 With $15 million in lift improvements over the last three years, Marmot Basin is primed for huge things. Photo courtesy of Marmot Basin |
JASPER, AB — Marmot Basin enters a new era this season. With the addition of two new chairs—the Paradise High Speed Quad and the School House Triple Chair—skiers and boarders will now spend 24% less time on chairlifts, even though the total number of chairs has gone from nine to seven.
What’s impressive about the lift improvements is the money spent and the time in which they were completed. In the last three years Marmot has spent $15 million on lift improvements, all during a very tough economic time. The question I asked Brian Rode, Marmot Basin’s Vice President of Marketing and Sales, was “Why now?”
“Because we can,” Rode said.
“There was a need at the mountain to replace some older lifts. We needed to it, so we did it now. Why wait?”
According to Rode, the Tranquilizer Chair that sat in the lower mountain was in dire need of retirement, as was the T-bar in the lower area. The Paradise Triple Chair has been removed as well (having been replaced by the new High Speed Quad Paradise Chair).
“Marmot Basin is the only ski hill that has completed its vision statement and site guidelines according to Parks Canada. If you haven't completed these and have them approved by the federal government, then you can't follow through on long range plans.”
Because Marmot Basin has done this, they are able to go ahead with big-tme improvements on the mountain, which are all subject to environmental assessment. The new Paradise Chair, for instance (installed by the same crew who put in the Canadian Rockies Express three years ago), is more energy efficient than the old Paradise Triple Chair despite being 71% longer.
“We really embrace operating in a National Park and what that brings to our product. We have something different. We have a great ski area, but we keep it devoid of all those commercial trappings that other mega resorts have.”
The result is that Marmot Basin is kept as pure as possible. The $15 million spent was done without the help of a single realtor. You won’t see new chalets or condos or other complexes at Marmot Basin, and that’s not about to change, either.
“We’re not looking to be Disneyland on a ski hill. Some resorts are, and that’s great, but that’s not what we’re about. It’s the pristine, unspoiled nature of the National Park that makes our ski experience unique.”
And while Marmot Basin has done a lot of work in the last three years, they’re not finished. Though you probably won’t see a new lift for a couple of years, the crew at the hill is now focusing on other infrastructure. Maintenance, parking improvements, and improved hill amenities are all on the way.
So make your way to Marmot this weekend and bask in the purity of one of Canada’s special ski experiences.
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