Game-Changing Lift Upgrades Set to Transform North American Ski Resorts As the 2024-25 ski season approaches, North American ski resorts are gearing up with impressive lift upgrades. These improvements promise faster rides, increased comfort, and better access to prime terrain. Let's explore the most significant changes coming to slopes across the continent. Canadian Resorts Lead the WayWhistler Blackcomb, British Columbia, is replacing its Jersey Cream Express with a six-person chair, boosting Blackcomb's high alpine capacity by nearly 30%. This upgrade will significantly reduce wait times during peak periods.Banff Sunshine in Alberta is introducing its third heated bubble chair, the Super Angel Express. This six-person lift replaces the resort's oldest high-speed quad, offering comfort and increased capacity.Lake Louise, also in Alberta, completes its vision with the Upper Juniper Express. This heated six-pack chair with a weather bubble will transport skiers from just below the Lower Juniper chair to the summit of West Bowl.Sun Peaks, British Columbia, is restoring lift access to its West Bowl terrain with the new West Bowl Express. This high-speed quad will open up new intermediate runs and bring back grooming to the area.Grouse Mountain, British Columbia, is set to unveil a state-of-the-art gondola for the 2024/25 season. This impressive lift will have a 2,600-foot vertical rise and can transport 1,000 people per hour in just 5.5 minutes.
The new Upper Juniper lift at Lake Louise Ski Resort. Credit: Lake Louise U.S. Resorts Step Up Their GameEast Coast improvements include Sugarbush, Vermont, replacing its Heaven's Gate triple with a faster quad chair, and Hunter Mountain, New York, upgrading to a high-speed six-person Broadway Express lift.In the Rockies, Copper Mountain, Colorado, is installing the new six-person Timberline Express, while Snowmass is realigning and upgrading its Coney Glade chair to the Coney Express.Ski Santa Fe, New Mexico, introduces its first high-speed lift, the Santa Fe Express, cutting ride times significantly. Snowbird, Utah, is replacing its Wilbere double chair with a more efficient fixed-grip quad.Jackson Hole, Wyoming, is upgrading its Sublette Quad to a high-speed express lift, halving the ride time to some of the resort's most challenging terrain.Big Sky, Montana, is transforming its Six Shooter lift into the Madison 8, an eight-person high-speed chair with heated seats and a weatherproof bubble.Sun Valley, Idaho, is adding a new six-person Doppelmayr chairlift to its Seattle Ridge area, increasing uphill capacity by 20% and opening up 91 additional acres of glade terrain.Finally, Mammoth Mountain, California, is upgrading Chair 1 to a six-person lift, boosting uphill capacity by 25% and reducing ride time to under four minutes.
About the author
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
