8 May 2025
In an exciting milestone in the construction journey of our newest lift, the Mt Perisher 6, last week, the chairlift carried its very first passengers!
While this wasn’t the official ‘first chair’ (a special milestone that is reserved for 6 lucky guests on the Mt P 6's first day of operations), it was an essential step in the lift’s commissioning process. The Mt P 6’s very first passengers were four members of the Perisher team who have been instrumental to the success of the project as well as two of our friends from Doppelmayr. Together, they loaded onto the Mt P 6 for a carefully controlled test ride, marking a major milestone in ensuring the lift will spin this season.
What Goes Into Commissioning a New Chairlift?
Building and opening a new chairlift is no small feat. The process begins long before the first chair spins, and it involves months of detailed planning, engineering, construction, and rigorous testing.
After the physical structure is completed including towers, terminals, haul rope, and chairs, the lift enters the commissioning phase. This is where we check and double-check every system to ensure everything is functioning exactly as it should.
Commissioning involves:
- Mechanical testing – verifying the operation of the drive systems and safety controls
- Electrical testing – ensuring all sensors, controls, safety switches, and backup systems are functioning correctly
- Load testing – simulating the weight of passengers to confirm the lift can operate safely under full capacity
Traditionally, ski resorts use water-filled containers (often garbage bins or drums) to simulate this passenger load. These are evenly distributed across the chairs to create the same kind of stress on the system that real guests would. It’s a safe and effective way to test lift capacity, but it only tells part of the story.
Why Testing With Real People Matters
While water weights help test mechanical and structural performance, they can’t replicate the human experience. For the final stages of testing, we need real people to ride the lift.
This allows our team to:
- Observe the chair’s movement and timing from a guest’s perspective
- Test loading and unloading at full chair spacing
- Make sure all guest-facing elements (seat height, terminal speed, etc.) are working comfortably and efficiently
- Confirm the emergency procedures and lift operations are performing exactly as designed
It’s also an opportunity for our lift operations and maintenance teams to fine-tune the ride experience before guests ever set foot on the loading platform.
Respecting the Tradition of the First Chair
We know the ‘first chair’ is more than just a ride …it’s a highly coveted bragging right!
That’s why we’re careful to differentiate this milestone from the official ‘first chair’. Last week’s ride was a behind-the-scenes moment in the testing phase, not a ceremonial opening. We’re saving that special first chair for you, our guests, on Mt P 6’s Opening Day. Plus, it doesn’t count if you’re not enjoying the descent, too!
Looking Ahead
The successful test ride of Mt Perisher 6 brings us one step closer to ensuring the new chairlift spins this season.
We’ll continue working through the final stages of testing and certification in the coming weeks, with a focus on safety, efficiency, and comfort.
We can’t wait to see you at the base of the Mt Perisher 6 soon, ready to load up for your first ride!
Want to be among the first to ride the brand new Mt. Perisher 6 chairlift this season? Unlock unlimited laps at Perisher, Falls Creek, and Hotham with the 2025 Epic Australia Pass. Plus, enjoy exclusive Pass holder benefits like discounts on accommodation, lessons, rentals, and heaps more as well as access to the best resorts in the Northern Hemisphere for the 25/26 season!
