Lifts
The Lifts Department is home to a variety of resources and information about ski area uphill transportation, from lift management, maintenance, and operations to staffing, training, and emerging technologies, it’s all here.
Cover Story
Construction Site
A handful of lift installations across North America, each with its own unique elements.
Lift Articles
Construction Site :: July 2026
Infrastructure projects large and small got underway across North America this spring.
Murphy’s Law Loves a Holiday Week
When lifts break, teams jump into action—and what happens next deserves the headlines.
An Age-Old Lift Problem
With each passing year, the need to replace aging lifts across North America becomes more urgent.
Riding High
New aerial transport systems can reshape the future of mountain towns.
Back Down to Earth
Tariffs and inflation were among the primary causes for a dip in North American lift installations.
Sponsored Content
Leitner-Poma of America
Focused on American manufacturing and on-time delivery, take a behind-the-scenes look at LPOA’s factory and collaborations with Sunlight Mountain Resort, Park City Mountain Resort, Crystal Mountain Resort, Snowbasin Resort, and Aspen Snowmass.
Latest News
Tremblant to Invest CA$42M in Lift Served Expansion, Beginner Area
2026 Rise Up Challenge Sets Voting Record, Winner Announced
Wildfire Leaves Maverick Mountain’s Only Chairlift Likely Inoperable
Voting is Open for the 2026 Rise Up Challenge
Approval for Disputed Park City Lift Improvements Upheld
RMLA Conference Relocated to Salt Lake City, Drew Nearly 600 Attendees
Ski California’s LMOE Conference Draws Nearly 400 Attendees, Expands Training Opportunities
Six Lift Maintenance Teams Selected for 2026 Rise Up Challenge
Through the Decades
1960sUpward Rise Of The Aerial TramJune 1965
1970sLettersDecember 1979
1980sGets an “A” for EffortMarch 1981
1990sLift Specialists Gather At Steamboat SymposiumNovember 19922000sRed Investing $1 Million on Capital ImprovementsJuly 2008
2010sOccupancy Flat, Revenues Up In Western Mountain DestinationsMarch 2017
2020sNew Pulse Gondola Planned at Loon for 2025-26April 2024Cards show digitized stories tagged to this department. Decades without tagged articles are omitted; the chips below still search every decade from the 1960s on.
Community
On the calendar
- Sep28International Snow Science Workshop (Sep 28, 2026)
- Sep29CWSAA Fall Lift Safety Bootcamp (Sep 29, 2026)
- Oct5Pipeline Project Ski Career Exploration, Mountain Ops Focus (Oct 5, 2026)
- Oct6CWSAA Fall Lift Safety Bootcamp (Oct 6, 2026)
- Oct21CWSAA Fall Lift Safety Bootcamp (Oct 21, 2026)
- Jun8Lift Maintenance and Operations Education (LMOE) (Jun 8, 2027)
Parts & Resource Board
Supplier Guide
Fall Line ConstructionFall Line Construction, based in North Conway, N.H., provides excavation and mountain construction services for ski areas. The team supports lift and mountain infrastructure projects with lift foundations, on-mountain sitework, utility trenching, pipe fusion and installation, access road construction, trail grading, and slope stabilization.
Ficap FUNBELTFicap’s FUNBELT® moving carpets make it easier and more comfortable for guests to get around ski areas and mountain resorts. Used for beginner slopes, base areas, and pedestrian transport, Funbelt systems provide smooth, reliable uphill movement that improves accessibility and enhances the overall on-mountain experience.
FT TechnologiesFT Technologies specializes in ultrasonic wind sensors and environmental monitoring systems widely used in lift operations and weather assessment. Their robust instruments deliver real-time wind and atmospheric data to help resorts optimize lift safety, performance, and uptime in challenging mountain environments.
G.W. Tatro Construction, Inc.G.W. Tatro Construction’s roots run deep in the ski industry. More than 70 years ago, our work began at Smugglers’ Notch, launching a legacy that has supported the construction needs of over 60 ski resorts. With extensive expertise in snowmaking systems and trail construction, we combine proven field experience with our specialized Zap-Lok technology to deliver faster installations, improved efficiency, and reliable performance on every project.
Hestra ProHestra Pro builds winter work gloves designed to perform in harsh, cold-weather conditions. Combining warmth, durability, and dexterity, the line supports hands-on work such as mountain operations, snowmaking, plowing, and shoveling—anywhere reliable hand protection is essential for getting the job done outdoors. 
Leitner-Poma of AmericaLeitner-Poma of America engineers and manufactures ropeway systems, including detachable chairlifts, gondolas, funitel systems, and surface lifts for the North American ski market. The company blends advanced control technology, safety features, and custom design to support efficient and dependable uphill transportation.
MNDMND is a global manufacturer of chairlifts, gondolas and mountain infrastructure, offering solutions that support year-round resort operations. Beyond winter lifts, MND provides summer attractions and cable-propelled experiences that enhance access and guest engagement with dependable transport systems.Become the partner this department’s readers recommend.
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