Latest posts for the topic "Two New Quads And More Snowmaking For Flaine"

Two New Quads And More Snowmaking For Flaine

Thu, 14 May 2009 15:17:11 GMT

Two new fixed grip quad chairlifts are due to begin service in Flaine this December, in accordance with to its five year improvement plan, and the resort's famous bucket lift which links two of its sectors, is due to be renovated.

The new fixed grip La Foret quad will be a six minute ride accessing the seater chairlift accessing the beginners' zone. It will rise 300 vertical metres over its 1,770m length and open a direct link to the ski runs from the western part of the Intrawest Village, the Hameau Scandinave and the Refuge du Golf.

A second new fixed-grip quad will improve the links to the Auron sector and replace the Bois draglift scheduled for removal this summer, although the neighbouring Aujon and Grand Grenier draglifts will remain. Customer advantages will include faster and direct access to this zone instead of the current route via Aup de Veran. The two kilometre long lift will rise 400 vertical metres.

The resort's upgrading of its bucket lift will optimise user convenience on the link between the upper and lower beginners' zones. The restored lift will reduce waiting times and mean less congestion for Tete des Verds.

Flaine will also introduce new snowmaking to its pioneering system (One of Europe's longest established and most extensive networks, first started more than 35 years ago and currently operating more than 200 snow cannons. The new system will take water from a bore hole drilled 300 metres below the resort which has been tested to not interfere with the water table.
Courtesy of and © Snow24 plc

Two New Quads And More Snowmaking For Flaine

Thu, 14 May 2009 16:33:01 GMT

Admin wrote:Two new fixed grip quad chairlifts are due to begin service in Flaine this December,

isn't that odd? I didn't think anyone really installed fixed grip anymore, I wonder what led to that decision?

Re:Two New Quads And More Snowmaking For Flaine

Thu, 14 May 2009 16:34:42 GMT

I was about to say, fixed grip I just figured was being phased out. Maybe something to do with maintenance costs or reliability? Who knows. Lake Louise did the same thing either last year or the year before.

Two New Quads And More Snowmaking For Flaine

Thu, 14 May 2009 16:57:06 GMT

ise wrote:isn't that odd?

Very. Can only be cost... unless they want to put beginners off using them...

Re:Two New Quads And More Snowmaking For Flaine

Thu, 14 May 2009 21:08:01 GMT

What is a fixed grip quad chairlift please ?

Re:Two New Quads And More Snowmaking For Flaine

Thu, 14 May 2009 21:09:51 GMT

One that goes round at a constant speed. Ie the chairs are fixed to the cable. At least I think that is correct.

Re:Two New Quads And More Snowmaking For Flaine

Thu, 14 May 2009 21:11:17 GMT

brandyaitch wrote:What is a fixed grip quad chairlift please ?

It's one that does not slow down for you to sit AFAIK. The most modern ones, slide gently up behind you and let you sit down in comfort, then speed up, and offer the same gentle demount at the top station.
By fixed grip, the chair is permanently clamped to the cable.

Re:Two New Quads And More Snowmaking For Flaine

Thu, 14 May 2009 21:31:51 GMT

A detachable chair operates on a gear, at the bottom and mostly the top the brake releases from the main cable which takes a longer path while the chair brakes onto a shorter cable that's slower before braking back onto the main cable. So you can run the chair fast without having a really fast loading. I think you get 5 m/s compared to a couple on the fixed system, something like that but around twice the speed I think.

You can get this effect from a moving carpet loading as well, accelerating skiers up to the speed of the chair while still keeping a low differential speed between the skier and the chair.

But, with a detachable you get an added bonus that you can remove chairs really easily, that's a good win as you can reduce the power required at low season and taken them off quickly for high wind.

So it's odd you'd not install one, but the Grand Massif has a history of lift innovation, the DMC and an early eight seat chair so it might be something fiendishly clever they're installing

Re:Two New Quads And More Snowmaking For Flaine

Thu, 14 May 2009 22:49:08 GMT

Where there is a fixed grip chair system, operating at a busy time, there is a temptation for the liftman to bothe speed, ever so slightly....

For those of us with knee problems, the way to avoid a "hit", is to wait until the chair has arrived, then shuffle forward half a step, letting your "friends" remove the chair inertia.

All my mates are right onto this, and if we are on together, the result looks like a mexican dance.

Re:Two New Quads And More Snowmaking For Flaine

Thu, 14 May 2009 22:52:27 GMT

I was quite surprised in Europe they don't seem to swing the chair a little to make it easier to sit down, they just let it take you out whereas in Canada there is always a lifty making sure it doesn't hit you on the way through.

