Canadian Gem Ski Resort Installing Its First High Speed Chairlift

Skiers like two things: speed and pow. Now, Castle Resort in Canada (Alberta's second largest ski resort) has even more of the first one.

Officials at Castle announced that "we’re capping off 2023 with big news… Things will be getting FASTER around here at Castle!"

Castle is a unique operation: it is home to one of North America’s only resort based cat skiing operation; the Powder Stagecoach.

It is also home to some of the longest, continuous fall line runs in North America.

Coolest of all, Castle has over 200, predominantly local, shareholders instead of being owned by a large corporation.

The recent news, though, has to do with lifts and not cats. Officials at Castle announced that they "have reached an agreement in principle to acquire the Angel Express Quad Chairlift, from Sunshine Village Resort!!"

Check out the lift's prior route at Lookout Mountain below. 

The Angel Express Quad is a detachable, 4-person, high-speed lift. Sunshine Village will see it replaced by a high speed, six-person detachable lift with heated seats!

Castle is stoked on Angel Express, with Dean Parkinson, Castle Mountain Resort General Manager, saying, “We are excited to be acquiring such a great lift from a reputable industry partner. It is a great thing to be keeping this lift in Alberta and we appreciate Sunshine’s willingness to work with us on this purchase."

This is a huge milestone for Castle. "Once reinstalled, the lift will represent Castle’s first high-speed, detachable chairlift!"

Skiers of Castle seem to be stoked, too, despite concerns about lift prices increasing, judging by the social media comments. One commenter joked, "Maybe we can hang mountain bikes off the back of the new chair? Just sayin’."

Another person wrote, "Hopefully this is for expansion and not to switch or blue chair or tamarack."

Expansion is always welcome by loyal skiers of a particular resort.

Don't get your long underwear twisted, though. As of right now, you can't get in line for first chair, but the resort promises that "when information is available on the reinstallation location and the expected timeline, we’ll be sure to let you know."

And we're eager to hear it.

Castle Mountain Stats/Info:

Vertical: 2,845 ft.

Skiable Terrain: 3,592 ac.

Average Snowfall: 335 in.

Lifts: 6

Trails: 95

Snowmaking: YES

Night Skiing: YES

Related: Canada's Kicking Horse Finally Confirms Opening Day

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