Rigaud, Quebec — Mont Rigaud will double its uphill carrying capacity to the summit this winter, thanks to help from a relatively nearby friend.
This offseason, Mont Rigaud has added another chairlift to the ski area. The Poma Express is a fixed-grip quad chairlift that’s originally from Bromont, where it was known as the Versant des Épinettes. The lift will have an uphill capacity of 2400 people per hour, doubling the ski area’s carrying capacity to the summit. It will operate during weekends and holidays. Overall, the lift is an investment of nearly $2.5 million CAD ($1,836,450 USD).
Luc Élie, who owns the ski resort, told Par Ginette Brisebois of Néomédia last week about the process of acquiring, moving, and building this lift:
“We began this major project last year, which will culminate in the commissioning of the new, used lift this winter. First, we acquired it from the Bromont ski resort in 2022-2023. We dismantled it in the spring of 2023, then transported it here, before doing the foundations and structure, two stages that will be completed in November. This week, we’re installing cables, electronics, electrical components and control panels. After that, we’ll enter the final phase, which will consist of tests and inspections.”
Mont Rigaud is a popular ski area that’s only 25 km (15.5 miles) from Montreal. It features 15 trails, four lifts, and a vertical drop of just under 400 feet. In the summer, there are various hiking and mountain biking trails.
According to Luc Élie, this new lift allows them not to need to add any new lifts and work on other parts of the mountain instead:
“We were there when you consider the number of skiers who come here every winter. With this new lift, we’ll have a nice balance. In the future, we won’t really be able to expand any further. We’re taking up all the available space with the addition of this new lift.”
The chairlift’s projected opening date is December 7th.
Image Credits: Mont Riguad
