Spillway Reopens on Sugarloaf and Replacement Plans

[wa-loaf]

http://www.sugarloaf.com/Corporate/Media/PressReleases/Present/2010/spillway_reopens.html

 

[Skimaine]

Great news that Spillway East is open. Also great news that snow making has resumed on Hayburner, Kings, et al for the express purpose of providing spring skiing.

 

[snowmonster]

It's been reported on Boston.com: http://www.boston.com/travel/explorene/specials/ski/blog/2011/02/spillway_rides.html?p1=Upbox_links

"Sugarloafers, your chair awaits. At last.

"The Spillway East double chair that derailed on Dec.28 finally reopened Monday afternoon following exhaustive repair and testing. The Maine State Elevator and Tram Board deemed the iconic double chairlift safe after a complete inspection and load test. No live people or crash test dummies were used - instead 36- pound plastic-lined boxes filled with water were loaded onto each chair.

"While the lift is back up and running just in time for the busy February vacation week, its replacement is still a priority for Sugarloaf management. Hopefully a new name, other than dubious "Spillway" will be considered as well." (Reported by Heather Burke)

 

[dbking]

Ya know what noise it made when it hit the ground?

BOYYYYYYNNNNNNNE

 

[Skimaine]

Heather, Heather, Heather. An iconic lift with a dubious name? Nah. I am hoping they install a new lift and keep the name.

 

[riverc0il]

Such a dubious name. :roll: Eff that. Keep the name and the logging theme heritage. Shame on that style of reporting style. Yea, it might be a "blog" but its on one of Boston's premier media web sites so I would expect better. Who wants another "North Ridge Chairlift"? I say the skiing world needs more such "dubious" names. That is good stuff, right there.

 

[bigbog]

........I am hoping they install a new lift and keep the name.

My God, wouldn't that be nice.....or something that wouldn't get shutdown with the wind...which would probably
bring on ticket/pass increases.

 

[thetrailboss]

Breaking news from Sugarloaf: Spillway QUAD announced for this summer WITH a MAGIC CARPET/CONVEYOR.

Rebuilding the SuperQuad's electronics.



Spillway will have a lower profile, be heavier, and will be as windproof as possible.

 

[wa-loaf]

Good news!

I wonder if they will have the conveyor at the top too? Either way there is going to have to be some serious blasting up there to make room for folks coming off of a fast quad.

 

[thetrailboss]

The press release:

http://www.sugarloaf.com/Corporate/Media/PressReleases/Present/2010/new_lift.html

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

"Work on the lift requires cooperation from Mother Nature, and crews have been slowed by two snowstorms and extreme cold throughout the past week

this is a SKI lift we are talking about right?? at a SKI resort...isnt a lift supposed to work in snowstorms and extreme cold?

I dont know a wholelot about the process, but seems logical to test in conditions that would be expected when people get on it.....

 

[wa-loaf]

"Work on the lift requires cooperation from Mother Nature, and crews have been slowed by two snowstorms and extreme cold throughout the past week

this is a SKI lift we are talking about right?? at a SKI resort...isnt a lift supposed to work in snowstorms and extreme cold?

I dont know a wholelot about the process, but seems logical to test in conditions that would be expected when people get on it.....

Running a lift in winter weather is a little different than being out there working on it. Especially with the extensive repairs that were needed.

 

[bigbob]

Such a dubious name. :roll: Eff that. Keep the name and the logging theme heritage. Shame on that style of reporting style. Yea, it might be a "blog" but its on one of Boston's premier media web sites so I would expect better. Who wants another "North Ridge Chairlift"? I say the skiing world needs more such "dubious" names. That is good stuff, right there.

How about we call it "THE SPILLWAY QUAD"????

 

[Edd]

"Work on the lift requires cooperation from Mother Nature, and crews have been slowed by two snowstorms and extreme cold throughout the past week

this is a SKI lift we are talking about right?? at a SKI resort...isnt a lift supposed to work in snowstorms and extreme cold?

I dont know a wholelot about the process, but seems logical to test in conditions that would be expected when people get on it.....

This isn't typical maintenance or a normal breakdown. It was a significant incident with nationwide press attention and quite a stroke of luck that nobody was killed. They probably had to perform a level of maintenance normally reserved for summer weather

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

"Work on the lift requires cooperation from Mother Nature, and crews have been slowed by two snowstorms and extreme cold throughout the past week

this is a SKI lift we are talking about right?? at a SKI resort...isnt a lift supposed to work in snowstorms and extreme cold?

I dont know a wholelot about the process, but seems logical to test in conditions that would be expected when people get on it.....

What does working on the lift in bad weather have to do with testing it in bad weather? You used a quote regarding work in poor weather vs your comment regarding testing....am Am I reading that correctly?

 

[EPB]

This is great news for Sugarloaf. They have great terrain, but a lackluster lift system. The Spillway replacement coupled with the overhaul of the Superquad equipment (which has been a disaster since it was installed) should go a long way toward bringing the lift system into the 21st century.

The second phase of the Brackett Basin expansion was also confirmed during the press conference. The lines out there should be great, especially considering that they will be cutting all the way up to the summit of Burnt Mountain. It will be interesting to see how the need for rescues will increase as the gladed zone becomes more expansive. They would probably do themselves a big favor by cutting some carefully placed trails on the outside of the boundaries, and perhaps in the middle of the zone as well.

 

[bigbog]

1+ epb

They have good ideas, but would like them to emulate more VT trails = keeping trees = less wind-blown.

 

[MV Frank]

Even with a speedier spillway lift, double runner is still excruciatingly slow... crossing my fingers that's the next one due for the upgrade afterwards

 

[wa-loaf]

Even with a speedier spillway lift, double runner is still excruciatingly slow... crossing my fingers that's the next one due for the upgrade afterwards

The whole point of the Spillway lift is so you don't have to go all the way down on the flats. Spillway chair is perfect for lapping in the spring. And if you need to get up fast from the base there's the Superquad. Really no need to ride DR unless you are skiing Boardwalk. Not that the lift doesn't need replacement, but def not at the top of my list.

 

[MV Frank]

The whole point of the Spillway lift is so you don't have to go all the way down on the flats. Spillway chair is perfect for lapping in the spring. And if you need to get up fast from the base there's the Superquad. Really no need to ride DR unless you are skiing Boardwalk. Not that the lift doesn't need replacement, but def not at the top of my list.

True, though I've jumped on double runner many times when superquad is stuck and lines are accumulating...and man its slow. It would be great for the resort too to have better uphill capacity from the base with 3 fast lifts.

That said, an express timberline would be sick...just wishful thinking