All Images: Ethan Schumacher, Courtesy of Big Sky Resort
There are plenty of world records set in skiing, but this is one you don’t see every day. Big Sky Resort’s new Madison 8 lift is operational after opening at the end of December, giving the ski area a leg up above the competition. The massive construction project is now the longest 8-seat chairlift in the world.
With an inclined length of 8,631 feet, the new Doppelmayr D-Line suspension chairlift is a staggering accomplishment that will cut down wait times and ensure skiers are en route to their next pow turn as quickly as possible.
Madison 8 replaces Big Sky’s iconic Six Shooter lift and will reduce ride times by 30% when compared to the predecessor. A staple of Lone Peak’s Moonlight Basin for years, Six Shooter was due for an upgrade. Though there were no immediate or dangerous problems with the lift, its position on the mountain was prone to bottlenecking crowds on powder days. It’s the only way to get out of Moonlight Basin, and therefore, was an important piece of infrastructure to upgrade.
“Since Big Sky 2025 was announced nine years ago, we’ve had an ambition to create North America’s most technologically advanced lift network,” said Troy Nedved, Big Sky Resort’s President and COO. “Madison 8, our twelfth new lift installed since 2016, certainly makes this a reality.” The completion of Madison 8 makes Big Sky the only North American ski area with three bubble D-line lifts and two eight-seat lifts.
Big Sky 2025 was indeed an aggressive project when announced. Outlining the resort’s plans over the coming decade, there were many skeptics with reasonable doubts as to whether or not it was even possible. Now, Big Sky has proven that a project of this magnitude is indeed possible with only a few components of the original plan yet to be finished. Last winter saw the opening of a brand new Lone Peak Tram, with the resort and its engineering partners completing additional improvements to the loading station this summer.
And these upgrades have been diverse. Beyond traditional infrastructure, the area has put time and effort into becoming one of the premier terrain park destinations in North America. A massive selection of rails, tubes, quarter pipes, jumps and more are just some of the features found under the Swift Current lift.
The Explorer Gondola remains the final massive lift construction component of the Big Sky 2025 plan. Slated to open during winter 2025/26, this two-stage gondola will replace the existing Explorer chair, which sits to the looker’s right of the base area. The legendary two-seater has been operational since the resort’s inception in 1973. Big Sky has not announced what will happen with the remaining chairs, but if you’re a passionate patron of the hill, it’s worth being on the lookout for a few of the chairs up for auction next year.
Big Sky is currently skiing phenomenally, recording several feet of snow over the last two weeks. With more La Niña magic slatted to hit the Treasure State this winter, now is the time to click here and dial in your trip.
