Getting fit for skiing

I won't do Burpees, bad for old knees. Consultant says no - I nod and comply :D

http://myfitnesshut.blogspot.com/2008/10/great-cardio-routineuh-burpees.html

Alley, I think what you are referring to is called a handle tow. The modern ones have a steel rope, with plastic handles that stick out. What you describe, with rope and wood sounds ancient. On the modern ones,it's possible, if you are confident, to place the handle behind you. It then pushes you up.

I'll have to take a little video of the rope tow on our race hill. It moves at about the speed of a high speed lift, and will take your arms off if you grab too hard. It's the one that Lindsey Vonn grew up using, so it might have some benefits.

Trencher

Gooseh wrote:

I think I may know of the one AllyG mentions. It's at the bottom of a short (and particularly easy) black run. I had to carry a seven year old up the lift, which made it rather challenging.

Thanks Gooseh,
You wouldn't happend to remember where it was would you? Was it somwhere near the red run that goes down to the road? It must have been almost impossible carrying a 7 year old up that lift - you must be incredibly fit and strong !

Ally

Trencher wrote:Alley, I think what you are referring to is called a handle tow. The modern ones have a steel rope, with plastic handles that stick out. What you describe, with rope and wood sounds ancient. On the modern ones,it's possible, if you are confident, to place the handle behind you. It then pushes you up.

I'll have to take a little video of the rope tow on our race hill. It moves at about the speed of a high speed lift, and will take your arms off if you grab too hard. It's the one that Lindsey Vonn grew up using, so it might have some benefits.

Trencher

Thanks Trencher,
I'm sure I've seen that old drag lift somewhere, but I'm not sure it was in Obergurgl, I may well be a bit confused, but I wouldn't think I could have totally imagined it.
The rope tow by you sounds pretty difficult, and as though you need to practise with it quite a bit before becoming proficient. I've been on some fast button lifts that lift you in the air really sharply when you start, and quite a lot of people fall off - even good skiers. I think one of the ones in La Rosiere was like that.

Ally

AllyG wrote:

Gooseh wrote:

I think I may know of the one AllyG mentions. It's at the bottom of a short (and particularly easy) black run. I had to carry a seven year old up the lift, which made it rather challenging.

Thanks Gooseh,
You wouldn't happend to remember where it was would you? Was it somwhere near the red run that goes down to the road? It must have been almost impossible carrying a 7 year old up that lift - you must be incredibly fit and strong !

Ally

Looking at the piste map, I think it's the "Sevoliere" lift at the bottom of the black named "Eterlou", which is indeed near a read that seems to go down to a road, though I can't be sure it's the one you're thinking of.

Thankfully said 7 year old was very light, and I had a backpack that kept a hold of my poles. Still, not something I would want to do again.

Thanks Gooseh,
I still have a copy of my piste map, and I've had another look at it, and what you said fits in very well with what I remembered. The Sevoliere drag lift looks very long on the map, and there is a bend in it, and you can get to it by ski-ing down from the top of the chairlift Ecudets (the one you get back up after ski-ing down the red fontaine froide to the road). The short black run you are talking about must be the 'ecureuil' (? not 'Eterlou'), which is at the end of a blue piste running from the top of the draglift.

Sorry everyone else. But one does need to develop strong arm muscles if one is planning on using this drag lift (and even stronger ones if one is planning on carrying a 7 year old up it!).

Ally

I've lost 5lb. :lol: :lol: :lol:

snowb4ndit wrote:I've lost 5lb. :lol: :lol: :lol:

I've put 5lb on. I think tht proves Newtons first law! :wink: