How to Ride Ski Lifts: Chairlifts, Gondolas and Magic Carpets

For many beginners the scary part is not the slope but the lift. Getting on and off a chairlift with skis or a snowboard looks complicated the first time, yet it follows the same few steps every time. At Erciyes you will use three kinds of lift: magic carpets in the beginner areas, chairlifts and enclosed gondolas. Here is how each one works.

Magic carpet

The magic carpet is a conveyor belt that carries you up the beginner slope, much like the moving walkways at airports. Step onto it with your skis parallel and pointing straight uphill, then simply stand still with your knees slightly bent. On a snowboard, keep your front foot strapped in and rest your back foot on the board. Do not sit down or lean on your poles. At the top, glide off and move out of the way straight away.

Getting on a chairlift

1. Take your hands out of the pole straps and hold both poles in one hand.
2. When the chair in front has passed, move forward to the marked loading line.
3. Look back over your shoulder to watch the chair arrive.
4. Sit down as soon as the seat touches the back of your knees, keeping your ski tips pointing forward.
5. Once everyone is seated, say so and lower the safety bar.

On a snowboard, ride up with your front foot strapped in and your back foot free. Wait at the loading line with the board pointing straight ahead, not sideways, and let the chair scoop you up. If you are wearing a backpack, take it off or wear it on your front so that you can sit back properly.

During the ride

Sit back and keep the safety bar down until the sign near the top station tells you to raise it. Do not swing the chair or lean forward to look down. If you drop a pole or a glove, let it go and never reach for it. You can pick it up on your next run, or tell the lift staff at the top. Small children should ride next to an adult who lowers the bar and helps them on and off.

Getting off a chairlift

1. At the sign, check that everyone is ready and raise the bar.
2. Keep your ski tips up and your skis parallel as you reach the unloading ramp.
3. Stand up as soon as your skis touch the snow, pushing yourself off the seat with one hand.
4. Glide straight down the ramp and move clear of the unloading area straight away.

Agree before the top who will go left and who will go right, so that you do not cross each other's path. On a snowboard, put your back foot on the stomp pad, between the bindings against the back binding, before you arrive. Keep your weight on your front foot as you stand up and glide straight down the ramp. Only strap in your back foot once you are well away from the unloading area.

Gondola

In a gondola you ride in an enclosed cabin, so you take your skis off first. Depending on the lift, skis and snowboards go in racks on the outside of the cabin or come inside with you; follow the lift staff. Step in while the cabin moves slowly through the station, sit down, and get out at the top before the cabin leaves the station again. In strong wind the upper lifts can close temporarily, so check which lifts are open before you start your day.

If something goes wrong

• You fall while getting off: Move clear quickly. If you cannot, stay low and the attendant will stop the lift.
• You miss the moment to get off: Stay seated and do not jump. The attendant will stop the lift and help you off.
• The lift stops during the ride: Keep the bar down and wait calmly. Most stops are short.
• You do not feel ready: Wait for the next chair. Letting one go by costs only a few seconds.

Before your first lift

You need a lift pass to use the lifts, and our all-inclusive Erciyes packages already include an unlimited lift pass, so there is no ticket queue. Our First Steps lesson packages also include lessons with an instructor, so you are not on your own on day one. Read about the gates, pistes and lifts in our Erciyes ski resort guide, the lift mistakes beginners make in our list of first ski trip mistakes, and any unfamiliar word in our ski and snowboard glossary.

• Ski lifts
• Chairlift
• Beginners
• Snowboarding