The new heated chair lifts have begun operating at Banff. Picture: supplied
An almost-new lift experience has come to the ski fields of Banff in Alberta, Canada – a high-speed, heated chair bubble.
The Super Angel LX six-passenger bubble chair began operations at the Canadian Rocky Mountain ski resort of Banff Sunshine Village in Alberta as of Sunday.
The new lift replaces a four-passenger quad chair built in 1988 and, at that time, the first high-speed quad built in the Canadian Rockies.
A statement from the resort owners says the new Super Angel chair features heated bucket seats, individual footrests and a yellow bubble.
It will carry skiers and snowboarders up 1244 ft (379 metres) in just over five minutes or at 5.08 metres per second.
There will be 74 bubble chairs expected to serve 2400 passengers an hour and significantly reduce lift line wait times, the owners say. A smoother, quieter and more comfortable ride has been promised.
“The decision to replace Angel Express with Super Angel Luxury Express was a decision to improve the guest experience for skiers and snowboarders at Banff Sunshine,” says Ralph Scurfield, CEO and president of Banff Sunshine Village.
“Super Angel is our marquee lift, with terrain for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities.”
Super Angel is the resort’s second heated chairlift in its fleet of nine lifts, spanning 3358 acres across three mountains – Lookout Mountain, Goat’s Eye Mountain, and Mount Standish.
The resort is located 7000 feet (2133 metres) above sea level, nestled between the peaks of the Canadian Rockies in Banff National Park.
The world-class resort is known for its all-natural snow and alpine scenery during its seven-month winter season (mid-November to late May).
Banff Sunshine Village made history in 2014 with the introduction of Teepee Town LX, its first heated bubble chairlift.
