The Polite Lift Line Cutter

[mondeo]

I don't care if they're polite or not. I actually think their friends are worse, standing to the side in the middle of the lift maze. Annoying as hell.

 

[ComeBackMudPuddles]

I don't know (or can't imagine) where you skied in Europe that the lift lines were organized and well mannered, but I've skied in Europe quite a bit and it can be a challenge not to get enraged. It seems the closer you get to Italy the worse it gets. And once you're there well... it's every man for themselves.

True, haven't made it to Italy yet, but I've been lucky enough to get around a bit (Zermatt, Meribel, Courchevel, Chamonix, Val d'Isere, Tignes).

I've also been lucky enough to avoid the resorts during peak school vacation weeks, which I think is key.

While it's true people don't stand in line like sheep like in the States, if you play the game a bit and defend your turf a little, I don't find it to be a problem. Just a different way of doing things.

 

[dmc]

I don't know, I think Euros get a bum rap with lift lines. I've skied a few times in Europe and haven't had any problems at all. Maybe a dude ran over my skis or something, but the same thing can happen here.

Now, lines at airports in Europe? That's another story....

My experiences were in Austria 20 or so years ago..

And they were very real I can assure you..

 

[Marc]

While it's true people don't stand in line like sheep like in the States, if you play the game a bit and defend your turf a little, I don't find it to be a problem. Just a different way of doing things.

It's that way in any queue in China. You gotta throw some elbows if you want to get anywhere. The most annoying part, is they're all passive aggressive about it. You try to make eye contact with anyone who's trying to squeeze you out, they'll do anything to avoid you. Sucks ass. I'm much more in favor of a polite and considerate populace.

If I had to deal with that in a lift line, I'd be a pissed off skier. I ski to recreate, to relax and enjoy myself. If I have to push and shove because everyone else is, rather than waiting their turn, it becomes work. And work makes me angry.

So you knock these people down and kick em in the teeth. Problem solved.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

If anybody trys to cut in front of me this season..I am going apeshit!!!!

 

[Harvey]

Who's skied in Europe? I did as a little kid and vividly remember the lift line wars over there. I'm not sure if it's the same today, but when I was there there were no Q lines and people just shoved their way to the front like cattle come in from pasture. You literally had to place your ski pole in front of others ski tips or throw and elbow to get people to chill out.

I was in Switzerland a few times in the last five years. It's absolutely amazing. If YOU aren't totally obnoxious....you'll never get on the lift. The tips of the skier behind you will constantly touch your boots. And if you don't do the same...you're hosed. It was the only part of skiing over there I didn't like.

It's off topic...but the on mountain food was "homemade." excellent, affordable and was delivered to your table very fast. It was a great combo of automation and cuisine. The waitresses had digital wireless ordering devices....they went around punching in the orders and the orders went straight to the kitchen. You never saw that person again...some else came out with your order in under 10 mins.

 

[dmc]

When we were in Kashmir - the upper gondola would just stop... Most likely so someone could pay to have it restarted - thats how India works.....

One of those times we get to the gondi and it's stopped and there's a line... like 60 people - long for there....
Our Guide asks us for a few rupis goes inside.... the gondi starts... He waves us into the building - basically to the front of the line - with people yelling at us for jumping the line - I felt terrible...

In the gondi I asked my guide about it... He said screw them - we paid to get it restarted they should be thanking us...

wild...

 

[RootDKJ]

If anybody trys to cut in front of me this season..I am going apeshit!!!!

Does that include off-duty ski instructors?

 

[andyzee]

I say stop complaining, turn into a lemming like the rest of society and you'll be OK. :razz:

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Does that include off-duty ski instructors?

yes

 

[RootDKJ]

yes

That guy was funny...

 

[ski220]

Does calling out for a single at a double chair constitute cutting? I don't think so but... Years ago on a BIG powder day at Sugerbush I had already invoked the "no buddies rule". The Castlerock chair ran slow and had had every other chair missing that year. The line was backed up all the way up the hill to Lower downspout. Each time I came down I would ski slowly past the line calling out "single?". Every time I lucked out. Finally after 5 or 6 trips I jump in to double up with someone. A dude one couple in back of me (us) starts complaining that he's been waiting in line and that I was cutting. I replied "if you've gone all the way thru this line and didn't hook up with this other single only 2 spots in front of you, you don't have any complaint". Even better - when he got to the chair, the liftie made him step out and wait for another single.

 

[RootDKJ]

Does calling out for a single at a double chair constitute cutting? I don't think so but... Years ago on a BIG powder day at Sugerbush I had already invoked the "no buddies rule". The Castlerock chair ran slow and had had every other chair missing that year. The line was backed up all the way up the hill to Lower downspout. Each time I came down I would ski slowly past the line calling out "single?". Every time I lucked out. Finally after 5 or 6 trips I jump in to double up with someone. A dude one couple in back of me (us) starts complaining that he's been waiting in line and that I was cutting. I replied "if you've gone all the way thru this line and didn't hook up with this other single only 2 spots in front of you, you don't have any complaint". Even better - when he got to the chair, the liftie made him step out and wait for another single.

I don't think so. Lots of places now have single only lines on quads or bigger.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

The Castlerock chair always has every other chair missing and I always ski up to the front and find a single..it's how I do!!!

 

[bigbog]

;-)..already into the 3rd page...;-)

I'd sure like to see the lift operators step up and banish them to the end of the line. ..but not worth it to get riled up at.