Guests at a Chinese ski resort recently went through a traumatizing experience.

The South China Morning Post reports that a chairlift stopped rapidly due to a malfunction, leading to the chairs rapidly swinging with passengers onboard. The ski resort wasn’t specified by the Post, but it’s located in western China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. The resort was able to safely evacuate everyone that was on the chairlift. The ultimate cause of the malfunction was abnormally cold weather.

Image/Video Credits: South China Morning Post

The Barker 6, a state-of-the-art, high-speed 6-person chairlift, has recently been inaugurated at Sunday River, Maine. This chairlift, one of the quickest in North America, is designed by Doppelmayr and is part of the ambitious Sunday River 2030 plan. The lift boasts innovative features like heated ergonomic seats, an automatic safety bar, and protective bubbles in the distinct Sunday River Red color, enhancing comfort and weather resistance.

The Barker 6 provides a swift and comfortable journey to Barker Mountain’s summit, connecting popular areas from White Cap to North Peak. It complements the Jordan 8, another cutting-edge lift at the resort, renowned as North America’s fastest 8-person chairlift, accessing the Oz and Jordan Bowl peaks.

Furthermore, this summer, Sunday River plans to introduce a new Doppelmayr fixed grip triple lift on Merrill Hill. This addition will pave the way for future ski trails and real estate projects, marking another significant milestone in the resort’s development.

Fascinating ski history lesson from Midwest Skiers about the development of the world’s first chairlift and its design inspiration originating in tropical banana plantations, world’s away from where they first appeared on the snowy slopes of Sun Valley Ski Resort in Idaho. The more you know…

RELATED: This Company That Restores Old Chairlifts For Home Use Is Awesome

In 1936 and 1937, the world witnessed the creation of the first three ski chairlifts for a resort in Sun Valley, Idaho. These chairlifts were introduced when the resort was under the ownership of the Union Pacific Railroad. The initial chairlift, which has since been taken down, was situated on Proctor Mountain, located two miles east of the more renowned Bald Mountain. Since 1939, Bald Mountain has been the primary ski mountain at Sun Valley resort.

Thankfully, one of the chairlifts still remains on Ruud Mountain, named in honor of Thomas Ruud, a renowned Norwegian ski racer. This particular chairlift, along with its ski jump and original single chairs, has been preserved just as it was during World War II. The credit for developing this innovative chairlift goes to James Curran, who was part of Union Pacific’s engineering department in Omaha during the summer of 1936. Before joining Union Pacific, Curran worked for Paxton and Vierling Steel in Omaha, where they engineered conveyor systems for loading cargo ships in tropical regions (including banana conveyor systems).

Curran’s creative mind reimagined the banana hooks and transformed them into comfortable chairs, creating a more efficient and comfortable means of transporting skiers compared to the traditional up-ski toboggans (cable cars) and J-bars, which were the most common methods of transport for skiers at that time, apart from mountain climbing. Remarkably, the basic design he conceived back then is still used for chairlifts today.

The patent for the original ski lift was officially issued to Mr. Curran, along with Gordon H. Bannerman and Glen H. Trout, who was the Chief Engineer of the Union Pacific Railroad, in March 1939. Thanks to their groundbreaking work, ski chairlifts revolutionized the skiing experience and became an integral part of ski resorts worldwide.

Not sure if this is standard procedure but its certainly one of doing it. Check out this video of lift mechanics at an unnamed ski resort taking a blow torch to a old chairlift’s haul rope until it finally gives way and violently retracts uphill. Seems like this could have gone catastrophically wrong but apparently they knew what they were doing. I guess alls well that ends well? Anyone have any insight on if this practice is common?

RELATED: Chairlift Tower Removal Time Lapse

ABOUT CHAIRLIFT HAUL ROPES:

A chairlift haul rope is an essential component of a chairlift system, responsible for safely transporting skiers and snowboarders up the slopes. It is a heavy-duty cable made of multiple strands of high-tensile steel wire, designed to withstand the tremendous forces and weather conditions it encounters.

