using a drag lift

I am writing this reference to my wife as i cannot help her!
We both began skiing together and both are what i like to think fairly competent skiiers both confident using red runs and thinking of using black runs on a more regular basis.However my wife cannot use a draglift and keeps loosing control of her skis and falling off.
The problem is that i can use them and find them no problem but cant explain to her how to use them because the truth is i dont really know myself i just get on and go so i dont really know what i am doing right and she is doing wrong.
The point of this thread is that i was hoping some kind soul will explain how to use them as it is getting to a stage where she will not consider going somewhere without the majority of lifts being gondolas or chairlifts so she can completely avoid having to use them
thanks for your time
jay

Oooh, I hope someone who is a ski teacher will be able to explain some tips for you to pass on. Is this problem on single Poma's or T-bar lifts as well?

jaycraig wrote:

The point of this thread is that i was hoping some kind soul will explain how to use them as it is getting to a stage where she will not consider going somewhere without the majority of lifts being gondolas or chairlifts so she can completely avoid having to use them

jay 

It never ceases to amaze me that there are so many long drag lifts in Europe. This is the 21st century.
As pav keeps saying, complain. You go to a resort to ski, not to expend your energy on drag lifts. Going up should be the time to recover, relax and talk to friends in comfort. Even if you are very very good on a drag lift, it's hardly a relaxing experience.

I would say, go somewhere else and have a more relaxing time.

Trencher

Hi jaycraig,

A very interesting question!

Have you every been told NOT to think of Pink Elephants? Well of course you haven't but if you were, the chances are that the very thing you would think of are ... Pink Elephants!

Now when I'm teaching people to use a tow lift (T-Bar, Poma or whathaveyou) the most important instruction I give is "Stand-Up!" the temptation as an instructor is to say "Don't sit down" but that brings us back to our elephants ...

Many, MANY people who are new to drag lifts seem to think (or at least presume) that the lift will do the work. Well that's true in as much as it will "drag" you up the hill but it will never take control of your route or posture. That remains firmly with the user.

As you are happy using Red runs you should be familliar with the concept of a neautral posture ... Upright with ankles, knees and hips gently flexed and with your weight over the centre of your feet. This is exactly the same posture that is needed on a drag lift ... If you lean WAY back and hope the lift will somehow support you, you will very soon find youself on the floor. Equally, if you overweight the front of your skis they will snake about wildly and will probably unseat you ...

So, stand up, be neutral, and take control of your skis as if you were skiing down the hill ...

Please let us know if this helps!

Cheers

Jan

I was never taught how to get on a drag. I dont even think about it when I do, apart from obviously not leaning backwards. I would imagine its just a mental block, and that she actually has the right technique, as she is obviously a good enough skier.
Cant really help, other than suggest you chuck her on a few and keep trying. Or else make her wait at the bottom for you to ski down. I bet she tries harder then.....

Tony_H wrote:

Cant really help, other than suggest you chuck her on a few and keep trying. Or else make her wait at the bottom for you to ski down. I bet she tries harder then..... 

or puts the kibosh on the next ski holiday....Majorca anyone ?

Trencher

Trencher wrote:

jaycraig wrote:

The point of this thread is that i was hoping some kind soul will explain how to use them as it is getting to a stage where she will not consider going somewhere without the majority of lifts being gondolas or chairlifts so she can completely avoid having to use them

jay 

It never ceases to amaze me that there are so many long drag lifts in Europe. This is the 21st century.
As pav keeps saying, complain. You go to a resort to ski, not to expend your energy on drag lifts. Going up should be the time to recover, relax and talk to friends in comfort. Even if you are very very good on a drag lift, it's hardly a relaxing experience.

I would say, go somewhere else and have a more relaxing time.

Trencher 

Surface lifts are often used in places where pylons for aerial lifts can't be installed like glaciers for example or where they'd be susceptible to wind or where low amounts of traffic make them more effective and efficient.

ise wrote:

Surface lifts are often used in places where pylons for aerial lifts can't be installed like glaciers for example or where they'd be susceptible to wind or where low amounts of traffic make them more effective and efficient.  

Ise, what percentage of drag lifts do you think would fit the circumstances you mention ?. It's very easy for me to get the impression that drag lift are wide spread. Every other Euro skiing video I see on utube has a drag lift in the background.

Trencher

Thanks jan i think you have cracked the problem!
What you described about the skis snaking wildly is exactly what is happening so i think she is leaning forward as though you are taught to ski down a hill.
Many thanks you have possibly saved my skiing life!!!

Trencher wrote:

ise wrote:

Surface lifts are often used in places where pylons for aerial lifts can't be installed like glaciers for example or where they'd be susceptible to wind or where low amounts of traffic make them more effective and efficient.  

Ise, what percentage of drag lifts do you think would fit the circumstances you mention ?. It's very easy for me to get the impression that drag lift are wide spread. Every other Euro skiing video I see on utube has a drag lift in the background.

Trencher

 

100% obviously What percentage of that is purely where they're more efficient is a more interesting question, that's going to be over 50% I'd bet.

I agree the percentage of tee bars is too high, but that is not going to answer this lady's problem. Jan is right, "Stand up", and "Strong legs" The sitting down is a reaction to the T bar pull. Don't react.

And this leads me to another story....

We are at the bottom of the beginners slope in Niederau, (back in the early mists of time) I am skis off, helping the lift man to load my class onto their first T bar. Three times this rather over-buxom lady, (we are talking over 14stone, 90kgm) fell off, before I signalled to the lift man. A big grin went round the other instructors, they knew what was coming.

I jumped onto my skis, positioned on the left, and when the bar went between us, grabbed her round the waist, and hoisted her up off the snow. We arrived at the top, sweat pouring from everywhere, before I gently deposited her off to one side, and tried to pretend that this was quite a normal part of teaching.

To be fair, every one of the instructors at the bottom bought me a beer.

Another contributary factor to the dodgy knee...

nice to know that i am not the only one who has problems with drags. been skiing for quite a few years and still crap though reds arent a problem, but have to admit to scanning piste maps before i start in the morning to try to make sure i dont end up in a dead end where there are no options except for a drag lift.

And until you see the drag, its not always possible to know just what its level of difficulty is going to be. some of them could feature in a channel 4 series.

The ones that go up 45 degree slopes on small tracks with severe drops and then change directions whilst going downhill just give me the pure w*ll**s. Have fallen off in places which i would rather not think about....