Everyone wants first chair on a powder day, that’s just how it goes. Whether you really know how to ski powder or not, getting those first lines can be the highlight of an entire season. Usually getting first chair means showing up early and waiting patiently in line, but some people think it’s okay to drop their skis in line, saving their spot, and head inside for a cup of coffee.
Some resorts are very much against this behavior and will toss skis to the side if they’re left in line. Others allow it, or even encourage it, whether it’s to appeal to their specific clientele or simply because they don’t care. So is it fair game or 100% cheating?
Personally I’d argue that the only time it’s okay to leave skis in the lift line is if most of your group is still there waiting for you. Say you need to run to the bathroom or you need to go grab something from your car before the lifts open, then it’s okay to drop your skis for a short period while your buddies wait for you. This concept of your entire group dropping their skis and heading inside to grab breakfast and coffee is absolutely unacceptable.
But at the same time, is it unfair to ask older folks to sit and wait for the lifts to open? Is it fair to exclude people from getting first chair simply because they can’t wait for that long? Or is that just the way it goes, and any skis left behind like that should be tossed aside? What do you think?
