7 replies to this topic

[Bill]

I received this email this morning. Anyone want to put in their advice for him?

Quote

Hi there,
Ive been looking at your website and thinking that you guys might be able to
help me with my project on improving ski lifts that Im doing right now.
Basically, I would be really grateful if you could tell me anything (at all)
that you feel could be improved with the modern chair lift from your
experience.

For example, Im looking at areas such as:
>Better security/safety
>The skier/snowboarder conflict
>Alleviating wet seats
>Taming the aggressive pick-up etc.

Alternatively, if I were to send a few yes/no questions would you be
prepared to tick some choices from the options?

Any help greatly appreciated
Adam Le Huray

[SkiBachelor]

For the chairlift seats, I would tell him to look at Idaho Sewing. They offer a wide range of seat pads. Adam could also get some water proof stuff; the kind you use on ski jackets and pants, and put that stuff on the seat pads.

www.idsewing.com
idsewing@idsewing.com

[liftmech]

Seat pads:
Idaho Sewing; Snowcloud Industries (North Vancouver, BC; they also make tower pads and other fabric stuff- good prices and good products)


Skier/snowboarder conflict:
Every area save Taos, Alta, and Deer Valley, struggles with this. I think the only solution is education and time, as in time for the two to coexist as snowriders.

Safety and security are relative items, and I have no idea what the 'agressive pick-up' is.

[CAski]

I think he is referring to a fast-moving chair hitting the rear of a person with some force on a FG lift.

[liftmech]

In that case it is a matter of the lifties learning how to properly 'bump' a chair- not a technical problem at all.

[iceberg210]

For wet chairs do what they do in Seattle you flip the seat up as you get off the lift and the lifties put it back down when it gets to the bottom again.

[Allan]

You try and convince the lift ops to stand out in the wet and flip seats all day :) They'll have a couple choice words for you! hehehe

[liftmech]

I remember doing that as a kid, but now most seat pads are attached in such a way that you can't flip the seat.