The Six-Seater Has Arrived

The new lift replaced an aging platter pull and a double chair, catapulting the 900-ft. vertical ski area into the forefront of ski areas showcasing leading-edge technology. Not one to be satisfied with merely keeping pace with the competition, Ski Area Manager Pierre Gagnon stated, “We wanted to let area skiers know Mont Orignal was on the move and charging boldly into the 21st century.”

“Our original plan was to replace the two older lifts with a detachable quad. Discussions with the Doppelmayr team quickly led us to conclude that in order to increase our lift capacity substantially while at the same time make a major marketing statement, our best bet was to become an industry leader by installing the six-seater detachable. “It cost a little more, but it was by far the best business decision we ever made,” summed up Gagnon.

The new lift has received considerable attention from the media. Success as a marketing tool has quickly translated into an increase in skier visits of 20 percent so far this season. This added business combined with lower operating expenses as a result of replacing the two aging lifts makes the installation of the Doppelmayr six-passenger detachable a decision worthy of the highest accolades for Mount Orignal management.

Mont Orignal skiers are ecstatic for more than the obvious reason of gaining more time on the slopes. “This lift keeps my family or group of friends together,” is heard countless times as skiers are queried for their comments. Marcel Bisson, Mont Orignal ski school director, states, “This lift is fantastic for ski teaching.” With no more long waits for classes to arrive and reassemble at the top of the lift, more time is now available for actual teaching. Rank beginners have no problem getting on or off the slow-moving chairs.

Upon approaching Mount Orignal, Moose Mountain, in English, located in a remote rural region of Quebec, one can’t help but be impressed with the modern space-age look of the ET* base terminal. Located in front of the modest day lodge, almost the entire liftline rises in full view showcasing a wide, most difficult-rated slope underneath. There is no question that management’s objective of propelling Mount Orignal into the ranks of leading-edge ski areas is firmly underway.

For anyone who has not witnessed the smooth, efficient loading and unloading of six skiers at a time, it may be hard to believe such a feat is possible. The Doppelmayr team and Mount Orignal management have designed a large area directly behind the loading platform where skiers que up by six. The progression to the loading platform is smooth and orderly. At the top, skiers are dispersed onto a wide, gentle slope that provides access to all Mount Orignal trails. People of all ages, sizes and skiing abilities get on and off the lift with ease.

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Present capacity of the lift is 2500 per hour. The loading interval is 8.64 seconds and the grip spacing is 113.3 ft. (34.5 meters). Although the lift currently provides management with adequate capacity, it is designed to carry 3200 per hour. At that rate, the interval would be 6.75 seconds and the grip spacing 88.5 ft. (26.9 meters).

It was only a matter of time in the evolution of ski lift technology that the six-passenger chairlift became a reality. It wasn’t too many years ago that triples and quads were merely dreams of the future. Now we have the Doppelmayr “six-pac” detachable and it’s here to stay.

Doppelmayr has pioneered many of the developments in today’s ski lift systems and has designed and installed over 5,000 lift installations in 38 countries throughout the world. Make the bold move into the 21st century of ski lift technology; Consider a six-passenger Doppelmayr detachable for your next lift system. Call us anytime for details or stop by our display at the USIA Squaw Valley or Orlando trade shows.

*Etudes de Transport Terminal Designer