 Poster: A snowHead
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don’t go on a lift /run until you’re competent?
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It's pretty hard to get good at sliding down the hill until you have a means to get up it. But as a beginner snowboarder I chose only very quiet times to use lifts. Which I trust meets with your all-important approval, @ster?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Travel days.
I think going is worst? there is always the concern your gear will disappear somewhere.
Not as big a deal on the way home.
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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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Having to wait a year until the next one.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Origen, you snowboard? Not quite the picture I had of you.
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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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@Garfield, I can relate to that. We had a 6:20am flight this morning. So bag drop at about 4:50am. Been a looong day. About to head out for dinner. Thank the wee man that Italians have options other than gnocchi & polenta on their menus 
(I’ve got a copy of the silver spoon btw, the bible of italian recipes…. Highly recommended)
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| ster wrote: |
Then should they go on before they are competent? Doesn’t the same go for skiers or anyone, don’t go on a lift /run until you’re competent?
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The trouble with snowboarding is, it's much easier to control the board when both feet are locked onto the board. But when dismounting from the lift, a boarder only has one foot in the binding, which makes for a much more difficult time controlling the board. So typically, a beginner boarder got to be reasonably stable on the slope but still quite wobbly dismounting from the chair lift. I've skied with boarders frequently. Even quite good boarders still have trouble negotiating a crowded 6 person chair (never mind a 8-pack).
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| KSH wrote: |
| @Origen, I doubt that competence is actually the issue here, sounds like pure entitlement to me. |
Or incompetence induced entitlement.
"I can't keep a straight line getting off the chair. So I will invent any excuse to discourage others to share the chair. Any excuse apart from admitting I'm incompetent".
| ster wrote: |
| If they need a wide berth I suggest a bib with a big red L on it. |
Excellent suggestion for @DaveyGTi.
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@abc, thats interesting. I only ever tried snowboarding once with a lesson, and doubt I even ever made it to a lift, I certainly can’t remember getting onto any but remember a lot of falling and sore knees and wrists, safe to say I didn’t continue the education.
So then should boarders ask for a empty space beside them? (BTW should that be on the side with their free foot?) Should I given them a wide berth , happy to wait one chair shd it reduce the risk of a pile up at the top, and any injury to me, after all there arent that many about these days.
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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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It snowing the day you are due to drive home, so getting to dig your car out, battle with the thought of what are the roads like, knowing that the pistes will be almost empty and perfect on a changeover day....
Followed by driving on French autoroutes which are so smooth you detect issues such as unbalanced wheels which are undetectable on our cobbled roads that are too busy to get anywhere quickly.
And finally, on a similar theme, comming off the Chunnel to join the M25, riddled with potholes (at least I can't feel the unbalanced tyre now), full of people who only occasionally understand the basic principles of lane discipline....
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| ster wrote: |
| So then should boarders ask for a empty space beside them? (BTW should that be on the side with their free foot?) Should I given them a wide berth , happy to wait one chair shd it reduce the risk of a pile up at the top, and any injury to me, after all there arent that many about these days. |
I tried boarding some years ago, after I was already a proficient skier. I was able to get down the slopes smoothly on a board in very short time. But getting off the lift was another story!  It’s the reason I didn’t continue with boarding!  It’s one thing to fall onto snow, even hard snow. Quite something else getting tangled up with other people (and their gear).
I have 2 regular ski buddies who are really good boarders. One would prefer to sit on one side of me on a double (basically facing me when dismounting). The other seems so proficient he doesn’t care. But when there’re other people, neither of them had any problems. I’m guessing she needs to be more concentrated when the chairs are full or when there’re other people on her back side. So, when possible, she would prefer not to be in that situation. But she NEVER, EVER make a fuss about people sitting on her back side! No entitlement in disguise!
Having both first hand experience and close observation, I’d give boarders a wide(r) berth when possible. That’s not saying not to share a chair with boarders. It’s just not on crowded, next to full chairs, especially when the queue isn’t massive. So I’m by no means “not invade their ‘private’ space”, just extra maneuver room for the average incompetent boarders. 
That said, in North America, often times the lefties would insist on filling every chair, especially the 6/8 person chairs!  In that case, I tried to exit the chair as quickly as I possibly can, to escape any potential pile ups.
Last edited by Ski the Net with snowHeads  on Tue 4-02-25 1:42; edited 1 time in total
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Skiyeah wrote: |
Followed by driving on French autoroutes which are so smooth you detect issues such as unbalanced wheels which are undetectable on our cobbled roads that are too busy to get anywhere quickly.
