Skiing and snowboarding can be stressful activities, once we make all the effort to get to the mountains and lug our gear to the lifts, you don’t want to lose your day to a ‘Jerry’ taking out your ankles. For the expert powder hound or the first time snowboarder, these tips will keep you safe on the lifts and friendly with your fellow passengers.
Don’t Be The Guy Who…Puts His Snowboard Sideways
Yes, your leg might be tired or strained from holding up your board, especially after a hard day of riding. However if you decided to snowboard today, be courteous and don’t lift your board over your fellow lift buddies.
Busy Day? Fill The Chair!
Waiting in a slow moving lift line, few things are more frustrating then seeing people loading chairs with less than the maximum capacity. Invite some singles, keep the line moving and no will begrudge you. If you get anxious about loading or unloading a chairlift with 3 other people, maybe its time to return to the bunny slope.
Share The Space (Don’t Sit On My Lap)
The floating couch in the sky may be great for racking up the ski laps, however if you are sitting on your neighbors lap, it won’t be so comfortable for everyone. Now that 6, and even 8 capacity chairlifts are becoming more common, its harder than ever to sit comfortably with somebody sprawled out around you. Just like in elementary school, be courteous and share the space!
Don’t Lower/Raise The Bar Right At The Onload/Unload
If you have to lower the bar, make sure you know when it’s appropriate to raise it. You may become a viral sensation and the anger of lifties everywhere if you try to get off the lift with the bar still down. So pay attention, don’t wait to the last second, and just communicate with your fellow lift buddies.
If You Can’t Unload The Chair Stick To Beginner Lifts
On busy days no one wants to watch you struggle in the lift queue or force the chair lift to stop. If your ‘friends’ are trying to coerce you into riding a lift above your ability, remind them that there are plenty of appropriate places to hone your skills before raising the skill level.
Don’t Make The Giant V With Your Skis
Skiers often place the blame on snowboarders for problems at the ski resorts, but many skiers are notorious for committing this chairlift sin. On a fully packed quad, don’t be the guy to spread his legs over the tops of everyone skis. Your legs may be burnt but it’s almost equivalent to sprawling across a crowded elevator.
If You Have To Lower The Bar, Announce It!
For some of us lowering the bar is necessary for small children or personal anxieties, however it doesn’t excuse you from lowering it onto an unsuspecting strangers head. A little heads up goes a long way in letting your fellow skiers and snowboarders know when the bar is coming down. On the other hand don’t be the too cool for school guy, ‘who can’t handle the bar’, lowering the bar doesn’t jeopardize your manliness, some parents don’t want their little shredders falling off.
Stand Up On Your Own, Don’t Push Off Your Neighbors
We all love our senior skiers and snowboarders, however when its time to unload the lift please don’t use your neighbor as a push off. Most of us are friendly enough to extend a helping hand, but using an unannounced push off is nobodies favorite introduction.
Be Self Reliant, Lifties Are Not Here To Pick You Up
With low wages and even lower morale, most lift operators don’t want to wreck their backs lifting you up from a lift unload ramp. Not to downplay most lifties, the vast majority are more than willing to hand you a misplaced pole or retrieve a glove from the lift line. However if you make like a beached whale and put no effort into getting yourself up after a spill, it may be better to hire a ski instructor.
Never Straddle A Rope Tow
The most obvious advice we could give, still has seen its tempters. For the sake of your own body please, don’t be this guy.
Also Read: Chairlift 101 – To Bar Or Not To Bar?
