This Skytrac triple runs along the alignment of a long lost Poma platter.View down the line near the summit.Tower 3.Upper terminal adjacent to Sonnet’s top station.Lower lift line.Return terminal with steep climb out.Outside controls at the return.Loading area.Side view of the Peak return.Upper station with drive and tensioning.Unloading area.Drive bullwheel.Outside operator controls at the top.View from the summit.
I’m still kind of baffled by this new lift as it really only services one run. I can only assume it will be used mainly by MARA (Mt. Ashland Race Association).
It’s definitely a head-scratcher. They widened the run (never learned the name in the three years we skied there) down to Windsor as well, which is goofy to me cos it was already a big wide run. The hill is so hemmed in by the watershed management strategy that maybe they figured anything is something? Or maybe since the Lithia folks had money and wanted their name on something, nobody on the board was willing to say no? I don’t know. It seems a little steep for gates, but you could be right. At least 11 and 12 years ago when we were there, MARA weren’t really about logic. Race teams don’t seem to be about anything other than ego-massaging for frustrated middle-aged rich people who want to live through their kids.
The benefit this will provide Mt. Ashland and MARA is that the kids will have a nice slalom course to practice on and be available for night skiing (if this run does get lights).
“Race teams don’t seem to be about anything other than ego-massaging for frustrated middle-aged rich people who want to live through their kids.” As a former actually self aware ski racer, this has to be the best said way as to why ski racers are so awful I’ve seen
my home mountain recently enacted a gear policy where any unattended equipment not in a ski rack will be brought to lost and found.
the joy of raging race moms, the knowledge that there would be 0 business impact other than making all the non-racing skiers happy must have been incredible.
And that’s one of the big problems with “race parent culture”. If you are one and reading this, improve on it; race families are borderline bad business for mountains. They buy season passes… But that’s often about it. They don’t buy retail, food, rentals, repairs and they rarely bring in other friends or family for tickets. They expect free things, often. And they usually offset the cost of their own race program, but they’re perfectly fine demanding extra staff and expense if anything ever changes.
I’ve literally had race parents yell because snow was being made and groomed on an soon to be opened beginner run and not their kid’s race run, which wasn’t gonna open for a few weeks. They don’t earn much social capital.
This lift is very short and the terrain is to steep for beginner and too short for intermediate. Not sure what the thought process was and how it adds value to the mountain.
Lift Blog 
These might have to be some of the prettiest photos in the blog!
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Perfect for my Liftblog wallpaper collection
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yes
especially with the snow and the icles
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I’m still kind of baffled by this new lift as it really only services one run. I can only assume it will be used mainly by MARA (Mt. Ashland Race Association).
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It’s definitely a head-scratcher. They widened the run (never learned the name in the three years we skied there) down to Windsor as well, which is goofy to me cos it was already a big wide run. The hill is so hemmed in by the watershed management strategy that maybe they figured anything is something? Or maybe since the Lithia folks had money and wanted their name on something, nobody on the board was willing to say no? I don’t know. It seems a little steep for gates, but you could be right. At least 11 and 12 years ago when we were there, MARA weren’t really about logic. Race teams don’t seem to be about anything other than ego-massaging for frustrated middle-aged rich people who want to live through their kids.
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The benefit this will provide Mt. Ashland and MARA is that the kids will have a nice slalom course to practice on and be available for night skiing (if this run does get lights).
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To expand on my comment, it would have been cheaper to onboard Windsor for night skiing than add this lift.
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“Race teams don’t seem to be about anything other than ego-massaging for frustrated middle-aged rich people who want to live through their kids.” As a former actually self aware ski racer, this has to be the best said way as to why ski racers are so awful I’ve seen
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my home mountain recently enacted a gear policy where any unattended equipment not in a ski rack will be brought to lost and found.
the joy of raging race moms, the knowledge that there would be 0 business impact other than making all the non-racing skiers happy must have been incredible.
And that’s one of the big problems with “race parent culture”. If you are one and reading this, improve on it; race families are borderline bad business for mountains. They buy season passes… But that’s often about it. They don’t buy retail, food, rentals, repairs and they rarely bring in other friends or family for tickets. They expect free things, often. And they usually offset the cost of their own race program, but they’re perfectly fine demanding extra staff and expense if anything ever changes.
I’ve literally had race parents yell because snow was being made and groomed on an soon to be opened beginner run and not their kid’s race run, which wasn’t gonna open for a few weeks. They don’t earn much social capital.
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This lift is very short and the terrain is to steep for beginner and too short for intermediate. Not sure what the thought process was and how it adds value to the mountain.
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More than likely for MARA. They have 80+ kids in the program and it will be a nice training ground for them doing gates.
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