Hawk
Well-known member
Howie knows his sh*t. He won't get you into any trouble. This year was not a good year for that. The snow ran out at the bottom early.
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The "Sugarbush Thread"
- Thread starter thetrailboss
- Start date
Thanks but not sure how much I'm going to be around next season. My daughter graduates at the end of the month and is moving to denver so I have to go there and I just booked BC too. Hawk, you should meet me at whitewater. blow your mind.
Slidebrook87
Active member
Interesting to hear that Heaven's Gate is getting replaced, or at least is planning to be. I really don't think a fixed-grip quad would be a huge upgrade, but we'll see.
I think a fixed-grip quad is really the most logical and appropriate choice for HG. You don't need a high speed lift up there. Lowering the profile to reduce wind issues in a few spots is a big upgrade. A brand new lift in and of itself is a rather significant upgrade as well as in theory it would be more reliable just by virtue of being a brand new lift.
Hawk
Well-known member
Let me see, a new lift, that is reliable and does not breakdown every week, that is heavier and lower profile so wind does not effect it and also has slightly higher capacity. No.......No upgrade there. LOL
LOL indeed. I'm not sure how lower profile it can get, maybe at the section below where Spills ends but the top terminal is pretty tucked in there. Towers could get a little lower but they are not going to be blocked from the north wind coming from lookers right. To Hawks point the heavier chairs will probably make the most difference. Also it would be good to move the bottom terminal uphill a bit to make more space for the corral and people milling around. It's always an adventure coming from Ripcord and making to hard right turn to get into the corral.
Hawk
Well-known member
I agree about the reworking of the bottom area. I think they can also regrade and add some material to enlarge the platform where the line forms. It will be really nice to have a more reliable lift there.
new heavens gate lift is probably the biggest improvement they can do at lincoln peak. will be obviously more reliable which is of utmost importance but also faster and higher capacity.
would like to see a new nrx over at mt ellen too. should that be a hsq or would a fixed grip do?
would like to see a new nrx over at mt ellen too. should that be a hsq or would a fixed grip do?
Not sure why they would replace an already HSQ with a fixed grip,... That would be a major downgrade for that POD
jimmywilson69
Well-known member
Yup...NRX covers more vertical than any other lift at Sugarbush and is really the "main" lift at ME as it gives access to the majority of terrain in a single lift. If there's any single lift that should be an HSQ...it should be that one.
slatham
Well-known member
HG = FGQ is best solution IMHO. Adjusting profile to help with wind encouraged. Bottom terminal area improvement a must. Not sure how much added Act 250 work there is - they did major changes to top and bottom at VH and got it done.
Agree NRX should stay HSQ. I would think a major overall by the manufacturer could do the trick. Approaching 30 so probably needed.
Agree NRX should stay HSQ. I would think a major overall by the manufacturer could do the trick. Approaching 30 so probably needed.
It my favorite lift at Sugarbush - no runout, all vertical and a lot of options.
I think it needs a complete replacement. As tumbler pointed out...it was originally a Poma lift, then moved by Dopp. And then also rebuilt in 2014 by Dopp already. Time to just bite the bullet and completely replace it with a brand new lift at this point. No sense dumping more money into another rebuild on that lift.
I think Dopp is still the most recent vendor. They rebuilt it in 2014. Anything since then has just been repairs as far as I can remember. I don't recall Skytrack being involved with NRX up to this point. Unless they were involved this past year to help fix the lightning strike issues.The problem with NRX is that it is a fraken-lift. Built by Poma, moved by Dopp and I'm not sure who is the vendor now. Skytrack?
The NRX, former GMX, is now 32 years old. I think it has served SB very well and has earned retirement. Alterra is more interested in expanding Steamboat and Winter Park right now. Those are shinier things than replacing NRX at SB.
Slidebrook87
Active member
They could take an approach like Superstar where it really hugs the ground for a little while, but that would close off a good portion of the trail which I'm not sure would be a good idea either. Personally I haven't noticed Heaven's Gate's reliability issues this year but maybe I've just been lucky.
I was just wondering because I assume a FGQ is significantly less expensive and easier to maintain.
My understanding is that the situation with the lift on superstar was not intentional.
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