 brian
brian
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ickabodblue, yes. It's pretty slow and a fairly short journey to the mid station.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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The top of one of the chairlifts at Val Cenis (La Berche, perhaps?) has an off-ramp which starts on a wooden platform about 12 feet off the ground - like a children's slide but much bigger - and is bl00dy scary when it looms into view for the first time. Actually, not just for the first time 
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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?
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brian, Thanks 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| jbob wrote: |
| I have never had a problem with the wind .... |
Glad to hear it. 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Megamum, don't think about it too much. Follow the advice above; don't be in a rush, hold your poles in the middle, in one hand, points pointing forward. Stand up calmly when your skis are firmly on the ground, and stay standing up, in a good position (ie don't lean back!). Do it without poles the first time, if you feel a bit nervous. Wind is not a problem from the point of view of skis blowing off, but it can get chilly. Get yourself buttoned up before you get on. It's a good time to relax and enjoy the view. Let someone else take your kids the first few times.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Megamum, the main problem with Children and Chairlifts is just how many are abducted from them. you are only safe in resort X....
never seen a ski fall from a chair more than 20m after the start. The bigger problem is usually how to carve over the fallen boarder at the end without blunting your edges 
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| PisteHead wrote: |
Thinking back to when I was a complete beginner all problems getting off a chair lift were due to
1) A degree of apprehension about the unknown
2) Reading comments like the above(not getting away quick enough so hit by the chair lift as it swings back round, falling over and getting smacked in the head, the embarassment of missing your stop, straps caught, etc) hence many beginners hurry the dismount and create problems.
3) A lack of skiing ability, some of the dismount areas will look extremely steep for some total beginners even though they are very short run-offs. |
1. Yes, very much so.
3. Yes, and they always seem to be crowded so I am sure I will crash into somebody who has not moved off!
And for me it was being overtired, with not-fit-enough leg muscles that refused to elevate me to standing at the end of the day, that resulted in the skis heading enthusiastically down the run-off and me failing to catch up with them & falling backwards! "Hello nice Mr Liftie - thanks for stopping the lift and helping me up !"
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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.
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stoatsbrother, 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Megamum wrote: |
| are you likely to lose a ski in the middle of a lift and not be able to retrieve it for any reason, or will bindings always cope with a tug from a gust of wind |
No, as the safety bar usually has a footrest built in that you rest the skis on, though i am not sure if the kids' legs will be long enough to reach it. The things I think most likely to get dropped are poles and gloves (assume your kids' gloves are attached using the string up the sleeves technique, but what about yours?
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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.
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| Megamum wrote: |
Great thread Hurtle, er..... I think 
Given that I've never ridden a chair with skis on, is there ever any problems associated with wind catching your skis or even board as you sit there or are they not big enough for that. I understand some lifts are ridden for quite some time and I guess it could get windy, are you likely to lose a ski in the middle of a lift and not be able to retrieve it for any reason, or will bindings always cope with a tugg from a gust of wind.? My childrens skis are never that firmly attached to their boots are can be quite easy to tweek off. |
No.
First, there is always a footbar to rest them on, except on a few very old chairlifts.
And second, if the wind is striong enough to pull skis off, there is a very good chance it would be strong enough that they would not run the lift anyhow.
If you do ever lose a ski on a chairlift, it will almost always be during the process of getting on, if you manage to catch an edge before they are clear of the snow, or knock it off with the footrest before you get the skis on top of it. Even tis is very rare though. I've only ever seen it happen once.
In those rare cases, the lifties will usually see it, and will pick up the ski and pass it to somebody on a following chair to give to you at the top.
By far and a way the most common things to lose in the middle of a chairlift are gloves, although poles can also be dropped.
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You know it makes sense.
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doctor_eeyore, it was choking him I believe - backpack stuck in lift and around helmet... he undoes helmet to fall
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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I have never lost a glove or a pole on a chair, but I have lost a ski. This was very useful as I discovered I could not ski on one ski. The nice man in ther chair following was very kind, bringing me my ski and helping me get up off the floor
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Frosty the Snowman, I have lost a glove.... was very sad - we had to go ski the roped off area under the chair to retrieve it
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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?
