Lift Lines Sans Poles

[shortydude]

I'm not very comfortable without poles. I don't really use them going down the mtn. But, they seem to be worth their weight in gold navigating lift lines and when I have to ski uphill.

Any tips , tutorials or videos on negotiating lift lines without poles?

Maybe I need some skating lessons too, because I sucked at uphill skating on the 120's and poles really helped out a few times.

[Hotmilk]

="http://www.skiboardsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4472&highlight=Lift+lines"
Haven't tried it myself personally as I'm yet to try skiboarding but this came up not too long ago and i thought it might be useful

[jackschmid]

if you cannot ice skate/rollerblade its very useful to learn how to...its almost the exact same feeling....it makes it easier to move around on the bottom of hills.....i come from the state of hockey (MN) and i could ice skate before i could ski..... then i started skiboarding because it seemed easier to move around......so you should definatly take skating lessons and get the skating motion down. It helps out a TON! :D

[PeteJE]

On skating, for me, I find if I get started with some momentum it is better than from a complete stop. I often look ahead and get to skating before slowing too much or stopping.

When momentum runs out, or going up slight uphills, I really bear down and feel like I look like one of those olympic ice skating sprinters (obviously without quite the form).

Often I really lean forward and skate out very strongly from the hip swinging the arms. I can go pretty well even up very slight grades. In the current spring slush it becomes very hard and much less productive, however. In better, harder snow you can really stretch the glide of each skating stroke.

Lift lines have been much easier than I thought they would be. Again, much of the perceived effort or problems go away by just looking / planning well ahead. I will end a run gliding right up and into the lift line if possible. Most times I can pick up my feet with exaggerated knee bend and just walk forward. Pushing off while doing this just results in sliding, but it is pretty easy to lift up and plant using edges as needed for some control. Walking a bit sideways on the edges is also necessary at times too. One of the only places I will snow plow is maneuvering into and in the lift line.

[Ethan]

if you cannot ice skate/rollerblade its very useful to learn how to...its almost the exact same feeling....it makes it easier to move around on the bottom of hills.....i come from the state of hockey (MN) and i could ice skate before i could ski..... then i started skiboarding because it seemed easier to move around......so you should definatly take skating lessons and get the skating motion down. It helps out a TON! :D

Or start skating (rollerblading) to get the motions down!

[sempai]

120's aren't the easiest boards to skate. Sherpas are even harder. You just have to really concentrate on digging in your inside edges and pushing off to the side. Like everyone else has said, it's similar to both ice and inline skating.

[shortydude]

I have seen a lot of really gnarly lift lines on the backside of mountains. Ones that the last 10 feet look like a lopsided water park funnel with a 2' drop zone to the loading pad. If it was just me I wouldn't mind doing it without poles. But with other people so close all trying to get on too I like to be as efficient as possible getting on.

It sounds like I would need to be more conscience about staying on edges in lines. Dang, duck walking on edges sounds like work.:rolleyes:

I have been looking at getting a set of rollerblades for this summer. Maybe some of those big wheeled cross country ones.

I have a 10 mile bike route that I try to do at least 3 times a week, and a 3.5 mile loop that I jog twice a week. Do you rollerblade further than you jog?

[sempai]

Do you rollerblade further than you jog?I'm taking this question to be for anyone to answer. I used to run marathons and skate inline marathons, so I have done long distances in both activities.

[shortydude]

Heck yeah the question is for everyone. I like to hear all opinions.

I'm not about to start doing rail slides and such. It seems to me that you should be able to rollerblade farther and faster than you can jog but not as much as a bike. I just don't have any concept of a skating routine.

Would a 10K skate be about the same effort/time as a 5K jog or a 10mile bike? Right now those take me about 45 minutes, by the end of summer they will be down closer to 30 min.

[jackschmid]

you can also check out this http://www.skiboardsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4472&highlight=poll

i own a pair of those cross country big wheeled blades.....and in my opinion they are harder to move around on flat ground than skiboards are.....they are a pain to get around on....but they sure do get you exorsised quickly and in short distances.....STICK WITH ROLLERBLADES they way easier to learn and get around on.

http://abantes.net/images/Skike_V07_size_10.jpg
this is the pair i own.....they are pretty tough to get around on

[sempai]

Would a 10K skate be about the same effort/time as a 5K jog or a 10mile bike? Right now those take me about 45 minutes, by the end of summer they will be down closer to 30 min.There are too many variables involved to be able to answer that question correctly. It will depend on your level of fitness and how well you take to skating. It also depends on the equipment you use and how hard you push yourself. Just rent some skates and give it a try, if you have that option where you live.

[shortydude]

Another question I have about not using poles is, how do you get your skiboards back on if you happen to click out of them on the steep stuff. Poles come in handy to plant them downhill of yourself and brace against it to click back in.

