Chairlifts with heated seats

[4aprice]

Several places used to give out blankets. They only came out on the coldest of days and I for one appreciated them. They were relatively inexpensive, easy to administrate, didn't break down.

Smugglers Notch used to have blankets on Madonna and Sterling. Madonna is so windy at times that they used to blow off the chairs on the return trip. I remember there was a blanket caught in a tree that was there for years. We used to watch it get smaller year by year. It was finally gone the last time I was there in 2008.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[speden]

I think my wife would really go for heated seats on chairlifts. When we're driving up to the ski areas, with the car toasty warm, she still has her heated car seat set on maximum. Then many a ski day has ended early for me because she got cold. So I think this sort of thing would be great for keeping the wives and kids a little more comfortable so that dads can get in a longer ski day. I can see that being the deciding factor on which ski area to go to.

A couple years back I remember riding a long lift on the north slope at Mt. Tremblant. It was completely in the shade and the wind chill was bad. I felt like an ice cube by the time we got to the top. I wouldn't have minded a bubble and heated seats on that lift.

It might also be a good way to go for the old gondola line at Sugarloaf. They don't seem to have enough skier traffic to justify a high priced gondola, so maybe a heated quad with bubbles would fit in the budget. I don't really like gondolas that much anyway, since it's like being in an elevator where you're forced to be face to face with strangers.

 

[WWF-VT]

Found this "review" of heated seats


Seriously, though, when we finally rode the chair that toasted our bottoms, it seemed they provided little comfort. It was kind of like standing in front of the fireplace: one side of you toasts while the other freezes. The difference on the chair, however, is that unlike the fireplace, where you can turn around to warm your other side, you can’t roll over on the chair.

 

[wa-loaf]

I can't stand having the seat heater on in my car for more than a minute or two. I don't think I would like it. Plus the only thing that gets cold hanging on the lift are my toes. Bought boot heaters for that ...

 

[bvibert]

I've had a frozen ass a few times from riding the chair, on nights that it's snowing heavily and coating the chair. Eventually it soaks through my pants, sitting in essentially a puddle doesn't do much to keep you warm. Those are the times that I wish I had one of those neoprene ass cover things (under my snow pants ).

 

[Black Phantom]

I've had a frozen ass a few times from riding the chair, on nights that it's snowing heavily and coating the chair. Eventually it soaks through my pants, sitting in essentially a puddle doesn't do much to keep you warm. Those are the times that I wish I had one of those neoprene ass cover things (under my snow pants ).

Snow pants?

 

[speden]

Found this "review" of heated seats


Seriously, though, when we finally rode the chair that toasted our bottoms, it seemed they provided little comfort. It was kind of like standing in front of the fireplace: one side of you toasts while the other freezes. The difference on the chair, however, is that unlike the fireplace, where you can turn around to warm your other side, you can’t roll over on the chair.

That sounds like sitting on a frying pan. Hopefully the one at Canyons is an improved model. Guess I'll have to make a trip out there this season to see how bad it sucks. Maybe do a comparative study between the old school infrastructure at Powder Mountain versus the pampered butt approach at the Canyons.

 

[SIKSKIER]

Old School?

Then again you could always rack it old school-

OMG I'm old school.Actually I have a pair of these HotBunz but rarely wear them.On that frozen chaitlift day though there is nothing better.Only worn under the shell pants please.I do notice that only guys seem to wear them under.The ladies don't want that butt looking bigger than it is.

 

[Black Phantom]

OMG I'm old school.Actually I have a pair of these HotBunz but rarely wear them.On that frozen chaitlift day though there is nothing better.Only worn under the shell pants please.I do notice that only guys seem to wear them under.The ladies don't want that butt looking bigger than it is.

Isn't the whole point in wearing them to keep your rear end dry? If so, then why wear them under your pants when the pants will still get wet and damp? Doesn't this defeat the purpose?

 

[dmc]

Isn't the whole point in wearing them to keep your rear end dry? If so, then why wear them under your pants when the pants will still get wet and damp? Doesn't this defeat the purpose?

It's like wearing a diaper..

 

[HowieT2]

warming the seat is worthless, unless the heat can keep it dry. Appreciate when the lifties knock the ice off but its never completely effective. Hate the wet seat.

 

[Black Phantom]

warming the seat is worthless, Hate the wet seat.

That's what she said.

 

[billski]

I hate the ice-encrusted seats the most.

 

[Glenn]

LMAO! DrJeff! They still sell 'em!

http://www.reliableracing.com/detail.cfm?edp=10148542

Now I just need to find a faded, dirty Spyder jacket. I mean, I kinda already have the nose...... :lol:

 

[drjeff]

LMAO! DrJeff! They still sell 'em!

http://www.reliableracing.com/detail.cfm?edp=10148542

Now I just need to find a faded, dirty Spyder jacket. I mean, I kinda already have the nose...... :lol:

Don't forget the old school Spyder Rad Pads too!

 

[Glenn]

Don't forget the old school Spyder Rad Pads too!

I'll hit e-bay.

 

[farlep99]

warming the seat is worthless, unless the heat can keep it dry. Appreciate when the lifties knock the ice off but its never completely effective. Hate the wet seat.

With the heated seat / bubble lifts the bubble closes as the chairs head back down the mountain (after you get off). Then the bubble opens right before you get on at the bottom. So the bubble keeps the chairs dry if it's snowing. I've ridden them in Austria but I must say it felt completely unnecessary there. Every time I've skied there it's been in the 30's & sunny. Even on days it snows it's nothing like the NE temperature wise. I agree that these lifts are kind of dumb, although I must say I wish the Green Mountain Freezer @ Jay had a bubble & some heat. Although as mentioned before, the Freezer keeps the crowds off the chair

 

[speden]

With the heated seat / bubble lifts the bubble closes as the chairs head back down the mountain (after you get off). Then the bubble opens right before you get on at the bottom. So the bubble keeps the chairs dry if it's snowing.

I wonder if that makes it less likely to have wind holds on these type of lifts. Without a bubble the air flow over the chair would be quite turbulent and give rise to chair oscillations that would force a wind hold. But with a bubble, the airflow over the chair would probably be more uniform and smooth, making the chairs more stable in high wind. That's probably why they need the bubbles to be closed on the way down, otherwise the open bubble would act like a sail and cause problems.

 

[tjf67]

The use bubbles is more because of the amout of rain they tend to get. It is meant to keep people dry until they get up in elevation where it changes to snow.

Heated seats would help keep them dry. Its not a deal breaker but if I got up in line and noticed seated seats i can't say I would be upset.

 

[Warp Daddy]

I hate the ice-encrusted seats the most.

Me too LMAO all i can think of is its like a massive overdose of that damn mentholated Preparation H