Chairlift haul ropes are typically composed of a central core surrounded by several layers of wire strands. The core provides strength and stability, while the outer strands offer flexibility and load-bearing capacity. The number of strands and the thickness of the wire can vary depending on the specific design and load requirements of the chairlift.

These ropes undergo rigorous testing to ensure their durability and reliability. They are engineered to withstand extreme tension and bending as they pass over the sheaves or pulleys at each tower of the chairlift. They must also endure harsh environmental conditions, including heavy snowfall, wind, and temperature fluctuations.

Maintenance and inspection of chairlift haul ropes are critical to ensuring their safe operation. Regular inspections involve visual checks for signs of wear, corrosion, or damage, as well as non-destructive testing methods such as magnetic particle inspection or ultrasonic testing to detect any internal flaws that could compromise the rope’s integrity.

To maximize their lifespan, chairlift haul ropes require proper lubrication and cleaning to reduce friction and prevent corrosion. Lubricants are applied to minimize wear and extend the life of the wire strands.

Chairlift haul ropes play a vital role in providing a safe and efficient means of transportation for skiers and snowboarders. Their strength, durability, and meticulous maintenance are essential to ensure the safety and reliability of chairlift systems, contributing to an enjoyable mountain experience for winter sports enthusiasts around the world.

There isn’t much information currently available on this new ski resort gate system by SkiData called the sMove Gate but the video does a pretty good job of demonstrating its operation. Turnstile gates for lift lines have always left a good bit to be desired for skiers (especially snowboarders) and I’m all for a more elegant solution if one exists. How’d you like to see your home resort updated with the sMove Gate?

SKIDATA's sMove Gate is revolutionizing ski resorts! Unveiled at #Interalpin, visitors loved it & you will too! Watch our video to see how it works, transforming the world of welcoming guests. Don't miss out! #SKIDATA #sMoveGate #SkiResort #MountainDestination pic.twitter.com/89MG0ZM2Mf

— SKIDATA (@skidata) April 21, 2023

images from skidata.com

Heads up skiers and snowboarders, if you’ve ever wanted to own your own chairlift chair you should check out Buck Hill’s auction that went live today. There are 50 chairs up for bid and you need to pick them up in Minnesota by June 30th so if you’r out of state factor that in. They definitely have some patina for may years of service up in the Land of 10,000 Lakes but I think a bit of rust adds character. If you interested in placing a bid GO HERE.

BUCK HILL CHAIRLIFT AUCTION

Welcome to the online auction of Buck Hill Ski and Snowboard Area’s historic center chairlift chairs! This exclusive event is your opportunity to own a piece of skiing history.

The auction will take place exclusively online, allowing participants from all over to bid on these iconic chairlift chairs. Mark your calendars, as the auction will run from June 21st, 2023, to June 28th, 2023. This week-long window gives you ample time to place your bids and secure your desired favorite chair!

Please note that the pickup date for the chairs is hard set for Friday, June 30th. It is essential to plan accordingly and ensure that you can retrieve your purchased chairlift chair on this designated day.

The chairs available for auction are from the historic Buck Hill center quad chair, a significant part of the ski resort’s legacy. Each chair offers a tangible connection to the rich history and memories of Buck Hill.

There are a limited quantity of 50 chairlift chairs available for auction. Due to their rarity and the high demand from enthusiasts and collectors, these chairs are expected to be highly sought after. This auction represents a last chance for you to bring the legacy of Buck Hill to your home, creating a unique and nostalgic addition to your space.

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to own a piece of Buck Hill’s history. Join the online auction from June 21st, 2023, to June 28th, 2023, and mark Friday, June 30th, as the hard pickup date. Secure your desired chairlift chair and be a part of preserving the legacy of Buck Hill for generations to come.

