Uphill transportation, and providing access to it, are defining characteristics of a ski area. A lot goes into that—from maintenance and upgrades to customer service and safety. Lift crews do it all with the support of the broader mountain operations team and suppliers like Doppelmayr, Leitner-Poma of America, Skytrac, SunKid, Magic Carpet, or others. Here in the "Lift Operations" Mountain Department, you'll find articles about lift maintenance, construction, team-building, and more. Plus, find job openings, inspiring videos, and educational opportunities to further your career.
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July 2025Idea Files :: July 2025
A portable mock control panel for training lift operators. CONTROL PANEL TRAINER Monarch Mountain (Colo.) lift operations supervisor Robert Clarkson wanted to make it easier to train lift operators on the functions of a lift control panel and to practice different scenarios, without disrupting A portable mock control panel for training lift operators.
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July 2025Construction Site :: July 2025
These ski areas got an early start to their major construction projects. Snowshoe, WV Alterra-owned Snowshoe is replacing its Shavers Center lodge this summer. The old facility served for more than 50 years, but was deemed structurally unsound and torn down in 2022. Since then, departments that These ski areas got an early start to their major construction projects.
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January 2025Cooling Off
Despite fewer lifts being built, it was still a busy construction season as ski areas continue to upgrade their on-mountain transport. After two gangbuster years of new lift installations at North American ski areas, 2024 was comparatively slower, yet historically strong with 47 new aerial lifts Despite fewer lifts being built, it was still a busy construction season as ski areas continue to...
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November 2024Construction Site :: November 2024
New lifts and snowmaking upgrades at ski areas big and small, for-profit and nonprofit, across North America. Mont Grand-Fonds, QC Compagnie des Montagnes des ski du Québec (CMSQ), owned by e-Liberty, a Swiss online ski pass retailer, purchased Mont Grand-Fonds in September 2023. Soon after, New lifts and snowmaking upgrades at ski areas big and small, for-profit and nonprofit, across...
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September 2024Construction Site :: September 2024
New lifts, terrain, snowmaking, and lodges will breathe new life into a number of ski areas this winter. HOLIDAY MOUNTAIN, NY Mike Taylor is two years into rebuilding Holiday Mountain, which faced closure when he purchased the property in May 2023. Last summer, he focused on immediate needs suc New lifts, terrain, snowmaking, and lodges will breathe new life into a number of ski areas this...
View all lift-related articles.
A good lift mechanic is hard to find. Leitner-Poma of America wants to help the industry rise up to the challenge of supporting the next generation of lift mechanics.
To enter, nominate an up-and-comer in your lift department who exemplifies a passion for a career in lift maintenance. Six resorts will be chosen to create a video highlighting the strengths and potential of an up-and-coming lift mechanic and their team. Viewers will be able to watch all six videos this summer and vote for their favorite. The mechanic and crew with the most votes will win an education grant valued at $3,500, courtesy of Leitner-Poma of America.
Participants will be announced in early May.
https://www.saminfo.com/contest-awards/rise-up-challenge
CAPACITY MANAGEMENT SERIES: LIFT CONSIDERATIONS
In this installment we will take a look at how to measure your real-world uphill capacity at the lifts. We will also highlight a few considerations for you to keep in mind when it comes to lift queuing and wait times depending on what your state’s capacity restrictions might be.
View all four videos in the capacity management series from Snow Operating.
PODSAM
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Struggling with staffing, motivating your team, or maintaining a positive outlook? Listen to our "Moving Mountain Operations Forward" Huddle on PodSAM, where we discuss burnout, staffing, and so much more. Organizational development expert Paul Thallner also chimes in with tips for managers to help keep their staff (and themselves) focused, happy, and productive. Check out all of our Huddle podcasts at saminfo.com/podSAM.
NEWS
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Faces and Places
Ski California LMOE Conference Draws Record Attendance
SAM Magazine—South Lake Tahoe, Calif., June 12, 2025—The 2025 Ski California Lift Maintenance & Operations Education (LMOE) Conference drew a record 403 attendees to South Lake Tahoe, June 3-5. Under the theme “Back to Basics,” this year’s event aimed to reinforce foundational knowledg SAM Magazine—South Lake Tahoe, Calif., June 12, 2025—The 2025 Ski California Lift Maintenance & Operations Education (LMOE) Conference drew a record...
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SAM Headline News
Expansion to Double the Size of Doppelmayr Canada Headquarters
SAM Magazine—Saint-Jérôme, Quebec, June 3, 2025—Doppelmayr Canada plans to nearly double the size of its headquarters in Saint-Jérôme, Québec, over the next 18 months, adding 185,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space for training, production, and warehousing. The expansion, said SAM Magazine—Saint-Jérôme, Quebec, June 3, 2025—Doppelmayr Canada plans to nearly double the size of its headquarters in Saint-Jérôme, Québec, over...
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SAM Headline News
Six Lift Maintenance Teams Selected for 2025 Rise Up Challenge
SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., May 22, 2025—The crews from Bogus Basin, Idaho; Burke Mountain, Vt.; Crotched Mountain, N.H.; Giants Ridge, Minn.; Marmot Basin, A.B.; and Mission Ridge, Wash., have been chosen as finalists in the fifth annual Rise Up Challenge, sponsored by Leitner-Poma of America ( SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., May 22, 2025—The crews from Bogus Basin, Idaho; Burke Mountain, Vt.; Crotched Mountain, N.H.; Giants Ridge, Minn.;...
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SAM Headline News
High Winds Cause Lift Incidents at Three Northeast Ski Areas
SAM Magazine—Winhall, Vt., Feb. 21, 2025—Over Presidents' Day weekend, separate wind-related incidents at three ski areas in the Northeast led to temporary lift closures.Stratton Mountain's upper gondola terminal was damaged by high winds on Sunday. At Stratton Mountain Resort in Vermont, hig SAM Magazine—Winhall, Vt., Feb. 21, 2025—Over Presidents' Day weekend, separate wind-related incidents at three ski areas in the Northeast led to...
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SAM Headline News
Crested Butte Lift Maintenance Union, Vail Resorts Reach Agreement
SAM Magazine—Crested Butte, Colo., Feb. 14, 2025—The unionized lift mechanics at Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) reached a contract agreement with resort owner Vail Resorts this week, ending a protracted negotiation that began in January 2024 and avoiding a strike, which the 12-member team SAM Magazine—Crested Butte, Colo., Feb. 14, 2025—The unionized lift mechanics at Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) reached a contract agreement...
- Look for jobs in lift operations and maintenance at resorts, suppliers, and other related businesses around the world. saminfo.com/liftjobs
