An American ski resort which has had two serious chairlift accidents in the past five years is to set up a website on chairlift safety and invite anyone interested to ask questions and report concerns.
Sugarloaf ski resort in Maine is also spending $1.4 million ( just under £1,000,000) on upgrading the motors on seven lifts this summer with the aim of avoiding any further incidents. In 2010 several chairs fell 10m to the ground from one of Sugarloaf’s lifts, which was subsequently replaced, then last season another chairlift went into reverse, leading to the injuries of seven skiers and boarders, due to an issue later diagnosed as being caused by a gear box problem.
More than half of the investment Sugarloaf is making in the lift where last season’s incident occurred will see new engines with “anti-rollback technology” and manufactured by market leader Doppelmayr installed, replacing the crucial working parts of the lift. Six other chairlifts will also be upgraded, although with fewer major overhauls required.
