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| Drag Lifts |
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| The first lift you will encounter is likely to be a drag lift. The most common types are called button lifts or pomas, after their French inventor, the unlikely-sounding Pomagalski.
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| How they Work |
Drag lifts consist of a continuously moving wire, which carries a series of perches, shaped like plates. In the case of a button lift, these are mounted on a spring-loaded wire; in the case of a poma, on the end of poles.
Perches may move continuously or collect at the bottom of the lift, waiting for the skier to activate a trigger.
Either way, the goal is to place the plate between your legs and be dragged to the top of the slope. |
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Getting On |
 Hold your poles in one hand. Wait until it is clear to proceed. This may be signalled by an operator, a traffic light or a barrier. Grasp the perch with your free hand.
If there is a trigger to start your perch moving, make sure you trip it. Place the perch between your legs, making sure your skis are parallel and widely spaced. Brace yourself to be pulled, but don't try to sit down!
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Travelling |
Assume a relaxed stance, keeping your skis parallel and allow the perch
to pull you.
Take the time to appreciate your surroundings.
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Getting Off |
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Keep an eye out for signs warning of approaching arrival.
As you reach the dismount sign, pull the perch out from between your
legs with your free hand. Release your perch, making sure that it does
not hit anyone.
Clear the dismounting area immediately.
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| Children Or Very Light Adults |
On older lifts, children and very light adults may be lifted off the snow and rotated in the air for a few yards.
The situation may be redeemable - 360° though unnerving, may not be fatal; 90° is. The only way to deal with this is to try to keep at least your ski tips on the snow and hope for a gentle landing.
This phenomenon is mercifully rare and never happens on a nursery lift.
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| Tips |
There's a vicious jerk at the bottom of some lifts!
If the skier in front of you gets yanked into the air, prepare for a jump start.
If the track dog-legs around a corner, be alert, keep you legs wide, relax and follow your perch.
Lift tracks occasionally slope downhill for a short distance. Hold your perch firmly, snowplough gently and don't overtake it.
If you fall over, clear the track quickly.
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