Board 8 > Any skiers here? (Lift exiting etiquette)

(+) Yeah! (+)

I've been learning to ski the last couple of weekends and dread exiting the lift. Usually people just hang out after getting off so it's crowded, snowboarders are always falling and people go random directions. We are on a four person chair and you can go left or right after exiting. In my mind if you're on the far left or far right you can turn left or right. But if you're in the middle, you should go straight or wait to turn until the person next to you has turned. I also try to talk to the people next to me like hey I'm just going to go straight.

Well me and my partner were riding on the right two seats and we get paired with two kids in the ski school. We didn't say anything although in hindsight we probably should have said we are going straight. And as soon as we get off the kid in the left middle seat immediately just turns hard right to join her ski instructor that was ahead of us and wipes us both out. I basically crush the poor girl. They stop the lift and everyone runs over to help, she's crying, etc etc. But eventually walks it off fine and everyone is on their way.

So as far as etiquette, if you don't talk to others about what you're doing, shouldn't the default be to just go straight unless you're in the far left/right seats?

And yes, I should be more proactive when paired with kids but there were a couple close calls with adults too.

What say ye?

it sounds less like an etiquette problem and more. a kids are fucking stupid problem

as someone who has skied a ton, most people dont declare where theyre going. Youre correct its generally good etiquette to go straight or to the side youre on.

But the real etiquette is if youre going to the opposite side from where youre seated, hang back and let others go wherever theyre going first. That kid just didnt know that.

Chaeix posted...

it sounds less like an etiquette problem and more. a kids are fucking stupid problem

as someone who has skied a ton, most people dont declare where theyre going. Youre correct its generally good etiquette to go straight or to the side youre on.

But the real etiquette is if youre going to the opposite side from where youre seated, hang back and let others go wherever theyre going first. That kid just didnt know that.

This... If I'm on the right, I'm not going to to just insta go to the left in front of someone. Because it's stupid.

Did you run into the girl because she was blind?

No, she was way too quick to point out the big dude that squished her.

I mean, regardless of "convention" I think it's fair to assume you don't cut people off.

Menji posted...

So as far as etiquette, if you don't talk to others about what you're doing, shouldn't the default be to just go straight unless you're in the far left/right seats?

Yes, absolutely

Chaeix posted...

it sounds less like an etiquette problem and more. a kids are fucking stupid problem

as someone who has skied a ton, most people dont declare where theyre going. Youre correct its generally good etiquette to go straight or to the side youre on.

But the real etiquette is if youre going to the opposite side from where youre seated, hang back and let others go wherever theyre going first. That kid just didnt know that.

Yeah, this.
I would also recommend asking unaccompanied children which direction they'll go to or if they know how to exit the ski lift, as long as they are younger than 12/13. Heck, I have asked adults this question when they didn't seem to be particularly compenent/it looked like it was their first time.