First Indoor UK Slope to have a 6-man Chair – Using a Chairlift

7 November 2018

Earlier this week, The Snow Centre celebrated the arrival of a 6-man chair! The 6-seat Leitner structure provided by Prinoth, typically used on mountain chairlifts to escort skiers and snowboarders to the top of the slopes—now sits at the bottom of The Snow Centre’s 160m, real snow Main Slope.

The perfect tool for practicing getting on and off a chairlift, without the risk of embarrassment or the possibility of causing a small pile up in the lift exit—The Snow Centre’s 6-man chair will help beginner skiers and snowboarders learn how to use a chairlift before they head to the mountains.

How to use a chairlift – ski

When you know how, getting on and off a chairlift on skis can be easy, but here’s a guide to prepare you for what’s to come.

How to get on a chairlift on skis

1. With your skis on, approach the lift. 
2. Stop! Yes, stop. There’ll often be a que, but once you reach the front, you’ll need to wait for the chair to pick up those ahead of you before you can enter the lift loading zone. Now is a good time to move both poles into one hand, gripping them around the stems rather than the handles.
3. Move into the lift loading zone. Every lift station is different, some will have traffic lights, while others will have an automatic barrier that opens when it’s time for you to move forward into the lift loading zone. If there are neither of these, once the people in front of you have sat down on the chair it’s usually time for you to move forward into the loading zone.
4. Stop with your skis facing up the hill and wait for the chair to enter the loading zone from behind you. You can look over your shoulder to see when it’s coming.
5. When the moving chair is about to touch the back of your leg, sit down on it.
6. If there is a safety bar on the chair, pull it down in front of you.
7. Enjoy the ride.

How to get off a chairlift on skis

1. On approaching the lift unloading zone prepare to exit by lifting the safety bar and checking that any loose clothing or poles are not caught on the chair.
2. Keep the front tips of your skis tilted upwards on the approach.
3. When your skis touch the ground, stand up and glide away from the lift.
4. Be mindful of others exiting the lift and attempt to stay in your own line.
5. Move out of the lift exit zone and wait for friends out of the way of oncoming lift users.

How to use a chairlift – snowboard

When you know how, getting on and off a chairlift on a snowboard can be easy, but here’s a guide to prepare you for what’s to come. 

How to get on a chairlift on a snowboard

1. With just your leading leg strapped into the snowboard, approach the lift.
2. Stop! Yes, stop. There’ll often be a que, but once you reach the front, you’ll need to wait for the chair to pick up those ahead of you before you can enter the lift loading zone. 
3. Move into the lift loading zone. Every lift station is different, some will have a traffic lights, while others will have an automatic barrier that opens when it’s time for you to move forward into the lift loading zone. If there are neither of these, once the people in front of you have sat down on the chair it’s usually time for you to move forward.
4. Stop with your leading, strapped in leg facing up the hill and wait for the chair to enter the loading zone from behind you. You can look over your shoulder to see when it’s coming.
5. When the moving chair is about to touch the back of your leg, sit down on it.
6. If there is a safety bar on the chair, pull it down in front of you.
7. Enjoy the ride.

How to get off a chairlift on a snowboard

1. On approaching the lift unloading area prepare to exit by lifting the safety bar and checking that any loose clothing or poles are not caught on the chair.
2. Make sure the leg that is strapped into the board is leading and the nose of the board is slightly tilted upwards on the approach.
3. When your snowboard touches the ground, stand up, place your back foot on the board up against the inside of the back biding and glide away from the lift.
4. Be mindful of others exiting the lift and attempt to stay in your own line.
5. Move out of the lift exit zone and wait for friends out of the way of oncoming lift users. 

For more information on getting on and off chairlifts seek advice from The Snow Centre’s instructors on UK Ski or Snowboard Lessons.