T-Bar Hell

This past weekend was easily one of my favorites since being over here. That being said, it was also by far the most painful. In fact it was the most physically excruciating weekend I've had in all of 2007 so far. I blame the T-Bar... or perhaps it's my own fault that I'm covered in bruises because I'm T-Bar challenged.

Most of you that ski or snowboard probably already know what a T-Bar is, but for those you who don't, click here to find out more. Here are a couple pictures (from the Wikipedia site I just directed you to) to give you better visual:

As T-Bar lifts were invented long before snowboarding, they are naturally more forgiving to skiers. (That's just my opinion - maybe some of you skiers out there hate them as well.) Anyway, I had never used one of these types of lifts before this weekend and I was a bit nervous to try one based on Mr X's past experiences. In fact, last winter when Mr X was snowboarding by himself on this same resort in Austria, a nasty crash while using the T-Bar resulted in a minor shoulder injury that still irritates him. Mr X has tried T-Bars, J-Bars, and platter lifts and detests them all. As a result of his bad experiences, I told Mr X that I wanted to make sure that I would only have to use chairlifts and gondolas during my first snowboarding adventure of the season.

We headed to the top of the mountain to a run that we'd enjoyed last winter, only to discover a bit too late that the chair lift that we used to take back up from this particular run was not functioning. (Once again, being illiterate can be really unfortunate.) The only way back up was by T-Bar.

After the first wave of dread rushed over me I decided to shake it and be bold and brave. Mr X warned me that using the T part in a "water-skiing" fashion would likely result in failure. He said I was to grab hold, promptly put the bar under my rear and then direct every ounce of concentration I could to making sure I didn't catch an edge on my board and face-plant.

I nervously nodded ambled up to take my position awaiting the bar. As it came, I grabbed it in the water-ski fashion and, remembering what Mr X had said, quickly repositioned it under my bum just as I started gliding up the mountain. Whew! I was on my way. About a quarter of the way up and I was still hanging in there. How exciting, I was actually going to make it all the way up on my first try. I was so impressed with myself. Unfortunately, in that moment I also forgot Mr X's direction to concentrate and... Smack! I face-planted. I scrambled to get out of the way of the rider behind me and sat there watching other snowboarders in an attempt to glean T-Bar tricks from them. (Mr X was in front of me on the lift - moving up the mountain face in fine form, oblivious to me because he was concentrating...)

Attempt number two resulted in me losing grip of my bar almost immediately, much to the dismay of the skiers in line behind us. But my quick thinking prevailed and I simply grabbed hold of the bar Mr X had gotten on behind me and together we took off, each on one side of the T. But about a quarter of the way up it became clear that two T-Bar lift amateurs together were not better than one and we crashed.

At this point I began eyeing the slopes above us, wondering how long it would take me to hike them while dragging my snowboard along. But I needed to prove to myself that I could do it and refused to give up so soon. I decided that I would keep trying until I made it at least two thirds of the way up and then I could hike the rest of the way.

Luckily it turns out that what they say is true, the third time really is the charm. My legs and arms were violently shaking by the time I got to the top but bruised, battered, and sweating I had triumphed! Too bad nearly two hours of the day had disappeared. (Not to mention my confidence and my strength...)

Have you had any terrible ski lift experiences? I'd love to hear the tales... (Just post them in the comments section!)