83 replies to this topic

[liftmech]

Yup, every installation is unique. B can operate in higher winds than E, but when those heavy carriers start swinging it's game over. We don't operate with numbers, as in 'look, it's blowing 40, shut it down' because it also depends upon wind direction. Decisions to shut down for wind are based on having a mechanic at the top station visually checking how the lift is behaving.

[DonaldMReif]

liftmech, on 19 December 2013 - 07:06 AM, said:

Yup, every installation is unique. B can operate in higher winds than E, but when those heavy carriers start swinging it's game over. We don't operate with numbers, as in 'look, it's blowing 40, shut it down' because it also depends upon wind direction. Decisions to shut down for wind are based on having a mechanic at the top station visually checking how the lift is behaving.

That I think is something that can also differ between lifts of the same type. The Mercury SuperChair and Beaver Run SuperChair run parallel to each other, but it seems like there are windy days at Breckenridge where the Beaver Run SuperChair might have to run at reduced speed, yet the Mercury SuperChair can operate at max speed. And there have been some days where it seems like the Independence SuperChair runs at the full 1,100 fpm speed even when 35-40 mph winds are howling in your face, and yet the Peak 8 high speed quads must operate at reduced speeds. We'll still have to wait for the Kensho SuperChair to open to see how that lift tolerates high winds on the above timberline segment.

But that's another topic. I am pretty sure that Vail runs all of their high speed quads at 1,000 fpm. How it feels differs, though, based on chair spacing. The Pete's Express may run at the same line speed as the Skyline Express or the Orient Express, but its chairs are spaced 1.5 chair lengths apart (for an 1,800 pph capacity vs. 2800 pph). The same applies for the Earl's Express.

[snoloco]

SuperRat, on 14 December 2013 - 02:56 PM, said:

Why didn't you say that in the first place?

Can you reference the web page address with that policy?

Here it is.

WHY DO LIFT SPEEDS VARY?

We vary lift speeds due to weather and operational issues, not as a cost savings measure. Weather issues are typically wind related, and lifts are either slowed or increased to find a carrier swing rhythm that works with the particular wind speed, wind direction and extent of load on a chair at that time. Operational issues are often related to lifts frequented by less experienced skiers and riders, where a “sweet spot” is sought to get the maximum speed in relation to the efficiency of the load/unload operation. A good example is Ramshead Express Quad, where the larger numbers of first-time skiers and riders negotiating the ramp results in 800 FPM versus 1100 FPM in order to operate the lift consistently without stops or slows.

[snoloco]

sseguin613, on 15 February 2013 - 08:25 AM, said:

Hello everyone, I was wondering if we could put together a list ranking the fastest chairlifts and gondolas in North America (Canada & USA).

I used to hear the Flyer at Jay Peak was marketed as the fastest in the east but what else is there that compares or goes faster now?

I would think that the Flyer is rated for 1,100 fpm. It is over 7,500 feet long, so the extra speed could have made the ride quite a bit shorter, and if they marketed it as the fastest, then it was probably faster than 1,000 fpm which is the standard. I don't know what the exact rating is however.

[Kicking Horse]

Elk Camp Quad at Snowmass can do 1130fpm.

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=yb2MDG_Z9Yg

(video proof from control room)

[Yooper Skier]

Kicking Horse, on 11 January 2014 - 09:22 PM, said:

Elk Camp Quad at Snowmass can do 1130fpm.

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=yb2MDG_Z9Yg

(video proof from control room)

Watching it ramp reminds me of one of my favorite movie scenes

[DonaldMReif]

Sir, we've never run the lift that fast before! I don't know if the drive can take it!

[TheEpicPancake]

I worked at Deer Valley for a season up at Empire Express and Ruby Express. Both lifts were capable of running at 1200 f/m, and they spun them occasionally at that speed before the resort would open, and during training, but never that fast when the resort opened. Empire would usually run at 1000, sometimes down to 800, depending on crowds and weather. Ruby would almost always run at no more then 800, given that there's many more beginners on that lift. Plus it's such a short lift, it's only a few minutes even at 800.

[floridaskier]

TheEpicPancake, on 19 January 2014 - 12:35 PM, said:

I worked at Deer Valley for a season up at Empire Express and Ruby Express. Both lifts were capable of running at 1200 f/m, and they spun them occasionally at that speed before the resort would open, and during training, but never that fast when the resort opened. Empire would usually run at 1000, sometimes down to 800, depending on crowds and weather. Ruby would almost always run at no more then 800, given that there's many more beginners on that lift. Plus it's such a short lift, it's only a few minutes even at 800.

Did you recall what Carpenter tops out at? I was up for the New Years torchlight parade at night, and I've never seen anything go that fast before to carry the paraders up top in the dark. I would imagine that's what 1200 fpm looks like, it was hauling

[snoloco]

This is what 1,200fpm looks like on a gondola. Skyeship at Killington.

Start at 3:45 to see the gondola.

