55 replies to this topic

[liftmech]

seatoski, on 07 February 2011 - 11:21 AM, said:

When they stand up on the top ramp just as it arrives and try to shoot off the chair, instead of waiting for the breakover and unloading properly

We have that on one of our quads. What happens if they wreck? Could be some carnage ensuing.

[aug]

Bill, on 09 February 2011 - 09:58 AM, said:

Chew spit in the lift line.

Bill , I think you got your verbs and nouns mixed up ? "Spit Chew in the lift line?"

[Bill]

Or I could say in long-breath "That nasty brown spit that will rot out your teeth and gums and has a really bad smell that makes the snow brown in the queing line that lift ops have to shovel to remove" :)

[Kicking Horse]

I hate the ones that "fly" down the mountain. This goes both for boarders and skiers.

[boardski]

Good topic! I can't beleive I did not see this sooner!
The "people-factor" has to be the most difficult part of our sport. Sometimes when I come home and tell my wife about the crap I had to deal with from other skiers and riders, she wonders why I go. I guess I am just fueled by the strange obsession of sliding down the mountain in the midst of mother nature despite human challenges. Here are the behaviors which annoy me most:
1. misloading/unloading lift, especially those which serve intermediate level and above terrain.- This seems to have gotten worse over the past few seasons.
2. People who stop and wait at the "wait here" board for the remainder of their party- blocking others from using the lift
3. When people refuse to allow single riders/skiers to load the chair with them when there is a line of people waiting or those who insist on riding the chair with me when there is no line at all and do not announce their intentions. I also do not like it when people immediately lower the !@@#$% safety bar/ footrest but I have sort of given up that battle.
4. People who speed through beginner terrain and take the middle. This is highly annoying when I am instructing. I believe that skiing/ riding terrain within one's ability not only means not using terrain too difficult but staying clear of easier terrain once one has progressed in their ability and allowing beginners the room they need to learn their skills.
5. People who have not "buried the hatchet" with the skier v snowboard conflict from the 80s and 90s and act out their disapproval toward snowboarders by acting like a complete jerk to everyone riding a board including myself who mind their own business and make a reasonable attempt to be considerate on the hill.
6. Overall entitled behavior of any sort (cutting lines, needlessly requesting slows/stops, refusing to alternate or buddy-up when there is a line are all examples of this)

Regarding the slamming down of a snowboard, usually the reason to do this is to remove the ice buildup before rebuckling the rear binding but I usually do this at the top or just before I rebuckle and go, it is rather odd (and likely annoying) to do this in the lift maze.

It seems many sports have struggles with the "people-factor". Awareness always helps. I appreciate the sign at Copper Mountain the most which reads: "Respect gets respect" which is not always true but a nice thought.

This post has been edited by boardski: 18 May 2011 - 07:02 PM

[Bogong]

* People who get up early in the morning after a snowfall to get "first tracks", thus denying them to ME when I crawl out of bed at 9.30...

* All snowboarders.

* All telemarkers.

* All other people who are not exactly like me.

Really, we live in a social society, so if you don't like what other people do, either shut up OR go and live alone in a cabin in the woods where you won't have to bother about being irritated by people who dare to be different to you.

[boardski]

Bogong, on 18 May 2011 - 09:40 PM, said:

* People who get up early in the morning after a snowfall to get "first tracks", thus denying them to ME when I crawl out of bed at 9.30...

* All snowboarders.

* All telemarkers.

* All other people who are not exactly like me.

Really, we live in a social society, so if you don't like what other people do, either shut up OR go and live alone in a cabin in the woods where you won't have to bother about being irritated by people who dare to be different to you.

I sure am glad people are different than I am. I actually was not trying to come off like some kind of snob who thinks I am perfect because I am definately far from it, I was merely replying in line with this topic about behaviors which can be annoying. Differences are a given and I have no problem with people who dare to be different.

Regarding behaviors, I have been putting up and shutting up for almost 35 seasons now. The only behaviors I do not put up with is those which lead to dangerous situations such as: having a skier cut accross the front of my board intentionally while unloading a lift, being crowded off a chairlift, or having my child ran over. These are behaviors which were confronted accordingly at the times they occurred. Many of the annoying behaviors mentioned in this topic can lead to dangerous situations in which someone can get hurt or worse, then they are no longer OK. Other behaviors are mildly inconsiderate and people are probably not even aware they are engaging in them. I may have annoyed someone and not have known it. This is how awareness helps.

