Helicopters Finish Killington's $7.2M Snowdon Quad Ahead of World Cup
Helicopters installed the final towers for the new Snowdon Quad at Killington, setting the stage for the women's World Cup return this November.
Key points
- Helicopters installed the final 10 of 19 towers for Killington's $7.2 million Snowdon Quad on September 22.
- The fixed-grip lift offers 33% more capacity than the old Snowdon Triple and includes a backup generator for outages.
- The women's World Cup returns to Killington on November 28 and 29 for giant slalom and slalom races.
Helicopters dropped the final steel towers into the Vermont snow on September 22. Killington Resort completed this move for its new Snowdon Quad, a $7.2 million project. The work marks the physical end of a major construction phase. The resort prepares for the women’s World Cup to return in November.
The air operation handled the last ten of the lift’s nineteen support structures. Crews also positioned four sheave trains, the rotating wheels that guide the cable. Simultaneously, the helicopters removed three old towers from the former Snowdon Triple. Killington plans to repurpose these as terrain park features or recycle them as scrap metal.
Fixed-grip design prioritizes reliability over speed
Killington chose a fixed-grip system instead of a faster detachable lift. This decision favors dependable access during harsh New England weather. The new lift will travel more slowly than the nearby Snowdon Six Express. However, it offers thirty-three percent more capacity than the old Snowdon Triple.
The system includes a backup generator capable of full-speed operation during power outages. This focus on reliability serves the mountain’s daily operations. The lift follows the same alignment as the one it replaces. Doppelmayr, which built the Superstar Six, manufactured this new chairlift.
World Cup races arrive in late November
The women’s giant slalom is scheduled for Saturday, November 28. The slalom follows on Sunday, November 29. Both races will take place on the Superstar course. This event occurs early in the Audi FIS Ski World Cup season.
The season opens in Sölden, Austria, on October 24. Racers then move to Levi, Finland, on November 14, and Gurgl, Austria, on November 21. Killington hosts the season’s second women’s giant slalom and third slalom. Mikaela Shiffrin and other top technical racers will arrive with the season still taking shape.
Ikon Pass holders gain shared access
Killington and neighboring Pico Mountain are part of the Ikon Pass network. For the 2026-27 season, Ikon Pass holders receive up to seven shared days. Ikon Base Pass holders get up to five shared days. These benefits are subject to applicable blackout dates.
This connection grants access to a prominent East Coast destination. The resort will again center international alpine racing activity in November. The new lift increases capacity and strengthens redundancy. It ensures dependable access for daily mountain operations.
