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Direct drive technology can reduce the footprint on
ski area operations, expenses, and the environment. BISON X
THE ULTIMATE

XPERIENCE

one of the surfaces fails as the result of contamination or board granted a variance for one year with the possible
mechanical failure. As such, the direct drive system is limited permanent variance delayed to simply gain confidence and
to a single braking surface on the bull wheel, which is why the monitor how the system operates throughout the first year.”
Leitner Poma design team reached out to the Colorado Pas sen ger This technology is definitely something the B77 ANSI
Tramway Safety Board (CPTSB) and the USDA Forest Service Standards Committee will need to examine and update,
to obtain a variance from these provisions, said Lane. added Lane.
“At the state level, this is a relatively simple process:
submitting the reasons for the variance and supporting
documentation, such as service history, and mitigating factors A NEW ERA HAS ARRIVED
that are incorporated into the design,” said Mike Lane, Sometimes it’s hard to part with what you know and under-
NSAA’s director of technical services. “The CPTSB utilizes stand best, and that also helps explain why North American
a technical committee of roughly eight experts to research ski areas have been reluctant to part with new lifts outfitted
and develop recommendations to the board. In this case the with gear boxes. Lift operations departments have more than
four decades’ worth of experiential knowledge (and a collec-
tion of used parts) from working on and repairing gear boxes,
and it’s knowledge that’s easy to pass on to new employees.
To be sure, gear boxes aren’t going to completely dis-
appear anytime soon. Direct drive systems require a large
motor room, making a conversion toward using them with
smaller or fixed-grip lifts not ideal at this time.
But clearly in terms of high-speed detachable quad and
larger lift installations, a new era has arrived. Direct drive
technology can reduce the footprint on ski area operations,
expenses, and the environment.
“One of the benefits of investing in the newer technology
is how it dovetails with our Play Forever initiative with sustain-
able aspects such as increased efficiency, noise reduction, and
maintaining a gearbox clean of mechanical fluids,” said Jesse
True, Copper’s interim president and GM. “Another benefit is
the reliability of the technology where, should there ever be a
component failure, there is redundancy in the systems that will
allow continued operation. That, in turn, will ensure a positive
guest experience out of Center Village—the ultimate goal of
this project.” BISON X IS THE PERFECT FUSION
OF PERFORMANCE AND POTENTIAL.
Troy Hawks is the marketing and sales director at Sunlight Driven by a relentless 400 HP (298 kW) Tier 4 final engine with exceptional
Mountain Resort, Colo., winner of two NSAA marketing torque, it combines thrust & manoeuvrability with cab comfort and enhanced
awards: the 2016 Best Bring a Friend Marketing Campaign blade movement. Every inch of this exceptional machine is engineered for
and the 2017 Best Family Marketing Campaign. park-building excellence. Therefore, the best park builders in the world rely on
PRINOTH’s BISON X. The Ultimate Xperience isn’t just a slogan. It’s a promise.
prinoth.com
46 | NSAA JOURNAL | EARLY WINTER 2018