Talk:T-bar lift
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[edit] Pooma and other inventions
T bars are used wherever the capacity vs. cost equation favors a less expensive lift than a chair. Few large resorts have them anymore. Those which come to mind (Whistler-Blackcomb Resort and Alta Ski Area) probably have had more important things to do than replacing them. Or they are there for nostalgic or sentimental reasons.
Googling for "Pooma lift"—in every language—turns up zero hits. Googling for "Pooma" and "lift" turns up about 240 hits all unrelated to skiing, lifts and mountains. You must mean poma lift or platter lift as the first Poma corporation systems were known, circa 1935. Poma also makes high speed detachable quad chairlifts, gondolas, trams, etc. [1] [2] (if those are dead, [3]) I think the redirect for pooma lift should be deleted.
- ...the Pooma's spring loading is subject to wild swings and possible backlash causing bruises, etc. if the unwary rider lets it go carelessly when dismounting. The retractable rope systems retract at a slower rate and so limit potential liability.
Either variety—the spring loaded arm or the retracting rope—can ruin your day, and equally as well and likely, in my experience. I have not seen a careless release send the spring arm flying over the aerial line halting the lift until maintenance can untangle it. So the line retractor has one major disadvantage.
- ...they are used extensively in in-between terrain for short lifts at the bottom of one slope to allow an short uphill fork over a ridge into the next valley...
Fortunately I have not seen extensive use of T bars or J bars anywhere (Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, France, Austria, New Zealand). Resorts seem to arrange lifts so it is convenient to ski from one to another. Perhaps T bars are used in this way elsewhere?
I like the new description of the J bar. Perhaps that can be put in a J bar article? Or the platter lift one.... EncMstr 21:20, 11 April 2006 (UTC)
[edit] poma's and t-bars
T-bars are used widely in some Australian ski resorts, such as Perisher Blue (NSW Snowy Mountains) and is, in fact, the most common type of ski lift in these resorts. In contrast to what is indicated in the article, the implementations of the T-bar and Poma in Australian resorts are almost identical, except for the end attachment. They are used to provide access to beginner, as well as the most advanced terrain; on short as well as long runs.
- In reality, Perisher is the only major ski area that widely employs T-bars. Thredbo, Hotham and Buller all have a much higher percentage of chairlifts, and T-Bars are only used in low traffic or high wind areas. I don't think this information justifies inclusion. Except for small resorts, T-Bars are rarely used as a major mode of skier transportation. Perisher is the exception. (Off topic, I hate Perisher for this exact reason. T-Bars are hell on a snowboarder's groin.) Gorman 14:00, 14 August 2006 (UTC)
