FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
MARMOT BASIN INSTALLING THE LONGEST
HIGH SPEED QUAD CHAIR IN THE ALBERTA CANADIAN ROCKIES
TOWERS GO UP IN ONE DAY
Jasper, Alberta
August 28, 2009 – Jasper’s Marmot Basin ski resort is completing the next phase of one of Canada’s most significant ski lift development projects for the winter of 2009/2010 – the installation of 26 towers which will support The Canadian Rockies Express, the longest new high-speed quad chairlift in the Alberta Canadian Rocky Mountains.
Early this morning, crews were busy hooking up the first of the towers to a dual rotor KMAX helicopter, and then watched as the helicopter slowly lifted the 35 foot tall tower off the ground and began its flight up the mountainside. By the end of today, all 26 towers (the two heaviest weighing in at 5,800 lbs. each) will be in place.
“Standing the towers is a very exciting and major step in the construction of our new lift. This signals an end to all the preparation, ground work, and foundation construction that we thought would never end and has given the crews a renewed sense of determination and energy. Seeing the towers up gives us a real visual perspective of where we are and what has been accomplished thus far. Our project is right on schedule as the Leitner Poma crew now moves out of the mud and into the air for the next phase and another step closer to completion. We are very pleased to see that the project is right on schedule and we are all looking forward to the coming winter season.” Bob Bell, Vice President Maintenance and Operations
Built by Leitner-Poma, a world-renowned French cable-driven lift systems manufacturer, The Canadian Rockies Express, scheduled to be operational November, 2009 replaces the much-loved Tranquilizer Chair and the Kiefer T-Bar, a decision that the resort owners and staff feel is the right direction for Marmot Basin.
“It’s an incredibly exciting project which is going to take Marmot into the 21st Century,” said Dave Gibson, President of Marmot Basin. “I am thrilled to be able to work with the very proactive shareholders who purchased Marmot Basin five years ago. This new $8 million dollar expenditure, in addition to the $8 million the shareholders have spent on operational and capital expenditures over the last five years, will certainly enhance the overall experience for our skiers and boarders.”
The new lift has a slope length of approximately 2,300 meters and a vertical rise of 596 meters. The bottom terminal will be at the base of the lower mountain adjacent to the existing Eagle Express quad chair terminal. The lift will whisk 2,400 passengers per hour from the lower base area and unload them adjacent to the top of the Paradise chair. With an 800 horse power, top-drive engine and a design speed of 5.08 meters per second (1,000 ft/min), skiers and riders can sit back and enjoy the 7.5 minute ride plus the magnificent scenery of the surrounding mountains that make up Jasper National Park.
About Marmot Basin: Marmot Basin Ski Resort is located in Alberta, Canada’s Jasper National Park, which is the largest Northern Canadian national park and part of the UNESCO World Heritage site: Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks. A short 20-minute drive from the quaint and welcoming Town of Jasper, Marmot Basin offers its visitors 3,000 vertical feet and 1,675 skiable acres with 86 marked trails and a terrain park. The resort has something for everyone, from vast bowls, tight glades and powder-filled drops to wide-open cruisers and gentle slopes for the beginners – young or old. Marmot amenities include excellent dining and beverage options, sunny decks on both the upper and mid-mountain lodges plus on-site rentals, pro shop, top-rated ski school and an excellent day-nursery. For more on Marmot Basin, visit www.skimarmot.com
For more information on The Canadian Rockies Express, please contact Brian Rode at 1-866-952-3816 or brrode@skimarmot.com
Labels: press release