Re:Two New Quads And More Snowmaking For Flaine

Thu, 14 May 2009 23:48:57 GMT

Pablo Escobar wrote:I was quite surprised in Europe they don't seem to swing the chair a little to make it easier to sit down, they just let it take you out whereas in Canada there is always a lifty making sure it doesn't hit you on the way through.

Most places in the US as well. It's normally part of the lifties job. It's always a shock when the chair doesn't get bumped (as they call swinging the chair here).

Best way to stop the hit, is to hold poles in one hand and reach around to catch the chair seat with the other, just befor it hits your legs.

Trencher

Re:Two New Quads And More Snowmaking For Flaine

Fri, 15 May 2009 08:02:30 GMT

Pablo Escobar wrote:I was quite surprised in Europe they don't seem to swing the chair a little to make it easier to sit down, they just let it take you out whereas in Canada there is always a lifty making sure it doesn't hit you on the way through.

They will if you're a 5 year old girl, mostly grown ups manage to get on and off the chair unaided

Re:Two New Quads And More Snowmaking For Flaine

Fri, 15 May 2009 10:30:02 GMT

I was there in January and thought the lift system was a bit antiquated..lots of old 2 seat chairs, and drag lifts, which seem to have disappeared in a lot of other resorts..even the locals were complaining at the lack of investment

Re:Two New Quads And More Snowmaking For Flaine

Fri, 15 May 2009 12:52:44 GMT

ise wrote:

Pablo Escobar wrote:I was quite surprised in Europe they don't seem to swing the chair a little to make it easier to sit down, they just let it take you out whereas in Canada there is always a lifty making sure it doesn't hit you on the way through.

They will if you're a 5 year old girl, mostly grown ups manage to get on and off the chair unaided

It is good to know the lifty is hanging about to help. Surely it would be far more enjoyable to be out chatting with folk and being happy than just sitting in the wee office doing nothing.

Re:Two New Quads And More Snowmaking For Flaine

Fri, 15 May 2009 13:10:57 GMT

Mostly the ones I see are busy reading What Tractor or similar There is only one fella I see regularly attending loading.

Pabs, they tend to wee round the back of the office I think )

Re:Two New Quads And More Snowmaking For Flaine

Sat, 16 May 2009 15:20:44 GMT

Trencher wrote:
Best way to stop the hit, is to hold poles in one hand and reach around to catch the chair seat with the other, just befor it hits your legs.

Trencher

from experience that's also a great way to break your wrist and / or thumb

Re:Two New Quads And More Snowmaking For Flaine

Sat, 16 May 2009 17:52:41 GMT

I'm not a great lover of fast lifts, we all should relax take it easy, take in the view, swig out of the hip flask.....

Re:Two New Quads And More Snowmaking For Flaine

Sun, 17 May 2009 12:16:36 GMT

Ian Wickham wrote:I'm not a great lover of fast lifts, we all should relax take it easy, take in the view, swig out of the hip flask.....

amen to that

Re:Two New Quads And More Snowmaking For Flaine

Sun, 17 May 2009 12:42:58 GMT

Jessies.

Re:Two New Quads And More Snowmaking For Flaine

Sun, 17 May 2009 12:58:54 GMT

Pablo Escobar wrote:Jessies.

Did you mean that they are Southern Jessies perhaps?

Re:Two New Quads And More Snowmaking For Flaine

Mon, 18 May 2009 04:54:40 GMT

Being a gentleman I always take the hit for my OH. ) Part of the holiday really, there are plenty of two seat fast lifts and drags in St Gervais, be warned. But there are always at least one lifty on duty some nice, some grumpy it is France As for cost, some resorts are already deep in debt and cannot afford the braked lifts. Although we had a nice 6 way chair last year at the Crois du Christ hope thats spelt right. Which when its quite, is fun to ride by yourself.

Re:Two New Quads And More Snowmaking For Flaine

Mon, 18 May 2009 14:19:30 GMT

Ian Wickham wrote:I'm not a great lover of fast lifts, we all should relax take it easy, take in the view, swig out of the hip flask.....

Nonsense. Get up there as fast as possible, take in the view from the top, and max the skiing time.

Re:Two New Quads And More Snowmaking For Flaine

Mon, 18 May 2009 23:36:20 GMT

Tony_H wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:I'm not a great lover of fast lifts, we all should relax take it easy, take in the view, swig out of the hip flask.....

Nonsense. Get up there as fast as possible, take in the view from the top, and max the skiing time.

Quality big boy, not quantity )