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New Triple Chairlift at Red River

–For Immediate Release–

Red River Retires "Red Chair"

Replaces with Faster Triple Chairlift for 2009-2010 Season

RED RIVER, New Mexico (Spring 2009) -- After about 30 years of service to the top of the mountain, the Red Chair is being retired. The Red River Ski Area is proud to announce the replacement of the Red Chair this summer. The contract signed between Red River Ski Area and Doppelmayr CTEC on a new “fixed-grip” triple chairlift. Doppelmayr CTEC is set to manufacture this chairlift especially for our mountain after studying the profile and measurements over the past several months. This April, we will begin chair removal and get underway. Installation is set to be complete in November for our ’09-’10 winter season.

With upgraded technology and safety features, our new chairlift will provide a 50% increase in uphill capacity per hour at a maximum speed of 500 feet per minute with 226 triple chairs. The Red Chair trip time was approximately 15 ½ minutes from loading to unloading, the Dopplemayr CTEC will only take about 11 ¼ minutes. This will save our skiers and riders a little more than 4 minutes on their lift ride time. Our decision to install a fixed-grip triple, rather than a fixed-grip quad, took much deliberation. Ultimately, the triple chair will provide easier loading than the quad, has the ability to be run at a faster speed, there is less spacing between the chairs, and for summer operations, downloading would be every third chair rather than every fourth. Overall, a fixed-grip triple will provide much more efficient operations than a fixed-grip quad.

Loading of the new chairlift will be a bit further up the slope to accommodate the new bullwheel loading which will allow for a much easier “straight-on” loading for our guests than the current 90 degree angle. Not to mention, this will allow for a more efficient and less crowded line maze leading to the new addition of access gates.

The Dopplemayr CTEC triple will follow the same lift line as the current Red Chair, but with about ½ the amount of towers. The plans call for the elimination of our “Quarter Way” loading station allowing skiers to take Yellow Boulevard and Red Avenue or the Face to the base of the chairlift. It will however, still accommodate mid-way unloading in the same vicinity of our current “Broadway” station.

Because the removal and replacement will occur this summer, our summer chairlift operations will shift to our Copper Chair. This will also allow our summer guests to get a different scenic experience all the way to the top. All other amenities such as Lift House and Tip Restaurant dining, Mountain Bike Day Passes, Scenic Hiking, etc… will remain unchanged.

This project was made possible through a partnership with Carson National Forest Taos and Questa offices of the U.S. Forest Service and we appreciate all of their help getting it passed and approved.

Please stop by to see the progress over the summer, and feel free to give us a call if there are any questions. Thank You!

Press Inquiries:

Red River Ski Area
575.754.2223 ext 203
www.redriverskiarea.com

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