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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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...
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July 2024Construction Site :: July 2024
Across North America, a variety of impactful—and, in several cases, difficult—projects got underway before the start of summer. SKI SUNDOWN, CT Ski Sundown began construction of its first new chairlift in 37 years in mid-April. Owner Bob Switzgable chose a fixed-grip quad from Skytrac to re Across North America, a variety of impactful—and, in several cases, difficult—projects got...
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July 2024Heavy Lifting
Insights about operating lifts year-round. For many resorts, adding spring, summer, or fall operations means running lifts thousands of additional hours per year. A Memorial Day to October sightseeing operation can be longer than ski season, adding wear to lifts and reducing maintenance windows. T Insights about operating lifts year-round.
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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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...
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SAM Headline News
Mechanical Failure Leads to Lift Evacuation at Cannon
SAM Magazine—Franconia, N.H., Feb. 6, 2025—Yesterday morning, a mechanical failure on the Peabody Express quad forced the evacuation of 64 passengers at Cannon Mountain. At approximately 10:13 a.m., a bolt affixed to the power take-off (PTO) shaft failed on the Peabody Express. Because of the SAM Magazine—Franconia, N.H., Feb. 6, 2025—Yesterday morning, a mechanical failure on the Peabody Express quad forced the evacuation of 64...
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SAM Headline News
Chair Detaches from Lift at Attitash, One Injured
SAM Magazine—Bartlett, N.H., Feb. 3, 2025—On Feb. 2, a carrier with one rider aboard detached from the Flying Bear lift at Attitash Mountain. The carrier fell approximately 20 feet. Credit to David Gunzburger Eyewitnesses report that the male passenger was conscious and walking after the fal SAM Magazine—Bartlett, N.H., Feb. 3, 2025—On Feb. 2, a carrier with one rider aboard detached from the Flying Bear lift at Attitash Mountain. The...
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SAM Headline News
Lift Failure Injures 15 at Spain Ski Area
SAM Magazine—Barcelona, Spain, Jan. 20, 2025—A chairlift failure injured more than a dozen people Saturday morning at Astún resort in the Spanish Pyrenees. The bullwheel on a 1985 fixed-grip quad detached, causing the lift to derope on numerous towers, according to liftblog.com’s Peter Landsm SAM Magazine—Barcelona, Spain, Jan. 20, 2025—A chairlift failure injured more than a dozen people Saturday morning at Astún resort in the Spanish...
- Look for jobs in lift operations and maintenance at resorts, suppliers, and other related businesses around the world. saminfo.com/liftjobs
