ig88

I have only snowboarded for one season, 7 days altogether last season. I still had not managed the skill of getting off chairlift perfect last season. At the beginning of the season, I fell getting off the chairlift every time. Super embarrassment. At the end of the season, I was falling once every four to five times. That's a huge improvement for me already.

For those of you like me who have not fully mastered getting off the chairlift with grace, would you pick a side on the chairlift that's easier to get out?

Last season I was in Korea. For example, on a 4 to 5 person seater, which went counter-clockwise. I always tried to sit on the far right. This spot enabled me to escape from the chairlift fastest. Say if I had settled for the far left spot on the chairlift, I would have had to put in huge efforts to jet off or else I could not have cleared the radius of the path of the chairlift. Sitting on the far left always got me nervous the entire trip up the hill.

Is it just me?

linvillegorge

When I was starting out, far left was easiest for me. I was way more comfortable heel side, especially when not strapped in, so being on the left side made it easier for me to just dip out in the direction I felt most comfortable.

And if you fall, who cares? Just get back up and out of the way as quickly as possible. Everyone had to learn, there's no shame in it.

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"People say that marijuana smoking is going to get in the way of my career. I say to them that on the contrary, my fighting career is getting in the way of my marijuana smoking." -Nick Diaz

jfergus7

I have about the same amount of time snowboarding that you have. I usually try to sit to the outside for the same reason but after a few trips up the hill I had it down. I still prefer the outside so I can get out of the way quickly but it gets easier with practice. You should make a point to sit to the inside if you ever get on the lift by yourself that way you can get practice getting off quick but don't have to worry about causing an accident.

phony_stark

Do you like heelside or toeside turns better? Be on the outside, to that side.

Also, not to minimize your experience, if you lean forward and keep your body quiet, normally (if everyone else knows how to ride the lift) you should be legit.

blz1

I just try not to get stuck between two average skiers.

ThunderChunky

THIS.....is a rule to live by....on and off the slopes.

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Skinny Bam

Skate/Longboard to get your balance down since all you need to do is ride flat and then stop. I skated for 3 years before snowboarding and never really had a problem getting off the lift, im assuming because of this.

jdang307

Before I ever went on, my wife (then gf) and her friend both scared the shit out of me by warning me about the lift, and how easy it is to fall. I'm neurotic, so they only made one comment but then it terrified me before going up (kind of like going up the first drop on a roller coaster).

So I psyched myself out. Mind you I had never even slid on a snowboard yet. So I told myself, I'm not going to fall. Stay balanced and ride it out. And I did. My wife and her friend ended up running into each other while I made it out unscathed.

Ever since then I was pretty good at it, and usually only fall when someone interferes with me. I'm usually on the lift with my buddies, so we'll arrange who gets off first. If it's a 3 person lift the person in the middle gets off really early and the other two a split second later.

If it's a four person lift then two first and the other two later (alternating). That way you have a little room.

6 person chair fuck it every person for themselves. Don't wait too long or else you get stuck like one of my friends (his second time ever) in Boreal.

mixie

agree with jdang.

mastering the chair lift is 98% mental and 2% skill.

seriously.

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if a cat fucked a shark, the babies would be called women. snowklinger

hoodrat

^This. Just jam your back foot against the back binding and ride straight off.