I really ruffled some feathers a couple of weeks ago when I wrote an opinion piece about Boyne Mountain Resort’s new 8-pack chairlift. I just couldn’t wrap my head around how such a small ski area could accommodate the uphill capacity of an 8-pack high-speed monstrosity.
Less people in line means more people on the hill, right? That’s a pretty simple thing to understand, but some Boyne diehards just couldn’t accept the fact that their favorite ski resort might be making a bad decision for the overall skiing experience.
Unfortunately, I foresee over-crowded slopes in the near future for Boyne Mountain Resorts.
You can read that article here.
Boyne Mountain Resort is owned by Boyne Resorts (obviously).
Boyne has sunk millions of dollars to install these big brand-new 8-pack chairlifts from lift manufacturer Dopplemayr across their properties. Sunday River, ME will join that list of resorts with an 8-pack chairlift this season.
I don’t have the same criticisms about Sunday River getting an 8-pack as I did for Boyne Mountain Resort, as Sunday River is objectively a much larger mountain, but I guess I’m just annoyed.
Just because a resort can install one of these new 8-pack chairlifts, does that mean that they should?
This might be a ‘Old Man Yells At Cloud’ moment, but I hate this new wave of high-capacity, high-speed lifts. Call me stupid, idiotic, unreasonable, or whatever, but I just don’t like them. Point blank.
I cringed while watching the update video below on Sunday River’s new 8-pack. There’s just something about these high-tech monstrosities that triggers me.
I’ll explain more after you watch the video.
Be prepared as I drop an unpopular opinion on you- I love slow, fixed-grip chairlifts. Seriously. I really do.
Is flying up the mountain at break-neck speeds nice to maximize your runs on a powder day? Sure. But, I’d prefer a nice meandering pace up the mountain if it means I have more time to talk with my friends and family I’m skiing with, and/or meet some new friendly faces.
The ski industry is predicated on technological advancements, so there’s literally no purpose to my useless dribbling, but I’d go crazy if I didn’t stand my ground.
^Madonna Chair at Smugglers’ Notch Resort. Credit: Matt Lorelli/Unofficial Networks
All of you fancy folks can have fun on your high-speed lifts, and while I’ll obviously ride them whenever I have to, I’ll always prefer the slow fixed-grip lifts of yesteryear.
I can’t wait to see the hate I get in my email inbox this time.
You guys really get triggered when I speak negatively on these 8-pack chairs… 😂