Chairlift Footstrap

[leo]

as you all know, sometimes snowskaters are not allowed to take chairlifts.

this is really stupid, but after a kind discussion with an italian ski resort owner, I learned that the problem is that some chairlifts (especially those without double speed mechanisms) are not meant to be use by pedestrians. he explained to me that they can have serious legal problems because in case of a bad accident on a chairlift, insurance companies could easily consider a snowskater equal to a pedestrian.
they don't care that once you arrive to the top you are able to kick the board and get off the chair on your skate  like any other skier or snowboarder, they say it is mandatory to be attached to the board in order to sit in those types of chairlifts.

well, that's how I solved the problem: I simply bind the foot to the skate with a rope before getting to the chailift, then unbind once I arrive to the top.

here a little video that shows this simple operation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45tG8LfnzPs

I know it's not very elegant, but this compromise worked for me not only in every ski resort in Italy, but also in France, Germany and Austria, so now I always ride with a rope inside my pocket.

hope this can help others with the same problems I have experienced  

[c-bass]

Yeah that's how i have to get on at big white as well. Already a thread about this kind of stuff on here. glad to see it works overseas as well.

[fixed1313]

I know this has been talked about in a few locations on here but I could not find a thread about it. Lets see if we can get pics of what people are using as a chair lift strap posted up (if there are different ones). I know about the inner tube one and have made one but I would like to do something that looks a bit more professional. I too was told by the local resort that the board needs to be attached to one foot to ride the lift and I want to take something out to show the owner that looks good, I am afraid he will laugh at the inner tube deal and still not let me ride. So far I am the only one that he has given any time too and he has told me what to do, he just told the few others that asked that they could not ride there. Just trying to make a good impression for all of us.

[c-bass]

this is really simple kind of primitive but its getting me on the lifts and it works well for me. i also wrap a short bungie cord around my ankle and hook it onto the strap that wraps around my deck. the strap that wraps around my deck buckles together the same as the one around my foot. I would like to get snowshoe strap instead of single buckle for my foot. haven't found the right one yet but when i do i will make a bunch of them. the pictures aren't the greatest that's why posted so many. hope this helps you out

[leo]

what I do is tie a rope around the foot and ankle as shown in this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45tG8LfnzPs

it may seem totally "unprofessional" but this magic rope gave me access to any resort in Europe I've been in the last 2 years.

now when I go to a new spot, I don't even try to get on a chair untied.

[Jordan]

If I have to use a strap I go for marks inner tube design sometimes replaced with shock cord, not having to tie anything and having everything already on your ankle/board makes it easy to put on or take off 'on the fly'.

[fixed1313]

Thanks for the replys...........It is great to see some different ideas. Keep them coming.

I agree about the inner tube..........very quick and easy..........I am looking for something with a little nicer appearence.............I have an idea that I came up with today at work that I need to try out and run past my production people (wife and her sewing machine). I will see what comes of it...........can't really explain.

[c-bass]

takes less time to attach and detache  my strap than it takes snowboarders to do up their bindings. to each their own though. Hope to see a standard soon. No more resort chairlift crap.

[leo]

could you post some pictures of this inner tube thing?
seems interesting but I'm not sure I fully understood what it is...

[c-bass]

http://chillerdecks.com/chair-lift-strap.html inner tube strap

[leo]

http://chillerdecks.com/chair-lift-strap.html inner tube strap

thanks a lot

this is pure genius, way better than my rope.
I'm going out looking for an inner tube ;-)

[Settles Bridge Supply]

We noticed the postings about the lack of available chair lift straps for snowskates and thought we would come up with a product to help out.  These simple straps can be rolled up and kept in your pocket until needed.  They work with friction rings and hold very tight.  Simply wrap the strap around your board and then over the top of your foot. Tighten and then take the remaining strap and wrap that around your ankle and back through the second set of friction rings. Tighten and your off.  Just as easy to remove. 

Check out our posting for these straps at http://www.settlesbridgesupplyhouse.com/snowskate-and-snow-board-chair-lift-straps2-pac2.html

We also have heavy duty board leashes at http://www.settlesbridgesupplyhouse.com/winter-sports-accessories.html

[c-bass]

whatever design we come up with once we're strapped on the chair we're legal. full on. any other excuse is bs. lovin the response transworld got on the snowskate day story.

[chiller]

@settles bridge supply-thanks guys for taking an interest but have you tried them in the field yet? I've designed several different options that worked well in the kitchen but sucked after using them a bit. First off what doesn't seem like a big deal at first, like carrying the strap in your pocket and bending down to put it on, becomes a major pain in the ass after you do it fifty times or so. Pushing webbing through the deck and ski seems simple enough but actually sucks when your kneeling in the snow. doing any kind of buckle fastening with gloves on is a pain. spending time at the top of the chair to remove said strap is a buzz kill. It may work for those who only skate once in awhile but for those of use who only ride snowskates, I want the easiest and fastest method that doesn't bring attention to me in the lift line or at the top. Also for some strange reason people who can normally ride off the chair without a strap have trouble with a strap??? Especially if it makes your foot canted like in the picture you have above. Again I don't want to be a dick and say the design won't work, I'm glad that someone has taken an interest but from experience the rubber strap like we use is the best, quickest and simplest set up out there and I would be hard pressed to support any other system that requires you to fasten any kind of hardware or have to install and take off the strap with every chair ride. Its just that I've been dealing with this issue for 6 years now and I've seen how it affects new skaters and people just trying out the sport.  

[Jordan]

Mark is a champion for coming up with the inner tube idea. I tried tons of thing as well including putting t-nuts in my topdecks and carrying a binding around in a backpack. I have shock cord inside nylon webbing around my board (stronger and easier to slide out of the way) and just shock cord around my ankle but its the same concept, I only had new inner tubes and didn't want to sacrifice one.
Sitting there watching everyone load onto the chair for 2 minutes while you tie your foot to the board sucks, being able to undo your foot while your riding off/riding to the chairlift on the fly and not skip a beat is the ticket. Not only are you watching everyone load onto the chair or ride away after you get off the chair but everything is caked in snow or frozen and your gloves usually come off, as Mark said its a major buzz kill...especially if you have to do it 25 times a day.