[mahatma]

shortydude,

I'm pulling 2 topics from your questions:

How to skate/maneuver in lift lines - Learning to skate is pretty easy. You just sort of do it until you get the hang of it and then it's yours forever. Lift lines can be tricky. As you hinted at there are all sorts of variable - steep inclines leading up, subtle dips in crowded lines, downgrades that threaten to have us sail directly into moving lifts, etc.. If there is a steep incline leading up I tend to walk up sideways. Dips when everyone is scrunched together are the worst but I seem to do OK by doing a pizza slice and creating space for it by ever so gently touching against the skis and snowboards around me to give the hint. That's usually enough to make people realize what's up - that I don't have poles and need to wedge. Be very respectful with that move as people don't like their stuff being whacked - especially when it's new. Same goes for those hateful downgrades to the rear holding line. I sometimes bang against other peoples skis or snowboards if I'm in the middle but again I try to conduct myself with the utmost respect and sort of hang back a bit when moving.

As for fitness in the off season, I tried rollerblades and actually still have and use them. But, they're not my daily thing. I cycle and "power walk". Walking is one of the greatest things you can do for yourself. You'll turn your body into a fat burning machine, your joints will still love you and there is no special equipment required. Actually, cheap tennis shoes are the best for walking as long as they fit well. You know those $12 "bin" shoes that look so sad and are kind of lacking in the padding department - great walking shoes. I power walk an hour almost everyday of my life. There is simply nothing required beyond cheap tennis shoes that fit. Go out and walk fast. Love it. Cycling I ride fixed. Geared bikes just feel broken to me. It's actually a little frightening having my tool do something without me like coasting. Don't let anyone lie to you and tell you how much more work fixed is. I'll repeat that - it's a lie. The only time it's not a lie is on extended, difficult climbs. But, you get used to it. Remember when you were 10? You didn't need gears then and you don't need them now. Nothing but added weight and complication that sooner rather than later needs adjustment and you park the bike. Fixed is actually better for you if you have any sort of ankle, knee or hip problems because you don't coast and therefore do not warm up/cool down/warm up/cool down. Another activity that your body will love you for and turn you into a fat burning machine. Ride fixed. If your body can take it hiking is another awesome activity. All those build practical leg strength and fitness. Jogging in my opinion is nothing more than self-inflicted torture and it never has a good ending. I've yet to meet the person who has jogged for a solid year that didn't have serious issues over it. Horrible for your body. Horrible. Good for your heart and lungs of course but so is cycling.

[shortydude]

Mahatma, thanks for the thoughtful reply. My rambling thoughts so far on this thread are probably four fold.

Lift line techniques - I need to practice more aggressive close quarter stop-n-goes. I mean aggressive with the snow/ice not the people.

Skating Tips - I need to build better muscle memory for the skating motions.

Fitness - I do have to disagree with you about the cheap shoes thing. Cheap shoes may be OK if you only run on soft surfaces like grass or a beach. Many years ago in boot camp they gave us cheap tennis shoes to run in, I ran better in combat boots. I almost destroyed my feet in my younger years when I thought all I could afford were cheap shoes and boots. I started buying better shoes and they are money well spent. They even cleared up some back problems. A few years ago I completely broke both bones in my leg and now have a long rod an several pins in my leg. Even after my leg healed I thought I would never be able to run again in my life, it just hurt too much. Then I got a really good pair of running shoes and that solved the problem.

Putting on boards on a steep slope - I'm thinking that maybe I'll try carrying my collapsible poles strapped to my Camelback just in case I get stuck some where or I get enough confidence to leave them at home or in the ski bag.

[mahatma]

shortydude,

Oh, I agree with you on the shoes thing. Running is an entirely different ball game. I of course respect the cardio workout a run provides but it's just not for me at all. I'll take a good walk or ride and if in the gym a rowing machine over a treadmill any day. Rowing machines will turn you into a big, sweaty, stank bowl of quivering jello. Love 'em..

I missed your question about putting on boards on steep slopes. This can be tough especially in powder where you have to build a shelf. This can be a process that makes a grown man cry if you are in deep champagne powder because it's both everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Every step can wrench out a knee. Best to not fall in knee deep and above champagne (ha ha). But, the short answer is to always lock in on the down slope. If you need to, lock in one board then swing around to have your booted foot on the down slope and step into that one. If you are on a steep groom you can generally whack out or push together enough scrap snow to give yourself just enough of a shelf to get this done.

[rgzip]

I only use release bindings these days, as such if I get in a real difficult lift line I just take off one skiboard until I get to the front of the line. That being said I very seldom run into difficult lift lines. (Luck I guess)