Although this topic has a somewhat negative vibe, venting is healthy and keeps us from holding things in so rather than run up to the load board and white-wash the next person who misloads a chairlift, we are more likely to take a breath and proceed on with our day. Besides, the worst day of skiing is usually better than the best day at work anyway.

I have to admit the cabin in the mountains sounds good as long as it is near a ski area so I can sleep in later to get those first tracks. Also, I kind of like telemarkers, although I have never tried it, it definately looks challenging and like a good workout. They probably tear up the snow a lot less than my snowboard does too.

Happy trails!

[Bogong]

Oh my sarcastic post wasn't directed at you boardski. It was just a general observation about the slightly narcissistic vibe of the whole thread.

Remember, we were all clueless novices once.

[boardski]

Bogong, on 19 May 2011 - 08:24 PM, said:

Oh my sarcastic post wasn't directed at you boardski. It was just a general observation about the slightly narcissistic vibe of the whole thread.

Remember, we were all clueless novices once.

This is true. I was more than once, thanks for the clarification.

This post has been edited by boardski: 20 May 2011 - 05:58 AM

[Lift Dinosaur]

aug, on 09 February 2011 - 10:11 AM, said:

I know this is anti social, but just the mere presence of them (skiers and snowboarders) in the winter annoys me . Spring and fall are so tranquil and pleasant without the customers . I know they are needed to provide me with employment .... But I don't have to like it .

Dino

[boardski]

Lift Dinosaur, on 20 May 2011 - 06:29 AM, said:

Dino

You all are in luck as long as you don't work at A- Basin. 7" new snow today, nearly 100% still open, almost 2 feet over the past 3 days, the only ski area open in Colorado on a Saturday= one massively crowded day. I'm glad I went yesterday. It was a Very nice day!

This post has been edited by boardski: 21 May 2011 - 06:12 AM

[DonaldMReif]

boardski, on 18 May 2011 - 06:59 PM, said:

Good topic! I can't beleive I did not see this sooner!
The "people-factor" has to be the most difficult part of our sport. Sometimes when I come home and tell my wife about the crap I had to deal with from other skiers and riders, she wonders why I go. I guess I am just fueled by the strange obsession of sliding down the mountain in the midst of mother nature despite human challenges. Here are the behaviors which annoy me most:
1. Misloading/unloading lift, especially those which serve intermediate level and above terrain.- This seems to have gotten worse over the past few seasons.

Amen to that! I was at Keystone back in January, and the day I went, it seemed that it was impossible to ride any chairlift on the mountain without it stopping or slowing at least once or twice. I had one ride on the Santiago Express where the lift slowed twice for lengthy periods (and that lift services blue and black runs). The Outback Express was also slowing a couple times, and that's also an intermediate/experts only lift. I don't know what the problem with them is. I wish they could clear up the misloading and misunloading issues on the Ruby Express lift, but I don't know what can be done since that's a high speed six pack.

In contrast, when skiing at Vail on Super Bowl Sunday, I didn't have to deal with slowdowns or stops on most chairlifts.

Crested Butte isn't bad when it comes to the Silver Queen, Paradise and East River high speed quads, since those only service intermediate terrain and above. Red Lady has many more slows and stops since it services beginner terrain.

Quote

3. When people refuse to allow single riders/skiers to load the chair with them when there is a line of people waiting or those who insist on riding the chair with me when there is no line at all and do not announce their intentions. I also do not like it when people immediately lower the !@@#$% safety bar/ footrest but I have sort of given up that battle.

I had to deal with the former part of that quote during a lift ride on the Red Lady Express at Crested Butte last weekend. I just had to decline. If there isn't a line, riding up by yourself without someone else is probably okay. I usually like to be by myself when I record a chairlift and don't want someone else who will try to converse with me, since I like to just take in the surroundings around the lift when I record.

Regarding the latter part, I immediately bring down the bar when I'm alone on the lift.

This post has been edited by DonaldMReif: 25 February 2012 - 11:23 AM

[boardski]

Actually, since I posted that, I have developed a wierd vertigo feeling espcially when I am sitting in one of the middle seats on a 6 pack or quad where I feel like I could fall out if I don't hold onto something. Thankfully it has not effected my skiing or riding but it has changed my preference on having the bar down. I still appreciate it when people say something such as "heads up" or "coming down" and wait for the chair to at least finish the turn and leave the station. This prevents pinched fingers and smashed knees. Most people have been fairly reasonable though.

