerliftforeman mentioned, ETA for completion is a big one. Price, obviously, as well as prior experience with that manufacturer, parts inventory, management, etc. Copper bought many Yans, but being in Colorado we bought Poma detachables instead of Yans. We bought a Doppelmayr after two Pomas, but when Intrawest came in they bought Pomas again. You can see there really isn't a pattern here.

[SkiBachelor]

But is completion date really that big of a deal as it once was? I mean a resort can easily hire Outback or Mad River to install their new lift(s) for them, rather than the manufacturer.

[Outback]

SkiBachelor, on Feb 9 2005, 08:16 AM, said:

But is completion date really that big of a deal as it once was? I mean a resort can easily hire Outback or Mad River to install their new lift(s) for them, rather than the manufacturer.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Completion dates are a concern but not always a deciding factor in a bid.
The lift has to be in prior to opening and the pre-Thanksgiving date is generally the target.
Loyalty between a resort and a manufacturer is rare these days...the bottom line price is 95% of the decision.
As a sub-contractor to the manufacturer we typically have to get under their install number in order to get the job.
Reality bites!

[highspeedquad]

I would guess that resorts that have lifts of only one current manufacturer that they would buy from the same company unless the other manu. offered a much better deal, just for the sake of similarity, so they don't have to train more mechs.

[poloxskier]

What suprises me about Breckenridge is that they never ended up with any Yans concidering that they are so common in Colorado. I would imagine that this was mostly due to the lower price they could offer for lifts.

[liftmech]

Breck seemed to have brand loyalty more than other areas. They built two Herons, then a pile of Riblets, then Poma detachables (and the one fixed-grip). There is only the one Doppelmayr T-bar. Baker also tried to stick with one manufacturer, until Riblet went out of business then CTEC stepped in to fill the void.

[highspeedquad]

Breck is one of supreme loyalty. WP has some loyalty towards Poma, being all of their HSQ are Poma and their newest surface lifts are L-P. But some other resorts can be very unpredictable.

[poloxskier]

Breck probably got a package deal with Doppelmayr for the T-Bar and the Quicksilver. They also had some handle tows but im not sure of the make.

[highspeedquad]

I'm fairly sure that all of the handle tows are Poma. It does make sense that Breck would have gotten the T-bar with the original quicksilver, since they are/were the only two Dopps at Breck.

[SkiBachelor]

You guys also have to consider former owners of the resorts. The former owner of Breckenridge that installed the Doppelmayr lifts was only there for a short time before he sold the mountain to Aspen. Aspen Ski Company bought 8 lifts in 1986, 5 of the lifts were HSQs (Colorado and Falcon were included in this purchase) and another was the Silver Queen gondola. Then when Keystone bought Breckenridge, I don't think it bought any lifts while it owned the mountain. Then Vail bought Keystone and Vail installed two new lifts that year, Rocky Mountain and Mercury. You know the rest.

[poloxskier]

The only lifts installed while keystone owned breck were pomas for beginners made by poma. I think the handle tows were stadelli.

[SkiBachelor]

Sultan :)

[floridaskier]

The first five original ones were Burns, Carpenter, Homestake, Wasatch, and Sultan. Now Burns, the beginner double, will be the only one left. Of course, Carpenter was made into the Crown Point and Red Cloud lifts, Homestake is now Little Chief, Wasatch is now at The Canyons, and I'm sure Sultan will end up somewhere too, so none of them are really gone