During the course of their visit, delegates got a chance to mix a lot of traditional western hospitality in with their technical training discussions, to say nothing of site visits to Keystone, Breckenridge, Vail/Beaver Creek.
ITTAB, formed in 1950 by German and Swiss tramway authorities, is a forum for discussing common problems and concerns. Only tramway authorities or their technical consultants may attend the working sessions. The group meets annually to share experiences and information on design and operation of various types of facilities, particularly aerial lifts, surface lifts and tows. These meetings, called “reunions,” provide an opportunity for delegates to review accidents and incidents from the past year, to exchange information on relevant research and studies conducted in the various countries and to exchange ideas.
All discussions are confidential, and no report is released. This allows delegates to share technical details on a timely basis that might otherwise have to remain under wraps for long periods of time while under official investigation.
This year there were six working sessions, all conducted in the group’s official languages (German and French), but with English translation. The host organization was the Colorado Passenger Tramway Safety Board (CPTSB), with an assist from Colorado Ski Country USA.
Delegates got guided visits of several ski facilities. Doppelmayr and Von Roll hosted a lunch at Keystone’s spectacular Outpost restaurant, followed by a presentation by Jenlynn’s Jim Fletcher and Jamie Bunch of the Von Roll/Doppelmayr gondola linkage and underground cabin maintenance and storage area (March SAM cover story).
In visiting Vail/Beaver Creek, delegates seemed particularly interested in the biking facilities, including the bike path following the highway and the loading of mountain bikes and riders at the chairlifts. They also got a chance to get their first look at a CTEC/Garaventa detachable quad. After CTEC’s lunch at Beano’s, the delegates were given the option of riding down on horseback. The horses seemed to have a poor command of French and German.
Breckenridge was the third resort toured by the group, where Poma sponsored a lunch and showed off its Mercury and Colorado detachable quads. Several delegates also took the occasion over to take a closer look at the old Heron double they had spotted from on high.
ITTAB 92 got high marks from the European and Asian delegates, with CPTSB and Colorado Ski Country being credited with excellent organization for the working sessions, as well as sponsorship arrangements and field activities.
CPTSB’s Jon Carrick summed up for the hosts: “We were all proud to host ITTAB. I got the impression the delegates were impressed with our resorts and their facilities; I know they were impressed by our food and hospitality!”
