Industry News
With only one other eight-person chairlift existing in North America at Big Sky, MT, Loon Mountain in New Hampshire will be the second resort in North America and the first on the East Coast to offer this type of lift next season.
- Related: Ramcharger 8: North America’s First 8-Seater Chairlift Opened at Big Sky Resort, MT this Weekend
The chairlift is set to be built over this coming off-season and will be ready for the 2021-2022 ski season. The new 8-person chair will be replacing the old high-speed Kancamagus Quad that runs from Governor Adam’s Lodge up the mountain and will be the most technologically advanced chairlift in North America.
Kancamagus 8, or Kanc 8, is an eight-seat D-Line Doppelmayr chair with ergonomically shaped heated seats and a tinted bubble. Set to replace the Kancamagus Express Quad, the Kanc 8 will transport 3,500 skiers per hour to the top of some of Loon’s most popular terrain.
This new high-speed, eight-person chairlift will also feature an automatic restraining bar, individual footrests, and an adjustable loading carpet for young skiers and riders. The D-Line holds 205 new developments, including 31 innovations and 14 patents, making it the most modern chairlift in the world. Featuring the new Doppelmayr Direct Drive (DDD) technology, a gearless drive allows whisper-quiet operation and low maintenance while increasing energy efficiency.
Other notable highlights of the new Kancamagus 8 include:
- Travel speed of 18 ft. per second, or 1,100 ft. per minute, for a 4.5-minute ride time
- Weather-blocking tinted bubbles
- Raiseable loading carpet
- Conical towers
- Bike haul capability
The addition of an eight-person chairlift is only one step in a larger vision Loon Mountain has in its 2030 10-year growth plan.
Having seen the chaos of a 6-person lift I can only imagine what loading this will be like. “Hey, how come there’s only one person on the lift?” says the person 15 minutes back in the lineup.