Basic Procedures to learn WITHOUT ski instructor !

Bandit,

I looked again and did not see the attendant.

Do you mean skiers must handle J Poma alone?

In my part of the world, it is the law that all lifts MUST have an attendant. Ski resorts can be shut down for infractions.

Several years ago a young girl (10 years old) was strangled to death when her long long scarf wrapped around a ski lift chair bar. On exist she went left, chair went right and snap!

Amazing to have one person do 3-4 duties.

Pavelski, that drag lift is Self-Service, and there are several others just the same in the Anniviers, and many others elsewhere in Europe. It's quite normal. There is a liftie, but his hut is between the exit of Lona 1 tow and the start of Lona 2 seen in the pic. His duties seem quite varied as described earlier. He'll intervene if there is a problem.

We also have T-Bar tows as Self-Service, it's quite normal. If the lift is running it's open. Chair lifts OTOH, seem to have an attendant top and bottom in Switzerland.

Bandit,
Thank you for information.

Think of the beginner or intermediate skier who has never seen such a "lift"?

That is why all skiers who ski in Europe and other areas should get a guide.

Not only for "extreme".

I am now writing some basic instructions on how to get on a 8 skier lift.

Think it is easy ?

One "poor" skier and dominos fall!

Pavel

pavelski wrote:Bandit,
Thank you for information.

Think of the beginner or intermediate skier who has never seen such a "lift"?

That is why all skiers who ski in Europe and other areas should get a guide.

Not only for "extreme".


Pavel

We have these lifts on the beginner slopes too. Everyone knows how to use them. It's pretty self explanatory, hiring a Guide would be hugely expensive, actually I've just priced up one for 2 people, it's chf580 plus lift ticket for 1 day.
If anyone is unable to figure out how to use the lifts it's time to join a Ski School class.

bandit wrote: Swingbeep, hmmm, the view of the mountains surrounding the Poma above, look very similar to those around the top lift in Grimentz.

Thought you'd spot where it was. Not really a beginners lift is it?



Until 1982 Lona 1 and Lona 2 were one lift, at 2.3km it was one of the longest in Switzerland

Because they run at pretty high speeds and because the bends can be difficult to negotiate
some resorts put up warning notices.



The main problem is that the mechanism which is supposed to give a smoothish start doesn't take the weight of the skier into account, so lighter skiers are lifted off the ground. As with all drag lifts if you don't concentrate you'll end up on your backside.



Sometimes the mechanism jams



If these lifts are used to service beginner slopes they don't have bends and the speed is reduced to about 2.5 m/s. These days fixed grip lifts are preferred for this purpose, they cost less and are cheaper to maintain.

SwingBeep wrote:

bandit wrote: Swingbeep, hmmm, the view of the mountains surrounding the Poma above, look very similar to those around the top lift in Grimentz.

Thought you'd spot where it was. Not really a beginners lift is it?

Until 1982 Lona 1 and Lona 2 were one lift, at 2.3km it was one of the longest in Switzerland

There is hope for me yet..I'm starting to recognise terrain

Agree, Lona 2 is not for Beginners, and is marked accordingly. I have broken it as well Mind you, I also broke a T-Bar rope in April, perhaps I should become a tester!

I did not know that Lona 1 & 2 used to be a single track, quite a long ride! Quite glad it's been split up!

Super terrain off the sides of both drags.

There is a positive side tho these type of lifts.

1. It keeps rank neophytes away.

2.It teaches you how to have a balanced stance,,,just in case.

3.It develops great leg endurance.

4.Finally, it prepares you for future "flights" going down.


Great picture. Great story.

You did forget the worst "problem" with such lifts. One skier doing ZIG ZAG out of tracks can easily de-rail tension/lift wire off rollers. Two hours of waiting.

pavelski wrote:You did forget the worst "problem" with such lifts. One skier doing ZIG ZAG out of tracks can easily de-rail tension/lift wire off rollers. Two hours of waiting.

Seen this happen once on the lift next to the one I was travelling on.


Baby lift on nursery slope and the de-railment was caused by an instructor.

He was attempting a flashy pick up of his tiddly one who had fallen off the lift and the motion of his down, sideways avoidance, grab, and lift up caused the wire to jump off the wheel.

Wonder what he said to the liftie who had to climb up and repair?