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The old Chair 9 will become a high-speed, six-pack lift in spite of months-long plans to make it a quad. What changed?

"Winds can be strong as weather blows in over Mammoth's east side," said Dana Vander Houwen, the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area communications manager.

"The heavier six-passenger lift is being installed instead of a quad lift to allow it to operate in higher winds. The six-pack chair is heavier and more stable in the wind, so the Lift Operations team anticipates more full days of operation."

Meanwhile, Mammoth Mountain CEO, said the new lift, which will take skiers and boarders to 10,371 feet near Dragon's Back in just over six minutes, should help them access the middle of the ski area more efficiently.

In the past, the old Chair 9, a two-seat, fixed grip lift, took over 10 minutes to complete the ride. It was the longest, in distance and time, chairlift on the mountain.

From the top of the chair, however, skiers and snowboarders could traverse the eastern side of the mountain to get to the middle.

Now, with 25 percent of the ski area's customers accessing the hill though Little Eagle Lodge, Gregory said it was important to improve the efficiency of the East Side's lifts, first by taking Chair 15/Eagle Express, a high-speed six, then connecting to the new Chair 9.

"We believe many intermediate and advanced skiers will use the new Chair 9 to move across the mountain quickly.” Gregory said.

But it was wind and weather that turned Chair 9 into a six-pack. With a heavier weight, the runs off Ricochet and Dragon's Back will be more available the next ski season.