 Poster: A snowHead
|
OP
Should you sit on your poles
Answer
No
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
For the past 15 or so years when our daughter started skiing with us age 4, my poles would go laterally on my lap, across her lap and onto my wife, and her poles the opposite, so we had a “seat belt” type thing if the lift juddered, and you know what it’s like for little uns with short legs and heavy skis on forces them to the front edge of the seat. I suppose it just stuck as a practice between us, it even works for 2 on a no crowded lift. Otherwise they go wedged between my bent calf and inner thigh.
And that allows jacket to be unzipped part way, gloves stuffed inside, chocolate bar taken out of pocket
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
I do it quite a lot when teaching as rather than waste time standing on the piste, I can use both hands to demonstrate things like turning shapes, edging, flow other useful stuff when sitting on the lift. @chocksaway, will know what I mean as his pilot chums used to do that when describing their pointless aerobatic moves in the bar.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
I've a pair of Scott poles and the straps are around my wrists most of the time...if I take one off to flute around with my phone or something I just wrap it around the other wrist.
Who sits on poles??....and surely you'd have to be on the lift alone to do it!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
@Alastair Pink, Have always sat on my poles since circa 1986 when an Austrian instructor taught me to do so . . .primarily to enable chain smoking on the chairlift at the time but now to enable random texting / nose picking etc. Its easy enough; once seated raise your left leg slightly and slide the handles beneath the thigh / buttock at a slight angle . . .
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
@Mjit, American lifts were waay more advanced than those currently operating (in some parts of Europe) over 30yrs ago! They had 'visors' as well as 'comfort bars' back then as the windchill can be far more severe (-20+)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
On the sitting on poles question, I do. And don’t find any problem with safety bars per se. Though occasionally it interferes with the footrest of the “safety” bars, the inclusion of which entirely baffles my mind.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
I didn't use to sit on poles until I noticed that's what my #1 (and his mates) does. All clubs do it. It leaves both hands free to faff with phone, to drink, or even to help out a much younger #2.
Mind you, #1 also used to put both poles on the footrest. Until one day where he dropped them and had to ski back down with the whole club laughing at him!
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Tue 13-02-24 23:47; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yeah, always sit on em - allows you to do other stuff. Eat, drink, take pics, faff with gear etc.
Just tuck them under your leg.
Do those that dont, sit there gripping them ? Or have them in each hand ready for a fast getaway as you exit the chair. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
I have always sat on mine
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
Buuuut if you sit on them, how can you click them? I mean THERE IS SOMEONE RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU!
Reckon a 4-man chair could get a good rhythm session going. It'd be like the Drummers of Burundi meets the BeeGees. Would pay to see.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Bones wrote: |
| Do those that dont, sit there gripping them ? Or have them in each hand ready for a fast getaway as you exit the chair. |
I just have them between my legs with the grips against my left shoulder, holding them with my right hand. I've never felt the need to have both hands free; phone and flask can both be operated with one hand!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| extremerob wrote: |
| As the lift is approaching I swing the poles and place the handles between my legs - important that they don't protrude beyond my body - so they do not get stuck in the backrest of a lift. I am literally sitting on the handles. |
I get it if it’s an open-back chairlift and you can stick them out the back, but surely sitting on the handles themselves can’t be comfortable. Do you sit with them under your buttocks or between your buttocks?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
If im eating or on phones I put mine under left arm pit resting between top of the seat back and front of the seat base between legs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
This thread is useless without pictures, or indeed videos of the beginning and end of the chairlift ride. Personally I would not be confident of being able to dismount without the risk of damage to my person, or of tripping myself up. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
OK since America was mentioned now you can hear from a card-carrying American.
1. In some areas of the US, especially the PNW, use of the safety bar is uncommon, but NEVER denied if anyone wants it. NEVER.
2. Use of the safety bar and sitting on poles are not mutually exclusive.
3. If someone is so fast putting their poles under their leg that it gets in the way of putting the bar down, they've made a mistake. Yes, the bar makes that maneuver more difficult. Too bad; safety is more important than convenience.
4. The comment about "wooden slats on the back of chairs" is silly and inaccurate. There may be a few but Dopplmayer and Leitner have found their way to North America, and their standard chairlifts do have space for poles out the back. Some of the fancier ones don't...no matter where they are. You can still sit on 'em even then.
