Perisher, Australia’s favourite ski resort, today announced it will be replacing Leichhardt T- Bar with a new quad chairlift to be ready for the 2019 winter. The investment includes a significant snowmaking project bringing the total cost to $4.2 million with the work planned for the 2018/2019 summer.

“News of the new quad chairlift is very exciting as it services a favourite area for many of Perisher’s loyal guests,” said Peter Brulisauer, chief operating officer of Perisher. “The new lift will access fantastic beginner, intermediate and advanced runs as well as the famous Leichhardt Terrain Park providing something for every level of skier and snowboarder.”

By replacing Leichhardt T-bar and Home Rope Tow the new quad chairlift will increase lifting capacity in the area by a huge 75%, giving guests more time to ski and board popular runs including The Cleft, Powder Ridge, Snowy Trails and the Leichhardt Terrain Park.  

“Replacing the Leichhardt T-Bar with a quad chairlift is a huge improvement. The area provides some of the best tree skiing in the resort and will be a favourite during the winter storms giving access to great powder skiing amongst the shelter of the tree lined terrain on Powder Ridge,” said Andrew Kennedy, mountain manager of Perisher.   

The replacement of the steep, advanced only Leichhardt T-bar with a chairlift will allow it to be used by children and beginners providing another option to the nearby Happy Valley T-bar.  The new chairlift will have the same conveyor load system as the Freedom Quad Chairlift in Guthega, making the loading process easy for all guests.

Beginner skiers and boarders will be impressed when enjoying Snowy Trails, one of Perisher’s most popular beginner runs with snowmaking installed from the base of Happy Valley T-Bar right through to the load of the new quad chairlift.

Peter Brulisauer added: “The new snowmaking linking Happy Valley to the base of the new chairlift will provide Perisher skiers with another lift and run to enjoy under snowmaking only conditions. It will ensure we can open terrain in this part of the resort earlier providing great conditions across the entire winter for our guests.”

This major investment to improve the guest experience at Perisher follows the installation of the Freedom Quad Chairlift in the Guthega area of the resort in 2014 and over $25 million in snowmaking improvements.

Vail Resorts will also invest US$52 million (CAD$66 million) at Whistler Blackcomb, the largest ski resort in North America, including the world’s first three-gondola inter-connect. The largest single investment in the resort’s history will include a new 10-passenger gondola, new six-passenger high-speed lift and new four-passenger high-speed lift. The investment will also include an expansion of the resort’s world-renowned mountain bike park with the addition of 13 miles of new biking trails.

On the heels of US$50 million in lift infrastructure and on-mountain dining improvements in 2015, Park City Mountain in Utah, the largest ski resort in the United States, will further its focus on premier family experiences, mountain dining excellence and guest service through a new learning area for beginners, children and families; a transformative renovation to the iconic Mid-Mountain Lodge; and an expansion of the popular, mountaintop bistro Cloud Dine with an additional 200 seats.