5 Unpardonable ski sins

pavelski wrote:The correct behavior if you are in a quad chair is to let others go by and get on next couple or trio.

Sounds like a longish wait at busy times if I wait for an opening. If other 'singles' do the same it becomes a race to get the seat.

pavelski wrote:
Most "thoughtful" skiers plan ahead and if you are alone look for a trio before the lift.

Pavelski where I have been, people follow the 'every man for themselves queuing' system. There are not enough educated skiiers to make queuing an orderly event.


I agree with your point about people learning some skiing manners but people aren't taught it.

iLoveSkiing wrote:
Pavelski where I have been, people follow the 'every man for themselves queuing' system. There are not enough educated skiiers to make queuing an orderly event.

Does anyone ever complain to the resort ?, as in "I'm not comming back untill you do something about the lift queue". Instead of just accepting it as a fact of life, start rating resorts on how the lift lines/queues are set up and managed.

This would certainly be a factor in my choice of destination.

Trencher

Pavelski - I always love all your posts and think they are well informed - however I have to agree with iloveskiing here. If you had witnessed what we saw in lift cues in La Plagne this february half term - the words bedlam come to mind and you simply just had to get into the lift whenever you got the opportunity. My wife, Daughter and I would always say we would not try to get the lift together and if spilt up would just wait for each other at the the top which often happened. I you are on your own and as you say let a quad go and try and join a trio - try that on the Arpette chair out of Plagne Bellecotte at 3pm during the feb holidays and you would have 20 very angry people right on your back pushing you forward regardless - it's the right idea I totally agree but the reality is completely different when I ski which unfortunately is always the peak periods - you just have to go for it or be left behind and if that means no one else gets on the lift with you then what can you do?. Manners and politeness are seriously lacking in french lift cues but you soon learn to just go with it and it is surprising how things move well when everyone does. Please rest assured I'm not condoning it but that's just the way it is.

Trencher wrote:

Does anyone ever complain to the resort ?, as in "I'm not comming back untill you do something about the lift queue". Instead of just accepting it as a fact of life, start rating resorts on how the lift lines/queues are set up and managed.

This would certainly be a factor in my choice of destination.

Trencher

Trencher, it sounds like things might be different over the pond. In Europe I think people accept it as part of the skiing environment. I'm sure some people do complain but many of us in England only get to ski one week a year so the lack of queuing protocol is one negative I can overlook because I'm so keen to have the opportunity to ski.

I do actually agree with you and Pavelski about what should be done but the reality seems to work in the end.

Iloveski,

You have more power than you think. For several years I was hired by a large travel agency to "evaluate" ski resorts for potential tours.

Several resorts were rejected due to poor security, poor teaching or poor service. A copy of my reports were sent to management.

They do read and take into account such comments. A letter from you telling them that you will not return due to, poor ski line control and ..... will motivate them to make changes.

Even if you just ski one week you do have right to "acceptable" skier control!

Ask your tour operators to make reports.

Refuse to visit resorts where they do not hire staff to control skier lines!


When I "visit" European ski resorts to evaluate them, I insist on doing it "undercover" so I do not get special treatment. I also speak languages so I can understand the "negative" side comments clerks, bell-hops, ski instructors, managers make regarding tourists!

A holiday should be filled with happiness and NO stress! Go to resorts that strive in making your ski holiday a success!

Sheep are controlled better than some skiers in major ski resorts!

Money motivates ski resorts to make changes!!!!!

Write them.

I feel I have to 'big up' the lift operators in Saalbach, Austria. I found that during busy periods, as you arrived at the starting gates to the lift, you would be meet by a sturdy looking Austrian Lifty who's mission in life was to fill each of the six seats in the lift. What wasn't quite as effective was that his mate in the control room wouldn't open the gates until all size starting gates were full so occasionaly an empty chair would make it's way up the hill but I suppose the point was made!

ellistine,

After I read all your comments about the "problems" in some European resorts it reminded me of a ski resort I visited where there was a broken ski with an axe on it hanging just before the ski line.

A sign also was hanging just below this ski. It read , "last skier who pushed into line"
No comment!!!

It can be done!!!!!

The great popularity of UTUBE has made me think of the power of this media and you!

May I propose a "SIN BINE" section where skiers can send in pictures and videos of all the "sins" they witness on ski trips.

It would have two functions;
1. The educate the new skiers to "acceptable" behavior
2.Sanction those "sinners" who say they were not aware of what they were doing.
"
Yes the internet can be "entertaining" but it can also be educational and create change in the skiing world. Perhaps the ski resort managements will view these and use them as "staff" training videos!

Can you "send in" some pictures or videos of skiing sins?