California — Out of all the ski resorts in North America, few (if any) compare to the rugged terrain at Kirkwood.
The California ski resort is known for its extreme terrain, but it also has a base area with lodging for overnight guests. Vail Resorts has owned it since 2012, but the ski resort hasn’t seen much investment in lifts or new terrain. So when the time comes, what should Vail Resorts prioritize?
In a video analysis/competition, SRG Skiing and his friend (ArjunSki) break down their ideas for how to best position Kirkwood for the future.
Proposed Additions
SRG Skiing’s priorities include a high-speed quad to replace the Sunrise fixed-grip quad chairlift, a new detachable quad to Devil’s Draw, a three-stage gondola to connect the base areas with the Sunrise pod, a new base area at Sunrise (reducing traffic congestion), and a high-speed quad near the top of Martin Point.
Arjun’s priorities include replacing Sunrise with a high-speed quad, moving the Sunrise quad to create an intermediate pod around Fawn Ridge, a high-speed quad out of the base to the top of Cape’s Crest, a six-pack chairlift that would have base terminals in the Mountain Village and Timber Creek, and a new fixed-grip chairlift to the top of Rabbit Runs.
As someone mentioned in the YouTube comments section, the least feasible project would be the Sunrise base area because it’s on federal land. The six-pack chairlift with two separate base terminals would also be challenging from an engineer’s perspective.
Image/Video Credits: Maria Dolores Vazquez, SRG Skiing, Kirkwood Mountain Resort