And finally, on a similar theme, comming off the Chunnel to join the M25, riddled with potholes (at least I can't feel the unbalanced tyre now) |
That's an interesting comment but I think you've got it the wrong way round. Most French autoroutes are concrete with seams across them every 50m or so. It's the vibration from those seams that makes you think your wheels are unbalanced. FWIW. I don't remember them being anything like as bad a few years ago as they were on my last trip in December so I reckon this is the same EV "too much torque & weight" issue wearing out the surface and causing undulations as has been highlighted in the UK. The A26 out of Calais is particularly bad.
I actually had all my wheels rebalanced whilst in France and watched the guy do it to make sure they were all at zero but the car still felt like it was trying to shake itself to pieces at high speed (I'm very sensitive to such things). Back in the UK at the same speed, it was fine. I ended up deliberately running my tyre pressures higher than recommended to smooth it out a bit.
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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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@Je suis un Skieur, I don't believe I drove over any concrete surfaced roads on my journey across france..... certainly not most.....?? or are you suggesting these have been tarmaced over? The balance issue i experienced was definitely higher frequency than every 50m
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People who just HAVE TO sit with their mates/family on chairlifts and block available chairs when there are queues.
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You know it makes sense.
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Leaving stuff on a transfer bus
Never did this till this year when a wallet got dropped.
Big thanks to Ingham's reps who managed to track it down and get it back to us.
Not sure how it happened and a major panic at the time.
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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Leaving stuff behind is probably the worst of any travel
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My niece, flying out to join her boyfriend in the Dolomites (via ferrata/high walking, not skiing) left the bag containing her walking boots and key kit items in the airport lounge. And it was only a four day trip...... they encountered some quite ferocious weather, and she was on a longer-and-more-difficult-than-expected via ferrata in a skirt and trainers. She's like that. Not long ago cycled across New Zealand and was almost constantly either cold or exhausted or both. She once travelled from Chamonix to Lyon airport (which she'd flown out to) before remembering that her return flight was from Gva. Or was it the other way round? 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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She also, as a sixth former, set out by train from Worcester to go to Birmingham for the new year sales, and ended up ringing my sister asking why they'd just past a "Welcome to Wales" sign. She'd got a south bound train instead of a north bound one.
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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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@Origen, did you seek her permission to publish these embarrassing details?!
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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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They have been, as they say up in Glasgow, the "talk of the steamie" for years.
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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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@Skiyeah, what je suis un skier said is right. French autoroutes are great for making progress but are not smooth the vibration is indeed unfulations in the surface you may also have a balancing issue too. When i drive, there's no vibration through my steering wheel vibration is from the road surface. The uk can lay excellent surfaces when we can be bothered to do it right. But we all know modt uk roads are terrible and pot holed daily.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Origen wrote: |
| She also, as a sixth former, set out by train from Worcester to go to Birmingham for the new year sales, and ended up ringing my sister asking why they'd just past a "Welcome to Wales" sign. She'd got a south bound train instead of a north bound one. |
I think she’d get on with my son ! Similar sense of direction and organisation 
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My wife and I skied down to a 4-man chair yesterday. There was one boarder in front of us so we let him have the chair to himself and waited on the next one.
Out of nowhere another couple tried to ski through us to get on the chair with the lone boarder. I thought that was a bit pushy, but maybe they were just super keen and I didn’t have a problem with that. They failed to get through the gate in time meaning the 4 of us were waiting for 15-20secs for the next chair. They way they tried to ski through us meant we were lined up as: my wife, female interloper, me, male interloper.
Again I didn’t have a problem with this.
As soon as we took off she took out her hankie, blew her nose and proceeded to have a coughing fit. Then he had a coughing fit. Then they both leant across me to chat, in some unknown language to be, as they kept on coughing and I tried to bury my face in my jacket and had out withering stares.
Selfish mofos. Another 15-20secs of a wait and they could have kept their germs to themselves. I know it’s what I would have done.
For the next few days I know I’ll be doubting every snivel and tickle.
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I posted earlier about the worst part of my holidays: people who don’t fill up chairs….
Karma - it’s a bitch isn’t it?
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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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I'd rather let a lone boarder go on a busy lift than risk being tangled up with them on exit with a full chair. it's happened more than once.
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| Mollerski wrote: |
| I'd rather let a lone boarder go on a busy lift than risk being tangled up with them on exit with a full chair. it's happened more than once. |
At least you're aware of your own incompetence. Many skiers aren't. I'm always happy to help collect skis and poles at the top for fallen skiers.
I'd never refuse to get on a lift with a skier. It just seems rude and pointless.
Obviously novices exist at ski resorts, and sometimes they fall over.
If you fall, I'll help you pick up your stuff, same as I would for anyone else. It's not hard.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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As a snowboarder myself I position myself on the left or right side of the lift so I can get a push away from alighting skiers. I agree snowboarders on chairlifts do look ungainly and pose a risk of tangling up skiers but even a half decent snowboarder should be able to avoid conflict and I've seen it with skiers as well. If I can I will try to leave a gap out or respect for fellow sliders but if someone wants to fill that gap c'est la vie!
