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Uddie 
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Post subject: First Day: Pomas are the Devils work!!!
 Posted: Dec 12, 2011 - 01:58 PM
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First post: Nov 28, 2011
Total posts: 119
Location: Near Inverness
Status: Offline
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Hey guys,
Been lurking for a while before my first season, posted on a few random topics but i thought i would put myself out there and describe my first day on the snow.
Headed over to the lecht for a half day on saturday for the first day of the scottish season. I had bought my first board and was all geared to go. Other than the fact i had to exchange my new jacket as it was too big, and the replacement hadnt arrived yet. Not to be put off, i wore loads of layers and rocked up with my cycling jacket instead. Looked like a twort with an uber short jacket, but i wasnt missing the snow!
Now, i have had 2 lessons spaced over a few years so knew the basics, in theory. Spent most of my time playing around on the nursery slopes getting my bearings again but before long i could utalise both my heel and tow edges, falling leaf on both and turn relatively well. (not linked, cant quite get tow edge down sorted but getting there).
Majorly bailed once, but luckily i had my helmet on otherwise i would now be sporting a bugs bunny esk lump on the back of my head.
I managed with the chairlift relatively well which i was well chuffed with. Cant say i had similar success with the Pomas though!! I hate them and they hate me, its fairly mutual now. I got embaressingly dragged up the hill 3 times in a row. Made it half way up once before falling, and then on the fifth attempt managed a quarter of the way up before falling and the resulting spring up of the poma managed to wrap itself around the winch system causing it to break down for a good 15 minutes. My friend who was still on the poma watched me walk down the hill in shame and all he heard was a shameful "sorry guys" as i walked past the queue of people. All i could hear was him laughing his head off. lol. In my defence the poma lift was one of the ones that you had to grab one from a stack of poles at the side while stood on a ramp and once you past the plastic trigger would take off rapidly up hill. I later tried one of the unmanned reguler pomas (the ones that just keep going round and round) and managed it fine.
altogether a fantastic day and i am now well and trully hooked. Looking forward to my next shot on the slopes where i hope to start linking turns and using pomas without fear lol. On a side note, my muscles are killing me. Apologies for the wall of text, but maybe somebody found this scrawl entertaining to some degree.
Might be a good opportunity for people to describe there first day and any funny/embarresing moments.
Cheers |
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jonnyburns
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Post subject: RE: First Day: Pomas are the Devils work!!!
Posted: Dec 12, 2011 - 02:50 PM
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First post: Dec 12, 2011
Total posts: 1
Status: Offline
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| couldnt agree more, I went to the cairngorms for the first time last year (went a couple of times actually) and every time I tried the pomas they threw me off right away, but like you I can manage the constant moving ones fine, kinda put off trying them this season lol |
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AlexRiley1992
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Posted: Dec 12, 2011 - 02:53 PM
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First post: Jul 03, 2011
Total posts: 33
Status: Offline
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I saw some funny stuff on the eagle pomma last season, that thing flys  |
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Tommymac
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Posted: Dec 12, 2011 - 03:04 PM
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First post: Nov 23, 2010
Total posts: 243
Status: Offline
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| Just relax. I used to have the same problem with pomas. Just get a good grip on the bar get it well hooked in and don't tense up. Once you do it once it won't be a problem. |
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dewei
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Posted: Dec 12, 2011 - 03:32 PM
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First post: Apr 20, 2011
Total posts: 252
Location: Brum
Status: Offline
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I had a very similar experience on my first day on the mountain. Just trying the poma lifts and falling off sapped my energy and dented my pride. I had no problem with the chairlifts.
There are quite a few funny vids on youtube of people falling off the poma lift including one of mine. 
Yes, relax and put more weight on the front foot. It will get better!
p.s. nice article here:
http://www.nonstopsnow.com/blog/stuff-we-like/how-to-ride-button-t-bar-or-drag-lifts-on-a-snowboard/
"“BUTTON LIFT” – those two words can send shivers down snowboarders’ spines and bring back painfully embarrassing memories. There’s no need to be embarrassed though, every snowboarder has been there."
"Keep your back straight and upright
Bend your knees
Keep your shoulders in line with the board (there’s always a tendency to open your body up – don’t do it!)
Don’t lean towards the tail of the board. Keep your weight on that front leg and you’ll be able to steer as you would normally. "
p.p.s. my 200th post! |
_________________
Piste - park - pipe - pow, I love it all.
Starting snowboarding?afterbang
Looking for Tamworth shredding mates?Midland Shredderz
Last edited by dewei on Dec 12, 2011 - 03:37 PM; edited 1 time in total
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phatramp
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Posted: Dec 12, 2011 - 03:36 PM
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First post: Nov 18, 2004
Total posts: 40
Location: Spratton
Status: Offline
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Don't try and face the top half of your body up hill, keep shoulders in line with board and just turn ya head.
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dumber than a box of hair
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cantridepete
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Posted: Dec 12, 2011 - 03:48 PM
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First post: Oct 28, 2008
Total posts: 2328
Location: Haute Savoie
Status: Offline
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| wait until you get ejected off a fast chair lift into a huge downslope There's some out there that make pomas look like childs play |
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StevieMcK
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Post subject: Re: First Day: Pomas are the Devils work!!!
