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This hybrid snow grooming machine, which can bring a stage and music system anywhere on the mountain, will debut at Alpine Meadows on Thursday, December 31. Photo courtesy of Alpine Meadows |
CommentsAlpine Meadows Unveils All-Mountain Music Machine
Snow cat converted to mobile stage
Published: December 30, 2009 * Web Exclusive *Press Release
On Thursday, December 31, at high noon, Alpine Meadows Ski Resort will unveil a one-of-a-kind engineering masterpiece — a mobile entertainment system that’s one part snow grooming machine and two parts sound system. This hybrid-on-steroids is guaranteed to rock the mountain, priming everyone’s frame of mind for New Year’s Eve.After the machine is christened with a 40-ounce bottle of Pabst Blue Ribbon, local reggae band Truckee Tribe will provide the inaugural performance. The band will play on the innovative soundstage at the base area from noon to 3 p.m., celebrating the fact that 2010 is only 12 hours away.
Elevating on-snow music to uncharted heights, the new entertainment system looks like a fusion of science fiction straight from the imagination of Optimus Prime. It displays mechanical ingenuity resulting in an over-the-top, unabashedly excessive mountain entertainment venue.
“This is a dual-purpose conversion unlike anything,” said Kent Hoopingarner, general manager of Alpine Meadows. “The idea behind this project is to be able to offer live bands, deejays, and performances in different locations around the mountain, such the base area; the Ice Bar located at the base of Sherwood Bowl; the Mid Mountain Chalet — and anywhere we host events in remote on-mountain locations. The machine itself is a spectacle to behold. When a great band performs on the stage, it is a no-holds barred party on the snow.”
Mad Scientists
The Alpine Meadows vehicle maintenance team collaborated under lock and key to modify an eight-ton Bombardier BR 275 snow grooming machine into a 20-foot wide, 13-foot long rolling stage. It is capable of navigating to any location on the mountain, possesses an over-the-top sound system, and has the ability to automatically fold out a custom-made stage make. This tricked out snow cat unstoppable and unmatched.
Modifications include the removal of the standard articulated lift frame, replaced by an 8-foot by 10-foot central aluminum channel platform to create center stage. A steel sub frame was added and piano hinges installed to the steel sub frame to attach the stage extension panels. These panels consist of two 5-foot by 8-foot stage panels and one 10-foot by 5-foot panel for a total of 210 square feet of stage space. The grooming tiller was removed to accommodate stage panels and tiller hydraulics were repurposed to operate stage fold out, which is operator controlled from the grooming machine cab.
Originally designed to groom corduroy snow at ski resorts, this snow cat is a mind-bending departure from grooming machine conformity. Its new and sole purpose is venturing to any location at Alpine Meadows to get skiers and riders jamming to great live music and entertainment.
Two 200-watt Bose SA3 Lifestyle amplifiers are installed inside the grooming machine cab and four 100-watt Free Space 51 environmental speakers have been mounted on the cab’s roof — each with 360-degree projection. Performing bands — or even the system’s iPod Touch 32 gigabyte music library — will equal audio beacons.
If and when the vibe strikes, this rolling party has the potential for stentorian decibels and is devoid of a mute button. The Bose system can bump the sound to rival that of any outdoor concert.
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