Riding a t-bar on a snowboard is really easy.

All you need to do is face in the way. Then use your downhill / trailing hand to push firmly against the opposite persons shoulder. This creates a much more stable platform and keeps the snowboard running in a straight line. As soon as you do this all the 'problems' mentioned in the 4 pages 'glencoe double up thread' will stop happening and t-bars will suddenly seem straightforward. Plus you get some banter on the way up.

Apologies for starting another topic (consider it a public service announcement).
However no one had (yet) mentioned this very simple tip in the 'glencoe double up thread'.

No point having a go at the lifties for enforcing the 'double up' rule on busy days.
They are just doing their job - and quite rightly trying to keep the queue moving for everyone.

Cheers

Doug.


[www.haggistrap.co.uk]

here here !!!

useful tips, much appreciated

no worries...

T-bars are symmetrical devices.
Skiers normally push their shoulders against each other.

The reason snowboarders sometimes have problems keeping their board in a straight line is because they have nothing to push against. Most of the folk who are reluctant to 'double up' on busy days have just never been taught how to do it properly.

Soon as you get a little inward pressure against your partner then controlling your edges becomes much easier and, everything else falls into place.



[www.haggistrap.co.uk]



Edited 1 times. Last edit at 17.08hrs Tue 20 Dec 11 by Doug_Bryce.

me no understand big mans words...if I push other mans shoulder he fall off

Be nice to skiers...they have enough problems already

Doug, I'm sure you're very experienced at using a snowboard on Scottish t-bars but I must disagree. There's no need to push on your partner's shoulder, the hardest bit is toughening up your inner thigh muscle to take the force of the t-bar dragging you up the hill. These lifts were not designed for snowboarders and the small amount of contact area (and on your leg not yr a***) means a lot more pressure getting dragged up than skiers have. Not sure about getting your face in the way(?) but certainly you should make your board point forward! Not sure how pushing on your partner's shoulder helps this?

It is much more comfortable (well, less uncomfortable) riding t-bars on your own, but I accept you just have to double up if there's much of a queue.

Quote:
These lifts were not designed for snowboarders and the small amount of contact area (and on your leg not yr a***) means a lot more pressure getting dragged up than skiers have.

Though that is the almost exclusively used method of riding t-bars here and it is easier to get the hang off, as it's more naturally stable position for a boarder, once you have the hang of T-bars, it's worth trying riding them with the bar behind your hip rather than between your legs - even if it's only a fallback for if your thighs had enough. People that do it swear it's much less uncomfortable, but it's also trickier to master.

True, it still hurts a bit digging into your hip bone but yes, one of the things you can do (swap between leg and hip) if riding the 'bar on your own! (not so easy with someone else, especially a 'random')

As a snowboarder, I find behind the hip definitely works best. Easier to dismount too.

I actually prefer sharing a T with a skier to taking it on my own, it feels more comfortable and you usually get a nice wee chat too. Plus, you can often skip a good few places in the queue when a solo person near the front of the queue is looking for someone to double up with!

Two snowboarders with the same stance can sometimes find it a bit tricky to double up, especially if the one at the back is the sort of nasty piece of work who'd shove one of his mates off just for a laugh!