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=nakPphDJtUA

[snoloco]

Sorry for the double post, but this video proves that the Northstar Express at Okemo runs at 1,100 fpm in normal operation. It also shows someone fall off.

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=dAcefA1JtB8

This post has been edited by snoloco: 21 January 2014 - 11:06 AM

[TheEpicPancake]

floridaskier, on 21 January 2014 - 08:44 AM, said:

Did you recall what Carpenter tops out at? I was up for the New Years torchlight parade at night, and I've never seen anything go that fast before to carry the paraders up top in the dark. I would imagine that's what 1200 fpm looks like, it was hauling

No, I can't say. I worked and stayed up at Empire most of the time. They may have been running it fast for that event, but I don't recall them running that lift particularly fast during normal hours. There's lots of beginners on Carpenter. Silver Lake Express runs faster I think, cause I would remember riding on Carpenter and looking over and seeing SLE moving along faster then I was going.

[Peter Pitcher]

Friedl Pfeiffer used to say " Why don't we just shoot them up there in a cannon"

[snoloco]

The Canyon Express at Mount Snow is 5,500 feet long and has a posted ride time of 4.5 minutes. It would need to run at 1,225 fpm to make it up there that fast. I don't know what the actual ride time is, but from what is posted, it can do the speed listed above. If this is true, then it would be the fastest high speed quad that I know of.

[snoloco]

Dug this one up.

Max speed on the Canyon Express at Mount Snow is 1,100. It does run at this speed as the ride time is about 5 minutes. They advertise a 7 minute ride on the Bluebird Express, which it would have to run at 1,100 to make it up there that fast (It's about 7,400 feet long). It has run this speed every time I've ridden it. You can crank out laps like nobody's business. Nitro Express is 1,000 and Grand Summit Express is 900. I believe that the way it works at Peak Resorts ski areas is that the detachable lifts always run full design speed unless they're beginner lifts or weather conditions prevent it. The detachable lifts at Wildcat, Crotched, and Hunter run at full design speed as well. Not sure about Attitash.

[NHskier13]

I hear in vermont it's pretty common to see full run speed, and yes the rocket and wildcat express both are at their full speed or pretty darn close on the weekends. It's great.

[snoloco]

Isn't The Rocket pretty short and a 3 minute ride? Assuming you can cycle down and up in 6 minutes, that's 10 runs an hour.

[ss20]

snoloco, on 05 March 2016 - 04:28 PM, said:

Dug this one up.

Max speed on the Canyon Express at Mount Snow is 1,100. It does run at this speed as the ride time is about 5 minutes. They advertise a 7 minute ride on the Bluebird Express, which it would have to run at 1,100 to make it up there that fast (It's about 7,400 feet long). It has run this speed every time I've ridden it. You can crank out laps like nobody's business. Nitro Express is 1,000 and Grand Summit Express is 900. I believe that the way it works at Peak Resorts ski areas is that the detachable lifts always run full design speed unless they're beginner lifts or weather conditions prevent it. The detachable lifts at Wildcat, Crotched, and Hunter run at full design speed as well. Not sure about Attitash.

Yeah, Mount Snow does run their lifts fast. I believe the Grand Summit can run at 1,000fpm. It matches the speed of the Bluebird. It's been rebuilt so many times you can't trust any of the Yan stats you see on the install page. It is a cool sight to see the Main Face with three detachables all moving at full-speed. They used to run Challenger at 500 of 550 fpm. Not the case the last couple of years (in my experience, and I've been there on busy Saturdays where you would expect full speed). Was a lot of fun when they did! Two lifites to hold the chair and you had to HUSTLE to get out to the loading position! Being in the middle sucked... needed whatever maneuvering room you could get to get up to the "load here" sign.

[NHskier13]

snoloco, on 05 March 2016 - 06:48 PM, said:

Isn't The Rocket pretty short and a 3 minute ride? Assuming you can cycle down and up in 6 minutes, that's 10 runs an hour.

https://www.youtube....h?v=NU0EaGaqUto
https://www.youtube....h?v=ho3bwQi8x0s

I'd say about 4 minutes, but both these videos were taken on days where you wouldn't expect full speed like on a good weekend day mid season ; the first was taken at the end of 2013, I wanna say late march, and the second was taken on a day where the roads had lots of snow so not many people got up outside of those already in Bennington. And I'm a fairly fast skier, so the runs usually take less than 90 seconds (I don't stop :p )

[snoloco]

NH Skier: The ride in the first video is about 3:15, which means the lift is running about 1,000 fpm which I believe is its design speed.

SS20: GSE is not as fast as Bluebird, but is definitely faster than all the other Yan HSQ's in the east (although more of it is now Poma than Yan). It's a difference of 100-200 fpm, so it runs 900-1,000. Canyon runs 1,100 and Bluebird matches that, but is noticeably faster than GSE. Still faster to take GSE on most days that both are running, as long as you're cool with being "outside" for the duration of the ride to the top. Everyone wants the shelter of the bubble at takes Bluebird.