Riding the Chairlift

Riding the Panoramic Lift at Winter Park Ski Resort

“Did you hear what happened at Ski Granby Ranch today?” my friend Kate asked.

“No, I just finished teaching my lesson and just got in the car to drive home.  What happened?”

“A woman died after she fell from a chairlift there.”

I was horrified.  After getting home, I googled the incident, and sure enough a mother from Texas, along with her two daughters, aged 12 and 9, had fallen 25 feet from a chairlift.  The mother died instantly, but miraculously, the two girls had survived.

After skiing for more than 30 years, I take riding a chairlift as second nature.  I don’t even think about, and yes, I admit, I often don’t put down the safety bar.  In fact, many of the older lifts at the ski resorts in Colorado don’t even have safety bars.  Since I really don’t have a fear of heights, I’ve never much thought about it nor had any fears of riding the lifts.

However, becoming a ski instructor provided new reflection on getting on and off a chairlift as well as riding one safely, mainly because I teach children.  And their safety is paramount to me while I am teaching a lesson.  Often, we take children on their very first chairlift ride as part of our lesson.  We review how to get on a lift, how to be safe on the lifts, and getting off.

Part of that protocol is always putting the safety bar down as soon as everyone is safely on the chairlift.  I have to admit, when I’m teaching the 4-6 year olds, I’m particularly vigilant about watching them, cautioning them to sit against the back of the chair.

Loading the chairlift can be interesting too, as some of the kids aren’t even tall enough to just “sit down on the chair as it comes up from behind.  I usually make sure the smallest kids are right next to me, and often have to do a grab and hoist maneuver to simultaneously lift and put them into the chair.

The interesting thing is the kids seem to share none of my concerns or fears.  Once in the chair, they exuberantly look around, spotting animal tracks, playing “I spy” and generally being excited and happy to be “flying” through the air.

The fun doesn’t stop though once you grow up, as is evident during the many times I share the chair with others while skiing.  There is a whole etiquette to riding the chair, with many types of personality types that come out.

The introvert who prefers to jam out to this music through his headphones.  The smartphone junkie who endlessly scans his emails, texts, and important communiques.  Those that provide critique and sometimes heckling of skiers and snowboarders navigating the slopes below.

And the extroverted folks like me, who like to chat and meet new people from all over the country.

“Oh, I see you’re renting skis, where are you visiting from?”

I have to confess, my most unfavorite chairlift ride is the one I take all by myself.  I like the company and the idle chatter, and the chance to make new friends.  One time, I got on the chair, only to find my seatmate worked for the National Park Service, just I had for many years.  We became fast friends, and shared many a ski day based on that chance, random meeting on a chairlift.

So next time you venture out on the slopes, pay attention.  Use that safety bar, and be receptive of perhaps making a lifelong ski friend.