Strange (unique) ski lifts and how to use them.

OldAndy wrote:

SwingBeep wrote:I don't think there are very many basket lifts left. The idea is to step elegantly into the basket (takes a bit of practice) when the attendant closes the gate don't forget to say "Grazia"

Well ....

You live and learn - never seen one of those before.
:shock:

:D The very first lift I ever used was one of those. On a school trip to the Italian village of Andalo. Ahh that takes me back.. :lol:

Pavel, I really think the the biggest issue with poma lifts, is that they go too slow once you are on them. They would be so much easier if they went two or three times quicker. Just my opinion. I guess it would make the launch even funnier to watch :twisted:

Pavelski, Grimentz is in Switzerland not France.

Unique and brand new (it only opened yesterday) is the Stanserhorn 'CabriO' cable car. The first open topped double decked cable car, where the passengers ride above the cables.







sorry about the yodelling

http://www.stanserhorn.ch/de/bahn/cabrio/

Amazing .

Is this a ski lift ?

Wonder what happens in snow storm ?

As far as Poma speed,,,,they can go much faster but then falls increase.

In one ski area near my house they have a fast fast small T bar with a wire which is like a rocket.
Grab T bar,,,count to 5 as wire unravels and take-off !

Never go on with a child since T bar goes to your thighs and chances you will bail out! Too fast for children. Too steep for most skiers!

The fastest lift I ever took was on a portable gas driven motor based T bar for racers. This lift would be moved about every two three days on steep steep terrain for racers that were practicing ( for next season.) A ski company had flown in this unit since the local lift was too slow and terrain not steep enough for SL gates.
Amazing sensation going up so fast!

Swingbeep, love the Grimentz Lift Map for 2004, interesting to see how the resort has evolved since then.

Best by far for an air launch is the Orzival drag. I get air 50% of the time. Good Core muscles are very useful :mrgreen:

pavelski wrote:
Is this a ski lift ?

Er, well actually no :oops:, but it is unique and riding above the cables is very strange.

It takes tourists up the Stanserhorn, a spectacular view point above lake Lucerne. The summit can also be reached by a Funicular railway that dates back to 1893 http://www.pictures-switzerland.com/stanserhorn/index.htm.

Wonder what happens in snow storm ?

I don't think it runs in the winter.

SwingBeep wrote:

pavelski wrote:
Is this a ski lift ?

Er, well actually no :oops:, but it is unique and riding above the cables is very strange.

It takes tourists up the Stanserhorn, a spectacular view point above lake Lucerne. The summit can also be reached by a Funicular railway that dates back to 1893 http://www.pictures-switzerland.com/stanserhorn/index.htm.

Wonder what happens in snow storm ?

I don't think it runs in the winter.

I would think in winter the paasengers are tucked up inside in the warm :wink:

Using the T-Puppet Lift.

What you have no idea what the T-Puppet lift is ?

Well just think of a Puppet with its strings and on the end of the string you have a T type metal or wood bar.

Then think again,,,,,that puppet it is you,,,, the skier being manipulated by the steel wire pulling up the mountain.

Beginners should not go on these until they have done at least one year of skiing since several challenges are "given" to the skier at same time.

They are;
-correct leg apart position
-correct fore and aft position in varied ( note word varied) ski conditions such as ice, glumps, minor wave like folds, major wave like roller coaster rolls, possible bridges or over-passes, quick change of directions and such .

It is always a "surprise" going up the T-Puppet since conditions and speed vary from hour to hour. One fallen skier on tracks creates a "grave like" hole which act like a great skier trap.

Many of these lifts in Europe do not have a helper so be prepared to follow the following steps.

1. Align skis with tracks and free one hand to grab T-bar ( often suspended to high for children or short women.

2. The T unit does not stop so you decide when to take off. Grab unit near t section and pull it down to your rear. DO NOT SIT ON IT !!!! ( note the DO NOT )

3.The T unit will unreel 3-4 meters wait you wait. Tense stomach muscles and back muscles for take off. DO NOT SIT ON T UNIT !!!

4. If you survive the take off and relax thinking worst is over,,,,,,,,,forget it!

* The designers of this lift type wanted skiers to get their money's worth of excitement so they designed a multi-variable speed, multi-challenge lift. Consider this a "warm up" to skiing. The tracks will vary is direction, size and steepness. The terrain will vary so DO NOT LOOK AT SKI TIPS. Look at tracks 2 meters ahead. In my experience with such lifts I have seen; skier bodies in various positions, animals such as porcupines, rabbits, yes even a moose!
That is part of the fun .

5. At top be ready to slip/ski to side or else the lift will take you to a sloping wall. You will note red paint on this wall! It is NOT paint,,,,,,,

6. Take 5 minutes to allow heart to return to normal cycle.


Bravo,, you have made it

The T-Puppet 2.

For some of you more experienced and observant skiers I have this phase two post.

No doubt you have seen better skiers going up this type of lift and have seen a variety of techniques. Here are some;

1. The vertical crotch approach.
Very quickly the better skier learns that going up such a puppet lift alone causes some "alone issues". That T form is for two skiers and thus you get equal push. If you are alone then one side pulls more and thus you must "compensate". However , going up alone in this lift does have its advantages. The better skier can take T unit and instead of placing it horizontally he/she ( she with reservations) places unit vertically. It takes some thinking and visual projections to see this.

The advantages of this position is you now have a central pressure point. I did state that this was for "better" skiers.
The disadvantage to this position is obvious. It is up to you to try it.


2. This next position is for even better, for more daring skiers. This is for the skier who knows he/she will never fall on lift. This is a high risk position. You will see few skiers do it but the ones who do it are relaxed going up, can rest legs and impress all the skiers waiting at top. A silent period always occurs as all the skiers look and wonder how the skier coming up will get off this position. A spontaneous clapping behavior also is known to happen as skier dismounts with some elegance from this position.
Note**** Very few have mastered it.

Here are the steps ( not for beginners, intermediate and even some expert skiers)

1. Skier positions on tracks ALONE.
2. Skiers grabs T-bar and places it BETWEEN legs in horizontal position.
( This is not a typo error,,,,between and horizontal are correct )

You will all notice smile and self assured look of skier going up once in this position.

The challenge is not the placement of the T-bar at the bottom, but the release or taking off T-bar at top since it often is much steeper and less time to perform. Plus more audience watching!!!

3. The dismount.
At least 3-4 meters from very top, pull T-bar from horizontal position ( and between legs) and rotate T-bar so you can take off from crotch area. This is the technique very few skiers have mastered. The "take off rotation move" was first introduced by Walter Foeger in the 1960's. That is why you have a silence at very top since few skiers have ever seen this "Foeger Move" ( yes he was a famous ski school director ).

The clapping is for the skier who does this move with precision, elegance and panache !

Again this move is not for the faint of heart!
It is not for the "expert wantobee".

Just another technique to master ( and get free beers at end of day as the only skier who has mastered the Foeger move ) !