Who and where are people most friendly?

#1

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11/19/09 at 10:28am

guroo270
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Okay, so we've all been there; a generator powered lift on the back side of the mountain where there's only one lift out and everyone is trying to get out, some more forcibly than others.
What has everyone's experience been with people around the world and lift line etiquette? I've found that when I ski Vail with all of the foreigners, as in Spain, people have no sense of personal space, and they seem to be pretty pushy (i.e. you think your cock may have started skiing because all the sudden there's a third ski between your legs, and it doesn't match, whereas Kirkwood, Cali people just kinda chill, sit there and wait their turn without trying to separate your bases from your top sheets attempting to get on the lift.

I'm a professional liver of life.

#2

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11/19/09 at 8:52pm

chanwmr
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MRG is the best, hands down. Then again, I've never anywhere but the East.

#3

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11/20/09 at 6:45am

Finndog
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STEAMBOAT, it's just a such a kick-back place. The difference is the people there in the winter, live thier year around for the most part. Its a real family oriented community and those who live there are very proud of it. They know what a treasure their area is.

Be More Like Your Dog...

#4

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11/20/09 at 6:50am

Trekchick
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The Midwest......
c'mon if you can be happy skiing on

marginal snow
400 +/- vertical
marginal steeps
marginal moguls

Then you're probably a content and happy person......like Me!

Surviving is essential, thriving is incredible!
EpicSki Academy

#5

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11/20/09 at 6:59am

ami in berlin
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The lift line behaviour I've seen here in Europe ranges from bad to appalling. I was shooting through the single skier chute (a progressive concept not seen at most resorts here) in Engelberg and nearly piled into the back of a man just standing there midway through the lane. I ask him what he's doing, and he says: "waiting for my wife". In the single skier lane. Then at the front of the lane there's a back-up as the other single skiers do not want to fill up the chairs. Again, this is in the single skier lane. Once I finally get to the front, I promptly fill out the fourth seat on a quad only to be berated by the other three people on the lift. Boggles the mind.

Once on the lift, any attempt at conversation is usually met with either bemusement or downright contempt.

I've taken elbows to the face while loading an empty gondola with no line. And that from ski school instructors.

The only thing even remotely close I've seen in North America is some line cutting by teenagers at Whistler.

#6

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11/20/09 at 7:19am

Kevincanski
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Europeans are extremely rude on the mountain and in the lift line. I have only skied a couple of places, but wow! It was like a wrestling match or full contact skiercross or combination thereof. They do not respect the concept of "the line" over there, or can't seem to grasp it. I always found it interestingly paradoxical that Europeans claim Americans are loud and rude and overbearing, when they exhibit so many similar characteristics in certain situations. Ah, contradictions! But I digress...

In the East, I like Okemo (on a weekday) for chillness and Steamboat in the West.

#7

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11/20/09 at 7:29am

crgildart
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It's generally not too bad around here as the folks that are experienced are also considerate most of the time. The folks that aren't experienced, the vast majority, are southerners with southern temperament. Don't talk religion or politics and it is usually pleasant.

Kids are kids everywhere, many disrespectful punks and some genuinely good kids. I guess the thing that bothers me most is when six of them line up before a six pack chair, then

split in to two groups of three as the chairs come around the wheelhouse. If I'm in the singles chute, I'll butt in and take a spot when they do that.

I'd rather be skiing

#8

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11/20/09 at 7:47am

4ster
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Liftlines, what liftlines?

I find the Euro lift line system to be quite entertaining & fun. It is like its own little competitive sport added to your ski day. I usually lock eyes with someone entering the que at the same time as me & subliminally challenge them to see who will be on the lift first. Full contact is expected & I don't ski on my topsheets anyway. "When in Rome", "If you can't lick em', join em", "Survival of the fitest" etc. It is part of the cultural saturation.

I have never skied in the east, but in the West & British Columbia, it seems that the smaller areas are the most civilized.

JF

"Apparently, a person who dives headfirst down an icy cliff wearing a spandex jumpsuit is supposed to celebrate with a nice glass of tea."

David Fehrety on Bode Millers 60 minutes interview

#9

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11/20/09 at 8:49am

manchester81
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Albertans are among the least friendly people. They aren't nasty, just keep to themselves.

I really enjoy trips to the United States. Most Americans I meet are really outgoing and friendly.

