J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by pavelski

There is a positive side tho these type of lifts.

1. It keeps rank neophytes away.

2.It teaches you how to have a balanced stance,,,just in case.

3.It develops great leg endurance.

4.Finally, it prepares you for future "flights" going down.


Great picture. Great story.

You did forget the worst "problem" with such lifts. One skier doing ZIG ZAG out of tracks can easily de-rail tension/lift wire off rollers. Two hours of waiting.

Two issues you must consider.

Very near holiday period. Cost and travel. You know problems

As far as choice,,,,excellent. Great choices and variety ( just do not post on net how great skiing is) Too many people will follow you.

Prices are lower in those areas and people and much more "open" approachable.

You will not be stuck with one ski resort options.

By all means go there.

Just a small observations to beginners.

I know you do not want to spend a great of money.

I know you just want to sample this activity but do not "sell yourself" short.

That means do not use material that is not appropriate for you.

Too long skis ( tips should be around chin if placed verically)

Too big ski boots.

To tight pants or jacket.

By all means borrow or rent ( hire) ski material first.

But if you really like this activity ( 90% of persons do ) then inform yourself before buying or get a "educated, experienced skier to help you.

Too long skis,,even if they are given may be too dangerous or be a barrier to your learning and enjoyment.
Saving 50 euros may cause you 200 euros of grief.
Think about it.

Bandit,
Thank you for information.

Think of the beginner or intermediate skier who has never seen such a "lift"?

That is why all skiers who ski in Europe and other areas should get a guide.

Not only for "extreme".

I am now writing some basic instructions on how to get on a 8 skier lift.

Think it is easy ?

One "poor" skier and dominos fall!

Pavel

Yes yes that was exactly like the lift I took.

Where did you get video. My friends do not believe me that I got my white hair in one ski lift trip !

The strange aspect of all this was that as I was going up,,,,I noticed some vultures circling above. Bad omen.

Seems they knew that food was coming.

Worst of all were the splinters I had to take out of my ,,,,,,, at top ( and in the evening). Ruined my concentration and technique as I was skiing down.

Ever skied and have a splinter jabbing on every edge set ?

Not nice .

Thanks for such reminder of the bad memories.

OldAndy,
With your "experience" you should know that whatever advice I give,,,,there will be some who never listen, so do not worry about the ones who will get chair in the calf.

Here is another hint.

This teaches smart skiers to watch, to observe and to survive.

Most skiers in ski lift lines are so busy talking, so busy watching the "views" and so busy planning the evening that they do not observe the essentials. That is how to avoid dangers, pitfalls and dangerous "characters".
They all have a special name in various countries. They all are easily identifiable and they are are very very dangerous to themselves and others.

In my area they are called various names; gummers, yooohs, losers, yahoos, and you will say, "yes yes I have seen them" once you read this description.

Here is a description of the species.
1. Jeans
2. large,,,very large jacket from another sport such as;hockey, soccer, etc,,,
3. very very wide wild pants down to knees with a full back exposure
4. loud loud T-shirt with some "non-ski, anti-social" logo
5. loud pre-mating call which can be heard 2 km. away
6. high tech hook up wires for; Ipad, Iphone, Icam, I ego look.
7.rental (hired) boots unbuckled with thick wollen socks
8.rental (hired) 120 cm skis
9 bent poles
10 googles hanging near throat
11. huge wild wild tuque à la octopus look
12, work gloves from papa
13. smoking in line
14. pins in ears, nose, above eyes and in tongue (which has been forked)
15. should I continue ,,,,,,I think you have the picture.

Avoid them at all costs. Never go up with them since you will be traumatized psychologically, physically and socially.

Avoid them, not for their looks ( that is another issue) but for the potential dangers on the lifts.

My experience has been that they go to steepest, most demanding slopes and have no clue how to get on and off lifts.

They will grab and cling to the very nearest skier when that fall comes. They hate to go down alone. It has to do with lose of ego.

