Jan 1, 2009 7:06 pm US/Central
Magic Carpet Ride To The Top Of Buck Hill
BURNSVILLE, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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Buck Hill's new lift is a lot like a moving walkway at an airport, which makes it easier for beginning skiers to get up the hill.
CBS
For people who head to Buck Hill in Burnsville, Minn. there's a new way to get to the top of the slope. Unlike conventional rope tows or chair lifts, Buck Hill's newest lift is a lot like the moving walkways at airports, and instructors say it's a huge help for those just learning to ski.
At nearly 800 feet in length it's the longest moving walkway lift found at any ski resort in the United States.
"I think there's one a little longer in Canada but they don't have a bridge," said Tom Schulz of Buck Hill.
He runs the ski school at Buck Hill and said the addition of this "Magic Carpet" lift is a huge help to beginner skiers.
"Basically it's like stepping onto an escalator or moving walkway at an airport. It's something people are familiar with, so to put a skier or snowboarder on and slide right on to it, that makes it much easier for our first-time skiers and snowboarders to use," Schulz said.
A few years ago, Buck Hill installed a much smaller moving walkway lift on its short bunny hill. With the success of that lift, they decided to build another one that's about eight times the size.
At a cost of $500,000, the lift goes up the north end of Buck Hill, crossing over a 360-foot wide valley along its way. The moving beltway is carried over a concrete bridge that is fully enclosed, giving skiers both comfort and safety.
Compared to traditional rope and chair lifts, the moving walkway is easier for little ones to step onto.
"Chair lifts can be intimidating," Schulz said. "It takes the fear-issue away for the first-timers who want to make laps on the steeper terrain."
Michelle Anderson spent New Year's morning at Buck Hill teaching her daughter Ella how to ski. While sliding onto the walkway for the very first time was a bit tricky, Ella quickly got the hang of it.
"Trying to get them to hold on to the rope is tough. It's nice. You can just jump on and it's not as much work so we can use our energy going down the hill instead of trying to go up the hill," said Anderson.
Schulz said skiers can expect to see more of the lifts as they become popular for getting younger skiers to the top.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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