There's a fixed grip Kiwi chairlift (at Whakapapa I think?) that is only about 50 metres? long. Its sole purpose is to get people from a public area up to the base of some ski lifts. Australia's shortest chairlift was a 160 metre long double at Buffalo.
Great little lift at The Canyons from carpark to resort base. Not sure how long it actually is but its awesome
There's a couple of really short fixed grips at Alta just to get people up to their accomm. https://www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/alta/ski-lifts/l106045/ https://www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/alta/ski-lifts/l86824/
Hilarious! If it was election time, it would be among the best examples of pork barreling I could think of! And more impressive than offering ‘gold-plated’ car parks in key marginal electorates!!
Seems I was mislead... the other site is correct, it is a SunKid lift, Comfort Star I expect, which looks a bit like a platter. I'll post some pictures later.
So, looking at the Sunkid web page for the lift it looks like it's a hybrid of a handle tow and a platter lift?
Don’t stress, snow pony will still be open for all those seeking a breakfast cocktail and $30 smashed avo
As of two weeks ago, word was pub won't be 'finished' in time for QBWE, but will be open/serving drinks in some capacity.
Has the new chairlift been finished? what else do they need to do? EDIT: what's happening with the toboggan slope after the regrading? (noticed the above images)
Not that it matters that much, but the new Snowpine chairlift is a public lift from 9:15 to 4:30. It's a quad that is run really, really slow. There are three different ways to ski down. It replaced the tow to the old Snowpine that was also a public lift for beginners. The chair to the Rustler Lodge is private and meant for overnight guests or people going to lunch.
Lift was tested by Doppelmayr this week apparently: https://www.mtbuller.com.au/Winter/resort-info/latest-news/details/counting-down-to-snow-season Hooha looking good too!
Story from the pub managers is that the Kooroora underground nightclub (aka the ‘K Hole’) has its bar and lights fitted and will be operational on opening weekend. The ground level bar will be open before school holidays.
Vinnie and the boys still have a pour to go yet.... well and the night club floor, but at least that is inside :|
Any chance the resort might open for a Bourke Street slide next weekend given the fresh snow and snowmaking? Or is the new lift not going to be operational in time for that? Would be unlucky if they missed out on an early open in the one year the lift's not available for use!
every resort will be busting a nut to be first open. I'd be very surprised if we dont see resorts opening early with one or two lifts just for shits, giggles and bragging rights
Buller supervisors have been told for weeks to prepare for a June 1 opening due to the slushy machine. I haven't heard anything official in the last few days but as long as the new chair is commissioned and someone can drive a groomer I would be super surprised if Bourke St doesn't open this weekend.
This would be great for us. Going up to open up our rental house at the base of the mountain this weekend. Kids would be frothing to get a couple of runs down Bourke Street if the weather's ok. Dad, less so of course!
On the subject of being open at abnormal times. When I was fairly young I recall Buller closed its last lifts on Cup Day due to lack of demand rather than lack of snow. Does anyone recall the year, possibly late 80s or early 90s? And what's the earliest its opened? About a decade ago they ran a lift on Bourke St for a couple of days in May just to make a point to resorts with "more reliable" snow, although I think they then closed it for a few weeks until the 'proper' ski season started?
1992 was the Cup Day year. 2009 they opened for the first weekend in May, 2000 they opened a week early and the entire mountain including Fannys etc was skiable on QBW. I can't think off the top of my head any other substantial early openings but I seem to remember some token early Bourke St action over the years.
Happy days. Getting quite a bit of snow up here. Some interesting driving to get up in the big wide tyres.
Sheesh, that would have been seriously scary. Hope everyone who was inside is ok. Looks to have happened a while ago given the fresh accumulation on the underside of the vehicle!