[2milehi]

I didn't see this so much at Keystone, but our chair-riding guests are very chatty with lift mantenance doing work on the towers. And some guests are quite rude.

[aug]

Signs are needed that Say STOMP FREE ZONE near the loading areas ..I hate the board stomp.

This post has been edited by aug: 27 February 2012 - 05:30 PM

[Skiing#1]

I often crashed by most snowboarders (most teenagers) and only one skier. After crash, all of them told me that they were behind me, yelled at me and look out to make turns. I told them that I can't hear them. Few don't understand and at last, I told them that I am deaf. Most of them really were embarrassing, quickly got up and quickly left. The skier asked me "are you OK?" Yes I was OK. She said that she felt bad and was sorry. She was sweet lady.

I am tired of this. They know better about the rules.

Some of my friends teased me that I should wear a vest with sign "I am deaf skier" LOL.

Also at the pubic stores, sport places, anywhere the people often talk to me or yell at me, they thought I ignore them. I always tell them that I can't hear. The people often say oops, excuse me. Sometimes they get embarrass and quickly leave. It doesn't bother me at all because I used to it all the times.

Sometimes I tell them that if people who can't hear and have no response. Best is move to front of the people to get eye to eye contact, the people who can't hear will see them and they will response. Or tap on the people's shoulders they will turn to see them. I always tap the people's shoulder, they will see me and I always say "excuse me" with more polite.

One day, at the food store, the cashier kept talking to me whole time while she scanned my food and she finished and looked at me. I paid and told her that I can't hear. She got very burst!!!! She said she was sorry...I left the store and I laughed so hard!!!

I share about one story, my friend and his friend were in Chicago (south and west area....the black people live there), they were in the bus. The gang were in the back of the bus and yelled at my friends, they thought my friends ignored them, the voices raised loud and yelled at them "Kill you" My friend turned to use sign language to his friend. The gang finally realized they are deaf and left them alone. They tapped my friend to move and let them get off the bus.

Smile.

This post has been edited by Skiing#1: 27 February 2012 - 05:35 PM

[aug]

2milehi, on 27 February 2012 - 01:25 PM, said:

I didn't see this so much at Keystone, but our chair-riding guests are very chatty with lift mantenance doing work on the towers. And some guests are quite rude.

Ignore the guests... because we have heard all the one liners they have to say to us while we are working on tower with the lift open to the puplic. and the number one ...one liner is.." Is everything OK" . I used to pause and look at the sheave train and then say "No".

[Lift Dinosaur]

2milehi, on 27 February 2012 - 01:25 PM, said:

I didn't see this so much at Keystone, but our chair-riding guests are very chatty with lift mantenance doing work on the towers. And some guests are quite rude.

Some of my favorites when doing tower work during operations- Q- "What are you doing up there?" A- "Hiding from my Boss". Q- "Is this lift safe?" A- "If it wasn't, I wouldn't be UP HERE!"
Dino

[Allan]

Lift Dinosaur, on 27 February 2012 - 06:03 PM, said:

Some of my favorites when doing tower work during operations- Q- "What are you doing up there?" A- "Hiding from my Boss". Q- "Is this lift safe?" A- "If it wasn't, I wouldn't be UP HERE!"
Dino

Don't forget... "Don't Jump!!!"

[DonaldMReif]

boardski, on 26 February 2012 - 08:53 PM, said:

Actually, since I posted that, I have developed a wierd vertigo feeling espcially when I am sitting in one of the middle seats on a 6 pack or quad where I feel like I could fall out if I don't hold onto something. Thankfully it has not effected my skiing or riding but it has changed my preference on having the bar down. I still appreciate it when people say something such as "heads up" or "coming down" and wait for the chair to at least finish the turn and leave the station. This prevents pinched fingers and smashed knees. Most people have been fairly reasonable though.

I also appreciate it when people do that. I have that vertigo feel on particularly tall towers out of the bottom station. Such as Ruby Express at Keystone and the upper spans on the Peak 8 SuperConnect (not so much with the lower section, where there are some very tall towers, but then again, this is where the lift is crossing the Beaver Run SuperChair and Lift C). When on the outside of the chair, I like to grab onto the arm of the chair. The problem is that when I'm with others and they decide to lower the bar, they don't check to make sure all limbs are clear of the bar.

I also like to get the bar up before the last tower prior to unloading. I panic if we're passing through the last tower and the other people in the chair have not yet taken their skis off the footrest to allow us to raise the bar.

This post has been edited by DonaldMReif: 02 October 2012 - 04:35 PM