Teardrop Poma Doubles

Comments

• ciscokid

  November 2017 Posts: 5,277

  Oh my goodness what a butte
• lotsoskiing

  November 2017 Posts: 3,575

  I think the old North Ridge double at Glen Ellen/Sugarbush N/Mt. Ellen was that kind.
• conrad

  December 2017 Posts: 975

  I've not sure that exact scoop, but I've caught wind on Remontees-Mecaniques that these chairs are being phased out over a few years in France due to safety issues (I believe cracking). Ride them while you can!
• NewEnglandSkier13

  October 2022 Posts: 5,479

  Lift Blog just added some new ski areas in Quebec with teardrop chairs that I didn't know existed.
  
  Here's a double at Mont Fortin: https://liftblog.com/telesiege-mont-fortin-qc/
  
  And a triple at Do-Mi-Ski: https://liftblog.com/telesiege-do-mi-ski-qc/
  I didn't know that teardrop triples existed!

  - Sam
• snowphoenix

  October 2022 Posts: 166

  NewEnglandSkier13 wrote: »

  Lift Blog just added some new ski areas in Quebec with teardrop chairs that I didn't know existed.
  
  Here's a double at Mont Fortin: https://liftblog.com/telesiege-mont-fortin-qc/
  
  And a triple at Do-Mi-Ski: https://liftblog.com/telesiege-do-mi-ski-qc/
  I didn't know that teardrop triples existed!

  
  Poma even built a number of detachable triples with teardrop chairs, though I don't think any are still in operation. I believe this is the most recently removed one: https://remontees-mecaniques.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=1380&st=60&p=84254&#entry84254
• conrad

  October 2022 Posts: 975

  I am guessing they used to be ubiquitous in France, but I don't believe they are allowed there anymore. I think they are uncommon in the U.S. and Canada because Poma built very few lifts during the 70's here.
• conrad

  April 2023 Posts: 975

  It turns out there is no rule against using these chairs in Europe, but if cracks are detected on inspections once every five years (that would be four years in the U.S. I believe), they have to be removed from service. And this apparently is a very common occurrence. Here is a photo-article of a 1979 triple chairlift that still operates with its teardrop chars, but at a reduced capacity because approximately 30 chairs have been removed.
  https://www.remontees-mecaniques.net/bdd/reportage-tsf3-de-la-vignole-poma-8355.html
  The forum discussion which talks about the chairs:
  https://www.remontees-mecaniques.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=38918&pid=372525&st=0&#entry372525