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Hurtle, So make sure your straps are all tucked up (maybe some velcro??) and take the damn thing off.... then it can stay on the chair if it needs to without keeping you on...
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Quote: |
a small annoying wriggling French child
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I've had a few of those, but also some rather sweet ones, including one young lad of about 8, with his younger brother, from Mauritius. All the way up a very slow chairlift (since upgraded) he told me about some of the local landmarks (including the Pierra Menta, a mountain which was originally the tooth of a giant, it seems) and his favourite Mauritian and French dishes. Very sweet, if rather precocious, like a little tourist rep, and he didn't seem too fazed at my having to ask him to repeat himself. My French not being too fluent, I resorted to asking him if he was a good skier. "Yes", he said. Next question? I've also met some entertaining adults, and if you find the right ones, it does make the time go quicker. Because English skiers are rather unusual in our area I have become very fluent at the answer to the inevitable question about how I come to be there!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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stoatsbrother, I've seen a ski come off before the top of a lift, the child then broke his leg trying to get off on one ski.
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I don't understand why people ski with backpacks when in resort.
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Its vital to assess the competence of fellow chairlift occupants.
Be very wary of boarders who might just be talking a good game and anyone who seems to have no idea what to do with their poles while on the chair.
Learn the bar down block to prevent Twunts slmming it on your head before you've even left the ground (we're not all 5 ft midgets).
On a board try to get the left or right hand seat to avoid the carnage .
Be first or last off
If you are on a board (therefore with an excuse) and can manage without hurting yourself try to skittle the assorted numpties just standing around at the bottom of the ramp then point to the clear the area signs.
If you are a liftie amuse yourself at the top station by polishing a particularly icy patch for people to fall on on the ramp or possible building a mini kicker.
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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.
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veeeight, SCGB requirement for one of their off-piste guided holidays. I've never carried a backpack before and would much rather not. But, without wishing to turn this into a red thread thread (if you see what I mean) I don't think most ski wear has pockets big enough to contain a shovel, so off-pisters should carry a pack anyway, shouldn't they?
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| Quote: |
If you are a liftie amuse yourself at the top station by polishing a particularly icy patch for people to fall on
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..or at the bottom station by piling snow on to the chair, instead of scraping it off.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Hurtle, imho the best possible advice is to ski groomers for a day or so with the pack on before heading off the groomers, just to get used to the different balance.
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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.
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comprex, oh, absolutely, I will indeed. I've already noticed when walking on steep terrain, that my balance is affected - though less so with the chest strap done up.
Lizzard, 'ere, wotch who yor calling barmy! 
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You know it makes sense.
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| Quote: |
so off-pisters should carry a pack anyway, shouldn't they
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Indeed they should. However by observation the majority of recreational skiers in resort who are do not venture off piste are frequently seen skiing with a backpack, struggling on chairlifts, getting tangled, and fighting their raised centre of mass, and poor fore-aft balance!
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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veeeight, fair point about balance - but if you are a parent of small kids - you also often need backpacks for spare bits, food, drinks etc etc - as well as for any back-country/off-piste stuff.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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jbob, sprouts are a serious business.
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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?
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veeeight, if you don't have a backpack, how else do you carry your spare jumper, 2l of water, packed lunch and goggles (or sunglasses if wearing goggles)?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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OK just in an effort to make 3 pages and upset lizzard, what about the whole business of either lifting the bar too early while still over a big drop or leaving it too late.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Swirly, not nice at all....
jbob, you use the safety bar??? wimp! 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Not when I am on my own, obviously.
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| Elizabeth B wrote: |
| veeeight, if you don't have a backpack, how else do you carry your spare jumper, 2l of water, packed lunch and goggles (or sunglasses if wearing goggles)? |
You'll perceive that a hip flask solves all these problems. Warmth, concentrated liquids, lunch, booze goggles -> DONE.
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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.
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jbob, you can be on my lift any time. Stupid useless things.
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Sorry, I know its dangerous and all that but this did make me chuckle
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FAQ
) a small annoying wriggling French child for company on the journey 