PLACE YOUR BIDS HERE

Middlebury Snowbowl in Vermont is making major headway on their replacement of the old Sheehan double chairlift with a new Skytrac quad. Here’s a quick clip of a lift tower going TIMBER with the assistance of heavy duty strap and what sounds like a tractor. Heads up…the old chairs are for sale, more info below: 

Timber! Out with the Old!

#ThisIsMidd #GoMidd @Middlebury @middalumni @MiddAthletics pic.twitter.com/PYBuFzTAxF

— Middlebury Snowbowl (@MiddleburySB) June 16, 2023

The Sheehan Lift Chairs are for sale. Anyone interested should call the office and ask for Carrie Herzog CONTACT PAGE HERE. 

“Get ready to hit the trails! If your bikes have been waiting patiently, now is the moment to unleash them. Our intermediate & expert trails open this Friday, June 16th!”

Lee Canyon Ski Resort outside of Las Vegas, Nevada is set to open its mountain bike park for its second season of operation this Friday, June, 16th. Currently Lee Canyon only offers intermediate and expert chairlift accessed trails but plans to open their first beginner trail later this season.

Helmets are required and e-bikes are prohibited per US Forest Service Regulation including e-bikes with disconnected/removed batteries and throttles. A season pass runs $299, day passes start at $59 and kids 12 and under ride for free. MORE INFO HERE

“Kehr’s Chair Auction Update: 63 chairs from Kehr’s Chair will be available through a public auction beginning on Sunday, June 25th at 5pm PT and ending on Monday, June 26th at 5pm PT.”

If you want to purchase your own little bit of Stevens Pass history, make sure you pre-register and are ready at the helm on June 25th at 5pm to place a bid one of retired chairs from the Kehrs Double Chairlift.  All proceeds of the auction will benefit the EpicPromise Employee Foundation. Find registration info HERE.

Own A Piece of Stevens Pass History!

After many years of service, Stevens Pass Ski Resort is upgrading the Kehrs Double chairlift. The double chairs are approximately 180lbs in weight and measure approximately 115″H x 42″W x 24″D.

This is your chance to own a cherished piece of Stevens Pass Resort. There are only 63 ski chairs available. You can register and bid for a ski chair through our virtual auction, held right here.

All proceeds of the auction will benefit the EpicPromise Employee Foundation.

Important Notice: Ski Chair Designation Number

Please note that in order to organize the 63 ski chairs on this site, each chair will have a “lot number” designated to it. These numbers DO NOT represent the actual chair number itself; they are only representing chair inventory. For example, if you bid on “Kehrs Chair – #7”, this means you are bidding on a random ski chair we have assigned as the 7th auction item, NOT the actual ski chair #7 from the Kehrs ski chair lift.

No specific chair number can be requested, as the chairs will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis to the highest bidders at pick-up.

Auction Event Dates

Online Auction Opens: Sunday, June 25th at 5pm PDT.

Online Auction Closes: Monday, June 26th at 5pm PDT.

Pre-Register

We recommend pre-registering yourself here prior to the auction start by navigating to the left menu and clicking “Register.” This way, you’ll be ready to bid once the auction opens!

Chair Pickup

If you win a chair, pick-up will be located at Stevens Pass. Specific location and instructions will be provided after you have secured your winning bid and payment has been fulfilled.

We will NOT ship or hold equipment. No exceptions. Please ensure you or a family member/friend will be available to pick up your chair on the date below during the pickup window time:

• Sunday, July 9th, 9am – 3pm PDT

Questions

For any questions regarding the auction and its items, please refer to the FAQs on the menu to the left.

If you have any questions outside of our FAQs, please email SPGuestService@vailresorts.com

The chairlifts at Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort in Japan take on an agricultural role in the off-season where they are loaded up with rice ears to dry them out before they hit the market. Known as “sky rice” the product is said to be the best in the area. Yummy.