Getting On And Off The Chairlift
Coach Nelly here and today we’re going to talk about getting on and off the chairlift. The goal always being to teach your lil’ ripper to be as independent as possible. Not hard if you encourage the following habits from the very beginning...
Getting on:
Allow your child to be as independent as possible from the get go. Let them shuffle up the line without your help. Let them figure out how to adjust and shift in line with your encouragement. Point out the ropes and railings that can get in their way. Be sure they know those things are not designed to be pulled on or leaned on.
Teach them how they can be polite by not standing on others skis, by waiting their turn to move forward and by being respectful of the directions given by lift attendants.
Make paying attention a priority. This is not a time for building snowmen or wrestling with your lift buddy. Remind them there is plenty of time for such antics in other locations. Accidents can be avoided and lines can move more quickly if we all pay attention. This is when a good game of “I spy” comes in handy.
Once your ticket has been checked you are in the “GO” zone. Give your little ripper plenty of verbal guidance. Point out the “wait here” sign and guide them where to wait. Then point out the “load here” sign. As soon as the next chair passes, direct them to shuffle into position. Tell them, “put your boots on the red”, as most ramps have a red line in the snow where you’ll want to load.
Some children may need a small push to get their “boots on the red” in time for the chair. If your child is struggling to shuffle, duck walk or skate out to the loading area I would recommend spending some time practicing these skills on flat terrain.
I recommend loading your child closest to the lift attendant. This way they are close by to assist if needed. If you are loading two children, load the most independent rider next to the lift attendant and ask them to make sure that child gets on, while you help your weaker/smaller rider on the opposite side.
Feel free to ask the lift attendant to assist your child, put the bar down for you or even slow the chair. They are there to help but will be hands off, unless you specifically ask for the assistance.
I do not recommend asking the lift attendant to stop the chair for two reasons: First, you are not teaching your child the skills they need to get on the chair when it is coming to a complete stop for them. Second, everyone on the chair wants to get to the top as efficiently as possible and it can be painful when the chair stops in bad weather. Best for everyone if you try to keep it moving.
On the chair:
Always ride with the safety/comfort bar down (if there is one). Know that this bar is a precaution, it does not eliminate the possibility of falling from the chair. To sit properly and safely your child should be sitting up straight with the back of their knees against the edge of the chair, arms over the top of the bar, not under. Do not ask a short, child to lean back, as their butt could slide off the edge of the chair, pulling them under the bar.
Be cautious to not let any items on your person get stuck on the chair. It is best to do a quick check before unloading. I have seen a variety of items cause problems including straps from backpacks and goggles dangling off of helmets. This can be dangerous! Teach your children to take it seriously.
Play games that help your child sit still and observe their surroundings. “I Spy” is always a great chairlift game. Telling jokes is a hilarious option. Try adapting their favorite game from school or take this opportunity for quiet conversation.
Most kids at some point will try “knocking” their skis together on the chairlift. Let your lil’ ripper know that when we do this, there is a possibility that one of our skis might pop off! This could A. Hurt someone below and B. Cause us to have to ski downhill on one ski, while searching for the other ski. Of course, this may sound fun to them...in which case, best of luck to you Mama, lol.
Getting off:
Point out the directive signs as they come into view (prepare to unload, bar up, tips up, etc). Guide your lil’ ripper to follow these signs. The last one being “unload here” where they will need to stand up from the chair.
If your child needs assistance you can lock arms with them at the elbow. Your arm positioned behind theirs, giving you full control over their speed and direction. If you have two children who need assistance you can lock both elbows. I recommend you don’t have poles but, if you do and only need to help one child you can just hold them together in your free hand.
Your lil’ rippers job is simply to stand up and stay balanced with their skis straight like french fries. This allows you to easily control their speed and direction. See video below for a visual demonstration.
Slowly begin to remove your physical assistance by releasing your arm lock with your lil’ ripper. The goal is for them to be able to stay balanced while gliding down the ramp. This requires them to keep their weight forward when dismounting the chair. If your child is struggling with this...encourage them to pretend to “push a box off a table” or “fly into the sky like superman” when standing up from the chair.
Remembering that your goal is to move your child towards independence, try using a chant like “Three, two, one...Blast off” or “Ready, set, GO!” to teach your lil’ ripper the right time to get off the chair. You should be yelling “Blast off!” or “Go” only when you are in alignment with the “unload here” sign. Eventually you will remove this verbal cue and your lil’ ripper will be well aware of when to stand up on their own.
Most children (if not too short to need a physical boost) can move quickly from needing full assistance to getting on and off the chairlift independently. The more they ride, the more opportunity they have to practice these skills. The more independent they become the easier skiing is on Mama’s back. So get out there and ride often! It’s a win, win for both of you.