Of course they will not say that do not know how to get off chair lift and need advice. Too busy video taping for You Tube the famous fall which will happen.

In short just pass by them or let at least 5-8 skiers go ahead. Do not follow them in the next chair, T-bar or Poma lift. I promise you there will be bodies to avoid very soon.

If you visit some sites you will many who expose their fractured legs, heads, noses and arms. Seen some broken noses, teeth missing and of course fractured fingers and arms. All done on lifts not slopes.

In short,,,,,, keep away.

Ranchero,
Seems to me that your are a , "traveling skier" with all your visits.

You are a candidate for some serious heli skiing. Once in your life time do it.

BC interior. Selkirk area.

Or

Panorama with a two day heli at base lodge.

If you ever you speak to airplane pilots they will all tell you that the most dangerous moments are on take offs and landings.

So it is in skiing. The getting on ski lifts and taking off ski lifts.

Seems simple, but if you have travelled to various ski centers around the world you quickly see that there are no international standards , no one way to get on lifts.

This post has one aim. To inform skiers on how to avoid accidents, injuries and stress near lifts ( getting off and on).

I am sure others will contribute to the many "techniques" used in various ski countries and ski lifts.

Here is my contribution.

First I must tell you that I have some unique physical "changes" in my body which causes me to avoid any falls at all cost. One major accident and I will not be able to ski ever ( or walk again ). As a result I am very very careful getting off and on ski lifts and have developed some survival skills.

My worst traumatic moments while skiing were always at off ramp or on ramp of ski lifts.

These are my survival skills. You decide if they are appropriate to you.

1. While in lift line I watch skiers and try to plan who will come up with me. A two person chair lift is no problem for me since I can avoid skier at top if dismount disaster happens. It is the 4-5 skier chair lift that concerns me.
If a person has major problems just walking up to chair lift I avoid them. I let others go up with them.

2. I position myself on the outside section of the chair lift. That is if chair turns left at top ( to go back down), I am on the right.
Why ?
If there are any problems at dismount,,,,,,,,I can "bail out" by going sharp right away from all the fallen skiers. I have had three young skiers ( 11,12,13 ) joking, laughing, pushing each other while on chair with me. At top, while dismounting on a steep ramp all three fell. Two had broken legs , the other had a cut nose. What saved me was I was on their right and I quickly turned right away from them.
The most dangerous position is the middle one. Like in car racing you never want to be "boxed in".

3. Boarders. I have many friends who are boarders and who ski with me. I always sit one person away from them on chair. Why ?
Boarders do not place their boards in front like skis, but rather ACROSS sitting skiers. That is not their fault. It has to do with how their boots and board align.
The problem this causes me and other skiers is that if incorrectly positioned you will have the board"s tip resting on your skis and push down. I do not need more weight on my knees.
I let boarders go ahead of me in the lift line.

4. A small hint that will save you black and blue injuries just above the calf muscle. All ski lifts ( well I should not say all after what Bandit showed me ) have a mark to show where skiers are supposed to wait.
The smart wide mature skier waits 30-50 cm. ahead of this mark.
Why you ask ?
As the chair comes around, if attendant does not do his/her job the chair will hit first skier it meets. Trust me it hurts! Let others be the target of the famous "calf attack". The bruise will last at least 3-4 weeks.

5. Now for another rear calf injury.
Depending on the total weight of ALL the skiers on one chair, the height of the chair will vary. On a 4 person chair if you have a two 200 lbs skier, another 190 lbs and you at 180 lbs. that chair will sink lower.
If by chance you place your ski boots just under chair lift as you all sit down,,,,be ready for the famous chair squeeze. The horizontal steel bar will squeeze your calf muscle just above ski boot cuff and even set on top of ski boot cuff. Pain like you have never felt.

Solution,,,,place ski boots ahead at all times.

More to come,,,,,