#10

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11/20/09 at 8:56am

epic
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Quote:

Originally Posted by 4ster

Liftlines, what liftlines?

I find the Euro lift line system to be quite entertaining & fun. It is like its own little competitive sport added to your ski day. I usually lock eyes with someone entering the que at the same time as me & subliminally challenge them to see who will be on the lift first. Full contact is expected & I don't ski on my topsheets anyway. "When in Rome", "If you can't lick em', join em", "Survival of the fitest" etc. It is part of the cultural saturation.

I have never skied in the east, but in the West & British Columbia, it seems that the smaller areas are the most civilized.

JF

Exactly. Once you've learned the rules (unwritten of course) it's kind of fun. Works better as a team sport though.

#11

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11/20/09 at 8:57am

Cirquerider
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You may think Kirkwood is laid back, but you have never seen what happens if you put one free pizza appetizer in a room with 15 people.

You don't want to come to California. We're animals out here.

Someday I'll just ski for a living.

#12

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11/20/09 at 9:12am

narc
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Quote:

Originally Posted by ami in berlin

The lift line behaviour I've seen here in Europe ranges from bad to appalling.

Truth, I always laugh when Americans complain about lift queue behaviour when everything is so well controlled over there. The worst I have experienced is Bulgaria, then Italy followed by France and Norway.

#13

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11/20/09 at 9:43am

iWill
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Well, on one hand, the Italians are exceedingly friendly. Their lift line system simply isn't as organized as ours. It's kind of like the looking at the Autobahn and seeing how orderly highway traffic can be...then coming back to the US and getting used to our system. it makes Americans seem rude and ignorant. They can't grasp the concept of a slow lane and a fast lane. Italians, though are much more polite and friendly in the refugios...but in the lift line their system makes them appear boorish to us.

The best lift line etiquette I've seem takes place on powder days in the NW, midweek when the experienced skiers are out. Everyone understands the singles line rules, everybody fours up. weekends, sometimes I've felt the need to make "corrective comments", usually toward teenagers who ski into the lift line, then wait for their buddies.

I'd have to say that it has been many years since i skied the east, but the worst etiquette I've ever seen was at Vernon Valley in the 80's, rather than Europe.

#14

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11/20/09 at 10:41am

guroo270
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So, to all you Europeans that are used to this full contact sport, the next time you skate on my top sheets, is it alright with you if i turn around and stab your top sheets with my poles?

aaawee, sheet, i forgot i don't use poles.

I'm a professional liver of life.

#15

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11/20/09 at 10:48am

epic
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So is this thread about liftlines or friendliness? I think the Austrians in general are some of the friendliest people I've ever encountered regardless of how they move in liftlines.

#16

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11/20/09 at 10:51am

4ster
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Quote:

Originally Posted by guroo270

aaawee, sheet, i forgot i don't use poles.

It would seem my friend, that you are at a severe disadvantage!

JF

"Apparently, a person who dives headfirst down an icy cliff wearing a spandex jumpsuit is supposed to celebrate with a nice glass of tea."

David Fehrety on Bode Millers 60 minutes interview

#17

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11/20/09 at 11:05am

JDoyal
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So that is why the Polish people at Wilmot are so rude in the lift lines.

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#18

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11/20/09 at 11:30am

Jag
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Quote:

Originally Posted by JDoyal

So that is why the Polish people at Wilmot are so rude in the lift lines.

You noticed that too.

#19

Rating: 1

11/20/09 at 11:34am

Stranger
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The nicest people have to be mid-week on a bad weather day here in the Northwest.

It is hard to be rude to yourself.

"Politics is the 2nd oldest profession in the world and it bares a close resemblance to the 1st." Will Rogers

#20

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11/21/09 at 2:11am

kcxd
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Having left Europe (I'm originally from the UK) for Canada five years ago, there's a world of difference in lift-line behaviour. In my early skiing days, I concluded that martial arts skills wouldn't be a bad thing in lift lines - particularly when, like me, you're a smaller-than-average girl. I lost count of the number of times I was shouldered out of the way, charged into, or just pushed aside (until I learned about strategic elbow placement.) In contrast, the worst I've encountered here is stoned teens cutting in or holding up the line briefly. I don't think I've ever seen really bad behaviour in a lineup here and heard a Canadian accent from the culprit.

