“Powder Day Energy” Marks the Opening of Brundage Mountain’s New Centennial Express Chairlift
Brundage Mountain’s new high-speed chairlift, the Centennial Express, opened today to the hoots and hollers of hundreds of skiers and riders who gathered for the chairlift’s dedication. The crowd was treated to sunny skies and three inches of fresh snow for the Grand Opening this morning.
Brundage Mountain handed out commemorative t-shirts and provided a champagne toast as part of a short dedication ceremony at the base of the lift.
The new four-seat high speed detachable chairlift cuts the ride time from the base area to the top of the mountain from 16 to six minutes. Brundage now has two high speed quads on the front side of the mountain to spread out skiers and shorten lift lines.
“In the past, when we were having one of our busier days, Bluebird would get backed up because it was the only high-speed quad,” says Brundage Mountain General Manager, Ken Rider. “This is going to split traffic in half and spread people out across the mountain.”
The new detachable Doppelmayr chairlift replaces a 32-year-old fixed grip triple chair that was installed in 1990, the year Idaho celebrated 100 years of statehood. It took eight months for the old chairlift to be dismantled and replaced by the new state-of-the-art lift.
“Being able to watch everyone come down with smiles on their faces was incredible,” says Brundage Mountain Operations Manager, Dustin Johnson. “The stoke factor was through the roof. It really gives us a sense of accomplishment. This is why we do this, why we work in this industry, to have fun, to ski and snowboard, to get out there and enjoy what we have here.”
Not only is the ride time on the new lift significantly shorter, but guests have more time and space to load the lift, which is especially important for children and those newer to snowsports.
“I’ve skied here my whole life and have a lot of memories of riding the old Centennial as a kid,” says Courtney Bayuk, who has skied at Brundage since she was five years old. “This lift is going to make things SO much better – especially for families. There’s plenty of time to load the lift, the ride is smooth and super short. It will be so much easier to stay warm and enjoy the great terrain on this side of the mountain.”
The Centennial upgrade is a key part of Brundage Mountain’s 10 Year Improvement Plan, which was announced in fall of 2021 after a group of Idaho families came together to assume ownership of the 62-year-old resort. Their goal is to improve the guest experience while preserving the unique and storied character of Brundage Mountain. The Centennial Chairlift upgrade is the most significant piece of the improvement plan to come online so far. It was a priority for the new ownership group because of its immediate impact on the on-mountain experience.
A new base lodge facility, the Mountain Adventure Center, or MAC, is set to be completed and in use for the 2024-25 winter season.
MAJOR CHANGE in Weather Patterns is Finally Underway
Brundage Mountain has been open full time since mid-December. Like many resorts, a low snowpack has limited terrain and grooming operations so far, but a major weather pattern moving in could change that. Brundage received 2-3 inches of fresh snow across the mountain Thursday night, with another 5-9 inches expected by the end of this weekend. Forecasters say Brundage Mountain could see more than four feet of fresh snow over the next 10 days. The Mountain Operations team is primed and ready to open more terrain as soon as conditions permit.
Centennial Chair Auction Nets $23,700 for New Brundage Mountain Community Fund
The old fixed-grip chairlift is officially retired, but it will continue to make an impact for years to come. Five of the old triple chair carriers were auctioned off for a total of $23,700. Those proceeds will help fund the new Brundage Mountain Community Fund, which was created this winter to amplify Brundage Mountain’s existing efforts to support local non-profit organizations. Learn more.
