T-bar lift
Encyclopedia
A T-bar lift, also called T-bar, is a mechanised system for transporting skiers and snowboarders uphill, along the surface of the slope. In the United States
it is generally employed for low-capacity slopes in large resorts and small local areas servicing skiers numbered in the dozens rather than in the hundreds or thousands.
It consists of an aerial steel
rope loop running over a series of wheels, powered by an engine at one end. Hanging from the rope are a series of vertical recoiling cables, each attached to a T-shaped bar measuring about a metre in both dimensions. The horizontal bar is placed behind the skier's
buttocks or in between the snowboarder's legs, pushing against the inside of their forward leg's thigh. This pushes the passengers uphill while they slide across the ground. A single T-bar transports one or two people.
The same basic design principle as the T-bar can be seen in two related, single-passenger surface lift
s: the J-bar
, effectively a one-sided T-bar, and the platter
, which involves the skier straddling the pole as one would a hobby horse
and resting the buttocks on a single, usually plastic, platter (or button). The T-bar is considerably more common in North America
than either of these related lifts, largely because it offers twice the lift capacity for the same motivator mechanisms. The first T-bar lift in the United States was installed in 1940 at Pico Mountain
ski area. It was considered a great improvement over the rope tow
.
Older T-bars, J-bars and platter lifts employed a spring-loaded pole instead of the recoiling rope mechanism. These have fallen into disuse, as the spring-loading can produce wild swings and possible backlash, causing bruises or other injury if the unwary rider lets it go carelessly when dismounting. The retractable rope systems retract at a slower rate, and so are more tractable.
T-bars and related surface lifts are often misunderstood by beginners who incorrectly believe the objective is to sit down on the bar. This almost always leads to a fall as the T-bar is simply pulled to the ground along with the skier.
T-bars are rarely installed as the primary lift, save on small local slopes such as a golf course doing a seasonal business in local night skiing; generally chairlift
s are the preferred, albeit more expensive option at established resorts. T-bars and related surface lifts are mostly found at beginner slopes or in locales where high winds may prevent chairlifts from running, or on in-between terrain to allow a short uphill fork over a ridge into the next valley that skiers would not otherwise be able to reach without climbing. Paradoxically, although T-Bar lifts are common at beginner slopes, many novice and nervous skiers and snowboarders find T-Bars somewhat difficult to use because coordination and physical effort is required during the ascent.
Besides lower expense, T-bars have another advantage over elevated chairlifts: the rider may leave the lift at any point, instead of being forced to wait until they arrive at the designated exit point at the top of the hill. Such mid-track unloadings are often discouraged by ski resorts, as the orange fences in the above photo show.
In France, the T-Bar is known by the more interesting name 'Pioche' which has the meaning in English of 'pick-axe'.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
it is generally employed for low-capacity slopes in large resorts and small local areas servicing skiers numbered in the dozens rather than in the hundreds or thousands.
It consists of an aerial steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
rope loop running over a series of wheels, powered by an engine at one end. Hanging from the rope are a series of vertical recoiling cables, each attached to a T-shaped bar measuring about a metre in both dimensions. The horizontal bar is placed behind the skier's
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
buttocks or in between the snowboarder's legs, pushing against the inside of their forward leg's thigh. This pushes the passengers uphill while they slide across the ground. A single T-bar transports one or two people.
The same basic design principle as the T-bar can be seen in two related, single-passenger surface lift
Surface lift
A surface lift is a type of cable transportation system used to transport skiers and snowboarders where riders remain on the ground as they are pulled uphill.Types of surface lifts include the Poma lift, J-bar, T-bar, rope tow, and magic carpet....
s: the J-bar
J-bar lift
A J-bar is a type of surface lift invented in the 1940sfor ski area passenger transport. They are now rarely in operation having been superseded by T-bars, which have twice the capacity at basically the same price, and chairlifts which have many advantages...
, effectively a one-sided T-bar, and the platter
Platter lift
A platter lift , platter pull or button lift is a surface lift, a mechanized system for pulling skiers and snowboarders uphill, along the surface of the slope. In Europe they are also known as Poma lifts...
, which involves the skier straddling the pole as one would a hobby horse
Hobby horse (toy)
A hobby horse is a child's toy horse, particularly popular during the days before cars. Children played at riding a wooden hobby horse made of a straight stick with a small horse's head , and perhaps reins, attached to one end. The bottom end of the stick sometimes had a small wheel or wheels...
and resting the buttocks on a single, usually plastic, platter (or button). The T-bar is considerably more common in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
than either of these related lifts, largely because it offers twice the lift capacity for the same motivator mechanisms. The first T-bar lift in the United States was installed in 1940 at Pico Mountain
Pico Mountain
Pico Mountain Ski Area was one of the first commercial ski resorts in Vermont, USA. The base lodge was located on the northwest side of Pico Peak on U.S. Route 4. In 1996, the resort went into receivership and was bought by the Killington Mountain Resort and Ski Area in December 1997. Ski runs have...
ski area. It was considered a great improvement over the rope tow
Ski tow
thumb|right|A rope tow or ski tow.A ski tow, also called rope tow or handle tow, is a mechanised system for pulling skiers and snowboarders uphill....
.
Older T-bars, J-bars and platter lifts employed a spring-loaded pole instead of the recoiling rope mechanism. These have fallen into disuse, as the spring-loading can produce wild swings and possible backlash, causing bruises or other injury if the unwary rider lets it go carelessly when dismounting. The retractable rope systems retract at a slower rate, and so are more tractable.
T-bars and related surface lifts are often misunderstood by beginners who incorrectly believe the objective is to sit down on the bar. This almost always leads to a fall as the T-bar is simply pulled to the ground along with the skier.
T-bars are rarely installed as the primary lift, save on small local slopes such as a golf course doing a seasonal business in local night skiing; generally chairlift
Chairlift
An elevated passenger ropeway, or chairlift, is a type of aerial lift, which consists of a continuously circulating steel cable loop strung between two end terminals and usually over intermediate towers, carrying a series of chairs...
s are the preferred, albeit more expensive option at established resorts. T-bars and related surface lifts are mostly found at beginner slopes or in locales where high winds may prevent chairlifts from running, or on in-between terrain to allow a short uphill fork over a ridge into the next valley that skiers would not otherwise be able to reach without climbing. Paradoxically, although T-Bar lifts are common at beginner slopes, many novice and nervous skiers and snowboarders find T-Bars somewhat difficult to use because coordination and physical effort is required during the ascent.
Besides lower expense, T-bars have another advantage over elevated chairlifts: the rider may leave the lift at any point, instead of being forced to wait until they arrive at the designated exit point at the top of the hill. Such mid-track unloadings are often discouraged by ski resorts, as the orange fences in the above photo show.
In France, the T-Bar is known by the more interesting name 'Pioche' which has the meaning in English of 'pick-axe'.
See also
- Skiing and skiing topicsSkiingSkiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
- SkiSkiA ski is a long, flat device worn on the foot, usually attached through a boot, designed to help the wearer slide smoothly over snow. Originally intended as an aid to travel in snowy regions, they are now mainly used for recreational and sporting purposes...
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