Posted: Dec 12, 2011 - 03:58 PM
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First post: Mar 11, 2005
Total posts: 1651
Location: East Kilbride
Status: Offline
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Uddie wrote:
In my defence the poma lift was one of the ones that you had to grab one from a stack of poles at the side while stood on a ramp and once you past the plastic trigger would take off rapidly up hill. I later tried one of the unmanned reguler pomas (the ones that just keep going round and round) and managed it fine.
I hate to break it to you... but spring loaded pomas are the norm at most Scottish resorts. The "regular pomas" you're talking about are beginners ones and you'll only find one or two per resort, on the shallower slopes.
Just wait until you try the Harrier at the Lecht or the West Wall Poma at the Gorm. Unless you keep moving once you trigger them, they'll launch you 15ft up hill before your board hits the snow again 
Follow the advice that folk are saying about keeping your body/shoulders parallel with the poma line. As soon as you start to rotate, your board will rotate too. Eventually it'll all click into place. |
_________________
My Photos
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dunx
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Post subject: RE: Re: First Day: Pomas are the Devils work!!!
Posted: Dec 12, 2011 - 04:20 PM
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First post: Oct 07, 2004
Total posts: 9314
Location: Herts, UK
Status: Offline
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Pomas aren't really designed for snowboarders, although some have had a kink added to the bar to make them more comfortable. As you get more confident on your board, so you'll get better on a Poma. It's all about weight distribution and relaxing, so have a search on here as there's a few handy discussions.
My only time riding in Scotland was at Lecht about 10 years ago and there's some beasts there which launch you a good few feet in the air. By the end of the day, it sort of became part of the fun.
Hate Pomas? Wait until you end up doubled up on a t-bar! That really is hell.
It will also benefit you to get some more lessons. Two isn't really enough and if you're not linking turns yet it really means you've not sussed edge control. I know that's an expense, but rather that than waste your time/money on the hill when you don't have the basics yet.
Welcome to SCUK. |
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SCUK Editor • Me on Facebook • Neverland
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murray888
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Post subject: RE: Re: First Day: Pomas are the Devils work!!!
Posted: Dec 12, 2011 - 04:23 PM
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First post: Dec 05, 2005
Total posts: 521
Location: Basingstoke / London
Status: Offline
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Yep, they're buggers - especially the old ones.
Knees bent, weight centred, shoulders in line, relax and prep for lift-off. |
_________________
TINA!
Nitro T1 156 // Flux Titans // 32 Lashed
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Boots
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Posted: Dec 12, 2011 - 04:58 PM
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First post: Feb 15, 2011
Total posts: 290
Location: Somewhere between the mountains and the sea.
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Keep at it, it gets easier. On my first day, the button lift nearly made me pack it in. I found that putting my back foot up against my front binding, once I was going, made it easier to keep it straight. Still do it occasionally on long lifts to ease the legs.
I still get caught out by older chairlifts. When you've spent half the day on modern clutch ones, then one comes along and nearly cuts you off at the knees! |
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Uddie
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Post subject: Re: First Day: Pomas are the Devils work!!!
Posted: Dec 12, 2011 - 05:28 PM
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First post: Nov 28, 2011
Total posts: 119
Location: Near Inverness
Status: Offline
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Thanks for all the advice, and also for the welcome Dunx.
StevieMcK wrote:
I hate to break it to you... but spring loaded pomas are the norm at most Scottish resorts. The "regular pomas" you're talking about are beginners ones and you'll only find one or two per resort, on the shallower slopes.
Great news there, guess its just a case of "keep calm and carry on" lol.
Didn't mean to imply i was done with lessons. Going to get some more. Anything to help me improve.
My mate who was with me mentioned the Tbars at the gorms. His exact words were "wait until you double up on the Tbars...HAHAHA".
Trial by fire it is then! Has anyone actually designed a snowboard friendly poma, one that actually caters to snowboarders as well as it does to skiers so neither is advantaged/disadvantaged? Just curious?
Anyone else managed to join the fun on the first days of the scottish season?? |
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Tommymac
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Post subject: RE: Re: First Day: Pomas are the Devils work!!!
Posted: Dec 12, 2011 - 05:46 PM
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First post: Nov 23, 2010
Total posts: 243
Status: Offline
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| i don't find T-bars that bad. It only when paired with a skier that i have problems. |
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Pentasa
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Post subject: RE: Re: First Day: Pomas are the Devils work!!!
Posted: Dec 12, 2011 - 06:07 PM
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First post: Jun 25, 2011
Total posts: 149
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| Sounds like Im a dead man then lol ... going to Goe next week for my first non dome snowboarding experience ever and that is the one thing that I'm not looking forward to, the Pomas |
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I am not the girl from my Avatar
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jackeh
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Post subject: RE: Re: First Day: Pomas are the Devils work!!!
Posted: Dec 12, 2011 - 06:12 PM
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First post: Oct 24, 2008
Total posts: 111
Location: Ponte-Carlo!
Status: Offline
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Oh how I lol'd at your account. Reminded me of my first time in Scotland in February this year. Must have taken me about 5 attempts to get on a poma before I got the hang of it. So much different to the fridges! I found giving yourself a little shove off with your back foot helps to reduce the initial shock and get balance quicker.
My mate who came with me was more used to continental European destinations and had never ridden Scotland. He ended up losing his balance on the M1 poma at Cairngorm, falling, and somehow managed to hold on and get dragged for approximately three quarters of the way up the lift. I was behind him and was in fits of laughter the whole way. Almost fell off a couple of times myself. Good times were had last season in Scotland, loved riding there. Keep it up! |
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