General friendliness...Whistler wins hands down, at least in my personal experience. Three times during my first season I had locals who were clearly light years better than me spend substantial parts of their day showing the newbie hidden powder stashes and unmarked runs. Of course it all depends who you're lucky enough to get chatting to on a chairlift, but experiences like that really make an impression.

#21

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11/21/09 at 4:23pm

Mdnitedrftr
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VT locals are by far the friendliest and most laid back ski people Ive come across.

#22

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11/22/09 at 4:50pm

sibhusky
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People are pretty nice here where I ski. If someone from out of town or even in town gets pushy normally we let 'em get away with it and just talk about 'em.

There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad equipment.

#23

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11/30/09 at 12:14pm

exracer
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Location: Calgary
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Anywhere in Canada... period!

The only time you see rude pushy people in a lift line in Canada, is when it's a visiting Euro or asian. A girl I know was once accosted (groped) by a couple of Germans while riding a gondola here. Americans, by comparison, are actually very civilized on the mountain (contrary to their repution) and are generally well versed in lift line etiquette.

#24

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11/30/09 at 1:55pm

akaplan9
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Well, if you have an open mind and positive attitude the friendliest people will be wherever you are.

If you are not of that mindset, in general, smaller less expensive ski mountains tend to attract people of less expectation of others and therefore tend to be friendlier.

Also, what's your definition of friendly? Some people prefer the least interaction possible and just want to ski. That's not my definition personally but there are some people who would rather not talk.

Lastly, I am that obnoxious guy always smiling and saying hi to everyone.

#25

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11/30/09 at 2:12pm

ragin' cajun'
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I kinda like the good camaraderie that Taos has, personnel on that mountain go out their way to be nice. Even though almost half the skiers there are European, everyone seems to get along just fine...however there are few lift lines in Taos that would generate bad vibes.

Looking at larger resorts, Snowmass and Steamboat have friendly employees and locals, good family environment.

#26

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11/30/09 at 6:40pm

qcanoe
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Saddleback, Maine. (Except for the stern older liftie at the Cupsuptic T-Bar, who's gruff with kids who are learning to ride the thing instead of providing good coaching. Anyone who remembers his or her first couple of attempts at this knows some tolerance is in order.)

#27

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11/30/09 at 11:27pm

primoz
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To be honest, I have never been even thinking about this, but now when you start bashing over Europeans, I started to think, and you guys are actually right. We might have some things organized, but lines and queues are pretty much always chaos. Ok Scandinavia is a bit better when it comes to general queues, but on ski places, it's same as everywhere else in Europe... it's about winning other guys to be first on gondola. And it doesn't really matter if you will be spending half hour on top of gondola getting ready or drinking tea... you still need to win :)
I guess 4ster hit it right, even though I'm sure he was joking (at least a bit). When I look better on all this, it might really be some sort of "competitive sport" inside of skiing

And yes sometimes it really feels skiing is full contact sport

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4ster

I find the Euro lift line system to be quite entertaining & fun. It is like its own little competitive sport added to your ski day. I usually lock eyes with someone entering the que at the same time as me & subliminally challenge them to see who will be on the lift first. Full contact is expected & I don't ski on my topsheets anyway. "When in Rome", "If you can't lick em', join em", "Survival of the fitest" etc. It is part of the cultural saturation.

#28

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12/1/09 at 9:08am

lemmiwinks
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Location: Illinois
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Quote:

Originally Posted by Trekchick

The Midwest......
c'mon if you can be happy skiing on

marginal snow
400 +/- vertical
marginal steeps
marginal moguls

Then you're probably a content and happy person......like Me!

Agreed! What we lack in vertical drop we make up for in being awesome.

#29

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12/1/09 at 11:08am

newfydog
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Location: Bend, Oregon
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Well, Italy is a friendly place. People are great, but their liftlines are shaped like a classroom and are full contact. You wouldn't know they had skis on. All in good fun.

#30

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12/1/09 at 11:25am

guroo270
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Location: Grand Junction, Colorado
Post Count: 582

Quote:

Originally Posted by newfydog

Well, Italy is a friendly place. People are great, but their liftlines are shaped like a classroom and are full contact. You wouldn't know they had skis on. All in good fun.

sounds AWESOME

I'm a professional liver of life.

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