[Baaahb]

Well, that's twice now in the last month (or so) that I have railed against rallies protesting premature bar descent syndrome. (Soul Man and cesare, I think, know what I'm talkin bout.) TTipers complaining about getting hit by prematurely lowered safety bars and me calling them out for not expecting it.

I have come to realize, folks, that what we have here is a failure of comprehension

In my world, I reach for the bar after the chair has left the station and is on its way. The folks on the chair with me should be settled by now; I've been watching them for a few seconds and am waiting to get out my Capri-Sun (don't leave home without it!) Maybve I call "bar down", maybe I grunt, maybe f-it, I say nothing and just slowly lower. I have assumed that this behavior is what irritates others.

In fact, this does not appear to be the behavior that creates annoyance. The problem appears to be true gaperdom, e.g. those who pull the bar down almost as they sit, as if closing a car door (rather than putting on a seat belt, to pursue that analogy)

I guess I have become spoiled. I don't ski resorts often and, when I do, it is Mt. Rose midweek. The people I ride with know how to ride chairs and when they don't reach for the bar its from studied indifference; they should at this point at least expect that I might want to lower it.

I have missed the point that the issue is the gaperdom "hurry up, get it lowered, my skis are about to leave the ground!" behavior. I just haven't rode a chair with that person for many years.

So, you, see, I have come out of touch with true gaperdom. This is troubling, How can I understand your posts without knowing that of which you speak?

Fortunately, there is an easy remedy. All I need to do is spend a few days at one of the resorts with real gapers -- and LOTS of them -- so I can better comprehend y'all's comments (yup, yup) on this free-heal forum.

So where should I go for this remeducation? What resort is guaranteed to have the most gapers per lift? With a capital G?

Please, I'm not looking to totally slum it. Resorts with 350 feet of vertical or that label a 30 degree slope "double black" need not apply. I want to get my dollars worth as well as my remeducation.

And, anyway, Gapers are the most Gaperish when at a resort that is way above their need.

Thanks. I'm hoping to get this accomplished this year so look forward to your suggestions. Suggestions backed up with true anecdotes will be most appreciated.
_________________
Other vegetables have a hard time competing with potatoes.

[Danno]

My first response to the question in your title was "TTips!".

As for the bar down thing, and helmets, I think people fail to realize that the helmet often causes the bar to hit you, there would be no contact without it.

As for where are the gapers? Keystone or Breck are good places to start.
_________________
"anecdotes are fine assbaggery is not"
"But of course to Telemark is just one function of ski gear, but to have fun is the other. If I so much want to make Parallel turns all day long, I shall do this as well"

[peace_coast]

Never seen more ski blades, jeans, starter jackets, track pants, fleece jester hats, chairlift-bar-slammers, power-wedgers, drunk tail-gunners, and generally clueless souls than during the week I spent in college working a race at Whiteface, NY. I cannot unsee a man in jeans and rear entry boots with a ski blade strapped to one foot and a straight ski strapped to the other. And thanks to the proximity to NYC and Jersey 'burbs, the people found there are not just clueless, but loud and rude, too! Certainly the gaper capitol of the east and perhaps the entire United States.

[Mr. T]

Gapers are associated with downhill ski areas, go touring and don't go to the low-gravity zones...

... or stop whining!

[SkaredShtles]

Keystone. Hands down the best. Gapers EVERYWHERE. Most resorts you can avoid them with a little judicious thought. Not Keystone.

[DaHeel]

Vail[va-le], noun-Native American word for Gaper.
_________________
No one cares you stayed for the summers!

[robrox]

[Danno]

[frytown]

No anecdotes, but given where you live and ski, why not head on over to Heavenly or Northstar? Both seem like they should be able to supply you with the experience you seek, and you don't even need to book a flight!

[B]

Next year at Kirkwood?

(I sure hope not.)

[keithermadness]

[Grant]

[davygoat2]

Have to apologize. @ my little 400' hill rated black.
We bring bus loads of gapers in and strap the boards to their feet.
Rules? we don't need no stinking rules here..
old school etiquette. Like "on your left/right" and the pesky
"bar Down".
pizza/ french fry/ fall:They are ready to be released!
Armed with cardboard box lunch and knit gloves.
They spread among the mountains and inject their money into the ski areas cafaterias, bars and ski shops. if only to replace the items dropped off the chair in unaccessable areas.
Unfortunately they are the future of riding snowsports. and since our season pass purchases don't make the shareholders dividends.
They are a necessary evil. We need to gently guide them away from their own
inevitable demise brought on from novice or alcohol influenced decision making.
If i could keep them together like dairy cattle I would. but some will escape.. much like monsanto's GMO seeds
_________________
there are no bad days of skiing, only days I ski badly..

[skifreeK]

[ghostofcarl]

Look in the mirror? Many resorts have double blacks that are 30 degrees.