The "Sugarbush Thread"

[KustyTheKlown]

I might regret saying this on a particularly cold/windy day, but I'm fine with not having bubble chairs

i actually dislike a bubble on the large majority of days. its sleeting and uncomfortable, sure bubble. its actually -10 degrees outside, ok fine.

my issue is that people yank that thing down on every ride, on every day. i dont want to sit in a blue tinted dome on a 27 degree sunny day. i dont want to sit in a blue tinted dome when its snowing lightly. its skiing. i am there to be outside. i am prepared for cold weather. i also sit on my poles and the bubble down makes it impossible so i also end up sitting kinda bored for 5 minutes because usually i read my e-book on the chair for a few minutes.

 

[Hawk]

I am mostly in line with you Kusty. The only other time I like the bubble is on really cold days. It is nice to keep the wind off of you so you don't freeze your ass off. I don't mind a little snow.

 

[jonnyco14]

The next for replacement would be super bravo but I imagine that is 5 to 10 years away. It has the most hours by far. I think the new lift has a slightly higher capacity than the old one.

I do think there is an opportunity to cut some glades off the long trail near exterminator woods the same year they add the new lift (above inverness)...maybe make something like bracket basin at sugarloaf. There was a storm skiing podcast from a few years ago where this is mentioned. Would really create a cool zone up there with minimal investment.

 

[Hawk]

So what you are saying is go beyond exterminator woods down to the Inverness lift?

 

[elfnif1016]

So, yet again, poor/non-existent communication from Sugarbush. Consider me shocked!

Since Hammond & his team took over, communication has pretty much stopped. Even the website blog updates are pretty infrequent.

 

[doublediamond]

The concrete is being 100% replaced. Locations of new footings will be exactly the same to minimize ground disturbance. Two new towers will be required, 7A and 15A.

 

[KustyTheKlown]

I am mostly in line with you Kusty. The only other time I like the bubble is on really cold days. It is nice to keep the wind off of you so you don't freeze your ass off. I don't mind a little snow.

referencing the other active thread, the jay peak flyer is one of the only chairs i can think of anywhere where i would prefer it to be a bubble. it is consistently fucking brutal coming over the ridge above expo

 

[Lotso]

No mention on SB daily report of this being ME closing weekend. I assume it still is?

 

[jonnyco14]

So what you are saying is go beyond exterminator woods down to the Inverness lift?

Yea, he mentions it at the 45min mark in the podcast. He didn't say much but was chatting about scouting that area.

 

[ducky]

Some nice sunny days to end the MtE season anyway. Please no bubbles, heated seats, or six-packs at Sugarbush. Upslope capcity at GMX is fine when running.

 

[sull1102]

Ellen is definitely done Sunday, closing day party is still in the schedule.

It really is crazy when you look at their whole lift fleet and the install dates. There’s a rough few years ahead Gate House, Super Bravo, North Ridge, “Slidey B” all hitting 30 while GMX creeps up to 25. Even if they started replacing 1 every 3 years in order of use, 27(NR)-30(SB)-33(GH)-36(Slide)-39(GMX) there will be a lot of free hot cocoa vouchers being given out due to mechanical issues. Never mind needing to likely replace a fixed grip here and there along the way.

 

[kbroderick]

I am mostly in line with you Kusty. The only other time I like the bubble is on really cold days. It is nice to keep the wind off of you so you don't freeze your ass off. I don't mind a little snow.

In addition to the truly cold days, I really like bubbles when:
a) it's raining or snowing enough to create wet seats--my gear is good enough for staying reasonably dry while skiing, but sitting in a puddle (or a pile of snow that becomes a puddle from my body heat) has proven uncomfortable in every pair of ski pants I've ever had
b) wind, regardless of temperature--the Jordan 8 has proven to me that the engineers are right, and the big chairs with closed bubbles are more wind-resistant. The downside is that sometimes you need to close the bubbles when it's relatively warm but gusty, because open bubbles are not good in the wind.

If you don't want to hold you poles, you can stick them behind you as you sit down.

 

[Newpylong]

Ellen is definitely done Sunday, closing day party is still in the schedule.

It really is crazy when you look at their whole lift fleet and the install dates. There’s a rough few years ahead Gate House, Super Bravo, North Ridge, “Slidey B” all hitting 30 while GMX creeps up to 25. Even if they started replacing 1 every 3 years in order of use, 27(NR)-30(SB)-33(GH)-36(Slide)-39(GMX) there will be a lot of free hot cocoa vouchers being given out due to mechanical issues. Never mind needing to likely replace a fixed grip here and there along the way.

I don't understand what the infatuation is with lift age in this thread. What you see in front of you are MAINTENANCE issues (coupled with bad luck). These lifts, by their age alone, do not invite an unduly amount of maintenance issues. They are still in mainstream support, there are sufficient parts and training available, etc and so on.

Furthermore, as all new detachable installs in New England have also experienced significant break-in mechanical downtime, it's not going to stop just by installing new lifts.

 

[KustyTheKlown]

If you don't want to hold you poles, you can stick them behind you as you sit down.

i do that when there is space. very rude move on a full or nearly full chair tho.

 

[Smellytele]

i do that when there is space. very rude move on a full or nearly full chair tho.

With no holes under the seat back putting poles under you is impossible and I would never put them behind me when others are on the lift. Yesterday at Waterville every ride up was alone so I just placed them on my thighs because the bar has the part that goes inbetween your legs and it held them

 

[kbroderick]

i do that when there is space. very rude move on a full or nearly full chair tho.

Fair enough. I've seen racers make it work pretty well even with nearly-full chairs, but I'll caveat that I wasn't sitting on top of their poles, so I have no idea if it would have been comfortable or not. There is definitely some room at the back of the seat under normal conditions.

 

[KustyTheKlown]

Fair enough. I've seen racers make it work pretty well even with nearly-full chairs, but I'll caveat that I wasn't sitting on top of their poles, so I have no idea if it would have been comfortable or not. There is definitely some room at the back of the seat under normal conditions.

also - racers are notorious for not giving a fuck about you, me, or anyone but themselves.

 

[jimmywilson69]

I swear they teach those kids that shit from a very early age...

 

[SkiingInABlueDream]

Even if they started replacing 1 every 3 years in order of use, 27(NR)-30(SB)-33(GH)-36(Slide)-39(GMX) there will be a lot of free hot cocoa vouchers being given out due to mechanical issues.

Slidebrook replacement? I don't see that evvvvvvveeeerrrrrrr happening

 

[1dog]

i actually dislike a bubble on the large majority of days. its sleeting and uncomfortable, sure bubble. its actually -10 degrees outside, ok fine.

my issue is that people yank that thing down on every ride, on every day. i dont want to sit in a blue tinted dome on a 27 degree sunny day. i dont want to sit in a blue tinted dome when its snowing lightly. its skiing. i am there to be outside. i am prepared for cold weather. i also sit on my poles and the bubble down makes it impossible so i also end up sitting kinda bored for 5 minutes because usually i read my e-book on the chair for a few minutes.

or like the ol days when gondi's were an opium den. Agree tho- that Snowden chair - unless everyone wants it down- leave it up. Poles don't work with that bubble down- only real benefit is keeps chairs snow-free when not in use.