Lift Malfunctions Are Rare in Colorado Despite Recent Incidents

Winter Park: So, there have been a couple of lift incidents lately, right? Last month, they had to evacuate a gondola at Winter Park and a lift at Telluride. But don’t worry, these mechanical failures are super rare, according to the folks who keep an eye on ski lifts in Colorado.

On December 21, over 180 people had to be evacuated from the Winter Park gondola when a metal beam broke. Just a few days later, a small part failed on a lift at Telluride, but they managed to fix it pretty quickly. Most riders got off normally after repairs were done.

Since the season started, five snowboarders have fallen from lifts, but it seems like those weren’t due to any lift problems. Usually, there are only three or four falls by this time of year. Back in the 2014-15 season, there were eight falls, so it’s not too common.

Colorado ski resorts have been busy, with over 13 million skier days each year since 2018. The last serious fall from a lift malfunction happened back in December 2016 at Granby Ranch, where a mother and her daughters fell after their chair hit a lift tower. Sadly, the mother didn’t survive.

That incident was the only one in 39 years linked to a lift malfunction in Colorado, and it was the first fatality in the U.S. since 1993. Winter Park hasn’t made a big statement about the gondola evacuation, but they did keep everyone updated through their blog. They fixed the broken part quickly, and the lift was back up and running the next day.

The Colorado Passenger Tramway Safety Board is on top of things. They’re inspecting all lifts with similar parts weekly for now. Winter Park even gave out two lift tickets and a $10 voucher to those who were stuck on the gondola.

Winter Park’s lift maintenance teams check everything daily before opening. They also do evacuation drills at least twice a year, which include real practice with volunteers. The tramway board has professional engineers inspecting the lifts regularly, so they’re pretty safe.

Ski resorts usually don’t share much about lift accidents. For example, at Breckenridge, two men fell from the Beaver Run SuperChair, but the resort only confirmed they were taken to the hospital. One of those falls resulted in a broken clavicle and a likely concussion.

There have been a few other falls this season, too, but they mostly happened because people were adjusting their gear or not using the safety bars. Colorado Ski Country USA has tips on riding lifts safely, reminding everyone to keep the bar down and stay seated.

So, while the recent incidents might sound alarming, the reality is that lift malfunctions are quite rare in Colorado. Just remember to follow the safety rules, and you should be good to go!