23 replies to this topic

[westisbest]

Just out of curiosity, I'm wondering why there aren't lifts that are made especially for snowboarders. Has it been tried and tossed out, and if so, why?

Anyone know?

[garthd]

My best guess would be "no." There is nowhere, to my knowledge, that caters specifically to snowboarders.

This is an interesting academic question. What would be different about a snowboarders only lift?

This post has been edited by garthd: 29 November 2006 - 03:06 PM

[Peter]

There is a product called SnoRhino which is an add on for Snowboarders. It attaches to the footrests.

http://www.snorhino.com/

[chairliftpaint]

Skier, on Nov 29 2006, 03:08 PM, said:

There is a product called SnoRhino which is an add on for Snowboarders. It attaches to the footrests.

http://www.snorhino.com/

There is a small ski area in northern Illinois called Raging Buffalo that I am pretty sure is a 100% terrain park.

[Callao]

Yeah, it's website claims to be the first-ever snowboarding-only resort.
http://www.ragingbuffalo.com/

[andyh1962]

Callao, on Nov 29 2006, 11:31 PM, said:

Yeah, it's website claims to be the first-ever snowboarding-only resort.
http://www.ragingbuffalo.com/

quoted from the Raging Buffalo website:

"A lease was arranged with the Kane County Forest Preserve and in January of 1993 the ski area previously known as Buffalo Park Ski Area became the site of Raging Buffalo Snowboard Park -- officially the world's first snowboard exclusive area."

This may not be exactly true. Eastern Ontario had a snowboarders only resort in the early 90's called THE RANCH. I cannot remember the year that they opened. It did not last very long because snowboarding had not yet reached the critical mass to support it financially.
The RANCH in Ontario and Raging Buffalo may have both been open at the same time for a short period in the mid 90's

[garthd]

I stand corrected. I knew of the terrain park areas like Echo Mt., but was not aware of any snowboard-only places.

[Callao]

It's kind of hard to imagine that this snowboard hill can survive financially, if all the visitors can be accomidated by a single handle-tow, which is what I thought I saw in photos. It doesn't seem lke they'd get high enough volume to pay for the costs of running the place. Any ideas about whether or not this is a project that pays for itself?

[Peter]

It has 2 rope tows and a handle tow. I think it said that it is in a state park, so is it owned by the state? New York owns Whiteface and Bellayre, New Hampshire owns Cannon, Denver owns Winter Park, etc.

[skiersage]

This topic is going off topic very quickly.

Anyway, I am not sure of any snowboard specific lifts but I have heard a rumor the sugar loaf (mi) is going to open their von roll triple this winter as a snowboard only hill. I wonder about this as the population base for the area is not big enough to turn away skiers. we'll have to see if it works.

http://www.skilifts....i-sugarloaf.htm
http://www.skiliftforum.com/index.php?show...mp;hl=sugarloaf

[spunkyskier01]

i dont know if they re-did the lift just for boarders, but i beleive stowe put handles on the midway surface lift so it would be easier for them instead of the platters and t-bars

http://www.savethet-bar.com/STOWE1.jpg

This post has been edited by spunkyskier01: 01 December 2006 - 06:40 PM

[poloxskier]

Vails West Wall platter was also modified with water ski handles in place of the platters that were originaly on the lift. I would presume that modification would make it much easier for boarders.

[hyak.net]

I think T-Bars are fun to ride with a snowboard. It was tricky getting used to them at first, but made the ride up more interesting. One of my buddies just could not get the hang of it and kept falling, then would just hang on and let it drag him up the hill.. Wish I had a photo..

[liftmech]

We modified C-lift and Storm King a few years ago with platters that had handgrips cut in them. This was for boarders to grab rather than having to twist sideways and try to ride the lifts like skiers.

[Lift Kid]

J-bars are fun to ride with snowboards as well. They are really easy to grip and ride. For snowboarders, it is best to ride them like a handle tow. For skiers, it is best to ride it like a t-bar.

[Callao]

It will be interesting to see if there is enough of a market for snowboard-only parks and other terrain parks. It seems like a good idea, but I still wonder if they can stay afloat. Consider Echo Mountain, which has now been open for a season. It saw only a total of 3,238 skier visits, which is not financially impressive. But then again, it was their first year. I'd like to see how they do this next year, now that more people know they're there.
But what about a park that excludes all skiers? It seems like they make their niche all the more difficult to fill.

Colorado historical skier visits:
http://media-coloradoski.com/docs/10-year%...its%2094-06.pdf

This post has been edited by Callao: 02 December 2006 - 07:50 PM

[cjb]

Depending on the location and market, a terrain park exclusive hill may be a viable business, the thing that would not make sense is making an area snowboard only, of course you have Mad River Glen, Taos, Deer Valley and I think one more that don't allow snowboarding but I guess for them they think it does make business sense. If you have ever been to Mammoth in the spring you can see just how big park skiing is becoming, I am sure other areas see it too, that is just the only other place I go.

[Peter]

Crystal Mountain, WA has to be one of the largest areas without a terrain park. It is amazing considering 1/2 of the people there are boarders. They built a half pipe a few years back, but have not since. I guess you could say the whole place is a natural terrain park. Alta got rid of theirs this year too.

[chairliftpaint]

Skier, on Dec 2 2006, 09:10 PM, said:

Crystal Mountain, WA has to be one of the largest areas without a terrain park. It is amazing considering 1/2 of the people there are boarders. They built a half pipe a few years back, but have not since. I guess you could say the whole place is a natural terrain park. Alta got rid of theirs this year too.

I was going to say. Crystal is one huge terrain area. If I recall they talked about one at one point. But thought it would be a waste with whats naturally there.

[Peter]

I think it would be a benefit just because if put on an area like Quicksilver, it could help spread out the crowds. A lot of snowboarders can't use the natural terrain in North and South backcountries because of the required traverses.