Tales from the Rope Tow #1

Not every resort believes in the use of a rope tow for teaching. Some resorts prefer to use the Magic Carpet (basically a conveyor belt put on the snow for easy step on and off access). Others prefer to create a real beginner lift that runs maybe two towers, really slowly, and helps get over the fears of the lift quickly.

At my resort, we're firm believers in the rope tow, having a total of three for pleasure of destroying instructor knees. Two of these are located near to the ski school. This simple little fact can sometimes lead to some of the most humorous moments ever.

A rather large young woman had decided to learn how to snowboard this season. From what I was told she wasn't really interested in learning from the instructor in the class, and pretty much was set on doing things herself. During the class, they never made it to the rope tow itself, instead hiking up the hill each time due to her constant heel side turn. Her instructor returned to the ski school and called all of us over to watch as she tried the rope tow a first time.

Her first attempt at grabbing the rope ended up with a face plant, not uncommon (close your hands slowly, honest!). On the second attempt she was successful at starting to move, although the rope was sliding through her grip still. As she moved forward, she dug her heel side edge in and began turning out of the rope path. She pulled on the rope hoping it would bring her back into the path, but it only caused her to lean harder on that edge pulling her even further from her goal.

It was at this point we knew what was about to happen; the rope would be pulled off the track, shut down, and hopefully fixed. But that's not what happened. Somehow she had now made it to almost half the width of the beginner run with the rope still moving. Suddenly she let go and the rope took off.

In the blink of an eye, the rope had snapped back to position like a rubber band. Only the momentum carried it well beyond to the other side of the beginner run, clipping two other beginners in the chest and head. The beginner who was hit in the chest was able to perform a complete One and Half flip before landing back on their face. The child hit in the head was picked off from her skis and laid on her side. A little dazed she continued on skiing as if nothing happened.

Point of the story, if you fall out of the rope tow track, let go of the rope. Or when near the rope tow, make sure to be aware of what's happening on the rope tow.