Safety Bars and Park Culture.

JohngreenacreIn the wake of the recent and unfortunate death in PA caused by a fall from a lift, I think it would be really interesting to discuss the culture about riding the lift without the safety bar down. I am certainly an offender, but also have no problem with riding with the bar down. It feels like one of those things where you think everyone else wants it up so you leave it, while everyone else thinks the same.

Does anyone really like riding without the bar? Does your crew ride with or without? Why?

SuspiciousFishIn High School, we used to call the bar the "PCB" or Pussy Canadian Bar because everyone in Canada was adamant about using it. Putting it down was a good way to get kicked out of the ski crew back in the day, it was like showing up to the BMX park with training wheels. I personally dont really care now that I am older, I do like the ones that have a trail map printed on the bar so I can check what runs I want to hit for the next lap.

skiguy04Triggered

DIRTYBUBBLENo one leaves the bar up to seem cool. It’s left up because it’s a laziness thing. I personally never put it down because of this reason.

If I’m riding up the lift and some one puts it down I don’t mind at all, but if you don’t say anything and smack me in the head with it then fuck you I won’t let you put it down.

DZook41My home mountain (Snowy Range, WY) doesn't have bars on any of the lifts. Some of them get 40-50ft high at some points. I am really surprised accidents don't happen more often. Lots of new skiiers at Snowy, bars would be a nice addition.

BrawnTrendsDo you mind me asking how much a day pass is there?

XxAc1DtR1PxXI never ride with the bar down, but if I'm with people who chuck it down that's no biggie.

ZiggyZagSkzzShitty foot rests and those handles that go between your legs suck ass but otherwise it's fine

SuspiciousFishIndeed. That is actually one of the best runs at Panaroma, BC:

QuaffI have never fallen off a chair sitting at the table during dinner. Being on a lift and higher off the ground doesn't make it more likely that I'm going to randomly eat it off of the chair unless I am either fucking around or there are extreme weather conditions. Just don't suck at sitting on chairs and there shouldn't be a problem

J_SI agree with whoever just mentioned laziness. That's how it is for me, I just don't care enough to put it down. It's also annoying how you have to duck your head in, and everyone has to scoot to the right spot to make sure your ski pants dont get caught underneath the little peg. It just causes a lot of problems.

The truth is though, ski chairs are slanted backwards so that gravity is literally pulling you into you seat. If you have every intent to stay on the chair, you will stay on the chair. It's not like riding a mechanical bull or anything.

I'm not sure what the exact scenario was for the first kid in PA that fell, but for the more recent one, didn't they just jump off on purpose? That's the thing that leads me to believe the lack of a bar isn't an issue. For little kids, that's a whole other story, but for this, there's not much you can do to keep people from making unsafe choices other than to chain them to the chair with a padlock.

Julius_SteezerI can sort of get why people don’t wear helmets if you find it comfy and more stylish with a beanie. I still wear a helmet but if you don’t fancy it then fine.

but as someone from Europe where the bar always goes down or the lifties stop the lift and yell, why tf would you not put the bar down when you’re that high?? It’s comfy to rest your arms on and has 0 drawbacks. Somebody pls explain as I’ve never understood the mentality

CLQI just prefer to not have it down, its more comfortable that way for me. I'm not an idiot, i'm not just going to fall off the lift. Do you just randomly fall out of chairs when you go to lunch?

TubeBroWhen I was growing up in Colorado, there no bars on any lift. I must be old AF.

DaphA drastic e stop on a lift can cause people to fall off if they're seated improperly, regardless of whether or not the bar is down.

VinnieFBut having the bar down absolutely will decrease your chances of falling if there's an emergency stop for the 99% of people who know how to sit properly.

Julius_SteezerNo but then again I don’t eat lunch 10m in the air with possible high winds and solid snow below me

TheVictatorI honestly can’t imagine being so lazy that you’re not willing to pull a bar down. To me, it’s no inconvenience and makes it a bit safer esp if some accident happens. Is there really any valid reason to not put it down?