12 replies to this topic

[skierdude2005]

Has anyone heard of any possible lift upgrades for Whistler-Blackcomb before the 2010 Olympics? By that time, many of their main High-Speed Lifts (Village Gondola, Wizard, Solar Coaster, 7th Heaven) will be over 20 years old... Do you think that they will be replacing the older lifts?

[WBSKI]

No, I havent, other than the possibility of Orange Chair being replaced.

[SkiBachelor]

There is also supposed to be a double chair installed in the Creekside base area that will run halfway up the gondola line. I presume that the recently opened terrain in that area too will have a lift, but I haven't heard anything about that though.

[Whistler]

In the 2010 bid book there is no plans for new lifts.

[SkiBachelor]

Are you sure, because Vancouverguy found an image of the creekside lift and it showed a planned lift in the Creekside area. However, the lift did seem kind of pointless and it could have been scraped.

[WBSKI]

That would be VERY strange to have a lift running halfway up the gondola although they used to have something like that in the 1960's (check out the Whistler Pictures thread), they really couldnt use that double much (not enough snow most of the time)...what if they simply moved Orange Chair down the mountain.

[edmontonguy]

As far as i have seen, Cypress is the only area recieving upgrades as a product of the Olympics. All other upgrades would be done by Whistler and not by the olympic comittee.

[Aussierob]

We are getting a whole heap of snowmaking paid for, and maybe a replacement for Orange chair. Everything else is on our own tab. Intrawest is talking about spending some money to drive business, but until the contracts are signed, nothing is for certain. I'd like to see the following. 3s between the two mountains, 3rd section of Excalibur gondola to Rendezvous, new Crystal chair (additional to the existing one.), upgrade/replace Village Gondola. These are fairly necessary. Other wish list items are Wizard/Solar replacement, and new lifts in Creekside. (There is a plan for 5 more in that area)

[WBSKI]

WOW! 5 in Creekside! Awesome!! I guess Creekside will be the focus of new development for Whistler. Any new plans for lifts in Flute? I remember a couple plans were rejected last year.

[Aussierob]

There are plans. Who knows when they will become reality.

[skierdude2005]

So I guess we just have to wait and see what plans Whistler releases (Not connected to the 2010 Olympics?) -- I guess they have a good system running right now... I was just thinking that some of their main lifts will be hitting 20+ years -- What sort of life expectancy can they get out of lifts such as Wizard, Solar Coaster, and the Village Gondola?

[SkiBachelor]

Those old Doppelmayr's are still running great, but the drives and electronics probably need to be upgraded in the near future if they haven't been already. I know some of Vail's Doppelmayr HSQs just hit 20 and I don't think they have any plans to replace them. :)

[Aussierob]

The Village Gondola got a 2 million dollar upgrade of drives and controls in '98. Now the gearbox is hooped and will get a rebuild this spring. Wizard and Solar have about 45,000 and 40,000 hours respectively and are still original. I was able to upgrade the drive in 7th Heaven but not these two yet. There is talk that they should be good for 60,000+ hours.