Ehringer: Lessen anxiety by learning basics before using chairlift

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Riding the chairlift, one of the simplest and most basic of boarding skills, can cause great anxiety for never-ever boarders.

With the help of Steamboat Ski Resort instructor Scott Anfang, I reviewed the basics of this elementary but important routine.

There are several reasons why many beginners get nervous about riding chairs. First, you are in a crowd and a mistake is likely to be especially embarrassing. Second, a chairlift is a big mechanical device with the potential to hurt you if you mess up.

Let's tackle the second problem first. Chairlifts are big machines that grind along seemingly at their own pace. If you don't know what you are doing, you can get hurt. But there are numerous safety precautions engineered into them and if you simply pay attention, you can easily avoid trouble.

First, it is best to learn on designated beginner chairs and with the help of an instructor such as Scott. Beginner chairs are generally short lifts that service beginner runs. They are set to run slowly, have long intervals between chairs and offer gentle unloading ramps.

As you approach the loading zone, be sure your rear foot is not in the binding, your front foot is strapped in, your safety leash is attached and you don't have any loose clothing dangling (anything loose can get caught in the chair). If it is your first time, you can tell the lift operator that you might need help. This will alert him or her to watch out for you.

Should you fall, don't panic. The lift ops at both the top and bottom can stop the lift quickly, especially if they already know to watch out for you. So don't be shy.

Stay behind the red warning bar in the snow until a chair passes and picks up the people in front of you. If you are not ready, let another chair pass. Go when you are ready and don't feel intimidated. Once a chair has passed, you have about 10 seconds to get in position. Hopefully, you've practiced skating with your free foot.

Use that skill now to advance forward to the line in the snow that marks the pickup point. Move quickly and efficiently, but don't panic and rush. If you fall down, stay low and crawl off the lift track, if possible. A chair must be 18 inches above the snow, high enough to pass over you if you lay down. Don't lift your head or you may get conked. When a lift op sees you go down, he or she will hit the stop button, but it still takes several seconds for the lift to come to a complete stop.

Provided all is well and you've gotten to the lift loading board, glance behind you over your outside shoulder (the one facing the outer edge of the chair) to spot the approaching chair. Begin to sit down just before the chair reaches your legs.

This will prevent you from getting clipped in the legs by the leading edge of the chair. Truly, this can hurt and even cause injury. Good timing and alertness are the keys to getting on easily. Once on the chair, lift your front leg but let the board dangle so that if an edge gets caught in the snow, it will simply drag rather than pull you out of your seat.

Once you clear the loading ramp, scoot your body back toward the backrest. As the chair climbs, you might drop the ski rest if there is one. Pay attention, especially if someone else chooses to lower the ski rest, or the metal bar may catch you in the head, especially if you lean forward.

On the ride up, don't fidget or swing. If you drop a glove or goggles, don't try to reach out to grab for them. This can cause you to fall off the chair. Better a lost glove than a trip to the emergency room.

As you approach the top, lift the ski rest and prepare to unload. Scoot forward toward the edge of the chair and turn the board sideways, in line with the ramp. As you feel the tail end of your snowboard touch the off-ramp, rest your back foot tight against the binding. Stand up smoothly, looking well down the ramp to where you want to go.

Lift the forward arm and point your way down the off-ramp. Keep the knees bent, body relaxed. If you fall, don't panic.

Crawl toward the side of the ramp to clear the path for the next group of skiers or boarders.

Simply by being alert and relaxed, chances are very good you will not have any problems loading or unloading on your first few trips up the mountain. Just remember, even if you fall, the lift operators are there to keep you safe.

Nearly everyone, even the best boarders, have had a bad loading or unloading experience. If it happens to you, just smile and take it in good humor. You'll nail it the next time, so long as you stay cool.