Does the Snozone have lift problems? A bin on the side of one of the Poma lifts reads "POMA - Removed (Spare) Parts". Indeed the lifts are often stopping, causing the SnoPatrol to rush for the lift, top and bottom to reset them. Have they got dodgy lifts? Are they unreliable?
Boarders do not necessarily like drag lifts and indeed there is a knack to using them. Last week, the slope saw a "novice" user cowering about three pillars up after he kept falling from the tow and we mean cowering. No amount of pursuasion was going to get this guy on the lift and so he effectively spent the whole session waiting at the bottom of the lift. Regardless of our dislike of drags, they are certainly better than walking to the top.


Although, they do occassionally break down, the reason for them stopping so often is we're afraid, down to the slope users themselves. Each Poma has an "idiot bar" which trips if some idiot is stupid enough to forget to let go at the top of the lift. Unfortunately, getting off the Poma too late or violently can sometimes cause the bar to trip. The "offender" boards on oblivious to the fact that he/she has tripped the Poma and the rest of us have to wait whilst the lift is reset.



When one of the lifts do go down, the SnoPatrol do have the option of speeding up the remaining Poma to help clear any queues on the slope. They don't want people queuing on the slopes. This is dangerous and they may well ask you to double up the queue. We've seen the drag up to some serious speeds recently with half jokey comments from the SnoPatrol "there's gonna be an accident tonight!" as the engine whined and drag pulls you up the slope at about the same speed as a beginner comes down. No accidents of course, but certainly a quicker run rate, so no complaints.

So the message is clear - treat the lifts like a lover... so they're a drag and they'll sometimes go off the rails, but they'll take you to the heights of pleasure and if you're gentle when dismounting you'll get another ride much quicker.

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