The solution for all of this is strapless poles. I hook 'em onto the safety bar if its down; or on the bar if it's up and if there is an empty seat. Hands free, nothing under my legs, not in the way of the bar coming down, not hassling with straps on and off every run, not pulling my shoulder out of its socket if a tree grabs one. I've never understood why they don't dominate the market but they sure don't. Mine are Komperdell.
@abc, plenty of old folks need those damn footrests; helps them stretch their day a bit. I can't fit my legs in there without a fight--too tall. The new tiny ones you see on 6/8 seaters are useless though.
Announcing you wish to pull the bar down is never a bad idea no matter where you are. It can hit tall people in the head, and that isn't what a safety bar is for! I always thank them for the warning so that others might take the hint in the future.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
No
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
How do you sit on your poles?
Do they go across the chair or inline with the travel of direction.
Why would you sit on your poles...is it not uncomfortable?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| Belch wrote: |
| @Mjit, American lifts were waay more advanced than those currently operating (in some parts of Europe) over 30yrs ago! They had 'visors' as well as 'comfort bars' back then as the windchill can be far more severe (-20+) |
What about today? From what I've seen in Europe over the last few years automatic, locking safety bars have become more the norm rather than the exception for new/upgraded lifts. Is that the case in the US?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| Frosty the Snowman wrote: |
How do you sit on your poles?
Do they go across the chair or inline with the travel of direction.
Why would you sit on your poles...is it not uncomfortable? |
They are parallel (ish) to your legs. Tuck the handles under you thigh or bum cheek, slightly angled.
No, it is not uncomfortable. Now your hands are free to eat a Mars bar/take a picture/put your hood up/make a phone call etc.
I do find it bizarre that this is such an alien concept to so many skiers. And no, I've never skied in the US.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I think it is bizarre and alien, since in about 2000 lift rides, I have never seen anyone do it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| andy wrote: |
| I think it is bizarre and alien, since in about 2000 lift rides, I have never seen anyone do it. |
Same!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
@Scarlet, I take up a fair bit of room and could never contemplate doing this.
My big worry is having my "tackle" removed my the space reducers that are attached to the bar to stop kids slipping down the gap.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Frosty the Snowman wrote: |
| My big worry is having my "tackle" removed my the space reducers that are attached to the bar to stop kids slipping down the gap. |
Designed to simultaneously increase and decrease the number of kids who ski.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
@ster, Totally agree - usually happens on an empty 6 seater when your straddled between seats
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
@Belch, sadly your lift migration story is not actually true... (and misses out Chile and Iran  )
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
@Frosty the Snowman, I don't think anyone can manoeuvre their poles around a kid stopper!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
I used to do the pole tuck all the time though it was a nuisance on those newer 6/8packs with closed backs.
Then I snapped a pole dismounting at Stuben and had to do the rest of the day swapping hands every turn in the powder.
So I don't any more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
I am British but live in Portugal and ski in Europe and Canada. What should I do with my poles as they are left hand drive?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
| Quote: |
How do you sit on your poles?
|
You just sort of tuck them under a buttock. The people who have expressed shock and disbelief perhaps believe they are being sat on whilst vertical.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| Richard_Sideways wrote: |
| Oh skiers and their poles - what a carry on... you're all nuts. |
Poles? do you mean those sticks they carry about for no apparent reason?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
@under a new name, Theres no waay they start in France . . .they simply don't have the engineers surely? (I've been in the bubbles up to the La Plagne glacier)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Orange200 wrote: |
| I am British but live in Portugal and ski in Europe and Canada. What should I do with my poles as they are left hand drive? |
You'll need a conversion kit, and make sure you have enough Gilet Jeux packed for you and anyone else sitting on your poles.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ster wrote: |
| Frosty the Snowman wrote: |
| My big worry is having my "tackle" removed my the space reducers that are attached to the bar to stop kids slipping down the gap. |
Designed to simultaneously increase and decrease the number of kids who ski. |
Brilliant!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
| Richard_Sideways wrote: |
| Orange200 wrote: |
| I am British but live in Portugal and ski in Europe and Canada. What should I do with my poles as they are left hand drive? |
You'll need a conversion kit, and make sure you have enough Gilet Jeux packed for you and anyone else sitting on your poles. |
Also an International Permit , 1949 permit if I am not mistaken, the Geneva variant
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Mjit wrote: |
| What about today? From what I've seen in Europe over the last few years automatic, locking safety bars have become more the norm rather than the exception for new/upgraded lifts. Is that the case in the US? |
It is very exceptional here. I think you could count them on one hand. Out West I only know of one at Big Sky; couple others in the East and Midwest. All are new.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
