First Chair v. Last Chair

[highpeaksdrifter]

I’m talking average day, NOT powder day.

First Chair Pros

You only have to deal with those waiting with you for the rope to drop.
The mountain is fresh
You’re fresh too

Cons

usually coldest part of the day so snow needs to soften up
You had to get up early

Last Chair Pros

Everyone has packed it in
There’s a feel serenity

Cons

Light is flat
Mt. skied off

I like them both, but I’m a first chair guy. Please add to the pros and cons and give your preference.

 

[4aprice]

At my home mountain it definately pays to be a first chair person. One of the perks they give us as pass holders is the first hour of each weekend day (7:30 - 8:30) is only for pass holders. With the mountain fully lit, light is not a problem and the conditions are the best.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[billski]

In my younger days it was always first chair to last chair. In my advanced age, I never get the first chair unless I'm slope side, but I always get the last chair.

 

[campgottagopee]

First chair guy here

Pros

That's when my pals ski
7:30 at Greek--not many peeps around
Love watching the sun come up on a cold morning

Cons

Can be monkey cold

Last chair
Here it's at 10PM---friggin a cold
so no pros for me

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

At my home mountain it definately pays to be a first chair person. One of the perks they give us as pass holders is the first hour of each weekend day (7:30 - 8:30) is only for pass holders. With the mountain fully lit, light is not a problem and the conditions are the best.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

That's a cool perk. What's your home mountain?

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I'm all about first chair..for the uncrowded runs..last chair is uncrowded but conditions are beat by then..

 

[gmcunni]

i don't get either

never had first chair, think i got last chair once or twice. In the spring, i'll take last chair (assuming no night sking) every time.

 

[Zand]

I enjoy first chair more, but I get last chair a lot more often. I'm not a morning person so even if I try to get to a mountain by 8 or 9 it doesn't happen. Most of my days tend to go about 9:30 or 10 till closing.

 

[Terry]

First chair for sure. Conditions are the best, you get fresh snow if there is any, and it isn't busy for the first hour or 2. It also helps that I am a morning person. Now if I could just get my wife going in the morning without a lot of trouble, I would be a happy man!

 

[campgottagopee]

One thing I forgot about first chair---I can peel off mucho runs for 3 hrs and be home with a pretty good buzz on before noon!!!!

 

[riverc0il]

I never stick around till last chair. Even on a powder day, I usually pack it in by 3p when everything is long since tracked out. Last chair is for people who missed first chair.

 

[Greg]

I don't agonize over it. Firstish chairs are nice if you score them. Last chairs are great on spring days. I usually always ski to last chair when night skiing. In any case, I try to ski as long as my window of skiing opportunity will allow.

 

[icedtea]

love getting first chair, most people i ride with are usually already on line. on a lot of days i will stay to 4 unless the mountain is a sheet of ice.

if on pow days you cannot find fresh lines after 3 pm, you are not looking hard enough (at least at killington and/or any mountain out west)

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

last chair is the best on storm days!!!!!..sometimes the last run of the day is the best run of the day..I've even hung around at the top for an extra half hour to let even more snow accumulate..One time at Big Sky Montana.I didn't hit the base until 530PM..

 

[drjeff]

Total first chair guy! Come last chair, I'm usually on beer 2 or 3 and have had a nice soak in the hottub! I'll let the late arrives have the sloppy seconds any day of the week

 

[billski]

I hate last run on a pow day. Like saying goodbye to my first love......

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I hate last run on a pow day. Like saying goodbye to my first love......

My first love was more like Frozen Granuler..cold..abrasive and fast..lol..

 

[mondeo]

Definitely last chair. Largely because I'm really not a morning person. There's also something triumphant and peaceful about the last chair, knowing you sweated it out longer than everybody else, and a nice reflection on a good day.

Waking up at 4-4:30 on a Saturday is just not for me, though. Plus it's cold in the morning,

 

[Johnskiismore]

Depends on where we are in the season. Early season I like the first chair, but in the spring time I prefer the last chair. Where spring snow can be pretty icy in the morning I'll get out at 10 or so and go all the way til 4. With the day being so much longer in April and May it is very enjoyable to take that last run and then watch a beautiful sunset.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I like first chair in the spring for the fast snow!!!!