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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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I will prefer a side spot if practical, as it normally means a clearer exit and more comfortable ride up, but 'up is up' and that mountain is a'calling.
I did snake into a free seat on an 8-man chair in GM a few years back and NONE of the skiers moved forwards when the chair came. So, the liftie and I exchanged gallic shrugs with each other and I reclined in first-class extravagance like the Greeks of old.
Probably Mollie and the dodo having a combined attack of the vapours.
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With out turning this into a snowboarder vs skier 90s style thread, I have had a fair few skiers over the years exit from one side of the lift and then just turn left/right across the path of everyone else. Likewise begin adjusting gloves, poles etc without looking what is going on.
Any reasonably competent snowboarder should be able to straight line off a lift. So I wouldnt worry unless you are on a beginner run.
Lift filling or lack of it is irritating especially when its busy, i dont mind if people want a private lift up likewise if someone wants to share with me and a mate thats fine too. Its 5 mins of my life that is pretty forgettable most of the time.
What has started to irritate me is the massive 8/10 man lifts i think there is a sweet spot around 6 as the % of empty seats on the 8/10 really are high making them pretty pointless. Maybe installing a 6 vs 10 isnt that different cost wise.
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You know it makes sense.
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My last trip: Hanging around for ages waiting for a ski case than never appeared, having to file a report, then having to wait 3 days for it to be delivered. Though did make gettign home across London on public transport easier!
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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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| Mjit wrote: |
| My last trip: Hanging around for ages waiting for a ski case than never appeared, having to file a report, then having to wait 3 days for it to be delivered. Though did make gettign home across London on public transport easier! |
Could have been worse, could have been on the way out.
I wouldn’t bother waiting long if it doesn’t come out in the first 1 1/2 hours, just fill in the form and leave, its their responsibility to get it to you. In the meantime rent if needed and claim back.
Last edited by Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name: on Wed 5-02-25 16:31; edited 1 time in total
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Sfellows, I already said that I didn’t mind getting skied through by another couple as they tried to catch a lift with a single boarder on it. I also didn’t mind sharing a lift with them. You do get into some very interesting chats on chairs.
I do, very much, mind them spreading their germs as they cough, splutter and chat across me, when there wasn’t even a queue.
Still if you think that’s justified for letting a boarder go up on his own then I think that’s a bit weird.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@ster, +1. We had a run of 3 from 4 flights to/from Calgary where our skis never made it. Two were homeward flights so made no odds. One was on the way out, but our bags arrived overnight and were ready for us for the first day. Phew!
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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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@dode, Fully loaded cable cars are super spreaders for every kind of lurgy. We've found that large amounts of beer after every day's skiing is the best defence.
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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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| Mollerski wrote: |
| We've found that large amounts of beer after every day's skiing is the best defence. |
Or wine, or just plain water…
I prefer hot chocolate and/or tea.
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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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| dode wrote: |
| Then they both leant across me to chat, in some unknown language to be… |
Talking across people in between in unknown language, even without the coughing fit, is so extremely rude!
(Thinking about it, I’d be equally rude and start singing! — I think that should put an end of the “lean across to chat” part  )
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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nosebleeds for me....a usual occurrence in the mountains!
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| ster wrote: |
| Mjit wrote: |
| My last trip: Hanging around for ages waiting for a ski case than never appeared, having to file a report, then having to wait 3 days for it to be delivered. Though did make gettign home across London on public transport easier! |
I wouldn’t bother waiting long if it doesn’t come out in the first 1 1/2 hours, just fill in the form and leave, its their responsibility to get it to you. In the meantime rent if needed and claim back. |
Don't think I waited that long. Only waited as long as I did because there were lots of other people waiting for bags too - just turned out to be a very delayed set of bags from the flight before. As soon as it was clear everyone else way a San Fran. arrival not a fellow GVA one took the walk of shame.
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| dode wrote: |
| @Sfellows, Still if you think that’s justified for letting a boarder go up on his own then I think that’s a bit weird. |
I think it's a bit weird that you refer to your sniffling companions on the chairlift as "selfish mofos" in your original post. Nice.
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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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@Mjit, 1 1/2 hours would be the very longest, but earlier if yours hasn’t come out and no more from your flight are popping out, then time to go.
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@Sfellows, they weren’t sniffling. They were having full blown coughing fits as they talked across me. So, yes, in my book that makes them selfish mofos for not having the self awareness to try to not spread their germs.
In your book I deserve to catch the lurgy for not jumping onto a chair with the one slope user that was in front of us at the gate.
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FAQ
